In looking over my family file, I found some information on Wm Francis "France" Marion Wilson, b 1836, Ella Rae Wilson Coleman's grandfather whom she believed was a brother to BA Wilson Rice and a son of Unknown Wilson and Lydia Sanders. Several years ago, another descendant sent me information that France's parents are Issac Hamptom and Julie F Wilson, b 1814 in NC and d Jan 13, 1839 in Grainger Co (now Claiborne Co) TN. He didn't share w/ me what proof, if any, he has. I think he did mention talk in the family. There's often some truth in such stories. Lydia Sanders was born about 1786 in NC. Isaac S Wilson is listed as a brother to BA Wilson Rice in the 1860 Harlan Co census. He was born in 1815 in NC and his fifteen year old daughter Lydia Wilson is, also, recorded as living in the household. BA Wilson Rice was born in 1819 in Grainger Co, now Claiborne Co, TN in 1819. BA Wilson Rice and his third wife, Lutissia Tabitha "Bitha" Miller, also, named a daughter Lydia, by the way. The above-mentioned Julie Wilson is of an age to have possibly been a sister to Issac S Wilson and BA Wilson Rice, and would have been 22 years old when France was born. Of course, children were born that far apart in those days, but there's Lydia's marriage to John Robert Rice to consider. It seems that Lydia and her Wilson husband went back and forth between NC and Grainger Co (now Claiborne Co) TN. All in all, it seems that Unknown Wilson, b VA and Lydia Sanders, b NC had children: 1- possibly Julie F Wilson, b 1814 in NC; 2- Isaac Sanders Wilson, b 1815 in NC; and 3- Benjamin Ajax Wilson Rice b 1819 in TN. Wm "France" Francis Marion Wilson is possibly a son of Isaac Hampton and Julie F Wilson. If anyone has any information on this family, it would be wonderful to hear from them. Regards, Conni ----- Original Message ----- From: "Connie Hoskins" <willoweak@msn.com> To: <KYBELL-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, December 14, 2004 12:07 AM Subject: [KYBELL] BA Wilson Rice > 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 > > > ==== 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 > >