This DNA report has been jointly written by David Brown, devoted historian and descendent of Gov. Nathaniel Rice, born 1694, and Mary Fern Souder, whose husband descends from Thomas Rice, born 1801. The report is not intended for the casual reader because of the extensive detail that will be presented. We feel these details are necessary in order to follow the paper trails, and to leave as much information as possible for future researchers because this study is still a work in progress.

Our research has been lengthy and tedious because of the difficulty in finding participants to test; the complicated relationships between various families; the lack of early paper records for Thomas Rice’s parents and siblings; the repetition of naming sons Thomas, William, and John among many unrelated Rice families; and the vast distances traveled by these two early Rice families. Both Rice families included some extraordinary, capricious and unconventional individuals!

The history and Y-chromosome report for the two participants who are descendants of Thomas Rice will be presented immediately below, the history and Y-chromosome report for Gov. Nathaniel Rice will follow, and an analysis of the DNA results will complete this report.

Kit # 3109 - Thomas Rice, b. 1801 NC, d. 1860 Miami Co, KS + Elizabeth "Betsy" Wood > Thomas Desom Rice, b. 1832 AR, d. 1872 Miami Co, KS + Catherine Lucretia Dedrick

Although records for Thomas Rice have been found in eight different counties and six states (but not Kentucky), it is possible we do not know all the places he lived. Thomas married Elizabeth Wood (born 1796 and five years his senior) on 27 December 1818 or 1819 in Rowan County, NC (the bond says one year and the court recording says another year). Elizabeth descends from a well-documented Rowan County, NC, family, with her parents being William Wood* who died in 1817 and his wife, Rebecca, who died in 1821 or 1822. William and Rebecca Wood left eleven children. William Wood was the son of Garrett / Jarrett Wood who died ca. 1795 in Rowan County, and wife Rachel, who left 15 children.

WOOD-TOW EXCURSUS

*William Wood had a long-time mistress named Mary "Polly" Tow(e) or Tough, with whom he had at least one son (Y-DNA signatures suggest two sons), and probably three daughters. A Bastardy Bond was signed by William Wood on 7 February 1795 in Rowan County, NC, acknowledging the delivery of a "Bastard Male" by Mary Dow (see North Carolina State Archives, Series: CR085-102.3). Descendants of Jesse Tow, born ca. 1795, and Charles Tow, born ca. 1798, carry the Y-chromosome signature of the Wood family of Rowan County. Further, the autosomal DNA of a descendent of Thomas Rice and Elizabeth Wood has a large matching chromosome segment (40.87 centimorgans) with a descendent of Jesse Tow, which presumably comes through the Wood family.

It is believed that Mary Rice is the same person as "Polly" Rice, widow, whose "infant son, Enoch Rice, was given a gift of 28 ½ acres on Holman’s Creek on 20 July 1816 by William Wood, planter, (and father of Elizabeth Wood), just one year before William Wood died. Mary Rice (age 26-44) was single even on the 1810 Rowan County, NC, census, when she had four sons and three daughters under the age of 15. On this 1810 census Mary Rice was enumerated next to Mary Tough, over age 45, with seven persons under age under age 15, who was enumerated next to William Wood. The special relationship that William Wood had with Mary Rice or her seven-year-old son, Enoch, that precipitated him giving Enoch 28 ½ acres, is not known. The will of William Wood did not mention a daughter named Mary among his eleven Wood children).

William Wood made his will on 22 June 1817 and wrote it while lying on a feather bed in the home of Polly Tow. His first bequest was to Polly Tow, giving her 50 acres, including the building where his son, John Wood formerly lived, to be used during her lifetime and after her death to pass to her three daughters, Susy, Fairby and Lucy; his brown horse, a cow and heifer; farm utensils, all the household goods and furniture in her house except this feather bed; and two hogs and two sheep after his Widow has taken her choice of two Beasts of each kind; he further gave Polly Tow the corn growing on the turnip patch cut. His second and third bequests were to his children, and his fourth bequest was to his "beloved wife Rebecca, who was to receive all residue and real estate not previously bequeathed."

Of interest: Gerrett (Garrett / Jarrett) Wood, grandfather of Elizabeth Wood Rice, was enumerated on the 1778 Tax List in Rowan County, NC, next to Joshua Story, who lived next to Enoch Story.

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One clue as to the identity of the extended family of Thomas Rice who married Elizabeth Wood is that for over 20 years Thomas Rice was connected in several ways to the abovementioned Enoch Rice.

Both left civil court or census records between1816-1820 in Rowan County, NC.
Both had unclaimed letters at the post office in Sparta, White County, TN, in 1829.
Both were enumerated in 1833 on the Lawrence County, Arkansas Territory tax list, (along with William P. Rice and a William Wood).
Both were on the 1840 census in Wayne County, IL.
Both left various court records after 1840 in Jefferson County, IL.

It is postulated that Thomas Rice and Enoch Rice were brothers, but a straight-line paternal descendent of Enoch Rice has not taken a Y-chromosome test in order to verify this possibility.

There was an older man, also named Enoch Rice, born by 1780, who died in 1818 in Rowan County. His will mentions his wife Polly (nee Sands, whom he married the previous year in Rowan County), and adult children Caternah Munroe, Margaret Rice, Allen Rice, Rachel Bodenhammer, Abia (Abraham?) Rice, and Wolarick Rice (both sons). Executors were Ezekiel Brown, Esqr., and wife Polly Rice. Witnesses were Jacob Leonard* and Zacus (probably Zachariah) Spurgin, Jr.

*A man named Jacob Leonard purchased land that was originally owned by Gov. Nathaniel Rice. A deed written in in 1788 and proved in 1791 in Brunswick County, NC (previously New Haven County, NC), recorded the sale of land by Nathaniel Rice’s grandson John Rice (Jr.) and presumed granddaughter, A. Charlotte Rice, both of Wake County, NC. A 1789 marriage record in Wake County, NC, for Charlotte Rice to Thomas Roycroft seems to further substantiate Anna Charlotte Rice as a younger sibling of John Rice (Jr.), son of John Rice, Sr., and Sarah Carruthers. A relationship between Jacob Leonard who lived in Brunswick County, NC, in the 1780’s and Jacob Leonard of 1818 Wake County, NC, has not been found.

Since Enoch Rice, the elder (whose wife was Polly) made his will on 24 June 1818, and it was proved in August Court in 1818, and the younger Enoch Rice’s mother (also named Polly), was already a widow by 1810, there were surely two women in Rowan County at the same time, both named Polly Rice. It has not been possible to trace the sons of Enoch Rice, the elder.

The 1820 census in Rowan County, NC, which was partially alphabetized, lists Thomas (and wife Elizabeth Wood) both age 16-25, (with their first son William Rice, under age 10). Thomas was engaged in agriculture. Next to Thomas Rice was Mary Rice, apparently a widow, age 26-44, with one male (or two, depending on his precise age), and three younger females. Two persons were engaged in agriculture in her household.

Three heads of households have been located on Rowan County, NC, census lists that could conceivably have been the parents of Thomas Rice of this study:

1. It seems likely that the father or even the grandfather of Thomas Rice, born 1801, may have lived for a time in Rowan County, NC. It should be noted that there was a John Rice listed next to a Thomas STORY on the 1787 Rowan County, NC, tax list. They lived very near Charles Payne, Richard Barnes, and Jarrett Wood, the grandfather of Elizabeth Wood. This may be the same John Rice who, in 1786, witnessed a deed between Samuel (X) Barnes to Jacob Peck for Lb. 100 specie, 200 A on both sides of S. fork of Swans Creek. Being the land conveyed from James Patterson to this Grantor (Deed Book 10, p. 461). Wit: Lewis Winkler (signed in German), John (X) Rice. Rechel (sic) Barnes. Prvd by Winkler at Aug Ct 1786.

