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Your Rice Family Ezine
Generation by Generation ~ Century by Century
TWICE MONTHLY
VOL. 1, NO. 20 OCTOBER 17, 2008
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Draw the Family Circle Wide, Then Draw It Wider Still Share both the fruits of your genealogical labors
and the puzzling problems you encounter | |
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IN THIS ISSUE
David Rice Atchison, President for One Day
Special Request: Looking for an Agent to Handle Rice Book Sales
Rices Were Passengers and Crew on Ill-fated Titanic.
Southern Family Trees: Rice Marriages in Jessamine Co., KY
Our Readers Write: John Philip Rice of Philadephia Moved to Canada;
and, Follow-Up
to a South Carolina Item
Rice Civil War Soldiers from Connecticut
For Fellow Root Diggers and Branch Climbers: Our Disease is Called "Genealogy Pox"
SPECIAL FEATURE:
The Rice/Crew Family Letters: The Westward Trek
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GOIN' FISHIN'
FOR
ANCESTORS?
WANT A BIGGER
CATCH?
TWO THINGS TO TRY:
1) If you are not a male bearing the Rice surname, find a relative who is and have a DNA test done.
2) Send in the name of your earliest known Rice ancestor, giving at least one date and location, and we will try to match it with those families being researched by other readers. Email: ricebooksreb@yahoo.com
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Special Request
The Rice Book Project is looking for someone in New England to process book orders. If you are interested and have storage space for several cartons of books, let me know and we can discuss payment and what else is involved. Send email query to: rosalore@yahoo.com
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David Rice Atchison
Was President
For One Day
He never campaigned for president, was not inaugurated and slept most of what some consider the most important day of his life.
It was the appointment of Atchison--a former state legislator and circuit court judge--by the Missouri governor in 1842 to fill the unexpired term of one of the state's senators that propelled him to national importance. He remained in the Senate until 1855, eventually being elected president of the body. As President Pro-Tem of the Senate, Atchison was a national leader whose opinion was very important in shaping legislation.
Then came that unique set of circumstances on March 3-4 of 1849.
President Polk's term expired on Saturday and newly elected President Zachary Taylor refused to take the oath of office on a Sunday. Normally the vice president of the United States would fill this role, but vice president George Dallas' term expired when Polk's did. By law, the presidency then fell to the President Pro-Tem of the Senate, David Rice Atchison.
Some say he should not be considered president since he never took the oath of office. Others counter by asking, "Who then was president?"
What did Atchison believe?
When interviewed by his hometown newspaper, Atchison said:
"It was plain that there was either an interregnum (a time when a country lacks a government), or I was the President of the United States, being chairman of the Senate, having succeeded Judge Magnum of North Carolina. The judge waked me up at three o'clock in the morning and said jocularly that I was President of the United States and he wanted me to appoint him as Secretary of State. I made no pretense to the office, but if I was entitled in it I had one boast to make: that not a woman or child shed a tear on account of my removing anyone from office during my incumbency."
He also called his presidency "the honestest administration this country ever had."
Atchinson was born August 11, 1807, in Frogtown, Kentucky. A bright young man, he attended Transylvania College (later incorporated into the University of Kentucky) when he only fourteen, where he was a classmate of the future president of the Confederacy, Jefferson Davis. By 1830 he had moved to western Missouri to practice law, and four years after that he was in the Missouri State Legislature.
Missouri historians say he is more renowned for helping Missouri acquire the Platte Purchase, which today forms the six counties in the northwestern "neck" of the Show-Me State. One of those counties is named for him, as are the city of Atchison, Kansas, and the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe railway.
Atchison stepped down from the Senate in 1855. A pro-slavery Democrat, he supported the Confederacy during the Civil War.
He died in 1886 at his home near Gower in Clinton County, MO, and is buried in Greenlawn Cemetery at Plattsburg, MO. His grave marker reads "David Rice Atchison -- President of the United States for One Day."
So, was Atchison really president? The Congressional Records says so. In any case, his reign is a lively footnote to history and fodder for the trivia buffs.
