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Archiver > RHEA > 2001-05 > 0990244098


From: "Patricia Hall" <>
Subject: [RHEA] The Introduction to References and Notes
Date: Fri, 18 May 2001 22:48:18 -0500


The Rhea, Reah, Reagh, Reaugh, Reaoh, Reach Family
References & Notes
Robert Perry Rhea
These References & Notes are the continuation of an article similarly titled
and published in The Bicentennial History of Bath County, Virginia, The Bath
County Historical Society, (Marceline, MO: Heritage House Publishing, 1991),
324-329.
Robert Perry Rhea, Pub.
Bloomington, Minnesota
1992
***
Introduction
In October, 1989, when the author was asked to contribute an article on the
Rhea Family for the Bicentennial History of Bath County, Virginia, he
resolved that it would be documented as thoroughly as possible. Anyone
familiar with genealogical research has found the literature cluttered with
unsubstantiated information. Because many readers are prone to accept the
printed word as factual, they, in turn, pass inaccurate statements and
errors to others, thus compounding the problem.

The majority of these references are from courthouse records: wills, deeds,
marriage records, court order books, trial records, and the like.
Unfortunately, even courthouse records may contain errors resulting from
copying documents that may no longer exist for comparison. Some references,
for lack of better sources, can be classified as tradition, either oral or
written. These of themselves may not accurately reflect the truth, but are
useful in formulating opinions and supplying leads for further research. The
author has tried to avoid "leaps of faith," but has, at times, used
available information to formulate opinions, which he so designates..

Due to limited space, there was no attempt to trace lines to the present.
The author felt a greater need to focus on more remote generations, thus
laying a foundation upon which he and others could build.

After the article was received for publication in March of 1990, the
editorial committee decided to limit the book to four hundred pages. This
necessitated the exclusion of all documented product, the author then
decided to publish the references privately. In the original article, the
references were brief, consisting mainly of names of documents and page
numbers. They could now be elaborated by extensive notes, and augmented by
information collected during the intervening months.

Proofs from the printer were received in December, 1990, at which time
corrections were made and new material added. The final article was printed
with very few errors. Known errors are listed and corrected after the
SUMMARY.

References in the text are not necessarily in numerical order, this
resulting from the addition of new material when the proofs were corrected.
Also, many new references were added to the notes. In two instances,
references were omitted in the text: Ref. 108, the will of Harmonious
Hornbaker, and Ref. 203, the will of Archibald Reah/Reagh/Rhea.

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