The reconstructed 1790 Rowan County, NC, census lists a man transcribed as John REESS who lived in the same district as Richard Barnes, Charles Payne, Jacob Peck, and Jarrett Wood. It seems likely that this man was not John Reess, but the above John Rice, whose household was comprised of:

Males: 2 < 16; 1 > 16
Females: 2 (no age designations)

2. There was a household headed by a William Rice on the Salisbury side of Rowan County, NC, in 1800:
Males: 1 < 10; 1 10-16; 2 16-26
Females: 4 < 10; 1 10 < 16; 2 16-26

The family composition of the above household of William Rice appears to be two married couples sharing a home, and one of them might have been the family of Thomas, born 1801.

3. Deed Book 19, # 2789, p. 139. 1 Dec 1799, shows a transfer from William Pain/Payn to Elizabeth Allemong for Lb. 28, 100 A on Reedy Crk adj James Chaney. It was part of a State grant to this Grantor on 27 Nov 1793. Wit: Thos Rice, John Hampton. Proved by Hampton at Aug Ct 1805.

The 1800 alphabetized census on the Salisbury side of Rowan County has a household headed by Thomas RECE. The microfilm of the original census looks exactly like the name is Rice, but no dot over the ‘i’ is visible. This household is in the same district as that of Charles Payne, Jacob Peck, Sr., and seven Wood households, including William Wood and Rachel Wood (widow of Jarrett Wood) who are father and grandmother, respectively, of Elizabeth Wood who will marry Thomas Rice in 1818. The composition of this Thomas Rice 1800 household is as follows:

Males: 2 < 10; 1 26-45
Females: 1 < 10; 1 26-45; 1 > 45 (perhaps the mother of one of the couple)

Possibilities for the parents of Thomas Rice, born 1801, include all three families listed above: John Rice, William Rice and Thomas Rice. Although John Rice is not found after the 1790 census, he was associated with the Wood family and the Story family, and could have been living in another household. By 1810, John Rice, William Rice and Thomas Rice were all missing from Rowan County and presumed deceased.

1825 - A biography of Henderson Rice (son of Thomas Rice and Elizabeth Wood), states that Henderson was born in 1825 in White County, TN, and reared in Henry County, TN.

1830 - The family of Thomas Rice was enumerated in White County, TN. The composition of this household exactly fits that of Thomas and Elizabeth Rice Wood, except that Thomas is 20 years too old. It is assumed that this was actually the Rice-Wood family of this study. There are no land records for Thomas Rice in White County, TN.

1830 - Mary Rice was enumerated in White County, TN, age 50-60. She lived one household from Isaac Weaver. In 1829 Enoch Rice had an unclaimed letter in the White County, TN, post office, addressed to Enoch Rice OR Isaac Weaver. Since the letter was addressed to either of these men, it is reasonable to assume there was a family relationship between Enoch Rice and Isaac Weaver. Enoch was unmarried (as far as we know), but Isaac Weaver was married to Abigail, born 1806 in North Carolina. It is speculated that Abigail was a daughter of nearby Mary Rice, and that Mary Rice had moved to White County, TN, before 1830, joining at least some of her children, including Thomas and Enoch Rice, and possibly Abigail. Abigail and Isaac Weaver died in the early 1850’s in Montgomery County, IL. It is further recommended that additional research be conducted on Rachel Hall, age 30-39, who lived between Mary Rice and Isaac Weaver in 1830. Rachel Hall had a son under five, and a daughter age 10-15.

1831 – Enoch Rice married Sarah Whitman in Jefferson County, IL.

1832 – Thomas Desom Rice, youngest child of Thomas Rice and Elizabeth Wood, was born in Arkansas.

1833 – Thomas Rice, Enoch Rice, William P. Rice (identity unknown), and William Wood (possible uncle or cousin of Elizabeth Wood Rice) were enumerated in Lebanon Township, Lawrence County, Arkansas Territory. This may have been one of the places where Thomas and his kinsmen established a trading post.

mid-1830’s – Two men named John Rice began leaving court records in Jefferson County, IL. The older John Rice was born by 1790 and married to Sarah, and the younger John Rice was born by 1810. These two men will be identified in this report as John Rice, Sr., and John Rice, Jr., and although they lived near each other there is no documentary evidence that they were actually father and son. In 1840 two persons in the household of John Rice, Sr.’s were working in "Manufacturing and Trade." This suggests that John Rice, Sr., may have been one of the brothers of Thomas Rice who operated a trading post. John Rice, Sr., and Sarah were the proven parents of Catherine Rice, born 13 September 1821 in Alabama.

Catherine Rice was married on 15 March 1838 in Jefferson County, IL, to Joseph Campbell Estes, and the couple lived six households from her parents. On the next census page John Rice, Jr., was listed with a wife and six children, and they were enumerated in the household next to Henry Whitman (Enoch Rice married Sarah Whitman in 1831) and two households from James McIntire (who signed the 1841 marriage bond for Henderson Rice who md. Rebecca J. McIntire). James McIntire was the father of this Rebecca Jane McIntire. John Rice, Jr., may have been the same person who divorced his wife, Jemima Rice, in 1845 in Jefferson County, IL.

1838 – Enoch Rice and one John Rice were charged separately in August Court for Gaming, thus suggesting they may have been at the same event); Enoch’s case was settled at the March Term of Court in 1839 when Enoch pled guilty and paid a fine of $10 plus costs of prosecution. John Rice was charged again in April 1842 for keeping an open tippling house on the Sabbath Day, for playing cards, permitting cards to be "plaid" in his house, and selling liquor without a license. Several of the charges were repeated in September 1842.

1838 – Enoch Rice patented 40 acres on 3 October 1838, located in the SWSW Sec.14, T.3S, R.03E in Jefferson County, IL.

1839 - On 7 January 1839 Thomas Rice acquired his first land in Henry County, TN, immediately followed by an absence in Henry County of about five years when he was apparently in Illinois. This 1839 purchase consisted of 75 acres from John Gregory, et. al., for $100. The Tennessee deed was witnessed by George M. Porter, Henry County court clerk, and Gova Cox, both of whom lived near Major Harrison Bevill in 1840. (Gova Cox, and his wife Margaret Dial, were born 1795 and 1803, respectively, in Rowan County, NC, and Thomas Rice may have been previously acquainted with them). The deed mentions that these 75 acres were available to Thomas Rice "by Virtue of the Act of the General Assembly passed for the benefit of persons possessing less than one hundred and Sixty acres of land." In correspondence dated 2008, Stephanie Tayloe of the W. G. Rhea Library in Paris, Henry County, TN, said that this land was available at a bargain price with the understanding that the person would live on the land and develop it. This is clearly not what happened in this case because Thomas Rice and Enoch Rice were enumerated one year later on the 1840 census in Wayne County, IL.

In fact, Thomas Rice left Henry County, TN, almost immediately after signing the above deed on 7 January 1839, and he was charged with intent to commit murder in March of 1839 in Jefferson County, IL.