DAVID RICE ATCHISON'S ANCESTRY
INTRODUCTION
First--and this is important--evrything here is pure speculation and your editor has found no primary sources to back it up.
David (born in 1807 in Bath Co., KY) is believed, by Atchison family researchers, to be a son of William Atchison (born 1770, PA) and his wife, the former Catherine Allen. At least one of his siblings maried into the Baker family, as did one or more Rices in Bath Co., KY, where David, our subject, was born.
David is then identified as a grandson of Alexander Atchison, who was born in Ireland, and his wife, the former Mary Hamilton. This Atchison line then goes back to Arthur and Anne (Savage) Acheson of Market Hill, County Armagh, Ireland, where both died. Another two previous generations have been identified.
We, of course, are wondering where the Rice in his name comes from. The 1810 census reveals that the adult head-of-household Rices in Montgomery Co.. KY, (from which Bath Co. was formed in 1811) are David, Henry, James, Joseph, Samuel and Shelton Rice. Shelton was born in 1770 in Virginia and your editor does not have information on the other Rices named in this census. However, there are ties with several families born in Virginia.
The Rice connection is most likely through David's mother, Catherine Allen. It is believed that some of the Bath Co. Rices were from Pennsylvania.
David's wife and children? This is equally puzzling. In the 1860 census, David, 52, is in the household of Mary Atchison, 38, who is head of household. There is in this listing a D. R. Atchison Jr., 19, suggesting that our David R. Atchison had a son. Also in the household are John Atchison, 10, and Mollie, 3.
In 1870, David, 62, is listed as a retired lawyer living with Margaret, 50, who is keeping house, and other Atchisons--John, 21, William,25 and Mollie, 13. In another household are D. R. Atchison Jr., 29. Laura, 27 (his wife?), Samuel, 16, and Henry, 7.
In the 1880 census, John C. Rice is listed as head of household with his wife, Serena, 23, their son, Benjamin, 2, cousins Catherine Atchison, 26, and Mary Atchison 22, and uncle D. R. Atchison, 72.
So, was our David, the former senator, living with his nephew, John, and is this the same John Atchison he was living with in 1860, when John was 10, and in 1870, when John was 21?
We thought, at first glance, that Mary/Margaret Atchison in the 1860 and 1870 census was David's wife, but now it appears she may have been his sister-in-law. Perhaps David's brother died and he assumed the support of his wife and chidren? Will anything back this up?
There is one inconclusive shred of evidence to support that David never married and helped support the household of his sister-in-law and her children. In all the census records Mary/Margaret is identified as having, in her own right, very valuable real estate and personal possessions, as is David. Ordinarily the wife has zero assets.
I hope some of our readers can help with this. Do any of you have a list of the children of Silas and Mary (Shepherd) Atchison of Bath Co., KY, who are the right age to be David's parents? Do any of your Rice records have marriages into the Atchison or Allen famililes?
Also of interest is the family of William Atchison, 69, who is listed in the 1850 census of Fayette Co., KY as born ca. 1781, PA, with wife, Catherine, 63, and children Alexander, 33, and Rebecca, 28.
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Rices Were Both Passengers and Crew on Ill-fated Titanic
The last known living survivor of the Titanic disaster has been in the news this week because she has had to sell some of her Titanic memorabilia. She was a baby when the Titanic sunk.
Also, about 40 years ago, when I was a newspaper reporter, I interviewed a man who, as a young boy, was a Titanic passenger and managed to survive.
That reminded me that some Rices were on the Titanic.
Among the third class passengers on the Titanic were Masters Albert, Arthur, George, Eric and Eugene Rice, who were with Mrs. W. M. Rice, she being the former Margaret Norton.
John Reginald Rice served on the purser's staff, a P. Rice was on the third class stewards list, and Charles Rice (the only Rice survivor listed) worked in the engineering department.
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Rice Marriages in Jessamine County, Kentucky
These marriages were copied by Vincent Bartlen in 1972 from records at the Historical Society in Frankfort, Kentucky.
