Your  Rice  Family E~Zine
  
 
Generation by Generation  ~  Century by Century
 
 
               VOL.  3,   NO.  5                          JUNE 14,  2010 
   
steam train
 
NEXT ISSUE 
 
Annual Query Issue
 and DNA Report 
__________________________
  
 IN THIS ISSUE
 
 
 Old Rice Homestead 
 in Mayfield, New York
 
 
For Fellow Root Diggers
& Branch Climbers
~ Words from a
 Census Taker
~It's Hillarious
~ Something Better
than Nothing?
 
Robert Rice
and
His Double Bass
 
How to be DNA Tested
  
Southern Family Trees:
 (Some Rice Connections
 in
 Colonial Virginia)
 
 Follow-up on
 Dr. John W. Rice
  of New Market, Virginia 
[Descendants of
Francis Rice (1711-1798)] 
 
__________________

 Quick Links for Curious Rice Ancestor Chasers 

 
RICE FAMILY BOOK PROJECT  
~~~~~~~ 
(Check all spellings)
  
 
(Desc. of Thomas & Marcy Rice of Virginia)
  
(Send links to your genealogy pages;
they must include
 a Rice line.)
 
 
DOES YOUR FAMILY TREE HAVE NEW BUDS AND SHOOTS THIS SPRING?
 
 family tree
 
 
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
 
 
RICE EZINE
 NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE
Our past issues are
being
  
TO SUBSCRIBE:
"subscribe"
in the subject line 
   
If your newsletter looks like it is not properly formatted, or is garbled, please let us know!
  _______________
 
 Address newsletter correspondence to:
ricebooksreb@yahoo.com 
 
 
 
HOW TO BE
DNA TESTED 

steam train
 
Are you interested in being DNA tested?  If so, email Bob Rice at rvrbarre@verizon.net for details.  He will be happy to help you. 
  
DNA TEST KIT  (Shown Above)
 
Additional information is available from
Family Tree DNA.  
 
  
  
 
Rice Fulton Co, NY 1
 
OLD RICE HOMESTEAD IN MAYFIELD, NEW YORK
 
We have, at the end of this issue, a photo feature on the home Revolutionary War veteran Oliver Rice built for his family.
 
 
FOR 
FELLOW 
ROOT DIGGERS & BRAN
CH CLIMBERS
 
 
Some Words from
a Census Taker
 
This census taker wanted us to know a bit more about the territory he covered and the extent of his work.  Therefore we find this at the end of a section of the 1920 Census of Mountain Township in McCurtain Co., Oklahoma:
 
 
"Here ends the enumeration of District 148, comprising ranges 25, 26 and all of 27 east, inside the Oklahoma boundary of Townships 3 and 4 South in McCurtain County, Oklahoma, and believe me, with its mountains and valleys, its rivers, creeks and branches, it's some district all right. I have never been waterbound, and now I'm hidebound, but I have listed every galoot there is in it."
 
~ Signed by W. A. Carter, Enumerator,District    148
 *  *  *  *  *
 
That's Hillarius
 
There was a man with a very funny name who lived at North Wraxall, Wiltshire, England.  In fact, his name was "Hillarius".  That would be Hillarius Schneider (ca. 1706-1771).
 
 *  *  *  *  *
 
Something Better Than Nothing?
 
Following is an exact quote from the parish records of Ochiltree in Ayrshire, Scotland:
George Something lawful son to Whatyecall him in Mains of Barskimming was baptised April 9th 1704.
 
 
Robert Rice and His Double Bass
 
Bob & bass lg 
 
 ROBERT R. RICE (1917-1988)
 
Robert Rice was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania and started playing double bass at an early age.  He once played in a Hawaiian band.
 
The son of William Henry Harrison Rice (b. 1896) and the former Anna Zimmerman (b. 1898), he married Helen Fox (1914-1990), daughter of John and Theresa (Morth) Fox. They are shown below.  Both died at Elyria in Lorain Co., Ohio. 
 
Robert's ancestry has not been traced. Census records indicate he may be son of a Franklin Rice and great-grandson of a David Rice, both of whom were born in Pennsylvania and lived near Allentown.  However, there is also the possibility that he was grandson of a Robert Rise.
 
Bob & Helen Rice
 
 
steam train Southern Family Trees
 
Some Rice Family
Connections
in Colonial Virginia
 
 
INTRODUCTION
 
Some of the earliest in-print references to the early Rices in Virginia are found in The William and Mary Quarterly, which began publication in 1892 and can, in terms of quality, be compared to The New England Historic and Genealogical Register. Here are a few tidbits.
 
