Family Tree Maker's Genealogy Site: Genealogy Report: Descendants of Matthew Campbell 'The Rebel' RHEA

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Descendants of Matthew Campbell 'The Rebel' RHEA

Generation No. 2

2. WILLIAM³⁶ RHEA (MATTHEW CAMPBELL 'THE REBEL'³⁵, WALTER³⁴ CAMPBELL, MATTHEW³³, WALTER³², MATTHEW³¹, WALTER³⁰, DONALD²⁹, COLIN²⁸, COLIN²⁷, DUNCAN 'SIR'²⁶, COLIN²⁵, CAILEIN IONGANTACH²⁴, ARCHIBALD²³, COLIN²², NEIL²¹, COLIN MOR²⁰, GILLESPIE ARCHIBALD¹⁹, DOUGAL¹⁸, ARCHIBALD¹⁷, DUNCAN¹⁶, GILLESPIC 'ARCHIBALD'¹⁵, CAILEN MAOL MAITH 'BALD GOOD'¹⁴, DUNCAN MACDWINE¹³, GILLESPIC¹², MALCOLM¹¹, DIARMID¹⁰ MACDUIBN, DUBHN⁹ DERG, DUIBHN⁸, FERITHER⁷ FINRUI, DUIBHN FUILT⁶ DERG, FERITHER⁵ EILE, ARTHUR OIG⁴ MACDUIBHN, DUIBHN³ MORE, FERITHER² OUR, SMERVIEMORE¹) was born 01 Jan 1686/87 in Ireland, and died 01 Jan 1777 in Augusta Co., VA. He married ELIZABETH WIFE OF WILLIAM RHEA. She was born Abt. 1687.

Notes for WILLIAM RHEA:
Children of William and Elizabeth are noted in Highlander Vol 1 1930 article
by Mary Latham Norton.
In his memoirs, US Congressman John Rhea wrote "William Rhea, second son
of Matthew the Rebel, came to America and settled somewhere in Chesters Co.
PA. He married and had two daughters, the eldest was married to John Brown."

Notes for ELIZABETH WIFE OF WILLIAM RHEA:
Article by Mary Latham Norton in Highlander magazine Vol 1 1930.

Children of WILLIAM RHEA and ELIZABETH RHEA are:

MARY³⁷ RHEA, b. Abt. 1710, Ireland; m. JOHN BROWN; b. Abt. 1710, Wilmington DE.

Notes for MARY RHEA:
She was the eldest daugther. She married John Brown who owned both sides
of the Great Road to Wilmington DE. (Congressman John Rhea called this
property 'a grand possession' in his memoirs.
Had no children.

Notes for JOHN BROWN:
Their marriage is mentioned in Notable Southern Fam., Z. Armstrong 1922.

ii.

ELIZABETH RHEA, b. Abt. 1720, Chester Co., PA?; m. JAMES MCCORKLE; b. Abt. 1720, Ireland; d. Washington Co., VA.

Notes for JAMES MCCORKLE:
Congressman John Rhea in his memoirs referred to Rev. McCorkle as 'a pastor
of high standing in the Presbyterian Church'.

More About JAMES MCCORKLE:
Occupation: pastor of Presb. Church

3. ARCHIBALD³⁶ RHEA (MATTHEW CAMPBELL 'THE REBEL'³⁵, WALTER³⁴ CAMPBELL, MATTHEW³³, WALTER³², MATTHEW³¹, WALTER³⁰, DONALD²⁹, COLIN²⁸, COLIN²⁷, DUNCAN 'SIR'²⁶, COLIN²⁵, CAILEIN IONGANTACH²⁴, ARCHIBALD²³, COLIN²², NEIL²¹, COLIN MOR²⁰, GILLESPIE ARCHIBALD¹⁹, DOUGAL¹⁸, ARCHIBALD¹⁷, DUNCAN¹⁶, GILLESPIC 'ARCHIBALD'¹⁵, CAILEN MAOL MAITH 'BALD GOOD'¹⁴, DUNCAN MACDWINE¹³, GILLESPIC¹², MALCOLM¹¹, DIARMID¹⁰ MACDUIBN, DUBHN⁹ DERG, DUIBHN⁸, FERITHER⁷ FINRUI, DUIBHN FUILT⁶ DERG, FERITHER⁵ EILE, ARTHUR OIG⁴ MACDUIBHN, DUIBHN³ MORE, FERITHER² OUR, SMERVIEMORE¹) was born 01 Jan 1687/88 in Londonderry, Co. Donegal, IRE, and died 01 Jan 1743/44 in Walkers Creek, Augusta Co. VA ¹. He married ANN? WIFE OF ARCHIBALD RHEA in Ireland. She was born Abt. 1690 in Ireland.