1839 - March Term of Court in Jefferson County, IL, a Grand Jury investigation brought an indictment against Thomas Rice for assault with intent to murder, with bail of $200 having previously been set. The name of Thomas Rice was "three times solemnly called" but he failed to appear. Joseph C. Estes (husband of Catherine Rice) and one John Rice were his sureties and the judge ordered that their bond money be forfeited. (The name of the alleged victim was not given)

1840 – Thomas Rice and Enoch Rice were enumerated in adjoining households in Wayne County, IL. Thomas had a household of nine persons and his occupation was "Manufacturing and Trade." Enoch Rice had three sons and one daughter, and one elderly male slave. One person in Enoch’s household was an "insane or idiot person at private charge" (meaning that the person was cared for in the home).

1840 - Enoch Rice was charged in Jefferson County, IL, in November Court for "Rescuing a Prisoner."

1842 - After the initial indictment of Thomas Rice in March 1839, he failed to appear in Jefferson County Court for the next three years, being "called but not present" month after month until finally on 11 April 1842 he appeared with his attorney, "Hicks," and pled not guilty. Thomas Rice asked for a trial by jury, and 12 men who were ready came forward, heard the evidence and acquitted Thomas Rice of the charge. Thomas Rice was discharged without delay. On this same day in Court, Enoch Rice was also acquitted of the charge of "Rescue," thus implying that Enoch’s charge was likely associated with the rescue of his brother, Thomas Rice.

It is possible that the Thomas Rice who was charged with attempted murder might have been one of the unidentified sons of John Rice, Sr., of Jefferson County, IL, but since Enoch Rice was charged with "Rescuing a Prisoner," and was acquitted of the charge by the same Court on the same date as Thomas Rice’s acquittal, this suggests that the man Enoch rescued was probably his brother, Thomas Rice.

Extensive research has been conducted and it has not been possible to locate John Rice, Sr., or John Rice, Jr., either before they arrived in Jefferson County in the 1830’s, or after they disappeared in the mid-1840’s.

Where was Thomas Rice living when he was absent from Jefferson County Court for three years (from March 1839 to April 1842)? Were Elizabeth Wood Rice and the children still in Jefferson County running their trading post? We do know that their underage son, Henderson Rice, married Rebecca McIntire on 17 March 1841 in Jefferson County, IL, so at least Henderson must have been living in the vicinity of Jefferson County. However, Thomas and Elizabeth’s oldest son, William Rice, at about age 21, married Nancy STOREY on 24 December 1840 in Alexander County, IL. Perhaps Thomas Rice was there with son William, possibly reconnecting with descendants of the Story family who were very close neighbors to the Rices of Rowan County, NC, from at least 1778 until 1787.

1844 – Thomas Rice began acquiring land again in Henry County, TN, with final purchases on March 20, 1849 and March 31, 1849. Perhaps Thomas still owned the first land he bought in Henry County, TN, on 7 January 1839, because when he sold his entire holdings in Henry County in 1849, he had 381 ¾ acres.

It is interesting that he acquired two properties in 1849, only to sell out two weeks later on 7 April 1849. Could he have previously acquired the latter parcels, and these acquisitions recorded in March were merely bringing the titles up-to-date so he could sell them? Could he have found a ready buyer for all this property in only two weeks’ time? In the interest of brevity a description of his land acquisitions and sales will be summarized.

On 20 March 1849, Thomas Rice, Sr.,* obtained 163 acres "for and in consideration of the sum of the Fees of Office of the General Assembly of said State, passed on 2^nd day of November 1847 . . . beginning at William Bevell’s northeast corner. . ." It was signed by Governor of Tennessee, William Trousdale, and no witnesses were listed. It appears that Thomas obtained this land by only paying fees for it. No monetary amount was listed on the deed. *Note that Thomas Rice was now giving his name as Thomas Rice, Sr., because his youngest son, Thomas Desom Rice, was almost 17 years of age. (It appears that this land might have been included in the deed of sale above, with Thomas keeping it only 17 days before selling it).

On 31 March 1849 Thomas Rice purchased an undivided one-half of Lot # 64 in the town of Paris, Henry County, TN, from Joseph B. Stewart for $62.50. This deed was witnessed by William R. Harris and J. D. Looney. Stephanie Tayloe, genealogy librarian at the W. G. Rhea Library in Paris, Henry County, TN, stated that this lot is at the corner of Market and Ruff Streets in Paris, TN, and a filling station currently occupies the lot. It is located two blocks from the courthouse. (Might this have been the location of one of Thomas’ trading posts)? Ms. Tayloe was unable to find who owned the other one-half of the lot at the time Thomas Rice purchased it, but perhaps additional research might identify that person. People who owned property together were often relatives.

On 7 April 1849 Thomas Rice sold to James C. McNiell for $572.60, land described as "beginning at the South west corner of Warren Blanton . . . Bevills line . . .Bevills North East corner . . . Uriah Bushes . . . Fowlers line. Ninety three and one-half acres of the above land was granted to me by the State of Tennessee, Grant No. 5069, dated 20 October 1847 for Entry 906 on the 30^th day of June 1846, and sixty five acres Granted by Grant No. 986 dated 4^th March 1845 for Entry No. 100 on 10 September 1844, and fifteen and three quarters acres granted to (sic?) Major Bevill by Entry No. 2538. The residue has been Entered by me, fees being sent on for the purpose but have not yet received the Grant and Number of Entry not recollected this 7^th day of April 1849." Signed: Thomas Rice (his seal).

On 27 September 1949 Thomas Rice sold "a certain Town Lot No. 64" to James D. Porter and Jonathan L. Dawson, for $600. (Remember Thomas had purchased ½ of the same lot in March 1849 for $62.50. Signed: Thomas Rice (his seal). This sale appears to be for the entire lot, not just one-half. (Therefore, Thomas kept one portion of Lot # 64 for only six months before selling all of it).

Ms. Tayloe also said "it was very common for "wheeler-dealers" to be land speculators. They bought and sold within a very short time frame in order to make a quick profit. Some of Thomas Rice’s acquisitions were "Occupant Grants," given to those who would clear the land, make it productive and dwell on it, but it appears that Thomas and Elizabeth may not have lived for any length of time on these latter parcels. Ms. Taloe said that sometimes men were able to get multiple Occupant Grants. Thomas was the only Rice man who left real estate records in Henry County, TN, between 1848-1871.

1850 – Enoch Rice was enumerated in Jackson County, IL, as a blacksmith. He died there in 1858, and in 1859 his two youngest children, Enoch, Rice Jr., born 1848 and Fanny Rice, born 1852, were appointed a guardian, John Bradshaw. Bondsmen were Hiram Lee, Davis S. Roberts, and Blucher Boon. The children of Enoch and Sarah Whitman Rice were Unknown Son, Abraham Rice, Sr., James F. Rice, Mary Adeline, Martha (who was blind), Enoch Jr., and Fanny Rice. Only Abraham Rice, Sr., who married Zero Tabor in 1854 in Alexander County, IL, has been traced.

1850 - By 12 August 1850 the households of Thomas and Elizabeth Rice (including their unmarried son Thomas D. Rice), and sons Abram Rice, and Henderson Rice, had all moved to St. Francois County, MO, where Thomas was listed as a "merchant" with real estate valued at $200, Henderson was a farmer and Abram was a wagon maker. Neither of the sons owned real estate. Daughter Rebecca Jane, had married John B. Hinchey in 1849 in Henry County, TN, and she stayed in Henry County.