 ~~~~~~~~~~
 
Meet Rev. Patrick Henry, uncle of fiery and patriotic Revolutionary orator Patrick Henry.  It is the 1740s and inroads are being made into Virginia's official religion, the Anglican Church (later Episcopalian).  The Rice family was right in the thick of the incursions being made in Hanover Co. 
 
The Rev. Patrick Henry had come from England at the urging of his brother, John Patrick (father of the famous Patrick Henry.)  John Henry had influence and so his brother Patrick settled into the comfortable position of rector of St. George's Parish in Spotsylvania Co.  In 1736, he became rector of St. Paul's Parish in Hanover Co. 
 
Some of his correspondence with church leaders in the 1740s is reprinted in The William and Mary Quarterly.  He is upset because itinerant preachers are coming into his communities to preach and have a large following.  Most annoying to him are a Rev. Whitfield, who was trying to establish Baptist congregations, and Rev. Samuel Davies, a Presbyterian clergyman, who was appealing to the Scotch-Irish colonial settlers of Virginia.
 
Unlike New England, primarily founded by Puritans and Separists who had severed ties with the ruling Church of England and brought their followers to New England, Virginia's power and class structure were entirely different. Serving in its legislative body, the Virginia House of Burgesses, were wealthy "planters".  They were Anglicans, gave allegiance to the King and understood him to be temporal head of the Church of England.
 
This correspondence by Rev. Henry makes numerous references to Samuel Davies, someone well known to the Rice family.  Davies was born in 1724 and died in 1761 while serving as president of Princeton College, then the chief training ground for promising Presbyterian clergymen. A footnote says: "The most copious amd interesting biography (of Samuel Davies) is found in the second volume, 1819, of the Evangelical and Literary Magazine, edited by Dr. John H. (Holt) Rice."
 
The Rev. David Rice (1733-1816) of Hanover Co., "Apostle to Kentucky," studied theology at Princeton and knew Samuel Davies. David, son of David and Susannah (Searcy) Rice, was a grandson of immigrant Thomas Rice.  During the Revolution, he acted as chaplain and orator to the Hanover Militia.
 
It is interesting that some historians conjecture that patriot Patrick Henry--and his mother--where among those who gathered to hear Samuel Davies preach.  What a disappointment that would have been to Uncle Patrick.
 
SOURCE: "Letters of Patrick Henry Sr., Samuel Davies, James Maury, Edwin Conway and George Trask," p. 261, William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. 1, No. 4, Second Series, October, 1921. 
 