Andrew Rice and Ann Owens (marriage bonds 29 Oct. 1806, signed by A. Rice and James Owens) by Jno. Metcalf
Benj. Rice and Eliz. S. Pitcher (marriage bonds 24 Dec. 1825, signed by David Walter and Ben Rice) by E. Wallen, 27 Dec. 1825
David Rice and Eliz. Lincoln (Marriage bonds, 14 Nov. 1805) by E. Wallen
David Rice and Kitty Creekbaum (Kregbaum) (marriage bonds 4 Sept. 1823, signed by D. Rice and Jacob Creekbaum ) by Robert Ashurst, 8 Sept. 1823
David S. Rice and Margaret A. Duerson, dau. of John B. Duerson (marriage bonds 14 Apr. 1857, signed by D.S. Rice and John N. Frost) at home of John Duerson, 16 Apr. 1857: wit., John Frost, Jas. Barkley and S. Frost
Jacob Rice and Catherine Higbee (marriage bonds 9 June 1812, signed by Obediah Higbee, father, and Leslie Combs)
James L. Rice and Martha H. Baker m. 8 Dec. 1840; license issued 7 Dec. 1840 by Dan'l B. Price, Clerk; attested: L.L. Pinkerton
Jasper D. Rice and Polley Philips m. 1820 by John Shackleford
Jefferson Rice and Nancy Prewett, by Jno. Metcalf; marriage bonds signed by Jefferson Rice and Joseph Prewitt, 21 Aug. 1806
John Rice and Caty Smith, by Rev. B. W. Riley, 8 Nov. 1821; marriage bonds signed by John Rice and Wm. Young, 5 Nov, 1821
John Rice and Nancy Gest, Dec. 1, 1829, by Moses Hoover; marriage bonds signed by John Rice and Spencer Gest, 14 Nov. 1829
John B. Rice, 23, of Fayette Co., and Elenor Easley, 23, of Jessamine Co., 19 Jan. 1854 by Wm. McNott, Baptist; witnesses, W. N. Barkley and Henry Higby; marriage bonds signed by John Bennett Rice and Andrew Easley, 16 Jan, 1854
John C. Rice and Elizabeth E. Megee, 3 April 1849, by B. W. Rhoton; witnesses, R.P. Blackford and Jacob S. Megee; consent given by bride's father, Seth Mays; marriage bonds signed 2 April 1849 by John C. Rice and Jacob S. Megee
John W. Rice and Sally William Smith (sic), wed 19 Nov. 1850 by W.W. Ford; consent given by father, Dorestus Smith; marriage bond signed by John W, Rice and Dorestus Smith, 17 Sept. 1850
Jonathan Rice and America Sidney Wilson; marriage bond by Jonathan Rice and Andrew McCampbell, 4 March 1833; consent given by bride's father, Samuel Wilson of "Forest Hill", Jessamine Co.; witness, Andrew McCampbell
Joseph Rice and Eleanor Baxter, wed 8 Sept. 1818; witnesses, Michael Rice and Ann A. Baxter; consent by Margaret Baxter; bond signed by Joseph Rice and Michael Rice, 3 (or 8) Sept, 1818
Michael B. Rice and Margaret Foley, 19 Dec.1844 by Thomas Smith; bond by Michael B. Rice and Richard Foley, 16 Dec. 1844
Solomon Rice and Elizabeth Smith; bond by Solomon Rice and John Smith, 27 Feb. 1827; consent by father, William Smith
William Rice and Mary McHenry wed by John S. Higgins; bond by William Rice and William Curd, 15 Jan. 1822
William Rice and Lucinda Masters; bond by William Rice and H.C.
Hallack, 23 July 1833; consent by father, Curtis Masters.
