David,
You've done some superb research and analysis. Are you ready to call this one
complete?
That Rice Newsletter seems to be producing some results, though I dont monitor it too
closely.
If any W'tons, or more Carruthers show up in RICE, pls fwd them to us.
Barry
PS: ALL, does anyone have Sara Whitford's current email/ phone? An email of minr today
had some interesting info for her. bw
----- Original Message -----
From: DAVID BROWN
To: Barry Wetherington ; AllenHumphrey2 ; AllenHumphreyNu ; AnnGreer ; AnnOhm ; Bill King
; Francis Hodges ; GlenKaren ; Jean Witherington ; Julie Wetherington ; Marc Roddin ;
MarthaMarble ; Mike Smolek ; Mike smolek ; SaraWhitford ; smolek(a)mail.tqci.net ; Trish
Cobb ; V Jones ; Vam York
Sent: Sunday, June 01, 2008 12:01 PM
Subject: Re: Rice Family Update
Hi Everyone,
I thought I'd pass along a summary of my recent findings on the Rice family, which I
recently shared with a Rice Research Group. I know this is a collateral line for most of
you, but thought you would be interested nonetheless. If you scroll down, I do mention
Francis Jones, maternal grandfather of Sarah Carruthers who married John Rice (he owned
land near John Gibbs who "may" have been the maternal grandfather of John
Rice).
I wanted to thank all of you who have helped me particularly Ann Ohmsen who generously
shared information regarding the connection of Sarah Carruthers to both the Jones and
Dauley families!
Thanks again!
David
David Brown <dbrown544(a)hotmail.com> wrote:
It's been a while since my last update. We've made some more progress
relative to the Gov. Nathaniel Rice line. I apologize in advance for the length of the
e-mail, but needed to share some info shared previously in order to illustrate the
importance of the more recent findings. First (as a reminder), here's the
5-generation line from Gov. Nathaniel Rice who died in 1753 in North Carolina to Nathaniel
Rice who died exactly 100 years later in 1853 in Randolph County, Missouri (some would say
this is a "proposed" line, but I am feeling very confident about it after the
more recent discoveries):
1. Nathaniel Rice m. a) Anne Gibbs; b) Mary Bursey; c) Others????
2. John Rice, Sr. m. Sarah Carruthers
3. John Rice, Jr. m. Abigail Sugg
4. Joshua Rice m. Unknown (possibly Abigail Smith????)
5. Nathaniel Rice m. Ann Uzzell
The following deed was shared with everyone earlier this year (as transcribed by Ann
Ohmsen):
"This Indenture made this 20th day of February in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and eight between John Rice of the County of Johnson of the one
part and John Stanly of Newbern of the other part. Witnesseth that the said John Rice for
and in consideration of the sum of Twenty pounds to him in hand paid by John Stanly the
receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged hath bargained sold released and confirmed and by
these presents doth bargain sell release and confirm unto the said John Stanly his heirs
and assigns a lot of land situate in the town of Newbern at the intersection of Queen
Street and Graves Street known in the plan of the said by the number one hundred and
twenty, containing one half acre more or less. To have and to hold the said Lott to the
said lott to the said John Stanly his heirs and assigns forever and the said John Rice for
himself his heirs executors and administrators doth covenant to and with the said John
Stanly his heirs and assigns to warrant and defend the premises hereby granted to the said
John Stanly his heirs and assigns against the lawful claims of all persons claiming by
through from or under him. In witness whereof the said John Rice hath hereunto set his
hand and seal the day and year first above written
Sealed & delivered J. Rice (Seal)
in presence of State of North Carolina March 30th 1808 -
R. Sanders The execution of the above Deed by John Rice was this Day proved
Betsy Youngblood before me by Reuben Sanders a subscribing witness thereto, therefore
let it be Registered -
Jn. Hall . . ."