Notes for ARCHIBALD RHEA:
It is thought Archibald emigrated to America, first in
Cumberland Co., PA, then moving to Cape Fear, NC. (See Foote's
NC sketches of Cape Fear, NC).

It is likely that the father of the three brothers who purchased
land in 1750-54 on Walkers Creek in Augusta Co., VA was
Archibald, for the above mentioned brother Archibald was called
"Junior" in the deed of 1758 and the mortgage deed of 1783.
However, that designation was often used to differentiate
between nephew and uncle, and even between unrelated persons
with the same name. Secondly, an Archibald "Roaugh" was in the
Augusta County militia in 1746, and old enough to pay the wolf
levy. If this was Archibald Junior, he would have been
seventy-nine or older at his death in 1804, an unlikely age to
have children under age.

1750 Augusta Co., VA Deed Book 2,751-753 dated May 17, 1750,
recorded May 23, 1750. Contained 230 acres on the S.E. side of
Hays Creek(also known as Walker's Creek), which, at that point,
flowed more or less south-westerly, nearly paralleling the
Borden patent line located less than 200 yards to the north.
The properties of sons William, Archibald,and Robert were
located at the present town of Zack on highway 602. In 1808,
Andrew Kennedy built a mill on property purchased from Archibald
in 1784. The Kennedy-McCray Mill is presently located on the
site. In 1769, William sold this parcel to his son, Archibald,
who, in 1771, purchased an additional thirty-three acres from
the Borden heirs (Augusta Co., VA Deed Book 18, 45); that parcel
was wedged between his 230 acres and Archibald's 200 acres to
the N.E.

1753 Augusta Co., VA Deed Book 5, 185-188. Dated March 13,
1753. Contained 200 acres that straddled "Walker's Creek and
adjoined William's land to the S.W. and the 118 acres on the
N.E. that Robert purchased the following year. It is uncertain
if this was the same Archibald as Archibald Junior who purchased
118 acres from Robert in 1758. Available evidence suggests that
they were one and the same, and also that an Archibald Senior,
though not so designated, lived in the area. In 1783, Archibald
"Junior" mortgaged for twenty-five pounds of gold and silver
"all that tract of land on which the said Archibald now lives
containing three hundred acres...& joining the lands of Walter
Smiley & Thomas Hutson..."(Rockbridge Co.,VA Deed Book A,
413-414,*). Held by John Rice (his son-in-law, [Ref.52]), the
mortgage ran to March 1, 1784, five months before Archibald
Reagh sold the 200 acres cited above, but reconfigured to
contain 191 acres, to Andrew Kenady on August 2, 1784
(Rockbridge Co., VA Deed Book A, 454-456*). The tract of 300
acres on which Archibald Junior lived was much larger than the
118 acres he purchased from Robert in 1758 or the 175 acres when
reconfigured and sold as two parcels in 1790. Although the
mortgage deed did not include metes and bounds, his homestead of
300 acres may have included parts or all of the tracts purchased
in 1753 and 1758. Also, neither the mortgage deed of 1783 nor
the deed of 1784 contained the signature of a wife. This
suggests that the person signing each deed was not married at
the time. The deed of 1784 specifically stated that "the said
land is free and clear of...dower right and title of dower..."
It may be that Jean McCausland, this Archibald's wife in 1790
and at the time of his death in 1804, was his second marriage
which occurred after 1784.