1854 - "History of the State of Kansas," A. T. Andreas, Chicago, 1883, p. 889, states that "The first settlement was made in Mound Township in Miami County, KS, November 5, 1854 by Thomas and Henderson Rice . . . a store was opened April 5, 1856 by Thomas Rice . . . the first death was Mrs. Rebecca J. Rice* on May 15, 1857 . . . and the first school taught was by Loyal Bishop, commencing in November 1858, in a log schoolhouse on the farm of Thomas Rice, at whose house the first sermon was preached by Rev. Amos Finch in 1856." *Rebecca J. Rice was the wife of Henderson Rice).

16 February 1856 St. Francois County, MO, Civil Court: Thomas Rice filed a lawsuit to recover a debt of $11.01 that was allegedly owed him by John Tabor (a neighbor on the 1850 census, and any relationship to Zero Tabor who married Abraham Rice, Sr., is unknown). Subpoenas were served on John Tabor of Farmington, St. Francois County, MO, as well as to William J. Walker, Isaac Flanery (a constable), Milton Sebastian (a constable), Simon M. James (or Jones) and James M. Douthit, and the parties appeared in Court on 8 March 1856. Monthly continuances were granted until 12 July 1856 when the parties "appeared by their attorneys." The jury found for the defendant, John Tabor, and ordered Thomas Rice to pay all costs accrued in the case. Thomas Rice immediately asked for an appeal through his attorney, J. H. Beal, and a subpoena was issued on John Tabor and W. J. Walker on 10 August 1856. The handwriting on the financial settlement is so illegible that it is impossible to tell the outcome, except it appears both men owed something, and it was concluded on 1 December 1856.

This trial was the only mention for any person named Rice in Civil Court records in St. Francois County, MO until 1891. All courthouse offices in St. Francois County, MO, (excepting Civil Court) were closed for remodeling on the day the Souders went to extract Rice data. Records up until at least 1870 need to be abstracted for the remaining offices in the courthouse, with special scrutiny of deed records since Thomas Rice owned real estate there.

Based on the date on which Thomas Rice allegedly arrived in Miami County, KS (5 November 1854) and opened his store (5 April 1856) in Miami County, KS, and the legal proceedings which lasted from 16 February 1856 until 1 December 1856 in St. Francois County, MO, either Thomas Rice did a lot of traveling between the two States in the mid-1850’s, or his attorney handled most of the court appearances in St. Francois County, MO.

Henderson Rice was the only son of Thomas and Elizabeth Wood Rice who did not die as a young man. Henderson became a prominent legislator in the State of Kansas. He also became the financial guardian of all of the 12 minor children of his deceased brothers William, Abram, and Thomas Rice, Jr. These children each received yearly cash payments for their fraction of the profit from their grandfather’s estate until they came of legal age and could sell their portion. Henderson filed detailed accounts of these cash disbursals in Miami County court, and some disbursements went on for several years until the children reached their majority. These probate records are what led to the identification of Henderson’s siblings, and the names and far flung places of residence of his brothers’ orphans.

"The United States Biographical Dictionary, Kansas Volume," S. Lewis & Company, Chicago, 1879, p. 111-112, gives a biography of Henderson Rice that lists the names of his parents as "Thomas Rice, an upright Tennessee farmer, always conscientiously opposed to the institution of slavery, and his mother Elizabeth Wood, whose ancestors were originally from South Carolina, a pious and godly woman, a useful member of the Christian church, and one above all others whose moral teachings he attributes all good that attaches to him." Elizabeth had travelled half-way across America, taking many detours along the way with a husband who was constantly on the move. She raised five children and four orphaned grandchildren. Thomas and Elizabeth Wood Rice are buried in the Mound Creek Cemetery near Beagle, Miami County, KS. Their children were: William, M. Henderson, Abram, Rebecca Jane, and Thomas Desom Rice. Y-chromosome tests were conducted on descendants of William Rice and Thomas Desom Rice. Although autosomal DNA will not be further discussed, at least one descendant of each of the above five children has been tested, and all have matches with the above descendant of Jesse Tow)! Following is a brief biography that will be provided for each of the five children.

1. Generation 2: Kit # 132139: William Rice, born ca. 1819, married 1^st Nancy Jane Storey/Story on 24 December in 1840 in Alexander County, IL. It seems likely that Nancy Storey was somehow been related to the Story families mentioned above who lived adjacent to Jarrett Wood on the 1778 Tax List, and John Rice on the 1787 Tax List in Rowan County, NC. William and Nancy Rice apparently divorced before 1850 and thereafter Nancy and her two children lived in and around Madison County, MO. Nancy married 2^nd James S. Duncan in 1872 in Madison County, MO. In 1850 William Rice was married to Mary and living in Fulton County, IL. By 1860 Mary had died, and William was living in Kerton Township, Fulton County, IL, with his three children under the age of six. William died in 1863, and the administrator of the estate was Samuel Lovell (relationship unknown), born ca. 1807 in Virginia, who was married to Pheobe Lindsey, born ca. 1811 in Ohio. William’s father, Thomas Rice, Sr., had died intestate in 1860 in Miami County, KS, and the estate of Thomas Rice, Sr., paid his administrator and surviving son, Henderson Rice, to arrange transportation for these three minor children from Fulton County, IL, to Miami County, KS, where they were placed in the care of their paternal grandmother, Elizabeth Wood Rice. Henderson Rice was named legal guardian of these three children, as well as William’s two older children who lived with their mother in Madison County, MO. The names of William Rice’s five children were: Amanda Jane, Thomas Jefferson Rice, Sr., Martha Ellen, Joseph D., and Mary Elizabeth Rice.

2. M. "Henderson," Rice, born 1825, married 1st Rebecca Jane McIntire on 17 March 1841, in Jefferson County, IL, (when he was 12 days shy of his 16^th birthday). He and Rebecca were the parents of six children before her death in 1857. (Elizabeth Wood Rice took their infant daughter, Rebecca Jane Rice, to raise). M. Henderson Rice married 2nd Susan Randolph on 16 January 1858 in Leavenworth County, KS, and they were the parents of seven children. On both of Henderson’s marriage applications he listed his given name as M. Henderson Rice. Knowing his full first name might help connect this family to an earlier pedigree. During the Civil War and in response to a call from the Governor of Kansas in 1864, Henderson Rice signed on to fight at the Battle of the Big Blue, and the Battle of Westport in Missouri. If a military roster can be found for either of these Campaigns, perhaps the first name of Henderson Rice would be learned as it may have been used on official enlistment documents. Henderson Rice was the father of 13 children. His children with Rebecca Jane McIntire were: Sarah A., Mary Elizabeth, James M., Martha Jane, Artemisa "Ellen," and Rebecca Jane. His children with Susan Randolph were: Susan, Marcella Kansas, Salina Benetta "Nettie," Ida, Frances "Fannie," Henderson Rice, Jr., and William T. Rice.

"History of the State of Kansas," A. T. Andreas, Chicago, 1883, p. 890, states that "HON. "HENDERSON RICE, farmer, Section 16, Township 19, Range 22 P.O. Mound Creek, was the first white settler south of Osawatomie, in Miami County.* He was born in White County, Tenn.*, March 29, 1825, and was brought up in Henry County, in Western Tenn* He moved to St. Francis County, Mo., in 1849, and from there to Kansas, in 1854, where he has continued to reside nearly twenty-nine years. He now has a tract of rich bottom and prairie land of 340 acres in extent."

*The publication of the above document, along with the 1833 Tax List in Lawrence County, Arkansas Territory and the 1850 census in St. Francois County, MO, are the records that guided researchers to the counties where this extensive research was conducted. It is altogether possible that there are county and state records for this family in other locales.