Well, I've been looking for mention of Lot #120 in earlier Craven County records
and finally found it as follows:
Craven County Deeds (Book 7, Page 162):
2699. Oct. 26, 1751 Joseph Balch, Charles Adams, James Davis, & Jos Carruthers,
commissioners for New Bern to Philip Smith; for .20 Pounds sold .5 ac in Lot #121 in New
Bern; border: begins at John Rice's lot #120.Abstracts of Deeds, Craven Co., NC, Books
6, 7, 8 & 9-10, 1750-1758. Whitakers, NC: A.B. Pruitt, 2005. Call Number: R NC 929.3
CRAVEN P
This is remarkable! This offers additional proof that John Rice (Jr.) who lived in
Johnston Co., NC in 1808 was indeed the son of John Rice (Sr.) who was in Craven Co., NC
by the mid-1740's and owned the same lot. Since we know that John Rice, Sr. of
Craven County was a son of Gov. Nathaniel Rice and now are more confident that John Rice,
Jr. of Wake/Johnston was in fact a son of John Rice, Sr. of Craven County, then I feel
more and more certain of our previous conclusions that Joshua Rice who died after 1850
possbily in Sumner Co., TN and of whom we believe is a son of John Rice, Jr. & Abigail
Sugg is, in fact, a descendant of Gov. Nathaniel Rice. The following items support the
link between John Rice, Jr. & wife Abigail Sugg with Joshua Rice of Sumner Co., TN:
a) John Rice, Jr. of Johnston Co., NC was the same man who was at one time living in
Wake County & was Clerk of the Wake County, NC Court (based on the oaths of John
Humphries and John Grant Rencher in the British Mercantile Claims Record reflecting John
Rice's unfortunate circumstances following the Revolutionary War as follows):
From "Claims of British Merchants after the Revolutionary War (12th in
series)," by Ransom McBride in Volume XVII, No. 1 of the North Carolina Genealogical
Society Journal:
"Rice, John 78.8.7 Pounds - John Grant Rencher and Colonel John Humphreys of
Wake say that J. Rice was a man of very good fortune at the end of the War. [He] was Clerk
of Wake Court, now lives insolvent in Johnston County...became insolvent by hard drinking
before 1790."
b) John Rice, Jr. of Wake County, NC was married to Abigail Sugg from 1773 until
c.1783 (at which time they separated/divorced), and she was a daughter of Joshua Sugg (per
the following):
Marriage Notes for JOHN RICE and ABIGAIL SUGGS:
From Marriages of Wake County, North Carolina 1770-1868, Compiled by Brent H.
Holcomb & Indexed by Elizabeth P. Bentley. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. 1983
Baltimore: John Rice to Abigail Sugg: Thomas Rice, Bondsman; Peter Uptegroves, Wit.,
Consent from Joshua Sugg, father of Abigail.
Wake County North Carolina County Court Minutes 1777 thru 1784 Book I by Weynette
Parks Haun: ***p55 John Rice having been appointed Clerk of the Inferior Court of Pleas
and Quarter Sessions for the Countyof Wake came into Court and took the Oaths for the
Qualifications of Public Officers as also the Oath of Office and entered into Bond
agreeable to Law with Thomas Wootten and Joshua Sugg his Securities who were approved off.
Joshua Sugg Tax gatherer in Capt. Beddingfields District came into Court and Produced his
account of his Collection which was Settled and ordered to be filed amounting to
L90:4:6.***p86 A Deed from John Rice and Abegail his wife to Joshua Sugg was in open court
duly acknowledged and Ordered to be Registered at the same time Abigail Rice came into
Court and on being examined by Tingnal Jones Esqr.
From Divorces and Separations from Petitions to the North Carolina General Assembly
from 1779 (Part I), by Janet and Ransom McBride in Volume XVII, No. 4 of the North
Carolina Genealogical Society Journal:"30. Rice, Abigail. Petition of Abigail Rice
and Joshua Sugg: In or about the year 1773, the petitioner, Abigail Rice, was married to
John Rice. After eight or ten years, said John Rice left said Abigail with one child and
took another woman with whom he continues to live. The petitioners pray that a law be
passed to prevent said John Rice from taking anything that said Abigail has attained by
her own industry or that has been bestowed on her by friends. Your Petitioners do affirm
that they have no Intention to defraud any Person...But your Petitioner having but Two
children desires to Bestow of the Blessing God has Bestowed on him, on them both..."