Photo Credits: Top of story picture, Glass Mills Bridge, Glass Mills Rd., Jessamine Co.; by Shelia-Bruner Ramos. Above: Looking from railroad bridge to where the Dix River empties into the Kentucky River; by Adda Lewis. |
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Our Readers Write 
From Richard Rice: Earliest Known Ancestor
John Philip Rice: 1801 Philadelphia,Pa
1876 Williamsburg, Dundas Co.,Ontario, Canada
This is the John Philip Rice who married Margaret Wallace and had a daughter, Pamelia (1850-1915) who married William Simon Berry, son of Isaac and Mary Ann (Garrett) Berry. Pamelia was born at Morrisburg, Ontario and died at Fort William, Ontario. Her brother, John Philip Rice Jr., married, had several children and settled in St. Lawrence Co., NY. (I have names and dates for his children.) The other children of John and Margaret are David, b. 1826; Jarvis C., b. 1829; Jane, b. 1832; Albert, b. 1834; Thomas N., b. 1836; George N., b. 1841; James H., b. 1845; Charles W., b. 1847; Nelson, b. 1848, and Merilla A., b. 1857.
Margaret was born in 1805 at Matilda in Dundas Co., Ontario and married John in 1822 at Kingston, Ontario.
Some have claimed that this is the John P. Rice listed in the 1850 census as a resident of Greene in Franklin Co., PA. It is not. He is also not the John P. Rice, son of Jacob Rice of Knowlton, NJ and Trucksville, PA.
Rice Book 2, titled The Immigrants, lists numerous Rice immigrants who came to Philadelphia in the 1700s. At least three of them are named Philip Rice. I think I may have more about your Rice family in my files, but right now all my Pennsylvania material
has been reorganized as I work on Rice Book 4. You can be certain that if I come across it I will let you know.
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FOLLOW UP TO "A BIT OF A RIDDLE IN SOUTH CAROLINA"
In our Sept. 19 issue I asked if anyone could provide some background to help sort out the people involved in a judgment being served and in someone's wife recapturing a stolen servant. Here is Joy King's response:
In answer to the SC question: Not many seem to have taken the "town" seriously before the Revolution. However, in 1740 Hugh Campbell, "late of Williamsburgh . . . Storekeeper" was sued by a Charleston merchant for twenty-two pounds. John Bassnett, who evidently went from Charleston with the first settlers, was in 1744 captain of the militia and justice of the peace. He was both planter and storekeeper. Against him in his role as planter, Robert Pringle got a judgment for about £1,143, which was delivered to John Rice, a Charleston butcher, for execution. But when Rice seized one of his slaves, Bassnett's wife rescued her. Bassnett himself from the window threatened to shoot the deputy and declared "that half the men in Charleston should not be able to seize them, being so well beloved by the Inhabitants of Williamsburg, who would stand by him." Several months later, on another suit, he declared himself bankrupt. In 1761 he was still justice of the peace.
Her source was: Meriwether, The Expansion of South Carolina 1729-1765, 84.
Many thanks, Joy!
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Rice Civil War Soldiers from Connecticut
The following names have been extracted from the list published by the Connecticut Adjutant General's office, Hartford, CT, 1889.
