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Archiver > RHEA > 2001-06 > 0992978782


From: "Patricia Hall" <>
Subject: [RHEA] June 19, 2001 Continuation of References and Notes
Date: Tue, 19 Jun 2001 14:26:22 -0500


#166 William Rhea and his wife, Mary, sold two tracts of land in Hopkins
County, one on November 1, 1816 (Hopkins Co., KY Deed Book 2, 6), the other
on April 4, 1817 (Hopkins Co.,KY Deed Book 2, 15). There is some indication
that he married, twice, for on May 12, 1824, he purchased two hundred acres
in neighboring Caldwell County (Kentucky Land Warrants, Book N,98-99,*
Kentucky Library & Archives, Frankfort), and on November 3, 1832, he and his
wife "Jane" sold the same, at which time they were living in Cooper
County,Missouri (Caldwell Co., KY Deed Book G, 44-45*). It is doubtful that
this William Rhea was a grandson of Alexander, for from the time that
Alexander was married (1782) and the time William purchased land in 1824,
only forty-two years had passed.
#167 Grants South Of Green River, Book 11, 40-41,* and Book 16, 504,*
Kentucky Library & Archives, Frankfort. The dates in the text are incorrect.
The 200 acres of the first deed cited were surveyed in 1807, but the deed
was dated January 27, 1812. The second tract with 100 acres was surveyed in
1810, but deeded to Robert Rhea on November 25, 1815.
#169. Heritage of Hopkins County, (Madisonville, KY: Genealogical and
Historical Societies of Hopkins County, Kentucky, 1988), 242.* The author
has a copy of the original drawing.
In 1849, the widow and heirs of Robert Rhea filed suit "in
Chancery" in Hopkins County (#5954*) against his son and the administrator
of his estate, Thomas P. E. Rhea, for mismanagement. In 1848, Thomas
resigned the administratorship which was passed to Orlean Bishop, a
defendant. Thomas moved out of state, and died before March 1850.
Subsequently, Olive, his widow, their son, Thomas P. E. Rhea (Jr.), "an
infant," and the son's guardian were named defendants. In January, 1852,
Elizabeth married Tyre Vichers. The suit continued to about 1856.
The following human interest story is from a transcript of a
deposition taken during the trial. The date was October 9, 1852, and the
deponent, William H. Scott:
Question by Complainants. Did or not Thomas P. E. Rhea and Thos. Snow
about the year 1846 or 1847- drown a horse and sink a buggy in the back
waters of Cumberland River near Eddyville.
Answer. They did.
Question by Same. Was it or not an act of great folly recklessness
and imprudence on the part of Rhea and Snow to drown said horse and sink
said buggy as they did.
Answer. It was. I consider it the most careless reckless imprudent
and grim act as i ever knew rational men to be guilty of.
Question by Same. Was or not the drowning of said horse and sinking
of said buggy the result of mere accident, and if not, please state whether
or not it was the result of gross negligence and carelessness on the part of
said Rhea and Snow.
Answer. It was not, and as I believe could not have been the result
of mere accident. I believe it was the result of gross negligence and
carelessness for they drove through the back water of the Cumberland River
in various directions through the woods until horse and buggy and men went
over a precipice into some fifteen or twenty feet (of) water where the horse
was drowned.
Question by Same. Was or not the entire river and crun(?) bottom in
the region where the horse was drowned covered at that time with back water.
Answer. It was.
Question by Same. What was said buggy worth after said sinking.
Answer. It was not worth more than $25.00.
Question by Same. Did or not Thomas P. E. Rhea tell you that the said
horse that was drowned belonged to Robert Rhea his father and that he had
borrowed said horse from said Robert Rhea.
Answer. I learned from both Thomas P. E. Rhea and Snow that the said
horse that was drowned belonged to Robert Rhea. 'And further this deponent
saith not.' (Signed) W. H. Scott."
A second deposition on the same subject was made by Johnson Cook. He
testified that the horse was actually "a blase face sorrel mare worth at
least sixty dollars in money."




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