"[The above petition is enclosed in the following committee report:] The Committee
to whom was referred the above petition reports that the prayer of the said petitioner
ought to be granted and recommend a law be passed to entitle said Abigail Rice to enjoy
all the estate that she may acquire independent of her husband, John Rice. In Senate, 21
Jan. 1795, and in House, 25 Jan. 1795. Concur with recommendation of Committee. (GASR,
Dec.1794-Feb. 1795, Box 2: Folder "HCR")."
c) The Sumner Co., TN Bill of Sale record from 1820 states that Joshua Rice is deeding
slaves inherited from his maternal Grandfather Joshua Sugg via his mother Abigail Rice to
his children -- Nathaniel Rice, Sarah Rice, Polly Groves, John Rice, James Rice, and
Thomas J. Rice. Nathaniel Rice who is listed in this record would be my ggg grandfather
-- he was born c.1794 and died 1853 in Randolph Co., MO and was married to Ann Uzzell.
I have also investigated Betsy Youngblood who is mentioned as a witness for the
Johnston Co., NC deed of 1808. It turns out there is a Johnston Co., NC marriage record
in 1806 for Ichabod Youngblood and Betsy Rice! I am thinking she is a daughter of John
Rice, Jr. by his second marriage (may have been a "common law" marriage).
Betsy Rice Youngblood is still living in Johnston Co., NC per both the 1850 and 1860
census records where she is listed as having been born in 1792. I found information on
her family on Rootsweb as follows:
http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/youngblood/2002-06/1024347965
It is also now my opinion that Thomas Rice who appears frequently in Johnston Co., NC
records from around 1819 until 1848 (and who according to the Johnston Co., NC 1840 census
was born between 1790 and 1800) is probably a brother of Betsy (she names one of her sons
Thomas Rice Youngblood) and therefore most likely a son of John Rice. It makes sense as
Thomas Rice's wife was Martha Turner who was related in some way to the Smith family
there in Johnston County (John Rice, Jr. was associated with Smiths, and there is an
Abigail Rice listed in the will of Britain Smith in 1793 in Wake County -- appears this
Abigail is a sister of Britain Smith so not the same person as Abigail Sugg Rice...at
least if I'm interpreting the wording of the will correctly). Therefore, we now
have at least two half-siblings to our Joshua Rice!
Additionally, we have new records that I wanted to share with you as follows:
New Hanover County Estates Records 1741-1939 (CR.070.503.92)
Nathaniel Rice Folder
North Carolina
Know all Men by these Presents that We John Rice (the last name is smudged out, but
s/b Rice), William Dry, and Maurice Moore all of the county of New Hanover and Province
aforesaid are held and firmly bound unto the Honoruable Matthew Rowan Esq., President
& Commander in Chief in and over the said Province or his ____ in the just and full
sum of Two thousand pounds Proclamation Money to be paid to the said ______ of his
successors or assigns...as ____ payment well and truly to be made. We bind ourselves and
Heirs Executors and Administrators jointly and severally, firmly by these presents. Sealed
with our Seals and dated this 20 day of February Anno Dom 1754.
The Condition of this Obligation is such that ____ the above bound John Rice hath
obtained from the County court of New Hanover and (next sentence is smudged out and
illegible) for Letters of Guardianship for such part of the Estate of Nathaniel Rice Esq.
Deceased as is left to the Children of the above said John Rice, Grandchildren of the said
Nathaniel Rice by his last Will and Testament. Now if the above bound John Rice Guardian
to Nathaniel, John, Sarah and Mary Rice his Children as aforesaid shall well and truly
keep and preserve the Estate of the said Nathaniel, John, Sarah, and Mary and not waste or
imbezzel the same nor offer the same to be wasted or imbezzelled and shall also well and
truly deliver unto each and every of his said Children their said Estate ____ they arrive
at age then his obligation to be void and of _____ else to remain in full force and
virtue.