Alfred Rice Bristol, CT Horace P. Rice Cheshire, CT
Alvin Rice New Hartford, CT Hubert D. Rice Bristol, CT
Ambrose B. Rice Plainfield, CT James Rice Middletown, CT
Ambrose P. Rice Hartford, CT James I-I. Rice Killingly, CT
Charles Rice Bristol, CT James Q. Rice Goshen, CT
Charles Rice New Haven, CT James W. Rice Bethany, CT
Charles A. Rice Killingly, CT Jesse H. Rice Cheshire, CT
Charles E. Rice Groton, CT Joe Rice North Haven, CT
Charles E. Rice Enfield, CT Joel T. Rice New Haven, CT
Charles L. Rice Canton, CT John Rice Bridgeport, CT
Chauncey D. Rice Stonington, CT John N. Rice Killingly, CT
Chauncey J. Rice Cheshire, CT John S. Rice Killingly, CT
Daniel Rice Vernon, CT Joseph H. Rice Berlin, CT
Edward J. Rice Waterbury, CT Joshua B. Rice Meriden, CT
Edwin A. Rice Norwich, CT * Julius W. Rice Brookfield. MA
Eli Rice Avon, CT Levi Rice Granby, CT
Frederick B.Rice Waterbury, CT Lucien M. Rice Hartford, CT
George Rice Killingly, CT Nelson Rice Bloomfield, CT
George M. Rice Killingly, CT Oliver W. Rice New Haven, CT
George W. Rice Norwalk, CT Randall H. Rice Plainfield, CT
Gustavus C. Rice New Haven, CT Reuben J. Rice New Haven, CT
Henry Rice Killingly, CT Reuel S. Rice Barkhamsted, CT
Henry Rice Plainfield, CL Robert Rice New Hartford, CT
Henry E. Rice Granby, CT Rodney Rice East Windsor, CT
Henry E. Rice Hartford, CT Rufus S. Rice Danbury, CT
Samuel B. Rice Saybrook, CT
 Santa Anna Rice Killingly, CT
Sheldon Rice Hartford, CT*
Stillman Rice Madison, CT
Sylvester Rice Sterling, CT
Thomas Rice Wilton, CT
Thomas Rice Woodbury, CT
William Rice Killingly, CT
William A. Rice Waterbury, CT
William H. Rice Bridgeport, CT
William M. Rice Goshen, CT
*Denotes place where mustered in
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FOR FELLOW ROOT DIGGERS
AND BRANCH CLIMBERS
Genealogy Pox: Our Disease
WARNING: VERY CONTAGIOUS TO ADULTS
SYMPTOMS: Continual complaint of a need for names, dates and places.
The patient has a blank expression and strange, far-away look in eyes. They are sometimes deaf to their spouse and children and tend to mumble to themselves. They have no taste for work of any kind, except for feverishly looking through records at libraries and courthouses. They have a compulsion to write letters and get angry at the mailman when he doesn't leave mail. They also spend endless hours at the computer going over Cyndi's List and punching in names at ancestry.com. They also frequent such strange places as cemeteries, ruins and remote country areas.
TREATMENT: Medication is useless.
Disease is not fatal, but does get progressively worse. Pastient should attend genealogy workshops, subscribe to genealogy magazines and newsletters and be given a quiet corner of the house to be alone with all those papers, notebooks and charts.
REMARKS: The unusual nature of this business is that the sicker the patient gets, the more that person enjoys it!
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 Rice/Crew Family: The Westward Trek
This is the fourth in a series of articles concerning the family of Sarah Rice and Walter Crew of Hanover County, Virginia and Salem, Iowa. In this issue, we present letters written to the family during their long journey from Virginia to Iowa, where they had determined to settle.
LETTER FROM P. B. PRICE DIRECTED TO WALTER CREW IN WHEELING, VIRGINIA
Goodall, Va. 30 April 1849
Dear Friend:
You said that it would give you pleasure to find at Wheeling letters from your friends in this quarter. We therefore write though we can do little more than tell you and yours that you are remembered and that we dwell still with fresh pain and regret upon the fact of your departure.
It is just a week since you began your journey. The world moves on as usual but we are daily sensible of a void in our circle which will not be easily filled. Indeed we feel that a very large part of our immediate society is absent and so really miss the intercourse we had with you. Your former home wears a dreary aspect - silent and inanimate to a degree - meeting the eye like some lone dwelling, deserted by every human being - yet rousing whole troops of mournful thoughts and feelings as the memory of other days busies itself amid outward stillness. All of your friends and relations, whom we have seen, utter these same emotions. They may be sentimental, but if the knowledge that such are excited in the bosoms of many whom you all have left behind, will even serve in a very slight degree, to alleviate the toils of your progress through unknown and inclement climes I shall not regret having recorded them, and believe I may with regard to others as well as myself assure you that they are perfectly sincere.
Arriving at Ben's on Sunday morning in company with Marietta, S. Carter, and Mary Snowden, the two former of whom with Ben, had spent Saturday night with us, I met at the door Cousin Mary Bates and Fleming. They had come down on Saturday evening to spend the night with you and knew not till they reached J. Crew's that you all had gone. They went on to Mr. Crenshaw's and spent the night.