Rev. David Rice

~~~~~~~~~~
  
The 1753 will of William Hunter of Fredericksburg, Virginia, names as beneficiaries his sons James and William and his daughter Martha.  Named as executors of the will, which indicates Hunter was a wealthy man, were his cousin, James Hunter, and brother-in-law, William Taliaferro of Orange Co., as well as Fielding Lewis and Charles Dick. In 1758, William Taliaferro gave bond in the amount of twelve thousand pounds as guardian to the three children.  Security was posted by Edward Rice and Joseph Jones. 
 
Hunter's will said he wished his sons to be educated at William and Mary.  It was founded in 1693 by letters patent issued by King William III and Queen Mary II and is the second oldest institute of higher education in the U. S. (Harvard was first.)  Wiliam and Mary consistently ranks in the top five of quality U. S. public universities. Presidents Jefferson, Monroe and Tyler were educated there, as were 16 signers of the Declaration of Independence.  (McGroarty, W. B., "The Family Register of Nicholas Taliaferro," p. 145, Vol. 1, No, 3 [Second Series], William and Mary Quarterly, July, 1921)
 
 
 
ANCESTRY: DR. JOHN W. RICE OF NEW MARKET, VIRGINIA
 
Descendants of Francis Rice (1711-1798) 
 
 Follow Up
 
In Vol. 2, No. 9 (May 8, 2009) we presented some information submitted years ago by researchers of the family of Dr. John Walter Rice (1793-1862) of New Market, Virginia, who set up practice there after studying medicine in Philadelphia, where he married Anna Marie Gilliam (1798-1881).  It had been passed from generation to generation in families of the two earlier researchers that John had been rejected by his family because he married a Catholic and they never were able to document his ancestry.  A few current researchers have since been in touch with me to say he was the son of Francis Rice (1740-1806) and grandson of Francis Rice (1711-1798) and Sarah Womack.  Thanks to their contributions, I was able to put togther the outline below.  Now that I see what branch of the Virginia Rices this is, I realize that there are even more of you working on it.  If you wish to send me your additions and corrections, I will try to flesh out this outline. (Please list sources as much as possible.)
 
I am looking for a way that I can post selected  "working documents" for all who are interested to edit and expand.  This would be a good one to start with.  Any ideas?   ~ Rosemary
 
(Dr. John Rice, his father and his grandfather are designated in blue.)
 
FRANCIS RICE (1711-1798)
.... +*Sarah Womack 1713 - 1810

........ 2 Molly Rice
.............. +Cheatham
........ 2 Thomas Rice 1735 - 1803
.............. +?
................... 3 William Rice
................... 3 Benjamin Rice
................... 3 Charles Rice
................... 3 Sally Rice
................... 3 Nancy Rice
 
........ 2 Abraham Rice 1735 - 1816
.............. +?

........ 2 Samuel Rice 1737 - 1807
.......... +Eleanor Jones 1757 - 1846
................... 3 Francis Rice - 1860
................... 3 Isham Rice - 1855
......................... +Prudence - 1861
................... 3 James Rice 1791 - 1834
................... 3 Stephen ( Sterling) Rice - 1834
......................... +?
............................. 4 Permelia Ann Rice
............................. 4 Abraham Rice
............................. 4 Emily S. Rice
............................. 4 Mary E. O. Rice
............................. 4 Sarah A. R. R. Rice
............................. 4 James S. Rice
............................. 4 David B. Rice
................... 3 Frances Fanny Rice 1785 -
......................... +Asa Harper 1780 - 1876
............................. 4 Sterling Harper 1809 -
............................. 4 James Harper 1815 -
............................. 4 Asa Harper 1822 -
................... 3 Elizabeth S. Betsy Rice - 1868
................... 3 Sarrah Sally Rice
................... 3 Mary Polly Rice
................... 3 William Rice 1794 - 1845

........ 2 Isham Rice 1739 - 1804
.............. +Fanny
................... 3 Francis Rice - 1815
......................... +Jemima Oliver

........ 2 *Francis Rice 1740 - 1806
.............. +unknown first wife
............. *Friend of *Francis Rice: (NOTE: These children are given in birth order; some are believed to be
                        by a "friend" Eleanor McGeehee (1746-1812); more documentation is needed.
................... 3 [86] Isham Rice 1766 - 1821
......................... +[87] Ms. Gilchrist?
............................. 4 [88] William B. Rice - 1836
................................... +[89] Sally Marland
................... 3 [90] Samuel Rice
................... 3 [91] William Rice - 1821
................... 3 [92] Francis Rice  - 1848
......................... +[93] Sally Womack
............................. 4 [94] Francis W. Rice 1785 -
............................. 4 [95] John Thomas Rice
............................. 4 [96] Ann M. Rice
............................. 4 [97] Elizabeth W.Rice
................................... +[98] Benjamin P. Burke
............................. 4 [99] ? Rice
................... 3 [100] Joshua Rice 1784 -
......................... +[101] Mary