Jn. R (remainder smudged out)
William Dry
Signed, Sealed & Delivered in the presence of
Caleb Grainger
George _____
Comment by David: This record supplements the Nathaniel Rice will of 1753, which
leaves all of his land to his wife Mary Bursey Rice, but upon her death, 1/2 of the estate
is for Mary to do with as she pleases, while the other half is to be divided equally
between Nathaniel's son John, and Nathaniel's unnamed grandchildren (Mary Bursey
Rice appears to have died later that year). Additionally, we have frequent mention in
the colonial records of the above-named four grandchildren in reference to Samuel Swann
(executor of the Nathaniel Rice estate) asking the Colonial Council for permission to
settle the Nathaniel Rice Estate. I'm not sure why this bond was executed and why
William Dry is so concerned with the welfare of the four eldest children (William Dry
figures into the equation later as John Rice, Sr. mortgages part of his property to
William Dry). However, I now think this bond is the reason we consistently see mention
of "only" the four oldest children of John Rice, Sr in so many of the early
records....namely Nathaniel, John, Jr., Sarah, and Mary The other (as of yet unborn
children in 1754) are found later in the Brunswick Co., NC records when the land of
Nathaniel Rice was disposed of by his heirs (i.e., his grandchildren and, in one case, his
great-grandson). Apparently, the will of Nathaniel Rice was originally interpreted to
divide one-half his land equally amongst his son John Rice and grandchildren living at the
time of Nathaniel's death in 1753. However, later interpretations must have
determined the land was to be divided amongst all the grandchildren including those unborn
in 1753. Perhaps the confusion surrounding the disposition of the estate is the reason it
took over 30 years for it to be settled! Here are the Brunswick County, NC Disposition
records:
State of North Carolina
Wake County} This indenture witnesseth that we John and (Anna?) Charlotte Rice of the
county aforesaid have for and in consideration of the sum of one hundred pounds currency
to us in hand paid by Jacob Lenoard of the county of Brunswick and State aforesaid the
receipt whereof I do hereby oblige therewith fully satisfied and paid for allow right
title or claimes to ever we have to land in Bladen & Brunswick counties in the state
aforesaid by these presents do freely fully and absolutely grant bargain sell &
release to him the said Jacob Leonard his heirs and assigns forever all our rights
interest or claim whatever to all land in the aforesaid counties that have descended to us
by virtue of the last will and testament of Nathaniel Rice esquire deceased or in any
manner whatever belongs to us our heirs or assigns in witness whereof we have herewith set
out hands and seals this ninth day of December in the year of our Lord 1788. Signed and
Sealed in the presence of J. Rice and A. Charlotte Rice.
That the said John Rice does (not?) convey his part of the aforesaid land that fell to
him as heir at law to his eldest brother Nathaniel Rice dec'd agreeable to the last
will and testament of the afore'sd Nathaniel Rice Esq.
Witnesses:
J. Lane
Reuben Hunter
Proved at New Bern, 24 December 1791
Comment by David: This deed was shared previously. I believe this deed more than
any other document helps prove this Rice line since John Rice, Jr. was living in Wake
County, NC and very closely associated wtih both Joel Lane and Reuben Hunter (as was
Joshua Sugg). Additionally, Joshua Rice in Sumner County was bondsman for the marriage
of Reuben Hunter's son (or grandson?) Needham. This deed also supplements the 1784
Bladen County, NC deed whereby John Rice as "legatee and heir-at-law" of
Nathaniel Rice, Esq. sold 320 acres of land located in Bladen Co., NC to a Christopher
Woodward of Wake Co., NC.
Brunswick County Deeds - Book C, Page 45-47:
This Indenture made this Sixteenth Day of April in the year of our Lord One Thousand
and Seven Hundred and eighty eight and in the twelfth year of American Independence
between Thomas Rice, Mary Wrenford, Fanny Rice, Thomas L. Cheek and his wife Penelope all
of the county of craven and town Newbern and State of North Carolina of the one part and
Joel Parish of the County aforesaid of the other part witness that for and in
consideration of the sum of one hundred and seventy five pounds paid to the said Thomas
Rice, Mary Wrenford, Fanny Rice, Thomas Cheek, and wife Penelope in hand paid By the said
Joel Parish of and before the sealing and Delivery of these presents ______ and _______
whereof is hereby acknowledged hath granted bargained sold and released & alienated
____ conveyed and confirmed and by these presents doth grant bargain sell and release
alien of said convey and confirm unto the said Joel Parish his heirs and assignees forever
all our right title interest in claimes to and demands unto all the _____ tracts or parcel
of Land that our grandfather Nathaniel Rice esquire patented or purchased in new hanover
Precinct now called Brunswick County lying on the waters of town creek Lockwoods folley
and wagaman (?) and Cape Fear river in Particular Two Places one by the name of Kimbah and
Green Hill which the Different Patents and Deeds of the Different Tracts or parcels of
Land will fully ____ with the appurtenances (deed continues with no further relevant
information)
Signed:
Thomas Rice {Seal}
Mary Wrenford {Seal}
Fanny Rice {Seal}
Thomas L. Cheek {Seal}
Penelope Cheek {Seal}
Comment by David: A Thomas Rice signed as bondsman for the marriage of John Rice to
Abigail Sugg in 1773 in Wake County. John Hawks & Sarah Hawks were mentioned
relative to Edmund Wrenford Probate who we presume must have married Sarah's sister
Mary Rice sometime between 1769 and 1781. Penelope Rice is mentioned as daughter of John
Rice, Sr. (along with sister Elizabeth) in a deed from William Powell in 1764 -- she
married Thomas Cheek in 1785.