1753 reported in Morton, Oren F., A History of Rockbridge
County, (Staunton, VA: The McClure Co., 1920), 459-460, see
also, Rockbridge County, Virginia Lexington Gazette,
Bi-centennial Issue, 1938, Sec. 1, p.5.) The name was spelled
"Reagh." One wonders why Archibald's name was not in the list.
He purchased his 200 acres from Borden the same year, 1753.

1832, a man by the name of Edward Mason applied for his
Revolutionary War pension, stating that, at that time (1832) he
was 80-90 years of age (Edward Mason, Revolutionary War pension
Application, S.4.181, National Archives, Washington, D.C.) . He
(Edward) stated that he had arrived in America, from England, at
the age of 15 and in order to pay for his passage, he was "sold
out" at Stanton, VA, and bought by the widow of Archibald Rhea
of Augusta Co. VA. He further stated that he had lived with
Widow Rhea for a total of four years, part of the time in
Augusta County and later in Wythe County VA. After the war, he
resided in Knox Co. TN. (an area to which part of the Rhea
family relocated). If this Mr. Mason was 80 years old in 1832,
he would have been born in 1752, and would have journeyed to
America (at age 15) in 1767, by which time Archibald Sr. had
died. However, if Mr. Mason was 90 years old in 1832, his birth
year would have been 1742, and his journey would have been made
around 1757. From this, we can deduct that Archibald's death
occurred as early as 1757 (or before) or as late as 1767.

If the testimony of Edward Mason is accurate, Archibald "Senior"
had died by the time Archibald Reagh sold the land originally
purchased in 1753. In Chalkley, Vol. II, 269, a deposition by
a William Patton in 1806 refers to a massacre forty-three years
earlier (1763) wherein sixteen or seventeen people were killed.
He names ten persons, including Archibald Rhea, but it is not
clear if they were among those massacred or those who helped
bury them. Some of the names are recorded by Chalkley on
documents recorded after 1763. If the Edward Mason statement is
accurate, we know only that Archibald Senior was dead by 1767,
and perhaps as early as 1755-57. The widow mentioned by Edward
Mason could not have been that of Archibald Jr., son of William,
for he died in 1774.

1763 the incident of the death of 'Archibald Rhea', burned at
the stake by indians in, is also recounted by his neice
Elizabeth Rhea Conyer in which she purportedly said it was her
brother Archibald who was killed.

There is some doubt about the Uncle Archibald Rhea story and
other traditions concerning the Rheas passed on by members of
the Coyner family. Robert's Rhea's daughters, Ann and Elizabeth,
each named a son Archibald Rhea, indicating a special family
affiliation. Rather than an uncle living near Raleigh, might it
have been their brother, Archibald, who died near Knoxville,
Tennessee in 1793? In that year, settlers on the Holston and
French Broad Rivers near Knoxville were repeatedly harassed by
Indians, and many were massacred (Ramsey, J.G.M., The Annals of
Tennessee To The End Of The Eighteenth Century, Charleston: John
Russel, 1853, 179-183).* Might he have fallen a victim, and his
name honored by his sisters naming sons, Archibald Rhea?
Archibald Rhea Turk, Ann's son, was born July 4, 1794, the year
following her brother's death, and Elizabeth's son, Archibald
Rhea Coyner, was born in 1797. This is pure speculation, but it
does add some credence to the massacre story found in Charles
Coyner's biographical sketch of his grandmother, Elizabeth
(Rhea) Coyner.

The names of his descendants and the association of his line and
that of Matthew Jr. lead to the conclusion that this Archibald
was also the son of the Rebel Matthew Campbell Rhea.

Notes for ANN? WIFE OF ARCHIBALD RHEA:
One researcher reports her name as Ann Guthrie.

