This is a rather long record, but names associated her could be clues to unraveling... Audrey Source: Abstracts of Old Ninety-Six and Abbeville Wills and Bonds by Young, Southern Historical Press: "FORT, Philis-Box 107, Pack 2812: Will dated Jan 25, 1781. Prov. Mar 31, 1791. Exr: B. 1. John RIVERS, Lewis HOLLOWAY. Wit: Will. REED, Phens ALEXANDER. Lived in Mecklenburg County, NC. 'Bequeath unto Jas, son of John RIVERS, bequeath unto Nancy, dtr of John RIVERS, Thos and Jones RIVERS, sons of John RIVERS. Bequeath unto my sis. Mason FORT now in VA, money which lies in Co. David MASON'S hand in VA, Sis. Frances FOR(T). Will was Prov. In Mecklenburg Co, NC. Agreeable to a dedimus to us directed from the Court of Common Pleas of the Dist of 96. We Hezikiah ALEXANDER & Wm FOLK, Justices in the county aforesaid have caused to appear Wm WILSON, Esq before us and him having sworn did put the following intergatories (sic) to which he answered in manner following. Viz. First. Did you know Jas RIVERS a boy almost blind who passed as the son of John RIVERS, dec'd. Yes. I knew a boy who lived in the family of John RIVERS & whom I then did conceive to be his son, he appeared to be about 10 yrs. Of age, of a fair comp! lexion & very near sighted, fair hair. This boy was so generally believed by people who lived in RIVERS neighborhood to be his son & Wm REED or RUD who wrote Philis FORT well told me that he in writing Philis FORT'S will told me that in writing (sic) in said will had mistaken the name of Jas FORT & inserted Jas RIVERS, this was done by the donor's telling him that she gave Jas a negro. 2. Did you know Philis FORT, sis. Of John RIVERS wife, where did she live & where did she die? I knew Philis FORT said to be John RIVERS wife's sis. That she lived in the house & with said john RIVERS & that I believe she died at the house od said RIVERS. 3. What was done with the boy Jas RIVERS after that of Philis FORT, Jones RIVERS came into this county & by virtue of the will of John RIVERS he Jas became Exr. On said John's est. & took into charge the property by her given incharge of John RIVERS. Jones RIVERS becoming the Exr. Of John took into care the boy Jas RIVERS & not having suffici! ent horses as he said to carry him in VA to his friends at the time he went there himself, left him in care of a certain Geo DEAN, with whom Jas RIVERS the boy lived sometime, when he taken to VA. By a Benjamin MABERRY. Charlotte Oct 4, 1791. Then did the aforementioned Wm WILSON, Esq sign his name to the within interogatories (sic) before & in presence of us, Hezekiah ALEXANDER, Wm FILK. At the time that Jas RIVERS lived with John RIVERS he as about 8 or 10 yrs old in the years 1778 & 1779. On July 12, 1790 in Edgefield County, SC. Jas FORT came into court being 20 yrs old and chose Edward MITCHELL as his guardian."

Audrey, thank you for this. There is a very good possiblity that this is connected to my line. Below I have put some informarion that came from a book called "A Family Called Fort: The Descendants of Elias Fort of VA.", Homer T. Fort and Drucilla Stovall Jones, (West Texas Printing Co, 1970). I ordered the book thru interlibrary load about 5 years ago. Descendants of Elias FORT I 1 Elias FORT I b: Abt. 1631 d: Bef. 1686 . +Phillis CHAMPION m: Abt. 1660 in England ......... 2 Elias FORT II d: Abt. 1739 ............. +SARAH ..................... 3 7 other children FORT ..................... 3 Holiday FORT b: Abt. 1708 in Surry Co., Va. d: Abt. 1773 in Sussex Co., Va ......................... +Mary FLAKE ................................. 4 Mary [FORT?] d: Aft. November 29, 1802 in Edgefield Co, SC .................................... +[John RIVERS] b: Abt. 1735 d: Abt. July 1790 in Edgefield Co.,SC ............................................ 5 [James RIVERS**] ............................................ 