Brunswick County Deeds - Book D, Page 231:
This Indenture made this first day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand seven
hundred & ninety eight Between Francis Hawks of the County of Craven and Town of New
Bern of the one part and Richard Parish of the County of Brunswick of the other part both
of the State of North Carolina, witnessed that the said Francis Hawks for and in
consideration of the Sum of Fifty Five Dollars to him in hand actually paid by said
Francis the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged hath given, granted, bargained &
sold unto the said Parish and his heirs & assignees forever all the right title claims
and interest that Sarah Hawkins (sic) mother of the said Francis died possessed of and to
a certain tract or tracts of land in the County of Brunswick the boundaries of which are
fully and clearly ______ in a deed of division between Jacob Leonard and Joel Parrish of
the land that was formerly the property of Nathaniel Rice deceased reference being there
unto had. Furthermore the said Francis Hawks for himself & his heirs doth covenant
& _______ to warrant and defend the title of the above granted lands unto the above
Richard Parish and his heirs against he lawful claims or demands of any person or persons
claiming _____ the above mentioned Sarah Hawks. As Witness whereof he has hereunto set my
hand and seal the day and year above written - Signed Sealed & Delivered in Presence
of Wm. Blackledge Jothan (?) Rice - North Carolina
Francis Hawks {Seal}
Newbern District Personally appeared before one our of the Judges of the Superior
Court of law & Equity for the said ____ Francis Hawks and acknowledged the forgoing
instrument to be his act and deed April 1st 1798 -
Let it be Registered David Stone
Comment by David: Francis Hawks was the son of John Hawks, Architect of the Tryon
Palace, colonial capitol of North Carolina (how is this John Hawks related to Lord Hawke,
nephew of Martin Bladen in the UK?). John Rice, Sr. mentions his daughter Sarah Hawks in
his 1769 Inventory, which includes his "2/5 interest" in over 3,000 acres from
the estate of Nathaniel Rice. This last Brunswick County, NC record really seems to tie
everything together!
Questions we need to answer are as follows:
1. Where did Joshua Rice (son of John Rice, Jr. & Abigail Sugg) die, and is there
an estate or probate record for him (the last record we have for him is in the 1850 Sumner
Co., TN census)? As stated, we have the Sumner Co., TN Bill of Sale record which shows
Joshua deeding slaves he inherited from his maternal grandfather Joshua Sugg via his
mother Abigail Rice to his children, one of whom is Nathaniel Rice (my ggg grandfather
Nathaniel Rice who married Ann Uzzell and moved to Randolph Co., MO in the mid-1830's
where he later died in 1853). But, it would be nice to obtain a probate or estate
record for him. Circumstantially, we know that both Joshua Rice and Nathaniel Rice lived
near the Groves and Uzzell families in Sumner Co., TN (both Nathaniel Rice and his wife
Anne Uzzell Rice had siblings who married into the Groves family and the land which Joshua
Rice originally owned is specifically mentioned as "bordering Thomas Groves").
Additionally, Joshua Rice was in Hopkins Co., KY in 1830 as was Nathaniel Rice. Finally,
one of Nathaniel Rice's eldest born twin sons is named Joshua (born c.1819), and
furthermore, it appears that this younger Joshua (who died in 1858 in Randolph Co., MO)
had a middle initial "S" which may possibly stand for Sugg (it should be noted
that some internet "trees" erroneously show Joshua who died in Randolph Co., MO
in 1858 as having middle name as Morris -- this is NOT CORRECT as all source documentation
show his middle initial as "S").