One Edward Mason, an indentured servant hired by the widow of
Archibald Rhea between 1757 and 1767. According to his Rev. War
Pension Application, he lived part of his 4-year term in Augusta
Co., VA, and part in Wythe Co., VA (actually it was then a part
of Montogomery Co., becoming Wythe in 1789) moving eventually to
Knox Co., TN. In an attempt to find out what happened to
Archibald's widow, I tried tracing Edward Mason at county>
archives and libraries in Knoxville but was unsuccessful.>>
Today I ran across a web site entitled "Mason Relatives in East
Tennessee." It mentions the Widow Rhea, but gives no clue as to
what happened to her. The web site is:>
http://millennium.fortunecity.com/tulip/152/rmmason.html. It
states that he arrived in Charleston. S.C. in 1762. If correct,
that is very close to the time he began working for Archibald's
widow. In his pension application, the date could be anywhere
between 1757 and 1767. I have suspected that Archibald's widow
may have been named "Elizabeth," but have no proof. Some say
"Ann," perhaps because their three sons had daughters by that
name. One of these days I will post my reasons for the name
"Elizabeth." Robert Perry Rhea

Children of ARCHIBALD RHEA and ANN? RHEA are:

WILLIAM³⁷ RHEA, b. Abt. 1718, Ireland; d. 25 Apr 1802, Bath Co., VA; m. ELIZABETH CLARK, 01 Jan 1744/45; b. 01 Jan 1727/28, Beverly Manor, Augusta Co., VA; d. 23 Nov 1804, Bath Co., VA ².

Notes for WILLIAM RHEA:
William Rhea was born about 1718. From circumstances it is
thought his father was Archibald Rhea. It is believed he had
come from PA to VA and settled in what became Bath Co. VA.
Originally Orange Co., Augusta Co. (which was named in honor of
Princes Augusta of Saxe-Gotha, wife of Frederick Louis, Prince
of Wales, father of George III). This area was unsettled in
nature at the time and did not have a county government until
1745.

Sometime between 1740 and 1746, William married Elizabeth Clark,
born in Augusta County, VA, daughter of James and Elizabeth
(Summers) Clark. Elizabeth's father was a wheelwright and also
a land agent for William Beverly, dealing with a large parcels
of Virginia frontier land.

1750 he first record of William comes in the form of a real
estate transaction. In May of 1750, he was the first of three
brothers to purchase land from Benjamin Borden in Borden's
grant. He selected 230 acres on Hays Creek which is located
about sixteen miles north of Lexington (now Rockbridge Co., VA.)
Augusta Co. VA deed book 2, 751-753 dated May 17, 1750 recorded
May 23, 1750. This 230 acres was on the S.E. Side of Hays Creek
(also known as Walkers Creek) which at that point flowed more or
less south westerly, nearly paralleling the Borden patent line
located less than 200 yards to the north. The properties of
William, Archibald and Robert Rhea were located at the present
town of Zack on highway 602. In 1808 Andrew Kennedy built the
Kennedy-McCray mill on the property purchased from Archibald in
1784.

1753 March 13, Augusta Co. VA deed book 5, 185-188 - 200 acres
that straddled Walkers Creek and adjoined William's land to the
S.W. and the 188 acres on the N.E. that Robert purchased the
following year. William was listed as communicant of Timber
Ridge Presbyterian Church in 1753. He signed the call for the
first minister, John Brown, per 'History of Rockbridge County'.

1758 having become a settler in Augusta County, William
performed civic duty by serving in the Augusta County Colonial
Militia. This was during the French/Indian War. This conflict
ended in l763 and the settlers returned to business of growing
crops and providing for their families. In 1764 May, John
Handley and Grizel conveyed to William "Reah", 257 acres (survey
to Joseph Kennedy on Broad Spring Run, otherwise called Back
Creek).

1767 William was issued a Hemp certificate in Augusta Co. VA.
About that year, William moved his residence to the Upper Mill
Creek settlement, which occupied the basin of that stream above
Panther's Gap. Mill Creek is a branch of the Calf Pasture, just
a few miles northeast of the present town of Millboro.

1767 Augusta Co., Va Deed Book 13, 338-341. Lease dated and
recorded on May 20, 1767; the release was dated May 22, and
recorded May 21(?), the day before John Wilson,Gent. To William
Reah, 600 acres on Elm Creek, a branch of the Calf Pasture
River. William subdivided the land in 1775, selling tracts to
sons, William, James and John.

