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From: DENISE FISCHER <>
Subject: [RHEA-L] Re: Ray family Flat Creek, TN
Date: Thu, 10 Aug 2000 08:41:37 -0700
References: <200008100746.e7A7kVA21854@lists3.rootsweb.com>

I am interested in the Ray family that has been discussed in the Bedford Co. list recently in connection with the Wilhoite family.
I have a brick wall ancestor, Pleasant Vincent Uriah (or Neri or Eli) Jackson Harrison Glenn Rhea born 27 July 1821 in Lincoln or Bedford Co., TN. He died 22 January 1901 in Hood Co., TX. On 24 November 1845 he married Mary Elizabeth Fannin(g), the daughter of Tom and Sally Doak in Flat Creek, Bedford Co., TN. Mr. Pearsson perfomed the ceremony.
The story that was handed down in my family was that there were two brothers who were on opposites during the war (sometimes the Civil War, sometimes the Revolution, depending on who told it), one of them was so angry he changed the spelling of the last name - Ray to Rhea or Rhea to Ray.
If my ggg grandfather was the one who changed his name he would have been born Pleasant Vincent (etc) Ray. If his brother was the one who changed then he would have been born Rhea and changed his name to Ray.
My ggg grandfather has been recorded as Rhea and Ray throughout his life. So far no one researching this line has been able to document PV's parents. Some researchers assign him to the family of John and Sally Rhea of Lincoln Co., TN because they had a son Pleasant Vincent Rhea. The problem with that is their son P. V. Rhea moved to Washington Co., AR circa 1829-1830 and died there in 1864.
I have been wondering about the Wilhoite and Ray marriages listing John Ray of Flat Creek, TN. Does anyone have any further information on this John Ray, such as parents, siblings etc. Maybe John Ray was PV's brother or cousin.
Thank you
Denise Fischer
Santa Clara, CA

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• [RHEA-L] Re: Ray family Flat Creek, TN by DENISE FISCHER <>