Cousin Mary was very sad at the consciousness of your departure and in her feelings we could very cordially participate as we had just passed the place. We spent much of the time while together, a part of the day, at Ben's in speaking of you and could hardly forbear looking now and then in the direction of your former home, to see if some of the girls and boys were riding up as in past time.
At St. Peters in the afternoon, I saw Aunt Peggy, Mr. Crenshaw and the girls: they walked out to the meeting. The first mentioned was better than usual, but Lib so much distressed at your departure that she could not mention your names without being overcome by her feelings to such a degree as almost to prevent her speaking.
We hope that Mr. Crenshaw received a letter today which we reckon he did as you intended to write in Fredricksburg. We are very anxious to hear how you are getting along. Very! A regular wet spell commenced here on Tuesday and continues yet. I suppose it prevails where you are, and will render your journey disagreeable, but pray, that the health of all may be mercifully preserved.
I'll send you the latest Whig with this, though you will no doubt have gathered all the important news it contains from other sources. The perusal of a home sheet may serve to while away pleasantly a short space of time, as I know from experience of the feelings with which one when separated from old friends and among strangers loves any thing that tells of scenes and characters in the old heart. Besides that it will acquaint you with the state of the political controversey in this district which has increased in rancor and recklessness daily since you left. Until as you will see by today's paper from what occurred at the City Hall in R. yesterday evening, the liberty of speech is opposed by Mobocracy. It will be a great relief to all-order loving people when the election is over. Though one more day of wickedness and folly around the polls has yet to transpire as they are in all these parts as far as heard, to be kept open till tomorrow night. Botts is as every body expected beating Lee every where, but it really surprizes me that he should poll so large a vote. I did not suppose (saving your honorable presence who are now out of it) that there were so many madcaps in the district. Messrs. N.C. Crenshaw and John B. too are of your way of thinking and vote for Botts - to help out a Democrat - and neither with you or them would I find any fault for so acting from such a motive - I should not be surprised if Botts be elected, tho a few days ago, I believed it impossible.
Betty Crenshaw, Mary Jane and Miss Tremble left us a little while ago. They came yesterday evening and we had quite a pleasant visit from them. Miss Tremble is a clever body. I saw your friend Mr. Ben Anderson this morning. He looks very badly. Our old neighbor Mr. Land is said to have the consumption, I expect he will not live long.
We have a letter from Marion Hill today. All are well except Walter and Bella, who are rather unwell, tho nothing serious, I hope. Please remember me with much affection to Aunt Sarah and our cousins, one and all. We hope to get letters from some of them soon, and ask that you may bestow a line upon us from some point in your route, if your engagements allow; or if not so, from your Iowa home until upon reaching which may God preserve you and then surround you both with such blessings in your fortune, your children, and by this grace in your hearts, as shall be the evening of yours and your respected wife companion days serene and pleasant and their close a peaceful entrance into an enduring state. I leave a place for my dear M to speak her own heart to her friend, and subscribe myself.
Your sincere friend
P. B. Price
P.S. Please tell Walt that I expect him to write to me and intend to him.