1769 Augusta Co., VA Deed Book 16, 113-116. Lease and release
dated 20 October 16 and 17, 1769, respectively, and both
wererecorded October 18, 1769. In 1795 they were delivered to
Hugh Rhea, one of the two living children.

1769, William sold, to his son Archibald, that parcel of land in
Borden's Grant, which had been his original purchase.
(Archibald in 1771 purchased an additional 33 acres from the
Borden heirs. That parcel was wedged between his 230 acres and
Archibald's 200 acres to the N.E.)

1772 August 19, Augusta Co. Court Records, Order Book No. XIV,
shows business of the court was to "bind out" a three-year old
orphan by the name of William Woodridge to William "Reah". From
the Augusta County VA Parish Vestry Book, we learn the
responsibilities of William "Reagh" toward this orphan: "the
said Wm. Reagh shall cause him to be taught to read and write &
arithmetic as far as the Rule of Three and to learn him the
trade of a farmer and also to furnish and provide sufficient
meat, drink, lodging, and apparel fitting an apprentice ...and
shall give him the freedom dues that the law direct...."

1775, a Presbyterian minister was visiting the area and in his
journal, recorded his visit on the day after Christmas, with
William and Elizabeth Rhea, as follows: "Tuesday at Mr. Rhea's,
I passed pleasantly in rural enjoyment. He owns a very large
farm; it lies by itself three miles distant from any neighbor;
his range for stock is extensive and rich -- his stock is large
and valuable; hay in great quantities. Many cattle -- many
horses young and old -- several fine English fillies -- Mr. Reah
is a stiff Quo-He -- his wife is a chatty plain good-humored
body -- we supped and breakfasted on buttered Paste, of wheat
meal."

1775 Ausguta Co., VA Deed Book 21, 5-16. Leases and releases
dated and recorded in February and March, 1775. William, Jr.
purchased 300 acres (page 205-8), James, 125 acres (pages 9-13),
and John, 110 acres (pages 14-16). The deeds located the tracts
on Mill Creek, which was Elm Creek in the deed.

About eight years after relocating to Mill Creek, William deeded
tracts on Mill Creek to sons, James, William, and John. With
this action, William had awarded land to four of his six sons,
omitting only Alexander and Robert.

1801 William Rhea died on Mill Creek, in Bath Co. VA, on April
25, 1801, after having lived there at least thirty years. His
Will was dated January 3, 1801, recorded in Bath Co. Will Book
1, p. 214. One of the items in the will was a bequeath to a
grandson of a copy of "Whitefield's Sermons." In his Will, he
bequeathed only $1 to his son John, although he recognized the
remainder of his heirs equally. What appears to be an inequity
can be explained away because William was of the opinion that he
had provided for John through an earlier agreement. A lawsuit
between John and the other heirs finally resolved the matter.

1802 William's date of death is recorded in the family bible of
son Robert Rhea.

1802 Will of William Rhea of Bath dated Jan. 3, 1801 Wit:
Robert Bratton, Anne Dunlap, Henry Dill and John Dunlap -
Probated June 1802 court Exec: son Robert Beq: to beloved
wife Elisabeth "her body clos, two beds and bedding of cloes",
saddle and bridle, two of my horses, plows and tackling, 5
cows, 5 calves, all the sheep, 1/3 of the hogs, kitchen and
"cobert" furniture, 1/3 of my books, negro child Sam and $70,
and for life Negro slave Tom and woman slave Dafney to sons of
Archabel Rhea dec., Huey and John $1 each to son John $1 to son
Robert and Alexander 50 pounds and land on the Cowpasture
movable estate in fifths to the two grandson and son of Robert
and Alexander and daughter Ann Lockridge Will Book 1, page 238.

Inventory- William Rhea Submitted December 1802 court by James
Braton, James Kelso, Nathan Crawford and James Graham tableware,
kitchen utensils, 10 books, household furniture, farm implements
and tools, nine slaves (Samuel, Tom and Dafney listed by name),
cattle 32, hogs 23, sheep 9, geese 5, horses 12 including "a
sickly sorrel filley", money weights, one "pistle" and one
"swoard spoon mole", cooper's tools, shoemaker's tools, spinning
wheel, clothes, wagon, saddles and bridles.