5 [Lucy RIVERS] - she might be his sister as a John Rivers leave to his sister Lucy Garrett - see Will of John Rivers below. Or it may go with his father, [John] who had Lucy, Jones, and John. All of this is not clear to me yet. ................................................ +Thomas GARRETT This dividing line is to show that I do not know if the above family is the family of this John., or rather if this John is the one in the Fort family records and the will of John Rivers. ** In the Fort book, there was a reference to the fact that Phillis Fort (unmarried) tried to pass off her son as the son of her sister Mary and John Rivers. There seems to be some info. that hints to that in the will that Audrey sent (at end of my message) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- ............................................ 5 John R RIVERS b: Abt. 1760 in Edgefield Co., SC d: January 19, 1823 in Jasper Co., Ga. ................................................ +Mary Ann (?HARDY) d: Aft. 1827 in Warren Co, Ga Father: Unknown Hardy ........................................................ 6 Robert James RIVERS ........................................................ 6 Nancy RIVERS *...................................................... 6 William Thomas RIVERS b: September 11, 1785 in Edgefield Co., SC d: July 24, 1849 in Warren Co, Ga *.......................................................... +Mary Ann [Frances] MILLIGAN b: October 31, 1778 in SC m: November 15, 1804 in GA. d: August 09, 1857 in GA. Father: Thomas Milligan Mother: Frances Watkins .................................................................... 7 William Green RIVERS b: February 14, 1806 in Jasper Co., Ga. d: August 25, 1869 Burial: Whitesville, Harris Co, Ga ....................................................................... +Barbara Burkhalter [HUTCHINSON] b: 1810 m: December 19, 1830 in Warren Co, Ga d: 1851 Burial: Harris Co, Ga .................................................................... *2nd Wife of William Green RIVERS: ....................................................................... +Martha LONGINO m: November 17, 1852 in Warren Co, Ga. d: November 28, 1897 .................................................................... 7 Harriett RIVERS b: April 02, 1808 d: September 27, 1868 ....................................................................... +Michael MCGAHEE b: Abt. 1803 in Columbus Co, Ga. .................................................................... 7 Elizabeth RIVERS b: October 29, 1809 d: Aft. 1881 ....................................................................... +David CLARK *.................................................................. 7 Susannah RIVERS b: May 02, 1811 d: October 22, 1888 Burial: Assumed to be buried in the Rabun Cem, Glascock Co., GA. *..................................................................... +Zachariah RABUN b: May 06, 1811 in Wake Co, NC m: December 18, 1832 in Warren Co, GA d: August 30, 1864 Burial: Assumed to be buried in the Rabun Cem, Glascock Co., Ga Father: Renson Rabun Mother: Betsy Martin .................................................................... 7 Thomas Jefferson RIVERS b: October 27, 1812 in Jasper Co., Ga. d: April 09, 1853 ....................................................................... +Ann Nancy MCGAHEE b: 1815 in GA m: November 28, 1833 in Warren Co, Ga .................................................................... 7 John Floyd RIVERS b: December 31, 1814 in Warren co, Ga. d: August 03, 1898 in Jefferson Co., Ga Burial: Billy Thompson Place/ owned by the J. M. Huber Corp. ....................................................................... +Phereby HOWARD b: May 28, 1815 m: January 31, 1839 in Warren Co, Ga d: February 03, 1894 Burial: Billy Thompson Place/ owned by the J. M. Huber Corp. Father: Willis HOWARD Mother: Elizabeth SPRING .................................................................... 