I should like to mention the names of many more of my love cousins, but space does not allow. P
Philip has left little for me to say except the assurance of my undiminished affection for you all and the hope that you are now safely progressing on your journey - if the weather with you is such as to admit of your traveling. It has been very rainy and muddy here for the last three or four days, but there is some promise of clear weather now and P has just started to Koch's Rock to vote. I tried to keep him at home, but after expressing to me in a speech of some length his sense of duty to "his country" and "the great Whig party" he made his exit and left me to spend the day alone. With the exception of Jone. The creek mill was broken open last seventh day night while brother and Marietta were here and several bushels of wheat and corn stolen. Mr. Terrell has taken very active measures for the detection of the thief, but as yet without success. He has now offered a reward. "Old Jim Couthorn" was suspected, he carried down a load of wheat that day and brother, and J. Crew followed him to Richmond and searched his cart and next day his house was searched but no traces of them discovered. I will not even attempt to describe to you how much we miss you and how very sad it makes us feel to pass your former residence. I met with Miss N at the gate as I was returning home she said she was taking a walk and had just been thinking of you how much she misses you,etc. She has not been to see us yet. All at Mr. Terrells are well as usual. When you have leisure to write do not forget us, we hope for a letter very soon and let it be a long one with sincere love to all you niece and cousins. Mary
EXCERPTS FROM LETTER TO WALTER CREW FROM N. C. CRENSHAW & MARGARET CREW
Goodall, Virginia
17 June 1849
My Dear Brother,
Thy letter dated at Martinsville 5th month 15 covering the deeds and also thy letter dated at Mt. Pleasant 5th month 29 have been received. We were much pleased and thankful to hear of your successful journey thus far. It was to be expected in so large a company that some would be sick in so long a trip, and from thy account and previous letters, I think you were much favoured. Having now become somewhat used to traveling, and it being a more pleasant and healthy season of the year I think there is good reason to hope you are getting on favourably. Yet we feel anxious to hear of your continued progress...
I am very sorry to have to inform thee that your goods had arrived at St. Louis, and were burned in the fire. I have some hope the chest had not arrived. I will endeavour to find out and let thee know as early as I can. I have nothing to communicate in the way of business.
 I have not yet been over to Joseph Terrill's, and have only seen him out from home once. I hear that he is progressing with the repairs of the mill. Thou hast probably seen by the newspapers that the Cholera is in Richmond. I have heard that as many as eleven have died in a day tho generally not more than two or three. It is said to be on the increase there. It is rumoured that there are some cases in the country, but there is some doubt about that. There seems to be considerable tendency to bowel complaints generally. We hear that Martha Pleasants and Edward Pleasants have been sick also Jos. Pleasant's youngest daughter all were better by last accounts and we hope they are doing well. Several have been sick at John Bacon's. Some of his hands were supposed to have premonitory symptoms of Cholera. They were thought to be better. So far as I know our friends are now enjoying usual health.
With much love for each and every one of you and earnest desires and prayers for your preservation and right direction in all things. I remain thy brother,
Nath. C. Crenshaw
My dear Jane:
Though it is after eight o'clock, and I feel quite unwell, still as brother Nat have left a blank I feel anxious to use it so far as to acknowledge the reciept of thy two welcome letters...I went to half years meeting with brothers N. H. Bates and Mary Jane, and was really ill on the road with Erysipelis both days between Richmond and Southampton. I travelled with very high fever, the last day the motion of the carriage caused sick stomach and I had a suffering time indeed. Mary and I stopped at John's and had a little visit. Rachel and the baby were both sick but are better. Natty is here, and sister E. and Betty are now there on a visit. Eliza and Edmonia have come home and both desired to be remembered to you all, as did the Pretlow family and John, Rachel and Phebe. Col. Goodall was here yesterday and desired to be remembered to you said he was very glad to hear you had got on so well. It is indeed cause of deep thankfulness to Him who orders all things aright, "Shall we receive good at the hand of the Lord and not evil" Let us endeavor to trust and hope through all.
We have grieved over the loss of your things, but that cannot restore them. Yet to know, that we have sympathy, is truly soothing and comforting. I was much grieved at thy account of Anna's manners in regard to Henny. It is not right and I do wish some one would tell her so. I should be very glad to receive a letter from Tacy Bates, or any of my friends in Ohio. I was not at all surprised to hear of E. Bate's kindness. I was really glad to hear that thy mother had spruced up so much, don't let her fall back anymore. Keep her up to the notch. Don't mind her fretting a little when you talk about it. Urge the matter respectfully, but earnestly as a necessary thing both for her sake and yours, because it is right.