............................. 4 [102] Joel H. Rice 1830 -
............................. 4 [103] Mary Rice 1845 -
................... 3 [104] Thomas Rice 1784 - 1836
......................... +[105] Susannah Biggers
............................. 4 [107] John Frank Rice 1809 - 1879
................................... +[108] Mary Elizabeth Morton 1813 - 1877
........................................ 5 [109] William David Rice
........................................ 5 [110] Alexander (Bell) Sandy Rice 1859 - 1932
.............................................. +[111] Mattie Ann Thomas 1865 - 1922
............................. 4 [112] Joseph Rice 1811 -
............................. 4 [113] William Rice
............................. 4 [114] Benjamin Rice
............................. 4 [115] Charles Rice
............................. 4 [116] Sally Rice
............................. 4 [117] Nancy Rice
................... 3 [118] *Dr. John Walter Rice 1793 - 1862
......................... +[119] *Anna Marie Gilliams 1798 - 1881
............................. 4 [120] Emily Catherine Rice
................................... +[121] Jacob Zirkle
........................................ 5 [122] Jenny Zirkle
............................. *2nd Husband of [120] Emily Catherine Rice:
................................... +[123] John Crawford
........................................ 5 [124] Walter Crawford
............................. 4 [125] Caroline Ann Rice 1819 -
................................... +[126] Walter Newman
........................................ 5 [127] Mary Newman
........................................ 5 [128] John Walter Newman
........................................ 5 [129] Annie Newman
........................................ 5 [130] Samuel Newman
........................................ 5 [131] Emma Newman
........................................ 5 [132] Edward Newman
............................. 4 [133] Charles Edward Rice 1821 -
................................... +[134] Mary Beaver
........................................ 5 [135] Louisa Rice
........................................ 5 [136] Elizabeth Rice
........................................ 5 [137] Katherine Rice
........................................ 5 [138] Charles Rice
........................................ 5 [139] John Rice
........................................ 5 [140] Laura Rice
............................. 4 [141] Richard Stafford Rice 1824 -
................................... +[142] Sarah Ann Newman
........................................ 5 [143] Fannie Ellen Rice 1847 - 1928
.............................................. +[144] Johns Edward Hopkins 1841 -
.................................................. 6 [145] Mattie Alice Hopkins 1872 -
.................................................. 6 [146] Anna Carter Hopkins 1874 -
.................................................. 6 [147] Mary Howard Hopkins 1876 -
.................................................. 6 [148] Sadie Gilmore Hopkins 1878 -
.................................................. 6 [149] Lula Rice Hopkins 1882 -
.................................................. 6 [150] Fannie Virginia Hopkins 1880 -
.................................................. 6 [151] Berta Johns Hopkins 1884 -
.................................................. 6 [152] Eva Edith Hopkins 1886 -
.................................................. 6 [153] Elizabeth Catherine Hopkins 1888 -
........................................ 5 [154] Mary Virginia Rice
.............................................. +[155] Abraham C. Kimler
.................................................. 6 [156] Joseph Richard Pierson Kimler
........................................ 5 [157] Annie Rice
.............................................. +[158] Howard England
.................................................. 6 [159] Thomas England
.................................................. 6 [160] Lelia England
.................................................. 6 [161] Alice England
.................................................. 6 [162] Mary England
.................................................. 6 [163] Howard England
.................................................. 6 [164] Lucille England
.................................................. 6 [165] Ruth England
.................................................. 6 [166] Bernard England
........................................ 5 [167] Martha Ellen Rice
........................................ 5 [168] Charles Rice
........................................ 5 [169] Joseph Rice
........................................ 5 [170] Alice Rice 1858 -
............................. 4 [171] Lewis Gilliams Rice 1827 - 1854
................................... +[172] Margaret Shannon Conway 1827 -
...................................  *2nd Wife of [171] Lewis Gilliams Rice: +[173] Emma Amelia Newman
........................................ 5 [1] John Warren Rice 1848 - 1921
.............................................. +[2] Mary Catherine Pifer 1827 -
.................................................. 6 [3] Warren Rice 1876 - 1951
........................................................ +[4] Grace Ethel Enos