2. Who did Joshua Rice marry? We know his second wife was Judith/Judah Kirby, a
widow whom Joshua married in 1841 in Sumner County. However, the name of his first wife
is a complete mystery. Is it Abigail Smith who is mentioned in the will of Britain Smith
of 1793 in Wake Co., NC (and appears to be Britain's sister)? Britain Smith's
father (John Smith, Jr.) and grandfather (John Smith, Sr.) were very wealthy landowners in
Johnston Co., NC, but for some inexplicable reason, decided to move to East Tennessee in
the early 1780's. One reference I've see (and sorry I don't have the precise
sourcing in front of me at the moment) states that the North Carolina delagates to the
Continental Congress were selected at the home of John Smith in 1775 (not sure if this is
John Smith, Sr. or John Smith, Jr.). It is interesting to note that the maternal
grandfather (William Blackman) of Ann Uzzell (who married Nathaniel Rice c.1816 in Sumner
Co., TN) was married twice: First to Mary McKinne, daughter of Col. William McKinne, and
then secondly to Elizabeth Bryan, granddaughter of John Smith, Sr. (Ann Uzzell's
grandmother was Mary McKinne based on documentation of a court case in Sumner County
relative to property she ultimately inherited from her great-grandfather, but it is
intriguing to me that her "step" grandmother was related to this same Smith
family).
3. Who is the "other woman" for whom John Rice, Jr. left Abigail Sugg Rice
in the early 1780's as stated in Abigail Sugg Rice's legislative petition to
protect the assets she had accumulated following their separation, and is this "other
woman" the mother of Betsy and Thomas who we now think are children of John Rice?
Is it possible that she is Abigail Rice mentioned in the will of Britain Smith (thus
instead of Abigail Smith being the wife of Joshua, she is the "other woman"
affiliated with John Rice, Jr.)?
4. Where did John Rice, Jr. die? The last record of him is in the 1810 Johnston Co.,
NC census. Unfortunately, there does not appear to be a will, probate or estate record
for him in that county. Did he move away from the county after 1810?
5. Did John Rice, Sr. (of Craven County) marry Sarah Carruthers and was she the mother
of all of his children? All evidence points to this being the case as both John Rice and
Sarah Rice are mentioned together as witnesses to a deed as early as 1745, John Carruthers
mentioned his daughter Sarah Rice in his will, and we know that John Rice, Sr.'s wife
(in the 1770's) was named Sarah thanks to input from Victor Jones of the Kellenberger
Genealogy Library as follows:
a.. The 1769 inventory (from Craven County Deed Book 16, page 312 and following and
abstracted in Bruce Pruitt's Abstracts of Craven County Deeds, Books 14-19, page 45)
is actually a mortgage in which John Rice is mortgaging his property and Nathaniel's
estate to pay debts to several individuals. Of note is the first parcel of property which
mentions the property is subject to a deed to Peter Starkey. This deed to Peter Starkey is
also a mortgage (Craven Deed Book 12/13, page 380 ff., abstracted in Pruitt, Abstracts of
Books 11-13, p. 71). The reason I mention the Peter Starkey connection, is there is a
court case in the New Bern District Superior Court Minutes for November 1772, "Sarah
RICE a[gainst] Peter STARKEY: Same Jury as in the last Cause being impannelled and sworn
do say that the [sic] John RICE the Husband of the Plaintiff was Seized in.premises."
[Weynette P. Haun, New Bern District, North Carolina, Superior Court Minutes, Book 1:
1768-1788, p. 36.]