A photograph of Henderson Rice was located by cousin Juli Jarvis. Henderson’s picture is displayed on a Legislative Panel in the archives of the State Capitol in Topeka, KS. He was a handsome man, with blue eyes, light brown hair, and a full beard and mustache. Henderson died of tuberculosis at age 69 in 1893, and a lengthy obituary for him was published in the Miami Republican, Paola, KS. Henderson and both of his wives are buried in the Mound Creek Cemetery near Beagle, Miami County, KS.

3. Abram Rice, b. ca. 1827, married Narissa C. Bevill on 23 March 1846 in Henry County, TN. Abram died between 1855 and 1857, leaving Narissa with three surviving children under the ages of nine. (Their oldest son, John Rice, died before age seven). Narissa, who sometimes went by her middle name of Catherine, married 2^nd John R. Van Cleve in 1858 in Henry County, TN, and they had three children. Narissa and her children all lived and stayed in Henry County, TN. The children of Abram Rice were: Rebecca Jane, John, William Thomas, and Sarah Elizabeth Rice.

4. Rebecca Jane Rice, b. 1829, married John B. Hinchey in 24 July 1849 in Henry County, TN, and they were the parents of five children. Rebecca and John lived long and healthy lives. John died between 1900 and 1910, and Rebecca died on 8 April 1915 at the age of 86. Rebecca Rice Hinchey has a Tennessee death certificate. She did not predecease any of her minor children, so Henderson Rice dealt directly with Rebecca for payments from her father’s estate. The children of Rebecca Jane Rice and John Hinchey were: Mary Catherine, Sarah "Elizabeth," D. J. T., (male and not traced), Rebecca "Jennie," and Laura "Beatrice" Hinchey.

5. Generation 2, Kit # 3109: Thomas Desom Rice was born 16 July 1832 when his parents were in Spring River Township, Lawrence County, Arkansas Territory. He went with them on their travels through Henry County, TN; Wayne and Jefferson Counties, IL; back to Henry County, TN; St. Francois County, MO; and finally Linn County (later Miami County), KS. At the time of the 1860 census, Thomas D. Rice was mining for gold and living in Kelsey, El Dorado County, CA, boarding in the household of James and Martha Butler, both born in Massachusetts. This census was dated 30 August 1860. His father died intestate in Miami County, KS, on 20 November 1860, and Thomas D. returned home. He was then sometimes known as Thomas Rice, Junr.

"Thomas Rice, Junr., and Miss Catherine Lucretia Dedrick were married 8 December 1861 at the home of the late Thomas Rice, by Alfred Hitchcock, Elder of the Christian Church, Miami County, KS." Thomas Rice, Junr. died young, and family legend relayed by a grandson concerning his cause of death was that he was "a very particular dresser." He needed to go to town for a meeting in winter, and his clean long-handled underwear was not quite dry. He wore it anyway, and rode his horse to town and then back, contracting pneumonia, and did not recover. He died leaving Catherine with four children under the age of nine. The date of birth for Thomas D. Rice was calculated from his tombstone. He died at age 39 years, 8 months, and 18 days at the time of his death on 4 March 1872.

Catherine got a job cooking and cleaning at the Kansas State Insane Asylum in Osawatomie, KS, and drove six miles each way by horse and buggy. She had to sell her husband's inheritance, and she and her children had a very hard time. They were helped by Thomas’ surviving brother, Henderson Rice, who was their legal guardian. Catherine never remarried, and she and Thomas D. Rice are buried in the Mound Creek Cemetery near Beagle, Miami County, KS. The children and grandchildren of Thomas Desom Rice, spoke of their Uncle Henderson Rice with deep respect for the role he played in their survival. The children of Thomas Deson Rice and Catherine Dedrick, all of whom either went by their middle names or a nickname, were William "Wallace," Eliza Alice "Lily," Nancy Jane "Rosa," and John Walter "Jack" Rice.

In an attempt to locate additional extended family, many years of intensive research has been conducted on several Rice families who lived in the vicinity of Thomas and Elizabeth Wood Rice. So far, male descendants who might qualify for a Y-chromosome DNA have not been located, but the following families need consideration:

On the 1855 Kansas Territorial Census, District 5, Henderson Rice (no age listed but would have been age 30), was enumerated next to William Rice, age 70 (born 1785), and his unnamed wife, age 50 (born 1805). This older couple in no way resembles Henderson’s parents, Thomas and Elizabeth, who would have been ages 54 and 59, respectively. The census says that all three persons had come to Kansas from Illinois. (For the couple next to Henderson Rice in 1855 to be Henderson’s parents, Thomas Rice would have actually been named William Thomas Rice (which is possible), while the census taker made a 16-year error in Thomas’ age, and a nine-year error in Elizabeth’s age. However, a different couple headed by a William Rice has been considered a as a possibility for the one on the 1855 Kansas Territorial Census:

There was a William Rice, (Sr.) born ca. 1780 in North Carolina who married Frances "Frankey" Ruyle in 1809 in Sumner County, TN, and then removed to Greene County, IL. In 1830 William and Frances were enumerated in Greene County, IL, with immediate neighbors listed in this order:

James HAWKINS
Wood LAMKIN
William RICE (Sr.)
John WOOD

William Rice (Sr.) died about 1856. His son, William Rice (Jr.) appears to have been enumerated twice on the 1865 Illinois State Census in Greene County. The two men were in the same age category, but their household compositions were somewhat different. Both men lived next to a John Story:

Page 28
John STORY (age 40-50)
Wm. M. RICE (age 40-50)
6 intervening households
Abram WOOD (age 30-40)

This family may be connected to Jehu Rice, born 1775 in Virginia and who married Nellie Smothers in Davidson County, TN. This family of Jehu Rice also came through Sumner County, TN, and then moved to Franklin and Hamilton Counties, IL, which adjoin Jefferson County, IL, where Thomas Rice, born 1801, and Enoch Rice, born 1808, lived for a time.

In attempting to reconstruct the identity of "five Rice brothers who went Out West to open a trading post," it should be noted that on the 1810 census Mary Rice had only four sons under the age of 15. It may be that only four of the men were brothers, and that one of the men was a cousin (William Wood listed below). Strong possibilities for the three brothers of Thomas Rice are:

1. John Rice, Sr., of Jefferson County, IL, who was engaged in "Merchanding and Trade" in 1840, and was possibly the person who posted bond for Thomas Rice in March 1839.

2. William P. Rice who has not been followed, but was enumerated on the 1833 tax list in Lawrence County, Arkansas Territory, along with Thomas Rice, Enoch Rice, and William Wood.

3. Enoch Rice who appears with Thomas Rice numerous times from 1820 through the mid-1840’s.

Possibilities for more distant relatives include:

1. William Rice, born 1822 in North Carolina, who married Emeline Hawkins. They lived in Illinois from 1843 to 1848, and then moved to St. Francois County, MO, by 1850, in the same district as of Thomas Rice. By 1854 they were in Jefferson County, IL. Emaline died shortly after 1870. Their children were Elizabeth, John, William Benjamin, Eliza Ann, Alexander, Margaret J., Rachel, and Nancy J. Rice.

William Rice was married 2^nd to Saphrona Baugh in 1873 in Jefferson County, IL. Their children were Sarah B., Mary, and George F. Rice. William Rice died in 1879 and Saphrona died in 1880, leaving three orphans under the age of five. The children were given to neighbors in Rome Township.

2. William Rice, born 1780 in North Carolina, (listed above) who married Frances "Frankey" Ruyle in 1809 in Sumner County, TN, and moved to Greene County, IL.