........................................ 5 [5] Louis Shannon Rice
.................................................. 6 [3] Warren Rice 1876 - 1951
........................................ 5 [174] Laura Bell Roice
............................. 4 [175] *John Harper Rice 1828 - 1906
................................... +[176] Hariet E. Windle 1830 -
........................................ 5 [177] Mary Susan Rice 1849 -
........................................ 5 [178] Caroline Ann Rice 1851 -
........................................ 5 [179] *Francis Eugene Rice 1853 - 1934
.............................................. +[180] Mary C. Kennedy 1850 - 1890
..............................................           *2nd Wife of [179] *Francis Eugene Rice:
..............................................           +[181] Lucy J. Hisey 1862 - 1917
.................................................. 6 [6] *Virgie Florence Rice 1878 - 1964
........................................................ +[7] *William Martin Weaver 1873 - 1941
............................................................. 7 [8] Charles Franklin Weaver 1898 - 1908
............................................................. 7 [9] Mary Florence Weaver 1901 - 1985
................................................................... +[10] Walter E. Wagner
........................................................................ 8 [11] Walter E. Wagner 1920 - 1970
.............................................................................. +[12] Elizabeth F. Eisenman
.................................................................................. 9 [13] Mary Wagner
........................................................................................ +[14] Mr. Miller
.................................................................................. 9 [15] Nancy Wagner
............................................................. 7 [16] Pauline Frances Weaver 1904-1979
................................................................... +[17] Royal A. Bettis 1900 - 1961
........................................................................ 8 [18] Evelyn F. Bettis 1927 -
............................................................. 7 [19] *Carol Rice Weaver 1907 - 1984
................................................................... +[20] *Jeanette Cowles 1909 - 1948
........................................................................ 8 [21] *Robert Cowles Weaver 1936 -
.............................................................................. +[22] Virginia Lee Shoup 1941 -
.................................................................................. 9 [23] Robert Clifton Weaver 1957 - .................................................................................. 9 [24] Susan Patrica Weaver 1967 -
........................................................................................ +[25] John Hanshew
............................................................................................. 10 [26] John Robert Weaver Hanshew 1987
........................................................................ 8 [27] Thomas Foss Weaver 1939 -
.............................................................................. +[28] Dottie Cave
.................................................................................. 9 [29] Thomas F. Weaver 1957 -
........................................................................................ +[30] Cathy Ghingle
............................................................................................. 10 [31] Michael T. Weaver 1987 -
.................................................................................. 9 [32] Jeannette C. Weaver 1958 -
............................................................................................. 10 [33] Jessyca Monique Weaver 1982 -
.................................................................................. 9 [34] Michael C. Weaver 1960 -
........................................................................................ +[35] Linda M. Nelson
............................................................................................. 10 [36] Jonthan C. Weaver 1988 -
.................................................................................. 9 [37] Susan m. Weaver
........................................................................................ +[38] Dan Paddock
............................................................................................. 10 [39] Dan C. Paddock 1988 -
............................................................................................. 10 [40] Nichole M. Paddock 1989 -
........................................................................ 8 [41] John Vance Weaver 1940 -
.............................................................................. +[42] Page C. Anderson
.................................................................................. 9 [43] Vance Weaver 1960 -
........................................................................................ +[44] ?
............................................................................................. 10 [45] Nichole Eliane Weaver 1994 -