7 Francis Milligan RIVERS b: March 1816 d: September 23, 1849 ....................................................................... +Sabina HOBBS .................................................................... 7 Jane M. RIVERS b: August 19, 1820 d: February 18, 1843 ................................. 4 John FORT ................................. 4 Sarah FORT ................................. 4 Elizabeth FORT ................................. 4 Asenath FORT ................................. 4 Phebe FORT ................................. 4 Frederick FORT b: 1744 ..................... *2nd Wife of Holiday FORT: ......................... +Lucretia MASON ................................. 4 Robert FORT d: Bef. December 1774 ................................. 4 Flake FORT ................................. 4 Elias FORT ................................. 4 Florina FORT ................................. 4 Lena (or Cana) FORT ................................. 4 Faith FORT ................................. 4 Mason FORT ................................. 4 Francis "Franky" FORT b: June 01, 1762 ................................. 4 Phillis FORT b: July 28, 1764 d: 1791 .................................... +UNNAMED ......... 2 John FORT d: Abt. 1724 ............. +Elizabeth JORDAN d: Abt. 1743 ......... 2 George FORT d: 1719 ............. +Eliza Accabe DUCKWOOD The information on generation 1 - 4 comes from the Fort Book, Genration 5 from the Will of Mary Rivers, 29 Nov 1802; Proven 6 Dec. 1802, Edgefield Co, SC (with me making an ASSUMPTION at this point that the two Mary's are the same.) Generation 5 (John R. Rivers m Mary Ann Hardy -7 is my research on the line of my maternal grandmother, Ada Lillian Rabun, who was the g-grandaughter of Susannah Rivers and Zachariah Rabun (1). She married Odell C. Coursey who is my personal link to so many Edgefield Co. families. Sources used for those folks include: 1- Old Southern Bible Records, (Bible pub. ca 1760), p. 271 (copy sent to me by Billie Allen - no information on the book itself.). 2- "A Collection of Upper SC Genealogies & Family Records, Vol III" , Editor James E. Woolsey, Southern Historical Press, Copyright 1979 Rev. Silas, p. 211 3- Ancestoring Through Weekly Newspaper Columns: A Compilation of Columns appearing in the Pages of the Jefferson Reporter, by Jeanne & C. W. Stephens, ("Jefferson Reporter", Wrens, Ga 1981). 4- Georgia Legal Records - Vol 1. 5- A History of Descendants - Renson Rabun, Warren Co, Ga, (by Elizabeth P. Ansley, 1979). 6- Census information (copied of direct linage in my files along with many others who connect) I have notes and other sources for the above info., and will be glad to send it to anyone on request as a genealogy report with notes and sources included. NOTE OF CAUTION: From Susan Rivers < SRivers563@aol.com> "As far as William Thomas Rivers is concerned, many researchers appear to have confused his father, John Rivers, with another John Rivers living in Edgefield Co., S.C. at the time. If you check the 1790 Edgefield Co., census there were two John Rivers and their families living there at the time. Researchers have confused the families, wills and deeds." "According to Hardy genealogists, our William Thomas Rivers was the son of John Rivers, b. 1-10-1751 in Greensville Co., Va.. This John Rivers, who lived in Edgefield Co., prior to Augusta was married to a Mary Ann Hardy, b.1-12-1753 in Isle of Wright ,Va. After years of research, this lineage makes sense to me." I have not been in touch with Susan in several years. However, her warning should be taken seriously, and therefore I cannot at this time prove that the work I have done on the early FORT/RIVERS family is the family of the right John Rivers. Will of JOHN RIVERS: - abstract (I read the will itself and added a little to the abstract) "Edgefield Co. ,SC Wills 1787-1836" by James and Vivian Wooley, 1991 Historical Press, p. 7: located at Camden Archives, Camden, SC Taken from Edgefield Co Will Book A, p. 18 20 May 