3. John Fletcher Rice, born ca. 1823 in North Carolina or Illinois , and married Catherine A. Peterson in 1845 in Alexander County, IL. The couple had six children who have not been traced after the 1860 census in Alexander County, IL: William T., Thomas, Alexander, Charles, Edney Ellen, and John Rice.

4. Thomas Rice, born 1803 in North Carolina, and wife Absala W. Winborn, born 1810, married in 1834 in Guilford County, NC. On the 1850 census Thomas and Absala Rice were enumerated in Randolph County, NC, in the household that adjoined that of Andrew Culbertson and wife Martha T., both born in 1810 in North Carolina. By 1860 Andrew and Martha T. Culberson lived next to Henderson Rice and two households from Henderson’s father, Thomas Rice, Sr. (a farmer and merchant), in Lykins (now Miami County), KS. One questions whether it was pure coincidence that the Culbersons lived beside one Rice family in 1850 in North Carolina and a different, totally unrelated, Rice family and 1860 in Kansas. Thomas Rice and Absala Winborn had two sons and five daughters: Stephen W. Rice, Winborn F. Rice, Mary Eliz. Rice, Sarah J. Rice, Marcella/Marilla Frances “Fanny” Rice, Lucy J. Rice, and Absala Adelaide Rice. Stephen W. Rice had no children . Winborn F. Rice married and had two sons, who had only daughters. Therefore, a Y-chromosome test for Thomas Rice (husband of Absala) could not be done. The 1914 North Carolina death certificate for Marcella/Marilla Frances Rice said that her father was born in Caswell County, NC, and her mother was born in Randolph County, NC.

Kit # 53053 - Nathaniel Rice, b.c. 1694 England, d. 1753 New Hanover County, NC,+1 Ann Gibbs, +2 Mary Bursey > John Rice, Sr., b.ca. 1727, d. bef. 1777 NC +1 Sarah Carruthers > John Rice, Jr., b.c. 1746 NC, d. aft. 1808 prob. Johnston Co, NC+ Abigail Sugg > Joshua Rice, b.ca. 1775 Wake County, NC, d. aft 1850 Sumner Co., TN +1 Unknown, +2 Mrs. Judith Kirby > Nathaniel Rice, b. 1794 NC, d. 1853 Randolph Co, MO + Ann Uzzell > Nathaniel Gray Rice, b. 1830 Hopkins Co, KY, d. 1913 Linn Co, OR + Ellen Montgomery.

Generation 1: The first man who matched the Y-chromosome results of Thomas Rice’s descendent has a much longer pedigree, dating back to Nathaniel Rice, born ca. 1694 in England. The Register Book for St. Clement Danes Church in London, England, lists the marriage of "Nathaniel Rice of Lincoln’s Inn, Batcheleur, and Ann Gibbs of the same place, Spinster." The wedding took place on 24 August 1726. The couple emigrated from England to North Carolina in 1730 and settled at Old Town Creek on the lower Cape Fear, where Nathaniel became a leading planter, acquiring an estate which included over 6,200 acres of land and seventeen slaves. However, Nathaniel's immigration in 1730 may not have been his first trip to the American Colonies, because North Carolina records in New Hanover County, NC, dated ca. 1725 show that he had previously visited and acquired property there.

Nathaniel’s first wife, Ann Gibbs, was politically connected in that her father, John Gibbs, was governor of the North Carolina Colony in 1689. Further, Ann Gibbs’ sister, Mary Gibbs, was married to Martin Bladen, a Member of Parliament in England since 1715 and the Board of Trade since 1730, and it is believed that Nathaniel Rice owed part of his political fortune to his prominent brother-in-law. Several online articles recount the political intrigue that revolved around Nathaniel Rice during Colonial times.

Nathaniel’s (undated) first deed of record was registered in Deed Book AB-44: John Baptista Ashe, Esq., of Bath County, to Nathaniel Rice of Bath County, 320 acres in New Hanover Precinct on Cape Fear River in the fork of Old Town Creek, part of a Patent to said Ashe dated 21 Dec. 1728. Witnesses: Joseph Watters, Nath. Rice, Senr., Ed. Smith. Note that one of the witnesses was Nathaniel Rice, Sr., who may have been the father, uncle or older relative of Nathaniel Rice who was later Governor of the North Carolina Colony.

Nathaniel Rice served as Secretary of the Province beginning 1731 and remained a member of the North Carolina Council from 1731 to 1753. He eventually became President of the Council, and due to political maneuvering and/or the death of his predecessors, served as Acting Governor of North Carolina between April and November 1734, and again from July 1752 until his death in New Hanover County, NC, on 29 January 1753. At least three biographies have been published for Gov. Nathaniel Rice that summarize his political life. We do not know how long Ann Gibbs lived, but at the time of Nathaniel’s death his wife was Mary Bursey. He left one known son, John Rice.

The 1752 Will of Nathaniel Rice was lengthy, and became complicated. He made bequests of household slaves to two of Mary Bursey’s sisters, and two of her nieces. He gave one-half of his estate to his wife, Mary Rice, with the stipulation that upon her death this one-half of his estate would be divided equally between his son, "John Rice and John’s children in equal proportion." The other one-half of Nathaniel’s estate was given outright to his wife, Mary Bursey Rice, with the provision that "she could do with it as she pleased, and leave it to whom she thinks fit."

At the time of Nathaniel’s death in 1753, John Rice had only four children: Nathaniel, Jr.,* John (Jr.), Sarah, and Mary. However, John Rice continued to have children after 1753, and those born later are known because when they sold their property the deeds mentioned that this was land they had inherited from their grandfather, Nathaniel Rice. The long delay in the settlement of Nathaniel Rice’s estate (the mid- to late-1780’s) suggests that Nathaniel’s bequest to John’s children in equal portion became interpreted to mean that while John Rice himself was to immediately receive 1/5 of ½ of his father’s estate, all subsequent children born to John Rice, Sr., would receive equal portions of the remaining 4/5 of ½ of Nathaniel’s estate when they reached their age of majority. The administrators of the estate of Nathaniel Rice were his wife Mary, and James Hassel, C. J. Swann, Samuel Swann, and John Swann. *Nathaniel Rice, Jr. died without heirs, and his portion reverted back to his father, John Rice, (Sr.) so that John Rice, (Sr.) eventually owned about 2/5 of 1/2.

Generation 2: John Rice (Sr.) was born by about 1727 (based on the ages of his four children named in their grandfather’s Will of 1752). Due to John’s date of birth, he is presumed to have been the son of Nathaniel Rice’s first wife, Ann Gibbs. This is further suggested by the fact that the Will of Nathaniel Rice’s second wife, Mary Bursey Rice, although difficult to read, did not mention John Rice or his children.

By 1746, John Rice was married to Sarah, believed to have been the Sarah Rice mentioned in the Will of John Carruthers, Sr., whose wife was Sarah Jones. In addition to the children John and Sarah Rice had before 1752 (Nathaniel, Jr., John, Jr., Sarah, and Mary), they later had Thomas, Frances "Fanny," Penelope, Elizabeth, Anna Charlotte, and possibly Stephen Joseph Rice, who was mentioned as the orphan of John Rice in 1777 in Wake County, NC.

548. 22 Feb. 1746 Jeremiah Murphy, planter (Craven Co) to Richard Nixon (or Nixson), gentleman (same); for 200 Pounds NC money sold 110 ac on N side of Trent R; border: begins at a white oak on Canoe r, joins a spring branch & Farmer; part of land where William Tarmer formerly lived & now "belonging" to said Richd Nixson. (signed) Jeremiah Murphy; (witness) Jno Rice & Sarah Rice; wit. oath Mar. 1745/6 by Jno Rice.

