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Archiver > RHEA > 2001-10 > 1003117707


From: "Robert P. Rhea" <>
Subject: [RHEA] Children of James RHEA, son of Rev. Joseph
Date: Sun, 14 Oct 2001 22:48:27 -0500


There seems to be some uncertainty in the literature about the names,
dates of birth, and order of birth of the children of James & Elizabeth
(Snapp) RHEA. Elizabeth is excluded in some instances, and where she is
named, little if any information about her is given.

The names and dates of birth of their children are found in his diary,
entitled "James Rhea's Common Place Book." The original, which was
donated to the Tennessee Historical Society by Mrs. Anne Rhea Bachman
HYDE (Mrs. Charles R. HYDE), a great-granddaughter of Rev. Joseph RHEA,
is located in the Manuscript Division of the Tennessee State Library and
Archives at Nashville, along with other RHEA FAMILY PAPERS, 1769-1859
donated by Mrs. Hyde. The entire collection was microfilmed (Microfilm
Number 792).

There are 165 pages in the diary, each page numbered at the bottom. It
appears that the numbers were added later, for there is some disparity
between the numbering and the chronological order.

1. MARGARET, p. 33: "Margaret Rhea of James & Eliza. Rhea born Nov.
21, 1815. 4 A.M." Under this he wrote the following: "Margaret was
married to John Snapp son of Samuel Snapp of Green County Tennessee in
the evening of Oct. 30- 1832 Tuesday in Blountville Tennessee at the
home of her father James Rhea and Elizabeth Rhea. Sic transit, Gloria
Mundi. Went off for his father's- Wednesday 10:35 A.M. Wanting 22 days
of 17yrs old."

On p. 149, dated Oct. 30, 1832, he wrote: "Margaret- (our first born)
James & Elizabeth Rhea was married to John Snapp son of Samuel Snapp &
Ann Pemberton the wife of Samuel Snapp- only came to light on Tuesday 30
Octo. 1832. by E. R. Dulaney Doctor & Justice of the Peace. I approve
of her marriage- not-not-not [p. 150] on account of their consanguinity
or Relationship- his father is Margaret Mother's father's brother."
[James leafed back to p. 33 and added the marriage information quoted
above after the birth announcement.]

2. JOHN, p. 108: James did not record his birth when it occurred, or
if so, the page is not extant. "John was 5 yrs old Mar. 25, 1823."
This obviously places his birth on March 25, 1818.

3. JAMES. Of their seven children, James is the only child without a
birth date recorded in the diary. He is mentioned a number of times
throughout the diary. Zella Armstrong in Notable Southern Families,
Vol. II, gives the year as 1820.

4. ELIZABETH, p. 113: "Blountville Tennessee Aug. 25, 1823. 11 OClock
P.M. Elizabeth 4th child of James & Elizabeth Rhea Born. Sol in Virgo,
Luna in Aries." For her birth and for the remaining three, James
recorded the position of the Sun and the Moon in the Zodiac. A note
following her birth notice will be quoted and discussed at a later date.

5. FRANCES (FANNY), p. 121: "5th Child of James & Elizabeth Rhea a
girl born (Fanny) 30 Nov. 1825 between 10 & 11 OClock A.M. Luna in [?]
Sol in Sagit[t]arius."

6. SAMUEL, p. 124: "Blountville State of Tennessee Sullivan County.
Samuel, The 6th Child and 3rd Son was born of James & Elizabeth Rhea 3
OClock A.M. Sept. 11, 1829 Sol in Virgo Luna in Aquario..."

7. THEODORIK BLAND, p. 155: "June 21 Friday 3.OClock and 30 minutes
A.M. was born to James & Elizabeth Rhea Theodorick Bland Rhea their
4th Son or Appius Claudius Rhea. Were here Blountville Tennessee
Sullivan County Mrs. Elizabeth Dury, Mrs. Elizabeth Anderson, and
Doctor Wm. R. Dulaney. Sol in Cancer, Luna in Leo. Theodorick Bland
Rhea 21 June 1833. Natus fuits [?]."

James seldom mentioned his children in the diary. On page 103 where he
gives the ages and dates of birth for Margaret and John, he reported
that "My Children Margaret Rhea and John Rhea begin to go to school at
[?] to James Rhea Son of Wm. Rhea. Margaret [age 7] is reading in
Testament and other reading books. John [age 5] has spelled through the
spelling book and is now reading and spelling it again. God grant that
I be spared 'till John acquires a good education."

In February, 1824, he wrote, "Margaret, John, James & baby Elizabeth had
the measles and all got well."

On September 8, 1828, page 123, he wrote: "We moved to Blountville
Tenn. James Rhea [&] Elizabeth, Margaret, John, James, Elizabeth,
Frances, 5 Children all in good health."

On December 23, 1832, page 151, he wrote: "...I am at home alone.
Elizabeth John, perhaps James also, Fanny & little Sam- and black girl
Emily all gone to Doctor Elkinah Dulaneys- all in good health..." He
didn't indicate whether "Elizabeth" was his wife or daughter.

Robert Perry Rhea


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