6. Who is the mother of John Rice, Sr. The marriage of Nathaniel Rice to Anne Gibbs in
1726 in London, England explains why Nathaniel was called "brother-in-law" of
Martin Bladen in early North Carolina colonial records since Martin Bladen's wife was
Mary Gibbs, elder sister of Anne. Anne & Mary Gibbs were the only daughters of John
Gibbs who was himself a Governor of Colonial North Carolina (Albemarle) in 1689-1690. John
Gibbs' wife was Elizabeth Pride, great-niece of the First Duke of Albemarle, General
George Monck. The question is whether Anne Gibbs is the mother of John Rice, Sr. While the
1726 marriage record calls Nathaniel Rice a "bachelor," it is baffling to note
that John Rice was a Deputy Secretary/Register of the Colony (under Nathaniel Rice) as
early as 1743 and had given an oath as early as 1745 in Craven County (where he also
served as Clerk). According to Victor Jones, one must have been at least 21 years of age
to hold public office or give an oath in colonial North Carolina. On the other hand, would
John Rice, Sr. have been exempt from this requirement considering who his father was?
Additionally, different sources indicate that Nathaniel Rice had a brother named John
Rice. Could we be confusing John Rice, the brother, with John Rice, the son? In any case,
it appears that Anne Gibbs Rice was living as late as 1737 when she is referred as
"Hannah Rice" in a New Hanover Co., NC record (the same record also mentions
James Hassell as a witness -- he was executor of the Nathaniel Rice Estate). Therefore,
Nathaniel Rice probably married Mary Bursey (who is named in his will) after 1737.
7. How does the Monk family who lived near Joshua Sugg and John Rice, Jr. in
Johnston/Wake Co., NC in the mid to late 1700's fit into this. Based on their apparent
connections with the Bright & Hodges families, we have traced them back to Currituck
County living curiously close to the 3100-acre tract previously owned by Gov. John Gibbs
as follows:
Monday March 11th The Line was this day continued to Northwest River at the mouth of a
small Creek runing Easterly towards Northerns house being about a mile to the Northward of
Moyock Creek taking into Carolina between North River and where it cutt Northwest river
about five or Six Thousand Acres of Land taken up, besides Quantities of Marsh and other
Land including Three Thousand One hundred acres formerly belonging to Governor Gibbs now
said to belong to Honoble Mr Bladen one of the Lords of Trade; their being five or six
families in that Space taken from Verginia Tuesday March the 12th The Line was run from
Northwest River Two hundred and Thirteen Chains to a Stooping Red Oak by a path side that
Leads from John Monks to Henry Brights being about Twenty miles from the Inlett
The Colonial and State Records of North Carolina - Minutes of the North Carolina
Governor's Council, including documents relating to the North Carolina/Virginia
boundary April 22, 1728
from Volume 2, Pages 730 - 749
As previously noted, John Gibbs' wife was a great-niece of General George Monck.
Was this Monk family in North Carolina "closely" related to the General? It is
also fascinating to note that Francis Hodges who married Frances Carruthers, sister of
Sarah Carruthers who married John Rice, Sr. may have had another sister who married Simon
Bright, son of Henry Bright mentioned in the record above. Additionally, Monk family
tradition states that John Monk (mentioned in the record above married Frances Hodges, and
a descendant of John Monk and supposedly Frances Hodges called Simon Bright a
"uncle."
One other note of interest in reference to the North Carolina boundary record (above)
is that (according to Abstracts of Land-Grants, Tax Lists, Orphans Dockets, Inventories,
and Other Records for Currituck and Dare Counties North Carolina 1666 - 1831 compiled by
Gordon C. Jones in 1982) the same 3100-acre tract of land belonging to Gov. Gibbs appears
to have originally bordered land owned by Francis Jones, maternal grandfather of Sarah
Carruthers who married John Rice, Sr. who in turn "may" be a grandson of John
Gibbs (notwithstanding the problem with North Carolina colonial age requirements -- that
is, for John Rice, Sr. to be son of Anne Gibbs Rice, he would have been born 1727 or
later, which doesn't quite make sense when he begins appearing in records as early as
1743)!
8. Finally, how is the Gov. Nathaniel Rice family related to the Rices in Rowan Co.,
NC from whom a descendant is a DNA Match with a descendant of Nathaniel Gray Rice
(1831-1913), son of Nathaniel Rice (c.1794-1853) and Ann Uzzell (placement in Rice DNA
Group #2). As mentioned, it is thought that Gov. Nathaniel Rice had a brother named John.