John Rice was Deputy Secretary for the Province of North Carolina (under the supervision of his father) and also Clerk of the Craven County Court (also an appointment he received from his father); he later held the position of Coroner of Craven County, NC. He ultimately mortgaged all of his property to creditors due to "in the course of my dealing many unfortunate accidents and misfortunes in trade by land and water... debts doth exceed all estate... applied to several creditors."

It appears that John Rice, Sr. took bankruptcy before 1769. In the March-June term of Court, Craven County, NC, in 1769 "John Rice junr. & Mary Rice Minors came into Court and by the Consent of their Father made Choice of Richard Cogdell,* Esqu. as their Guardian. . ." Signators were Joseph Leech, Rd. Cogdell, Richd.

Ellis. Craven County, NC, Court Minutes 1764-1771, Book VI, # 546. It is believed that this change of guardianship had something to do with the bankruptcy and ensuring the interests of the grandchildren in the estate of Nathaniel Rice.

An inventory of the assets of John Rice, Sr., was taken in 1769, "Both Real and Personal, As Also the Estate of Nathaniel Rice, Esq., Deceased, Both Real and Personal, As Yet Undivided Between his Children, and himself drawing two fifths thereof, viz:" John Rice, Sr. owned land totaling 1,625 acres in Craven and Dobbs Counties, NC. The document also refers to the assets of Nathaniel Rice, exp., deceased, 3,000 acres lying in New Hanover and Bladen Counties, NC. Further, this same document refers to slaves formerly owned by Nathaniel Rice, deceased, some of whom were now in the possession of Sarah (Rice) Hawks, (daughter of John Rice, Sr., and Sarah Carruthers).

Based on court documents, it is believed that John Rice, Sr., died about 1777 or 1778 and he predeceased Sarah Carruthers. The financial difficulties of John Rice, Sr., seem to be well documented in Craven County, NC, court recordings during the 1770’s.

In the mid- to late-1780’s, the children of John Rice, Sr., and Sarah Carruthers disposed of land located in Bladen County and Brunswick County, NC., which had been patented or purchased by their grandfather Gov. Nathaniel Rice. It should be noted that the county boundaries had changed from the time of the original purchases and/or patents in the 1720’s and 1730’s. New Hanover County was subdivided into several different counties including both Bladen and Brunswick County, NC.

The disposition of land occurred in several different transactions. One deed in 1778 documents the sale of land in Brunswick County, NC, by siblings Thomas Rice, Mary Wrenford, Fanny Rice and Thomas L. Cheek and his wife Penelope, all of Craven County, NC. The deed describes the land as patented or purchased by their grandfather Nathaniel Rice, in "New Hanover Precinct now called Brunswick County, NC." (Acreage not given).

In the early 1790’s, we find yet another deed for disposition of land formerly owned by Nathaniel Rice, deceased. The grantors in this deed are the children of Sarah Rice who had married John Hawks (the famous architect of Tyron Palace of New Bern, NC).

The following deeds, dated 1751 and 1808, leave no doubt that John Rice (Sr.) was the father of John Rice (Jr.) of Wake and Johnston Counties, NC, as the Lot Number from the 1751 deed is the same as the Lot Number found on an 1808 deed in Johnston County, NC, in which John Rice, (Jr.) sold the lot to a man related to *Richard Cogdell, (listed above) who was named guardian of John Rice, Sr., and his sister Mary Rice, in 1769):

2699. 26 October 1751 - Joseph Balch, Charles Adams, James Davis, & Jos Carruthers, commissioners for New Bert 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, Craven County Deeds, Book 7, Page 162.

Lot #120 was sold by his son John Rice (Jr.) of Johnston County, NC, in 1808, as follows:

This Indenture was made this 20^th 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 (# 120), containing one half acre more or less. To have and to hold the said Lott to the said lott (sic) to 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 premesis (sic) 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 the presence of State of North Carolina
March 30^th 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 . . ."
(Transcribed by Ann Ohmsen). (The above transaction is reported again below, in chronological order).

Generation 3: John Rice, (Jr) was born ca. 1748 in North Carolina, and had an early career in government affairs: On 30 March 1769, "Benjamin Heron Esqr., Secretary & Clerk for sd province appoints John Rice Jr. Deputy Clerk of the Crown for District of New Bern."  "Craven County, North Carolina Deed Abstracts, Deed Book I, Deed Book 5 1707-1775 Book I," Weynette Parks Haun. Within two years John Rice, Jr., was given another assignment:

"In 1771 John Rice, a new name in local governmental service, and not at the time a Wake County resident, was sent by the governor (Tyron) to be clerk of the Wake court and deputy clerk for the Crown in Wake." "Wake: Capital County of North Carolina," Elizabeth Reid Murry, Vol. 1, Prehistory County Publishing Company, Raleigh, NC, 1983.

On 4 December 1773 John Rice (Jr.) married Abigail Sugg in Wake County, NC. Consent was given by Joshua Sugg, father of Abigail. Thomas Rice served as bondsman and Peter Uptegroves was the witness. Since Thomas Rice, brother of John Rice, Jr., was not yet born in 1753 when his grandfather Nathaniel Rice made his Will, the earliest date of birth for Thomas Rice would have been 1754. This would make brother Thomas no older than age 20 at the time of John and Abigail’s marriage. John and Abigail Rice had one child, Joshua Rice, born ca. 1775.

Ibid, Murray. In 1776 "five men experienced in local government represented Wake County in the fifth and final Provincial congress that adopted the 1776 Constitution of North Carolina. These delegates were . . . the clerk of court, John Rice."

Ibid, Murray. "Under the new constitution, Wake County was entitled to one senator and two representatives. Sen James Jones attended the first session of the General Assembly in New Bern in 1777, with John Rice and Thomas Wootten representing the county in the House of Commons . . . the seats of both Representatives Rice and Wootten had to be (later) vacated because of their having accepted salaried offices back home, Rice returning to his office of clerk of court after a brief absence, and Wootten accepting office of sheriff for Wake County."

From "Claims of British Merchants after the Revolutionary War, 14 September 1800," Ransom McBride, Volume XVII, No. 1, NC Genealogical Society Journal: "J. Rice received 78.8.7 Pounds. John Grant Rencher and Col. John Humphreys of Wake stated that J. Rice was a man of very good fortune at the end of the war. He was Clerk of Wake County, and now lives insolvent in Johnston County . . . became insolvent by hard drinking before the Year 1790." (John Rice may be the man listed as John Rice on the 1790 Wake County, NC, census with three males and two females in his home).

John Rice to Christopher Woodward. State of NC, Wake Co. 9th day of Nov, 1784. John Rice legatee & heir at law of Nathaniel Rice, Esq. dec'd. 65 -?- specie already paid, land on the SW side Cape Fear river beginning at an oak David Lewis' corner tree. (No other neighbors or landforms mentioned, only degrees, chains, poles, links, etc. for corners) 320 acres more or less. Land was granted by original patent to a certain William Cain bearing a date 8th day Sept. 1735 and conveyed from sd William Cain by a deed under hand and seal of William Barham Esq.  high Sheriff of Bladen Co. bearing date 25 day of Mar. 1745 to Nathaniel Rice Esq.   Witnesses: Jordan Woodward, Pleasant Woodward.  Bladen Co., May term, 1785 this deed was in open court & ordered to be registered. John White CC.  Bladen County, NC, Deed Book 36, p. 296:  

In January 1795 Abigail Suggs Rice (who had married in 1773) filed suit to be declared financially disassociated from John Rice, claiming that he had left her and was living with another woman:

"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 (Petitioner referring to Joshua Sugg) 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")."  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.