1779: "I, John Rivers, of Mecklenburg Co being of sound mind and memory, I lend to my loving wife all my household furniture and four horses and gear, two cows and calves and one negro woman named Betty and one negro boy named George as long as she remains a widow, if she should marry then she to have a child part of her third and should the negro women have more chn. they are to be held by my estate to be sold and the money let out in Ga. to the best advantage, then to be divided among my three chn. I give to my loving sister Lucy Rivers one gray horse named Spider. I appoint my wife and my brother Jones Rivers and my friend Robert Thomson as Exc. /s/ John Rivers Wit: Robert Thomson, David X Thomson, & Elizabeth Thomson. Proved in open court by oath of David Thomson July term, 1790 and ordered to be recorded. I am also interested in the Garrett line, first husband of Mary as a Thomas GARRETT m. Mary Hill, sister of Susannah Hill, both daughter of Jesse Hill, of VA>Edgefield Co, SC. Susannah married a William Coursey, and that is my main line of research in Edgefield. I also had wondered if the Early William Raborn line connected to the NC line from whence my Renson Rabun Line, father to the Zachariah who married Susannah Rivers comes. I have found no proof of connection, but cannot really find Renson's father. Of the 4 Raiborn/Raborne/Rabon/Rabun/etc. men in the Hillsborough Dist. of NC, the neither of the two who left wills lists a son Renson. So?????? In checking out the Raborns I have some info. I have William Raborn's family as follows: Descendants of William Raborn [Who may be the William mentioned in the Will of Joseph Raborn (1793) posted on < http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/sc/sca_edge.html > 1 William RABORN b: 1789 in [Edgefield Dist., SC] d: December 10, 1848 in Edgefield Co., SC .. +Susannah LOVELACE b: Abt. 1793 in Edgefield Dist., SC m: in Edgefield Dist., SC Father: Benjamin Loveless, Sr. Mother: Constance [Kirkland] .... 2 Henry B. RABORN b: March 12, 1812 in Edgefield co., SC d: Bef. March 12, 1883 ........ +EMILINE d: October 1850 in Edgefield Co, SC .... *2nd Wife of Henry B. RABORN: ........ +Catherine MATHENY m: Aft. 1850 d: June 14, 1857 .... *3rd Wife of Henry B. RABORN: ........ +Ann ? b: Abt. 1818 in SC m: Bef. 1880 .... 2 Benjamin Lovelace RABORN b: March 20, 1815 in Edgefield Co., SC d: July 25, 1897 ........ +Charlotte (Charity) MCDANIEL b: August 13, 1821 m: March 15, 1838 d: Bef. 1870 Father: William McDaniel .... 2 Harriett Susannah RABORN b: January 14, 1817 in Edgefield Co., SC d: March 05, 1881 in Bullock Co., AL ........ +John Fears MARTIN b: December 31, 1805 in Edgefield Dist., SC m: November 21, 1839 d: February 07, 1847 in Edgefield Dist., SC .... *2nd Husband of Harriett Susannah RABORN: ........ +James Jackson LOVELESS b: October 01, 1827 in Edgefield Co., SC m: Aft. 1847 d: November 27, 1880 in Bullock Co., AL Father: William Loveless Mother: Rebecca Lucy Dawson .... 2 John L. RABORN b: December 28, 1821 d: December 02, 1863 in Sardis, AL ........ +STINSON .... 2 Lucretia M. RABORN b: October 14, 1828 in Brooklyn, AL d: April 14, 1890 ........ +Ezekiel Pickens LOVELESS b: July 01, 1829 in Dallas Co., AL m: May 17, 1855 in Macon Co., AL. d: June 20, 1905 in Brewton, Lowndes Co., AL. Father: Aaron W. Lovelace Mother: Elizabeth Blalock .... 2 William M RABORN, Jr. b: Abt. 1829 d: December 31, 1862 in CW prison camp in Murfreesboro, Tenn ........ +Elizabeth PITTS b: in of Edgefield Co .... 2 Elizabeth RABORN b: Abt. 1832 .... 2 Joseph Elijah RABORN b: September 13, 1832 d: July 05, 1906 in Dundee Archer Co, TX ........ +Mary Ann "Mollie" Catherine MCKAY .... 2 Elihu Allen RABORN b: 1833 in SC ........ +Mary Adaline STINSON m: Abt. 1857 .... *2nd Wife of Elihu Allen RABORN: ........ +Fanny C. COTY b: Abt. 1844 in SC m: January 26, 1876 .... 2 Simeon RABORN b: 1835 ........ +Jennie JETT .... 2 Sarah RABORN b: Abt. 1848 ........ +WILSON .... *2nd Husband of Sarah RABORN: ........ +CRAWLEY I think all of the children's names came from a copy of a Letter from William Raborn's great-grandson B. L. Raborn May 5, 1946, sent to me by Diane Sartin <ddtemaz@juno.com>, "Electronic." that also was 3 or more years ago, so I do not know if her address is still valid. I may have her mailing address if anyone needs it. Contact and ask. I have other desc. as will. I have a lot of paper files on the Raborn family, but have not entered it into my computer. Would love to hear from any one with info. on any of the persons listed. Especially anyone who can PROVE OR DISPROVE my connections to the Rivers family of Edgefield co, SC. I just have the "feeling" that something is not right in my attachments. Billie Jones Camden, SC tjones@camden.net ----- Original Message ----- From: "Audrey E. Pool" <ddpool@madnet.net> To: <SC-Genealogy-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, May 26, 2002 10:23 PM Subject: [SC] Re: Philis FORT's estate -Jones RIVERS-Lewis HOLLOWAY-MITCHELL > This is a rather long record, but names associated her could be clues to unraveling... > > Audrey > > Source: Abstracts of Old Ninety-Six and Abbeville Wills and Bonds by Young, Southern Historical Press: > > "FORT, Philis-Box 107, Pack 2812: > > Will dated Jan 25, 1781. Prov. Mar 31, 1791. Exr: B. 1. John RIVERS, Lewis HOLLOWAY. Wit: Will. REED, Phens ALEXANDER. Lived in Mecklenburg County, NC. 'Bequeath unto Jas, son of John RIVERS, bequeath unto Nancy, dtr of John RIVERS, Thos and Jones RIVERS, sons of John RIVERS. Bequeath unto my sis. Mason FORT now in VA, money which lies in Co. David MASON'S hand in VA, Sis. Frances FOR(T). Will was Prov. In Mecklenburg Co, NC. Agreeable to a dedimus to us directed from the Court of Common Pleas of the Dist of 96. We Hezikiah ALEXANDER & Wm FOLK, Justices in the county aforesaid have caused to appear Wm WILSON, Esq before us and him having sworn did put the following intergatories (sic) to which he answered in manner following. Viz. First. Did you know Jas RIVERS a boy almost blind who passed as the son of John RIVERS, dec'd. Yes. I knew a boy who lived in the family of John RIVERS & whom I then did conceive to be his son, he appeared to be about 10 yrs. Of age, of a fair complexion & very near sighted, fair hair. This boy was so generally believed by people who lived in RIVERS neighborhood to be his son & Wm REED or RUD who wrote Philis FORT well told me that he in writing Philis FORT'S will told me that in writing (sic) in said will had mistaken the name of Jas FORT & inserted Jas RIVERS, this was done by the donor's telling him that she gave Jas a negro. 2. Did you know Philis FORT, sis. Of John RIVERS wife, where did she live & where did she die? I knew Philis FORT said to be John RIVERS wife's sis. That she lived in the house & with said john RIVERS & that I believe she died at the house of said RIVERS. 3. What was done with the boy Jas RIVERS after that of Philis FORT, Jones RIVERS came into this county & by virtue of the will of John RIVERS he Jas became Exr. On said John's est. & took into charge the property by her given incharge of John RIVERS. Jones RIVERS becoming the Exr. Of John took into care the boy Jas RIVERS & not having sufficient horses as he said to carry him in VA to his friends at the time he went there himself, left him in care of a certain Geo DEAN, with whom Jas RIVERS the boy lived sometime, when he taken to VA. By a Benjamin MABERRY. Charlotte Oct 4, 1791. Then did the aforementioned Wm WILSON, Esq sign his name to the within interogatories (sic) before & in presence of us, Hezekiah ALEXANDER, Wm FILK. At the time that Jas RIVERS lived with John RIVERS he as about 8 or 10 yrs old in the years 1778 & 1779. On July 12, 1790 in Edgefield County, SC. Jas FORT came into court being 20 yrs old and chose Edward MITCHELL as his guardian." > > ______________________________