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Archiver > RHEA > 1999-09 > 0937194285


From: Robert Perry Rhea <>
Subject: Re: [RHEA-L] Phereba Ray/Rhea of Warren Co. TN and Blount Co. AL
Date: Sun, 12 Sep 1999 22:44:45 -0500


Anthony & Dorothy,

The source for the information on John and Mary (DeLoach) Rhea and their
daughter, Paphry/Popia Rhea found in Joseph C. Rhea, Jr.'s book,
RAY-RHEA (1969) appears to come from an article by Mary Latham Norton,
entitled "Campbell-Rhea," and published in THE HIGHLANDER, 1930, by The
Clan Campbell Association of America, Pages 13, 14, and 30. She also
mentioned John and Mary in an article in VIRGINIA SOLDIERS of 1776, by
Louis A. Burgess (Richmond Press, 1927), 189. I have copies of RAY-RHEA
and THE HIGHLANDER. The RAY-RHEA book has few if any references, but
the author quotes almost verbatim either directly from Mary Latham
Norton's article or from another source that quoted her. His work on his
own line (from "The Other Joseph") is good, but Chapter I, entitled
"Family Roots," leaves much to be desired. In THE HIGHLANDER article,
there are many bits and pieces of information- some facts, some
fiction. Trying to sort this out is like identifying all of your
possessions after a tornado levels the neighborhood. But she wrote long
before copy machines and "The Information Age," so she did what she
could with the resources at her disposal.

Mrs. Norton claimed that John Rhea who "was born 1760" and married Mary
DeLoach "ca. 1785" was the son of "Archibald Rhea II...and Margaret
Campbell," and that he had brothers, Hugh, and Archibald. Actually, his
brothers were Hugh and William. They had a son named John but he
married Mary Smiley, the sister of his brother Hugh's wife, Rebecca
Smiley, in 1801. So this and the early dates of birth and marriage
rules out Archibald and Margaret as the parents of the John Rhea under
consideration. So whose son was he? I do not know. For you who are
familiar with the three sons of Archibald Reagh/Rhea- William,
Archibald and Robert, the only early descendant named John that I know
who might qualify was the son of Robert and Sarah (Bingham) Rhea. He
was born about the same time, but I have found no records concerning a
marriage or family. In 1779 he was appointed the administrator of his
father, Robert's, estate, and then more or less dropped out of sight, or
at least out of my sight. The only other reference I have for him was in
the Monroe Co., TN, Deed Book A-L, 773, (Book H, 60-61) and dated Jan.
13, 1836, wherein his sister, Ann (Rhea) Turk, "one of the heirs of John
Rhea" deeded her interest in John's property to her grandson, George W.
Turk. From this, I have always assumed that John left no wife and/or
children, for one seldom devises an interest to a sibling. Archibald,
the brother of William and Robert, had a son named John, but he was from
a second marriage, and a 1760 birthdate would have been too early. Some
of the children from the second marriage were still under age when
Archibald died in 1804.

Does anyone have documented evidence or even a suggestion as to who his
parents were??

Robert Perry Rhea



wrote:
>
> Anthony
>
> I believe we have a connection. Joseph C. Rhae, Jr. wrote a book in 1969
> entitled "Ray-Rhea - A family book of Historical and Genealogy for Rhea and
> Related Families. I found it in the Alabama Archives Library in Montgomery.
>
> According to this book John Rhea, b 1760 married ca 1785 to Mary DeLoach.
> Children: Paphry (Popia) Rhea 1790 - Married in 1813 to Elias Breazeale
> (Brezal), Children Nancy and Mary Katherine (Mar 15 1815 - 1899). Note: John
> Rhea b. 1773 according to Ed Foley's info. Another child Mary Rhea married
> John Buckingham, Child Mary Rhea (who married Gen John Greer) I descend
> through Mary Rhea and John Greer. I am so glad to find someone who connects
> to my line.
>
> Dorothy Cox
> Sugar Land
>
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