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Archiver > RHEA > 2001-05 > 0989856854


From: "Patricia Hall" <>
Subject: [RHEA] Rhea's of Bath Co. Virginia
Date: Mon, 14 May 2001 11:14:14 -0500


We thank Robert Perry Rhea for the right to send this information to the
list. This is the part that was put in the Bicentennial History of Bath Co.
Va. 1791-1991 per The Bath County Historical Society. The book can be
purchased from the Bath County Historical Society.
***

The Rhea, Reah, Reagh, Reaugh, Reaoh, Reach Family

When Robert, Archibald, and William settled in Augusta County, Virginia in
the mid-1700's, the name was spelled Reah, Reagh, or Reach. Among these and
other spellings, even within a single document, Rhea first appeared about
1780, and was preferred after 1800. "Ray" was, and still is the correct
pronunciation, but seldom the spelling.

They were probably brothers. They served together in the Augusta County
Colonial Militia in September, 1758 [1] All purchased adjoining land in
Borden's grant on Hays or Walkers Creek, approximately sixteen miles north
of Lexington in what is now Rockbridge County, William in 1750 [2],
Archibald in 1753 [3], and Robert in 1754 [4]. In 1758 Robert and his wife,
Sarah, sold their land to Archibald Jr..[5] The deed was witnessed by
William. William's son, Archibald, named his "Uncle Archibald" an executor
of his estate. [6]

To date, little is known about their parents and place of origin. The father
may have been named Archibald, for Archibald was called "Junior" in the deed
of 1758. However, that designation was often used to differentiate between
nephew and uncle, and even between unrelated persons with the same name. The
earliest known reference to a Rhea in Augusta County is found in the Draper
Manuscripts. At a court martial on September 2, 1746, Archibald Roaugh of
Captain Joseph Culton's Company was exempted from mustering, but not from
paying the wolf levy. [7] Captains were ordered to excuse "all such old or
infirm persons...unfit for mustering." [8] This occurred seven years before
Archibald purchased land, thus he was more than likely the son or nephew of
the exempted Archibald. It is conceivable that the Rheas came to Virginia
with members of the Providence Presbyterian congregation that was located
near Norristown, Pennsylvania. [9] Robert was one of six trustees who, in
1754, signed the deed for the property of New Providence, [10] organized in
1748 [11] by members of the Pennsylvania congregation.[9] A granddaughter of
Elizabeth Rhea, a daughter of Robert, stated that Elizabeth's parents came
from Ireland. [12]
The author's grandfather, Alfred Perry Rhea, who descended from William,
insisted that his ancestors sailed to the Colonies from Bordeaux, France.
The Rheas of Augusta County were undoubtedly of Scotch-Irish stock,
considering their names and their Presbyterianism. If from France, it was
but a stepping stone between Ireland and the Colonies.

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