.................................................................................. 9 [46] Craig Weaver 1962 -
.................................................................................. 9 [47] Christopher Weaver 1960 - 2004
............................................................................................. 10 [48] Michael Charles Weaver 1982 -
................................................................................................... +[49] ?
............................................................................................. 10 [50] Joshua John William Weaver 1989 -
............................................................................................. 10 [51] Kevin C. Weaver 1991-2005
........................................................................ 8 [52] Carolyn Jean Weaver 1943 -
.............................................................................. +[53] Charlie Ross
............................................................. 7 [54] Glady's Martin Weaver 1910 - 1989
................................................................... +[55] Walter L. Hitt
............................................................. 7 [56] Alice Louise Weaver 1912 - 1950
................................................................... +[57] Harold B. Wirth 1901 - 1991
........................................................................ 8 [58] Delores B. Wirth 1935 -
.............................................................................. +[59] Henry Peters
.................................................................................. 9 [60] Alice Peters
.................................................................................. 9 [61] Henry Peters Jr.
........................................................................ 8 [62] Richard Harold Wirth 1938 -
............................................................. 7 [63] Arlene Elma Weaver 1915 - 1998
................................................................... +[64] Joseph E. Miller 1916 - 1978
........................................................................ 8 [65] Sandra A. Miller 1945 -
.............................................................................. +[66] Charles R. Eichelberger 1945 - 1995
.................................................................................. 9 [67] Charles Lee Eichelberger 1968 -
........................................................................................ +[68] Barbra Bonbright 1966 -
.................................................................................. 9 [69] Scott Edward Eichelberger 1968 -
............................................................. 7 [70] Eugene Samuel Weaver 1919 - 1980
................................................................... +[71] Beverly M.Martin 1923 - 1980
........................................................................ 8 [72] Denis Weaver 1951 - 1978
........................................................................ 8 [73] Ronnie Weaver 1949 -
............................................................. 7 [74] Jeanette Weaver 1921 - 1923
.................................................. 6 [75] John Kennedy Rice - 1957
........................................................ +[76] Lucy
............................................................. 7 [77] Francis Rice
............................................................. 7 [78] John R. Rice
............................................................. 7 [79] Willard Rice
.................................................. 6 [80] George Franklin Rice 1882 - 1954
........................................................ +[81] Delia Minnick
............................................................. 7 [82] Alice Rice
................................................................... +[83] Miller
............................................................. 7 [84] Marry Moore Rice
............................................................. 7 [85] Ruth Rice
........................................ 5 [182] Louie Albert Rice 1855 -
........................................ 5 [183] Charles Gilbert Rice 1857 -
........................................ 5 [184] Ida Henritta Rice 1859 -
........................................ 5 [185] John William Rice 1861 -
........................................ 5 [186] Cora Rebbca Rice 1863 -
........................................ 5 [187] Robert Edward Rice 1865 -
........................................ 5 [188] Maria Louisa Rice 1868 -
........................................ 5 [189] Sidney Synder Rice 1870 -
........................................ 5 [190] Elizabeth Lillian Rice 1872 -
........................................ 5 [191] Eliza Avera Rice 1875 -
............................. 4 [192] Elizabeth Catherine Rice 1830 -
................................... +[193] Charles Moore
........................................ 5 [194] Anne Moore
.............................................. +[195] Lew Henkle
........................................ 5 [196] Carrie Moore
.............................................. +[197] Philip Samuel Michael Bird
............................. 4 [198] Francis Eugene Rice 1833 -