In 1808 John Rice (Jr.) of Johnston County, NC, sold Lot # 120 in New Bern County, NC, listed in a 1751 deed as belonging to John Rice (Sr.). Recorded in Craven County, NC. He may be the person named John Rice, over age 45, who was enumerated on the 1810 census in Johnston County, NC, with one female over age 45.

Since John Rice had lived with another woman from the time of his separation from Abigail Sugg Rice (approximately 1781-83) until the time of her petition for financial independence (1795), it is possible that he had additional children. Potential children for John Rice and the other woman, all of whom used the Rice surname, include:

Thomas Rice, b.ca. 1782 who married 1^st Chloe Bulls on 14 December 1815 in Johnston County, NC, and married 2^nd Martha "Patsy" Turner on 11 September 1817 in Johnston County, NC. He died ca. 1848 in Johnson County, NC

Clara Rice, b.ca. 1784, who married James Penney, Jr. on 10 October 1799 in Johnston County, NC.

Elizabeth "Betsy" Rice, b.ca. 1786 who married Ichabud "Bud" Youngblood on 17 December 1806 in Johnston County, NC, and the young couple lived beside Thomas Rice on the 1810 census in Johnston County. Bud died in 1856 in Johnson County, NC, and Elizabeth survived him. It is noted that *Betsy Youngblood was listed as a witness on the above 1808 deed in which John Rice sold Lot # 120 located in New Bern, NC.

Generation 4: Joshua Rice was born ca. 1775 in Wake County, NC. The name of his first wife and mother of his children is not known. There is some speculation that his first wife may have been Abigail Smith. The will of Brittain Smith dated 3 February 1793 in Johnson County, NC, bequeathed property to one Abigail Rice. Some have assumed this Abigail Rice was a sister of Brittain Smith, and thus the likely wife of Joshua Rice. However, it is quite possible that Brittain Smith bequeathed property to Abigail (Sugg) Rice, the mother of Joshua Rice. If the latter scenario is true, it is not known or understood why Brittain would have provided for Abigail (Sugg) Rice as the will is silent on the relationship.

In the late 1700's numerous court documents in Wake County, NC, contain the name of Joshua Rice. Some of the most frequent are that his grandfather, Joshua Sugg, transferred land to him, that Joshua Rice served as juror, and that he collected the taxes for the district in which he lived.

In 1800 and 1805 one Joshua Rice was listed in Robertson County, TN, Court Minutes when he proved two deeds.

By 1804 Joshua Rice had moved to Sumner County, TN. In 1807 the home of Joshua Rice was used for the elections. Between 1808 and 1810, Joshua Rice was deeded 640 acres originally patented by Benjamin Seawell.

On 13 October 1820 Joshua Rice made a DEED OF GIFT FOR LOVE AND AFFECTION to "all my children, giving them land, and all rights to a parcel of Negroes willed to him by Joshua Suggs, Sr., dec'd in . . . his last will and testament after the death of my mother Abigail Rice." The six children named were Nathaniel Rice, Polly Groves, Jno. Rice, Sarah Rice, James Rice, and Thomas J. Rice. The Negroes mentioned were Elie, Toby, Dolly, Weston, Flora and Peter. The deed was registered in Sumner County on 10 March 1830.

Joshua Rice married 2^nd Mrs. Judith Kirby on 20 July 1841 in Sumner County, TN. He died after 1850 in Sumner County, TN.

Generation 5: Nathaniel Rice was born ca. 1794 in Wake County, NC. He married Ann Uzzell ca. 1817, probably in Sumner County, TN. She was the daughter of Isham Uzzell and Nancy Ann Blackman.

Nathaniel Rice, born ca. 1795, is easily followed from Sumner County, TN, through Hopkins County, KY, until his final destination in Randolph County, MO. He died in 1853 in Randolph County, and left a probate which named his wife, Ann, and each of their 12 children (or their children’s heirs if their children were deceased).

Generation 6: Nathaniel Gray Rice, son of Nathaniel Rice and Ann Uzzell, was born 7 September 1830 in Hopkins County, KY, and came with his parents and siblings to Randolph County, MO, by 1840. As a young adult Nathaniel moved to Linn County, OR, where in 1860 he worked as a day laborer and lived in the home of James and Sarah McHargue. On 2 January 1862 he married Ellen Montgomery in Linn County. After several years the couple moved to Walla Walla, WA, with their children and Ellen’s mother, where they stayed for at least 20 years while Nathaniel was engaged in farming and raising livestock.

The family returned to Linn County, OR, by 1900, where Nathaniel operated a general farm until his death in Brownsville, OR, on 9 November 1913. There is an Oregon death certificate for Nathaniel Gray Rice, and his widow, Elizabeth, provided the information that his mother’s maiden name was Uzzell. At the time of his death he and Elizabeth had been married for 51 years.

Analysis of DNA Results: The 37-marker test results listed above show that the two Rice men who descend from Thomas Rice, born 1801, of Rowan County, NC, do share a common ancestor with Gov. Nathaniel Rice, born 1694, in England. The original Thomas Rice participant (Kit # 3109) and the descendant from Gov. Nathaniel Rice (Kit # 53053) were two mutations apart on the 37-marker test, which is written as a 35/37 match. In order to further corroborate their match, these two men first upgraded to 67 markers (which showed no additional mutations between them, and was a 65/67 match). To further confirm the relationship, both men then upgraded to the 111-marker test. The results showed only two more mutations between markers 68-111, resulting in a 107/111 match, and continues to substantiate a relationship between the two men. The three-step difference on the last marker (DYS 716) occurred in one transmission event (birth), and is treated as a single mutation.

The descendants of Thomas Rice, born 1801 in North Carolina had a family legend that their Rice family was from England. Although great effort has gone into finding a connection to Gov. Nathaniel Rice in the United States, the search has been completely unsuccessful. Although their common ancestry appears to have occurred in England, additional research of a potential relationship between Jacob Leonard who lived in Brunswick County, NC, in the 1780’s and Jacob Leonard of 1818 Wake County, NC, might be fruitful. Of interest is that none of the descendants of Thomas Rice, born 1801 in North Carolina, used the given name of Nathan or Nathaniel for any of their sons.

Deep appreciation is expressed for the extensive and untiring research of David Brown and Sharlett Rice who have meticulously researched the lineage of Gov. Nathaniel Rice, born 1694. David’s insightful suggestions have also helped clarify distinctions between various Rice men who carry the same given names. This study has further benefitted from the steadfast assistance of historian Mary Zinzilieta of Jefferson County, IL, and Stephanie Tayloe, genealogy librarian at the W. G. Rhea Library in Paris, Henry County, TN. The comprehensive history of Thomas Rice and Elizabeth Wood of Rowan County, NC, has been made possible through the long-time collaboration of cousins Margaret Thompson, Pat Pack, Juli Jarvis, Robyn Orchard, Lee Ann Tilley, Sharon Thomas, Vern Ann Thornton, Martha Rice, Michael Miller, Janice Carpini, Jennifer Stroup, Becky Walter, S. Strnad, Judy Belford, Juanita Rice, Larry Bethers, Judy Oglesby, Arthur Oglesby, Jr., Benjamin Oglesby, Judy Trupp, and Andrea Jones. The recollections of the late Helen Rice Souder and the late Eva Rice McKenzie have been invaluable.