1804 The Chancery Court suit which followed William's death (as
well as both wills for William and Elizabeth) was most revealing
as to family relationships. The suit was filed in Augusta
County on July 19, 1804, by John Rhea (youngest son) against
the other heirs of William Rhea's estate. In summary, John
deposed "In 1777 his brothers were about to leave their father,
William Rhea, in order to settle themselves. William (father)
applied to John (son) to stay with him. John was drafted for a
tour for a year, for which he hired a substitute. For this,
John was promised, by his father, a parcel of land." The suit
was filed in order for John to obtain a clear title to the land
that had been promised him by his father.

Notes for ELIZABETH CLARK:
Elizabeth began to appear in deeds with her husband William as
early at 1766.

Elizabeth (Clark) Rhea died 3 years after her husband William,
on November 23, 1804, in Bath County, VA. She had written her
Will just three days prior to her death. (The family bible of son
Robert Rhea has an entry which reads - Mother Elizabeth Rhea departed
this life the 18th day of July 1805. However, her will was
administered in 1804.)

Per "Abstracts of the Wills and Inventories of Bath County,
Virginia 1791-1842" by Jean Randolph Bruns from Bath Co. Will
Book 1, p. 306: Will of Elizabeth Rhea (X) dated Nov. 20,
1804 Wit: James Kelso, Robert Mines, John Rhea and Kitty Dill
Exec. James Kelso and John Rhea

Beq: to grandchildren and great grandchildren called Elizabeth
or Betsey 1 "bible and Watses hyms"; to son William and all
grandchildren, names William, the same to son Robert one bead
(sic) with all the close(sic) belonging to the same"; to son
Alexander, 7 pounds; to daughter Ann Laughrays "my bead in the
little room" and all wearing apparel; to grandchild Ann Rhea,
daughter of son John 1 bed and bedstead; to son John yearling
bull; to son William's son Robert Rhea "Whitefield Sermons"; 3
Negro children Samuel, Toby and Ben to be sold with their
mother, and all livestock and household furnishings, making
seven shares to be divided betwen children now living and
children of sons Archible and James Rhea dead. To Negro man
Thomas $8 cash, rifle gun, and a man's saddle which he now
clames". To Negro woman Daughfeney $8 cash; none of her books
to be sold; to be divided among children.

Inventory of Elizabeth Rhea submitted Dec 19, 1804 by Thomas
Cock, Nathan Crawford, James Graham and Hazel Williams cattle
16, hogs 21, sheep 14, horses 7, 2 bee hives, geese 6, oats,
rye, wheat, corn, flaxseed, cyder cask, farm implements kitchen
furniture, spinning wheel, clothes, shirting linen, Negro by Sam
and girl Pheeby; p.311 Inventory (balance) - William Rhea
Submitted Dec. 20, 1804 by James Graham, James Kelso, Nathan
Crawford Negro child Sam, spinning wheel, woolen wheel, fam
implements, tools, bridles, ink stand.

ii.

ROBERT RHEA, b. 01 Jan 1719/20, Londonderry, Co. Donegal, IRE; d. 01 Jan 1779, Washington Co., VA; m. SARAH BINGHAM, 01 Jan 1750/51, Augusta Co., VA; b. Abt. 1720, Beverly Manor, Augusta Co., VA; d. 01 Jan 1779, VA?.

Notes for ROBERT RHEA:
Robert Rhea'S first record is his purchase of land in 1754.
Assuming him to have been above the age of 21 at that time, his
birth would have been prior to 1733 (likely, ca 1724).

Robert married Sarah, daughter of John and Sarah Bingham, who
had purchased Beverley Manor in 1749 (just North of Borden's
Grant). Robert and Sarah located near his brothers. Robert
purchased 188 acres on Hays Creek, a bit northeast of William's
and Archbald's lands, getting title in 1754.

1758 Robert and Sarah sold their land in Augusta Co. VA and
apparently left the area at that time, as did many others. He
sold his land to brother Archiblad and took his family to
Mecklenburg Co. near today's Charlotte NC.