................................... +[199] Lucindia Robinson
........................................ 5 [200] Ella Gertrude Rice
........................................ 5 [201] Lelia Rice
........................................ 5 [202] William Rice
........................................ 5 [203] Carrie Lee Rice
........................................ 5 [204] Eugene Meigs Rice 1868 -
........................................ 5 [205] Houston Rice
........................................ 5 [206] Bertha Rice
........................................ 5 [207] Thomas Rice 1872 -
............................. 4 [208] William Hamilton Rice 1835 -
................................... +[209] Mary F. Clindinst
........................................ 5 [210] Henrietta Rice
........................................ 5 [211] Emily Rice
........................................ 5 [212] Frank Rice
........................................ 5 [213] Mary Rice
........................................ 5 [214] Lester Rice
............................. 4 [215] Robert Sidney Rice 1839 -
................................... +[216] Louisa Madison Vest
............................. 4 [217] Jacob Walter Rice 1843 -
................................... +[218] Anna Maria Henkle
........................................ 5 [219] Charles Sidney Rice
.............................................. +[220] Dora
.................................................. 6 [221] Annie Sarah Rice
................... 3 unknown Rice 1766 -
................... 3 unknown Rice 1800 -
 
........ 2 Elizabeth Rice 1743 - 1803
.............. +Robert Puckett 1765 - 
 
 
Rice home 3 
The Oliver Rice Home
 
The house pictured here was built about 1790 by Oliver Rice, who had served under Gorge Washington during the American Revolution.
 
This was home to six generations of his family for a period spanning nearly two centuries.  It took Oliver and a team of day laborers nearly three years to build the large home. 
 
The bricks in the house (about 40,000) were made on the property.  Hardware, such as nails and hinges, were forged in a blacksmith shop on the place.  Nearly all the timber used was cut on the property.  The bricks were laid up in blue clay.  Very little change has taken place since the Rice homestead was constructed.
 
The Rice home is located on Riceville Road in what once was the Riceville section of the present town of Mayfield, New York, located in Fulton County.  The Rice home now is operated as the Mayfield Historical Society Museum.  It is open to the public in the summer, but may be seen by appointment other times of the year.
 
Rice homestead5Riceville is located more thn a mile southeast of Mayfield village. Once a thriving community, it had taverns, stores, grist-mill, saw-mill, distillery, foundry, a schoolhouse and several homes.  Oliver Rice was the area's first postmaster. The area is still called Riceville although the business places have all disappeared. 
 
One of the earliest schools in the area was on the Rice property at Riceville and Oliver Rice was its first board clerk.  The school was built of logs notched together at the corners. There was a door in the middle of one side and windows at each end. The cracks betwen the logs were filled with mud.
 
The oldest Rice family burials found in the area are for Ebenezer Rice, died March 6, 1842, age 71 years, 7 months, 5 days, and his wife, Martha, died April 4, 1840, in her 80th year.  There is also a Rice monument for a younger Ebenezer Rice (died May 22,1875, aged 73), William E. Rice (died in 1851), and Eliza Ann Rice, wife of Ebenezer (died Sept. 28, 1847, age 37 years, 28 days).
 
A Chauncey Rice and Lydia Cozens were wed at nearby Gloversville Sept. 14, 1822.  Ebenezer Rice and Eliza Anne Port (see their death, above) were married there Feb. 12, 1829.  Chauncey H. Rice and Frances M.  Bristol, both of Mayfield, were wed April 10, 1845 in the Mayfield Presbyterian Church.    William Rice and Eliza Van Allen were married Sept. 28, 1847 in the nearby town of Ephratah.
 
The Oliver Rice (1768-1859) who led his family to Riceville is thought to belong to the New London (Connecticut) branch of the family.  He lived to age 91 and is buried in the Riceville Cemetery with his wife, the former Alice Parrish (1772-1847) of Windham, Connecticut.  Next to them are two sons, George O. Rice, who died in 1838 at age 34, and Lucius Rice, who died in 1861 at age 54.
 
 Rice homestead4
 
 
 
Draw the Family Circle Wide, Then Draw It Wider Still
 
Share both the fruits of your genealogical labors
and the puzzling problems you encounter
 
 
  
 
FIRST THREE VOLUMES AVAILABLE:
 
The Rice Book Project  
 
Rice Book Project

 
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
 
BOOK 2: The Immigrants
 
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 next book in the series.
  
 
Order books from the Rice Book Project Website.
 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
Books may also be ordered from:
ROBERT RICE
11 ANDES DRIVE
MECHANICSBURG, PA 17055-5504 
 
Enclose a check payable to Robert Rice 
          (See website for prices)
 
THE RICE FAMILY EZINE
 is sponsored by the Rice Family Book Project