Golly--Rice is such a common name in Virginia and in North Carolina, and perhaps in lots of other places. A good many early settlers of Madison Co., KY came from Virginia [naturally] and from North Carolina. Boonesborough was a scheme thought up by Col. Richard Henderson and his buddies. Col. Henderson was from Granville Co., NC, but some of the other people who were involved in Boonesborough were from nearby counties. Caswell Co., NC, formed 1777, was created from Orange Co., NC, where many of the early records are missing. A good many records of colonial Granville Co., NC have been published, and also there are a good many published abstracts of Caswell Co. Land entries and land grants of North Carolina might give some clues. Sometimes I have been lucky to find a power of attorney [generally recorded with deeds] which gives the former residence of someone, but there are no guidelines for finding such records. It might help to peruse the deed indexes [grantor and grantee] of Madison Co. in the hopes of finding some clues as to the origins of your Rice male. Here is an example of an abstract of a Caswell Co. deed which specifies Joseph Williams is now of Madison Co., KY. Joseph is one of the sons of my ancestor, Henry Williams of Caswell Co., NC, formerly of southside Virginia. By 1795, Joseph Williams, son of Henry Williams of Caswell Co., had sold some of his property as deduced from the following Caswell Co. deeds: 1795 - DB L-22-23 Joseph Williams of Madison Co., KY, to Israel Barker of Orange Co., NC, for 20 pds., 100 A on Ridge fork adj Barker. Wit: Nathan Williams, Eli Stacy. (Nathan Williams was another son of Henry Williams, deceased.) L-158 Andrew McCauley of Orange Co., NC, to James Rea of CC, for 190 pds., 304 A on N fork Stoney Cr being land formerly entered by Henry Williams decd and conveyed by Joseph Williams a legatee to McCauley adj Benjamin Cantrel, crossing Shaw's Br, Brothers, Kimbrough, Anderson, John Penix. 26 Jan 1799. Wit: Obed Florecne, Thomas Loyd. (Katherine Kerr Kendall, CASWELL COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA DEEDS BOOKS 1777-1817 [Easley, SC: Southern Historical Press, 1989], p. 202) Madison Co., KY Residence Caswell Co. records indicate that Joseph, son of Henry, migrated to Madison Co., KY, where some of his kinsmen, namely his brother-in-law, Richard R/M Oldham (qv) and sister Ursley Duke (Williams) (Peoples) Oldham, had migrated. Joseph's wife is believed to be Sally Searcy, who may have been his cousin. Her mother was Lucy Searcy, widow of Bartlett Searcy. It is said that Lucy Searcy's maiden name was Williams, but this information has not been confirmed. By the way, Henry Williams had a son-in-law named William H. Rice, but that man's eventual residence was Tennessee. Good luck!!! E.W.Wallace

Original: I am looking for information on Charles Rice who died in Madison County in 1809. I am wondering where he came from and how he got to Madison County. Any information will help. Thanks. John Rice Charles Rice: Born Sept 1763 at Claremont, , Massachusetts Died before 4 Dec 1809, Madison Co, Kentucky Son of Peter Rice and Sarah Brown Rice of Brookfield, Worchester, Massachusetts. Early settler of Mad Co Ky (Lincoln Co Va). On 31 Aug 1797, Dan'l Boone of Bourbon Co Ky deeded 1/2 interest in the settlement of the Preemption of John Hart to Chas. Rice. Recorded Mad Co Ky Old Deeds Book D pg 293. Charles Rice Sr. died Madison Co Ky and HAD A WILL filed and proven in Mad Co, dated 12 Aug 1809, Proven 4 Dec 1809. NAMES WIFE, SARAH RICE AND 8 CHILDREN.. Married Sarah Bryant 11 July 1786, Lincoln Co VA now Madison Co KY Sarah Bryant Rice: Made will 15 march 1830. Noted in husbands will, that of Charles Rice, dtd 12 Aug 1809 and proven 11 Dec 1809. Names 8 children. Will of Sarah Rice, dtd 15 Mar 1830. Produced in Court, Monday, 6 Dec 1830. Names dau's Elizabeth Gillispie, Sarah Gary (or Gray), Mary Walker, Rachael Campbell. (Felt like Mary Walker would have no son.),. Names son in law, William Walker. Son, James Rice, executor. Her Mark. In presence of Samuel Turner and John Stone. Charles was supposedly a scout for Daniel Boone and the deeded land was payment for services. Sorry, but I don't remember the source for that just off hand, but have it somewhere in my other notes. For Freedom's Sake, Love God. Love America.