When the French defeated General Braddock on July 9, 1755, many
families left Augusta Co. and relocated further south for their
safety. A large number of people from Cow or Calf pasture in
Virginia went to North Carolina, and many of the congregation in
Windy Cove relocated to Anson (later Mecklenburg) Co, North
Carolina. Robert and Sarah are presumed to have been a part of
this migration, as one of their sons stated in his pension
application that he was born in Mecklenburg (then Anson) County
N.C. in April, l763. (See Foote, Sketches of North Carolina,
1846).

1766 about Robert had property near Abbeville SC and in about
1768, the family moved near Charleston. About 1771 they moved
again near Cripple Creek, Wythe Co., now Montgomery County VA.

1774 in Montgomery Co. VA, Robert was issued a hemp certificate
and within a couple of years, he purchased 593 acres from
Alexander Noble on Cripple Creek. Robert's occupation was
Carpenter and Joiner.

Montgomery County Commissioners Certificates, p. 141. See also
Montgomery Co., VA Deed Book A, 287-288.* Dated September 16,
1782, recorded March 4, 1783. At an unspecified date, a 593-acre
parcel lying on Cripple Creek was granted to Robert Reagh by
Alexander Noble. The deed was proven but not recorded in
Botetourt County, which had jurisdiction until Montgomery became
a county in 1776. After Robert's death, the deed, cited above,
gave clear title to John Reagh, his heir, and the administrator
of his estate. John, who then resided on the property, needed
clear title to dispose of it. (Kegley, Mary B., Vol. 2:112b)

Although he owned land in Montgomery County, Robert was residing
in Washington County VA when he died in 1779. John "Reaugh" was
granted administration of his father's estate on Nov. 16, 1779,
Washington Co, VA., with bond of 8,000 pounds. The inventory of
the estate included carpentry and silver smith tools. (Inventory
to be found in Will Book 1-34, Wash. Co. VA).

iii.

JR. ARCHIBALD RHEA, b. 01 Jan 1724/25, Ireland; d. 01 Jan 1804, Amherst Co., VA; m. (1) FIRST WIFE OF ARCHIBALD RHEA, Abt. 1775; b. Abt. 1725; m. (2) JEAN MCCAUSLAND, Abt. 1790; b. Abt. 1730, VA?; d. VA?.

Notes for JR. ARCHIBALD RHEA:
The first records of Archibald and his brothers were land
purchases, in Borden's Grant, where they settled on Hays and
Walker's Creeks, approximately sixteen miles north of Lexington
in what is now Rock-bridge County. These land purchases were in
an area which is currently known as "Zack" on Highway #602.
William, who purchased his land in 1750 was the first, followed
by Archibald in 1753, and lastly, Robert's purchase in 1754.

1753 March 13, Archibald received a deed for 200 acres from
Borden et al on Walkers Creek, William Reagh's corner, old
survey.

1753-4 Signed a petition to the County Court for permission to
produce whiskey.

1754 Augusta Co., VA. Deed Book 6, 264-266.* Dated --, 1754,
recorded May 16, 1754. Contained 118 acres on the N.W. side of
hays Creek, contiguous to Archibald's 200 acres to the S.W., and
sharing a common line with "Widow Smiley" on the N.E. The N.W.
line of this and Archibald's land to the S.W. was on the patent
line of the Borden Grant. It ran "south forty-seven & a half
degrees west."5.

1758 Augusta Co., VA Deed Book 8, 10-11.* Dated May 2, 1758,
recorded May 17, 1758. Signed by Robert and Sarah Reah, and
William "Reaoh" was a witness. The deed was delivered to
Archibald Reah on March 23, 1760. In 1790, "Archibald Rhea and
Jean his Wife" sold this property as two reconfigured parcels of
74 and 101 acres, the additional acreage lying to the N.W. of
the patent line (see Ref.202).6. This is a clear case where
"Junior" was used to differentiate between a nephew and his
uncle. See Ref. 66 for Archibald's will.