In fact, one John Rice does appear in the early New Hanover Co., NC (1730's) records
as does a Thomas Rice. Could these two be brothers of Nathaniel? If so, what happened to
these two men? It is interesting to note that a family in Georgia claims descent from (or
kinship to) Gov. Nathaniel Rice through a John Rice who lived in Granville Co., NC in the
1780's (they list a Nicholas Rice as an antecedent of this Granville John Rice in
their line whom they claim "wasted his estate"). I've been in correspondence
with one of this family, but have been unable to determine how they are related.
Thanks so much!
David Brown
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: David Brown [mailto:dbrown544@hotmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, March 19, 2008 8:35 PM
To: maryferns(a)aol.com; john.chandler(a)alum.mit.edu; sharlettrice(a)aol.com;
megann47(a)peoplepc.com; pjarvis(a)bresnan.net
Cc: grant4x4(a)centurytel.net; houk.don(a)jp.kline.com; rparks102(a)msn.com; zandz(a)juno.com;
Brown David; dbrown544(a)hotmail.com
Subject: RE: Rice Family Update
Hi Everyone,
Thought I'd share some new e-mail address updates as follows:
Karen Grant's new e-mail:
grant4x4(a)centurytel.net
Margaret Thompson's new e-mail:
megann47(a)peoplepc.com
Also, I'm pasting some information I found on Charlotte Rice who I think was a
sister of John Rice, Jr. (they were both children of John Rice, Sr. and Sarah Carruthers)
as follows:
I wanted to share a follow-up regarding Charlotte Rice, daughter (I think) of John
Rice, Sr. & Sarah Carruthers. I'm not really interested in pursuing this
"branch of the tree" in much detail, but did find some interesting items and
wanted to share what I've discovered.
As I mentioned, she married Thomas Rycroft (Roycroft) in 1789 in Wake County, NC. I
am quite positive that this is the same woman who is a sister of John Rice, Jr. (and
mentioned in the Brunswick Deed I previously shared). First, the witness for the
marriage was a John Kelly and, interestingly, Joshua Rice (son of John Rice, Jr. &
Abigail Sugg) was an executor/administrator for a James Kelly in Sumner Co., TN in 1809.
But, more importantly, the 1790 census in Wake County lists a Thomas Roycroft on the
same page as Joshua Sugg, Sr., Joshua Sugg, Jr. (a nephew of Sr.), Mark Sugg, and Moses
Sugg in addition to three different Powells (John, Robert, and Moses..not sure who they
are, but thought it interesting they're in Wake). Joshua Sugg's daughter Abigail
married John Rice, Jr. in 1773 in Wake County, NC. Also listed on the same 1790 census
page are James Bracken and Reuben Hunter who was a witness of the aforementioned Brunswick
Deed, and also a neighbor of both John Rice, Jr. and Joshua Sugg, Sr. in Wake County.
Joshua Rice lived near the Brackens in Sumner Co., TN and was a witness for the marriage
of Needham Hunter (son of Reuben, I think) to Polly Parnell in 1808 in Sumner Co., TN.
I've been finding perplexing information that the same Thomas Roycroft who married
Charlotte Rice then later married a Betsy Nichols in 1815 in Wake Co., NC. The 1830
census lists a Thomas Roycroft aged between 50 and 60 years old living near several
Nichols families, so maybe there's something to this as far as it possibly being a
second marriage for him.
The mystery lies in the 1850 Orange Co., NC census where one Charlotte Rice aged 82
(born c.1768, which I am estimating would be about the correct age of Charlotte Rice,
sister of John Rice, Jr.) is living in the household of Paul Cameron with his wife Anne.
Some follow-up on this Cameron family revealed some amazing information. It looks like
Paul Cameron married Anne Ruffin in 1832 in Orange County, NC and she is the daughter of
Thomas Ruffin and Anne Kirkland who were married in 1809. This Thomas Ruffin was a Chief
Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court, and a brief article on him may be found on
the following link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Ruffin
Of course, I have no idea if this is the same Charlotte Rice, and if it is, why is she
using her maiden name in the 1850 census? Did she divorce Thomas Roycroft and change her
name back to Rice? I also cannot figure out what the connection may be between Charlotte
Rice & the Ruffin/Kirkland/Cameron family. However, I did notice someone named
Ruffin Roycroft in the 1850 census (for what it's worth)!
Anyway, that's all I had. The Charlotte Rice living in Orange Co., NC in 1850
may be a different woman altogether, or maybe not!
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