Give my love to William and tell him the folks talk a little about the way he and Louisa Cross cut up just before he went away, or rather the way she did. It is rather singular that the oldest one in the family should have been the object of attraction. I have felt hurt but I cannot help it. I hope William will act with prudence, and not be entrapped against his better judgment by a woman so much older than himself. She is over thirty.
I felt it right to say thus much not expecting him to say any thing to her about the hints that duty requires me to give him. Some say that he writes to her. Write to us often. I am willing to pay for as many letters as you will write to me. While I am able. Mary joins me in a message of love to you all as if named. I shall feel anxious to hear how you get through the eight hundred miles.
Farewell affectionately: Thy Aunt, Margaret M. Crew
LETTER TO WALTER CREW IN SALEM, IOWA FROM MARIA TERRILL
Goodall, Virginia 23 August 1849
My Beloved Friends:
After frequent inquiries I have at last heard of your P.O. and hasten to write. I hope the thought that "Maria has ceased to remember us" has never crossed your mind, if so banish it forever, for my heart is as "warm and affectionate to you as ever" a Friend's could be.
The place is pretty much as you left it few improvements at the house, but some at the mill the great "Turbine wheel" turned out a "Yankee brick". Our fine cow Luggins died two days after she calved, which we regretted. I loved because your dear wife was attracted to her.
I was at Mr. Crenshaw's last week and Aunt Peggy read to me part of Jane's letter. I was pleased to hear of your being well and doing well, tho I had much rather you were in Va. I often wish you were here, often think of you all, and hope to see you again. Rice is comeing back, I hear. I intend having large party next week. Miss is invited and will come, I hope.
We have very fine neighbors indeed. I am delighted here. Mrs. Hains is also a very good neighbor and I think a fine woman.
I gave birth to a fine son, Noel Atkinson, one week after you left. He is a fine little fellow. My husband and children are all well. Mother, my sister and cousins are here on a visit. John comes to see us frequently. He says he feels like this is home.
The plum trees you set out for me are very flourishing. I have wept over and thought of my beloved departed Friends, often when I look at them. I miss you all and frequently feel low spirited when I walk over the house, the merry laugh that resounded once through its walls. Have you forgotten us that you do not write? I hope not, let me hear from you often.
Nothing of much interest has happened since you left. Gneed (?) has lost her youngest child. I was over to see it several times. Oh: She is a sweet woman. She is very kind to us and when I was confined she was as kind as a mother could have been. Aunt Peggy also. Sister sends her best love to all and says why has not Jane answered her letter? and please to do so.
Mother says she would like to see you all very much. She hears me speak of our living so happily together. Lucy often speaks of Mrs. Crew, talks about the plates she gave her and the puddings. I found your house as convenient as I would desire it and am very much pleased with it. We have a fine flourishing garden and some fruit.
Write soon I will always be pleased to hear from you. Mr. H is still going to see Indiana. Wm. Wingfreler is well as also his mare and colt. I send my affectionate love to you all.
As ever
Maria Terrill
Miss Jane Terrill is well.
Mr. Flemming Bates was here last week and very well. All send love. Sister says does Mr. Crew go to bed soon as ever? Louise sends her respects to all.
COMING UP: In our next issue we present correspondence detailing the westward trek of Walter Crew and his family, and their arrival in Iowa. Most interesting is the tender concern for the welfare of the travelers shown by friends and family left behind.
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FIRST THREE VOLUMES AVAILABLE:
BOOK 1: Celebrating Our Diversity
Biographies of dozens of Rice family members from different backgrounds, different decades and different branches of the family; also a directory of Rice Revolutionary War soldiers; 248 pages
Lists of immigrants for three centuries; early generations of the Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut branches of the family; chapters on English, Irish, Scottish and German Rice families; 258 pages.
BOOK 3: Connecticut & Tennessee Rice Lineages
This covers several branches of the Rice family and chronicles in detail descendants of Henry Rice, the pioneer gristmiller in Tennessee; 512 pages.
BOOK 4: Pennsylvania and Maryland Rice Lineages
This is the book we are now working on.
(The RICE FAMILY EZINE is sponsored by the Rice Family Book Project)
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