1758 Although Robert was the last to purchase, he was the first
to give it up, when he and his wife, Sarah, sold their land to
Archibald in 1758. William, Robert and Archibald, presumed to
be brothers, all served in 1758 in the Augusta County Colonial
Militia.

A very probable scenario is that the Rhea's came to Virginia
with members of the Providence Presbyterian congregation that
was located near Norristown, Pennsylvania. Brother Robert was
one of six trustees who, in 1754, signed the deed for the
property of New Providence, organized in 1748 by members of the
Pennsylvania congregation.

1782 Montgomery Co. VA land tax list shows an Archibald Reaugh
with 250 acres valued at 45 pounds. A John Rhea (son?) is shown
with 118 acres worth 20 pounds. (118 acres was the acreage sold
to Archibald in 1758 by Robert Rhea.

Archibald appears on the tax list found in Rockbridge Co. VA
Will Book 1, 24-29 (Yes, the will book). Contrary to other
reports, there is only one Archibald listed on the list.

1783 he signed a mortgage deed and in 1784 a deed followed.
Archibald 'Jr.' mortgaged for 25 pounds of gold and silver "all
that tract of land on which the said Archibald now lives
containing 300 acres...& adjoining the lands of William Smiley
and Thomas Hutson". (Rockbridge Co. VA deed book A, 413-414).
Held by John Rice (his son in law, the mortgage ran to March 1,
1784, five months before Archibald Reagh sold the 200 acres,
reconfigured to contain 191 acres, to Andrew Kenady on August 2,
1884 (Rockbridge deed book A, 454-456).

1790 the tract of 300 acres on which Archibald Jr. lived was
much larger than the 118 acres he purchased from Robert in 1758
or the 175 acres when reconfigured and sold as two parcels in
1790. Although the mortgage deed did not include metes and
bounds, his homestead od 300 acres may have included all fo the
tracts purchased in 1753 and 1758. Also, neither the mortgage
deed od 1783 not the deed of 1784 contained the signature of a
wife.

1790 Rockbridge Co.,VA DeedBookB, 141-143 dated April 10, 1790,
recorded June 1, 1790. Archibald Rhea and Jean his wife of
Augusta County, to heirs at law of David Wilson, deceased, 74
acres. William Rhea, witness. Ibid., 144-146 dated June 1,
1790, recorded June 1, 1790. Archibald Rhea and Jean his wife to
heirs at law of John Bell, deceased, 101 acres. The two tracts
shared common lines with the original 118 acres, with the
additional 57 acres located to the north of the Borden patent
line.

1803 September 25th, in Amherst Co. he wrote his will and it was
recorded on Oct 15, 1804. He names his wife Jean, sons
Archibald, William, John Robert and Andrew, daughters Mary, Ann,
Jean, Martha, Rebecca and children of Isabella (deceased
daughter). He wife, son Archibald (assumed to be his eldest
son) and his brother-in-law Andrew McCausland were designated as
guardians for his minor children.

Notes for JEAN MCCAUSLAND:
1783 a mortgage deed was originated followed by a deed in
1784, neither of which was co-signed by a wife. Therefore, an
assumption is made that Archibald married, after 1784, to
Jane/Jean McCausland. However, Archibald had eleven known
children, only three of which (John, Robert, & Andrew) were
identified in John McCausland's Will of 1811, as sons of his
daughter Jane/Jean Rhea. Therefore, it might be assumed that
Jane/Jean was a second wife to Archibald. The first that she
appears with him on deeds in Rockbridge County VA is in l790.
This was the land Archibald had bought from Robert Rhea in 1758.

On Sept. 25, 1803, in Amherst Co. VA, Archibald wrote his Last
Will and Testament, and it was recorded on Oct. l5, 1804. His
will names his wife, sons Archibald, William, John, Robert, and
Andrew, daughters Mary, Ann, Jean, Martha, and Rebecca and
children of Isabella (deceased daughter). His wife, Jean, his
son Archibald (assumed to be his eldest son) and his
brother-in-law Andrew McCausland were designated as guardians
for his minor children.

She and her children are named in the 1811 will of her father John, proved
in 1813.

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