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Subject: [RHEA] New Rhea connection
Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2001 08:28:18 EDT

Recently, while researching some lines of families who have some
relationships among the Rheas in East Tennessee, I came across a surprise
revelation when studying the Evans family - a new grandson of Rev. Joseph
Rhea.

Samuel Massengil in his book 'Massengil, Massengale and Variant' 1931, page
864, writes - Nancy Evans m. Robert M. Rhea, son of James Rhea, and a
grandson of Rev. Joseph Rhea, and moved to Paris, Edgar Co. IL. Further,
Massengil has transcripts of a letter written by Nancy Evans' brother who was
living with the Rheas in Paris. This letter back to a Rhea uncle in
Blountville TN, describes life in Paris, Edgar Co., IL.

A researcher in Texas, Michael Walsh, had known of his ancestor Robert M.
Rhea in Paris, who was married to a Nancy (both born in Sullivan Co., TN),
but did not know his connection to the rest of the Rhea family.

Further, this son appears to be the son of a previous marriage of James Rhea.
I always thought it odd that James married at age 40 to a woman half his age
(Elizabeth Snapp). This son Robert, was born when James Rhea was 32 or 33 -
years prior to the 1815 marriage to Elizabeth.

Mr. Walsh reported that Robert Rhea fought in the Blackhawk war. It is
possible that he received bounty land for his service which then brought him
and his young wife to Illinois. Why he is not mentioned in his father James'
1855 will is still a mystery.

ED FOLEY

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