When I first started researching in Bell County, I visited Holly Fee and she gave me a copy of a letter she had received from a Mrs. Ella Coleman on Benjamin Ajax Rice regarding the Sanders/Wilson connection. If interested, email me personally and I will send it to you. Barb Rice ----- Original Message ----- From: "Will Wolfman Smith" <wolfman@blomand.net> To: <KYBELL-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, December 12, 2004 11:09 PM Subject: Re: [KYBELL] Rices & John Rice Irwin > Yep, a descendant of old Henry, through his son John Rice who settled in > Alabama, did the DNA testing. Hopefully a descendant of Stephen Rice will > do > likewise. > > John Rice's wife's name was "Eady" and after leaving Tennessee settled, I > think, in Madison County, Alabama and died there. This is the John who was > father of Sally Rice who had married one of the Harp bandits in Knox > County, > TN around 1795. > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Connie Hoskins" <willoweak@msn.com> > To: <KYBELL-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Sunday, December 12, 2004 9:29 PM > Subject: [KYBELL] Rices & John Rice Irwin > > >> Kay, >> >> I understand about those senior moments, even though I'm not quite a > senior, >> yet! John Rice Irwin has the Museum of Appalachia in Norris, TN. He's >> related to Henry Rice the gristmiller about whom a book is written. No >> connection has been found to Stephen Rice and John Robert Rice, but there >> could be one. >> >> Regards, Connie >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Kay Adams" <adam9419@bellsouth.net> >> To: <KYBELL-L@rootsweb.com> >> Sent: Sunday, December 12, 2004 9:49 PM >> Subject: Re: [KYBELL] NEEDED: MALE Rice descendant's >> >> >> > Anyone know of John Rice Erwin? He is now known for the Historical >> > sight >> > he >> > has set up in Norris TN.. Can not remember the name.. Senior moment. >> > . His Erwin line is from Union Co on what is called now Chuck Swan Wild >> > Life >> > Management area. There is an area there that has a cemetery and road > call >> > Rice Erwin Road.. Have hunted on the area for years and have been in > that >> > area a great deal.. This is the same area where my husbands Wilson line >> > lived. They lived on the main road into the area... Anyone who knows > this >> > area would know where Stout Dossett Cemetery is and that Jesse Wilson >> > is >> > buried there with his mother Nancy Wilson.. and wife.. She was Matilda >> > Ailor. Jesse's father is unknown.. Thought that Nancy was not married.. > It >> > is thought by our family that her family name was Wilson but we have >> > not >> > been able to find father and mother for her. Her birth date is thought > to >> > be about 1790 in NC. The part of Union Co where the family is located >> > in >> > the >> > early 1800 was a part of what I think was Anderson Co. >> > Does any of this ring a bell for anyone? This is from my memory which >> > is >> > not >> > always good. LOL >> > >> > >> > Kay Goforth Adams >> > Middlesboro, KY >> > >> > >> > ==== KYBELL Mailing List ==== >> > >> > >> > >> > ============================== >> > View and search Historical Newspapers. Read about your ancestors, find >> > marriage announcements and more. Learn more: >> > http://www.ancestry.com/s13969/rd.ashx >> > >> > >> >> >> ==== KYBELL Mailing List ==== >> >> >> >> ============================== >> Search the US Census Collection. Over 140 million records added in the >> last 12 months. Largest online collection in the world. Learn more: > http://www.ancestry.com/s13965/rd.ashx >> > > > ==== KYBELL Mailing List ==== > > > > ============================== > Search the US Census Collection. Over 140 million records added in the > last 12 months. Largest online collection in the world. Learn more: > http://www.ancestry.com/s13965/rd.ashx > >
How exciting to read Ella Rae Wilson Coleman's letter! I think she's right on track concerning BA Wilson Rice. Ella Rae Wilson Coleman's sister, Florence Roe Wilson Bush told me the little story I posted last night about their father, Dr Edward Sanders Wilson, Sr calling BA Wilson Rice, "Uncle Ben". Ella Rae passed away not very long ago and her daughter in CA has her research. Florence Roe has must have missed the session w/ old Dr Ed Wilson that Ella Rae and young Dr Ed that Ella Rae discusses in her letter. With the facts that Ella Rae gives, I have little doubt that BA Wilson Rice is a brother to Wm Francis Marion Wilson, as she believed. Nothing is actually proven, though the circumstances are conducive. Claiborne Co lists a marriage record of Lydia Sanders to a Wilson; unfortunately, the first name is missing. In addition to the deed Ella Rae mentions that lists BA's surname as Wilson, there are many deeds in the Bell Co courthouse with his name recorded as BA Wilson, Benjamin Wilson, and Benjamin A Wilson. He owned 8,000 acres of land on Straight Creek which he sold in the 1850's for $60,000. Further, in his biography Florence Roe Wilson Bush states that Wm Francis Marion Wilson was "born in a part of Grainger Co TN, which became Claiborne Co". BA Wilson Rice moved back to Tazewell, Claiborne Co in his later years, and that's where he died. He must have had a desire to return to his birthplace. A marriage record exists for Benjamin Wilson and Zelphia McFetridge in Grainger Co TN. In the archives in Frankfort are records of his divorce proceedings from his second wife, Zelphia McFetridge. The divorce is in the name of BA Rice. At some time in the early 1850's, he had his name legally changed. I asked at the archives if they had a copy of that record, but they said that they did not. He lived at Locke where the Wilsons lived and is of the right generation to have been a brother to Wm Francis Marion Wilson. I believe there was another brother named Isaac Sanders Wilson because he's listed in BA Wilson Rice's household in one of the censuses, along w/ his fifteen year old daughter, Lydia Wilson. I have a picture of BA Wilson Rice showing five generations that appeared in the Harlan newspaper. The quality isn't wonderful, but his features are discernable. He was a great landowner, millwright, contractor, and Mason. His sons were active in civic roles in Bell and Harlan counties by serving as city clerks, master commissioners, attorneys, and owners of the Rice Bank in Pineville. He was quite a prolific man and is said to have fathered 20 or 21 children. In the early 1850's, Zelphia McFetridge wasn't happy w/ his behavior and let it be known in the divorce proceedings. She cited witnesses who swore to hearing him talk of his sexual escapades and resulting unhealthy consequences. Regards, Connie ----- Original Message ----- From: Barb Rice To: KYBELL-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Monday, December 13, 2004 5:19 AM Subject: Re: [KYBELL] Rices & John Rice Irwin When I first started researching in Bell County, I visited Holly Fee and she gave me a copy of a letter she had received from a Mrs. Ella Coleman on Benjamin Ajax Rice regarding the Sanders/Wilson connection. If interested, email me personally and I will send it to you. Barb Rice