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From: "Johnita P. Malone" <>
Subject: Re: [RHEA-L] Samuel Rhea/Rea
Date: Sun, 10 Oct 1999 23:33:49 -0700


Just can't seem to place my Rheas/Rays into this scenario but the
surnames in mine and yours seem to overlap every so often. Must be
something here that I'm not finding.

Johnita


wrote:
>
> This is what I show on Samuel Rhea/Rea.
>
> ED FOLEY
>
> 1. Samuel RHEA born 1725, County Down, Ireland, son of Matthew Rhea Jr. and
> Mary Lockart, married (1) Eleanor SNODGRASS, born abut 1725, Ireland,
> (daughter of Benjamin SNODGRASS) died 15-Apr-1783, Chambersburg, Franklin
> Co.PA, buried: Rocky Spring Presbyterian Church Cem., married(2) Rosanna
> ENGLISH, born abt 1725, married (3) MarthaGrier WALLACE, born abt 1725.
> Samuel died 15-Aug-1811, GreenTownship, Franklin Co. PA, buried: Rocky Spring
> PresbyterianChurch Cem. About 1750, Samuel Rhea, oldest son of MatthewRhea,
> probably in County Down, Ireland, wedded to EleanorSnodgrass. (Benjamin
> Snodgrass, was a widower and wasaccompanied to America by one daughter, Mary.
> It ispresumed that his son stayed in Ireland, married and was thefather of
> the Miss Snodgrass who married Samuel Rhea. There is evidence she was a
> granddaughter of Benjamin Snodgrass.This Benjamin Snodgrass, came from the
> north of Ireland andsettled in New Britain Township, Bucks County,
> Pennsylvania,on the Nechaminy Creek, about 1730. See Doylestown--Old
> andNew", by H.K. Davis, page 4.)
> To the new home in Ireland came a baby daughter, Ann Rhea,born in 1751.
> Times in Ireland grew more troubled. Fromacross the ocean came letters about
> the vast new country,its beauties, and the warm invitation from the Penns
> tothose who loved liberty of conscience to settle inPennsylvania. In the
> latter part of 1754, Samuel Rhea andhis wife, Eleanor, with their baby
> daughter, Ann, embarkedfor the New World. Their second child, John was born
> eitherat sea, or soon after landing. It is thought they came toDelaware and
> settled in Chester County, Pennsylvania,January 17, 1755.
> A resting place was found in Chester County, PA but ofcourse the first
> thought of the new settlers was to obtainland of their own. The Penn
> Proprietaries had giveninstructions to their agents that they should separate
> theScotch-Irish and the German emigrants, as they did not agreeand some
> rioting had resulted from ill feeling between them. The Scotch-Irish were
> therefore restricted to theCumberland Valley. The Rhea family moved on to
> Mill Creek,five miles below Lancaster, for a time. Then Samuel Rheawith his
> growing family journeyed to the Cumberland Valley,in search of land,
> following the road from Lancaster toCarlisle. They traveled on horseback
> through mud, acrossmany streams, and finally reached Carlisle.
> A description of such a journey is taken from the Diary ofRev. David
> McClure, 1774. "On this journey we overtookseveral families moving from East
> to West. The man carried agun and axe on his shoulders. The wife had the rim
> of thespinning wheel in one hand and a loaf of bread in theother. Two pack
> horses were loaded with the bare necessitiesof life. On top of the baggage of
> one was a sort of wickercage in which a baby lay, rocked to sleep by the
> motion ofthe horse. There was a cow, which bore a sack of meal on herback".
> It is probably also a picture of the Rhea family asit traveled from
> Lancaster to Carlisle.
> It is probable that the family stayed some time in Carlisle,as Cumberland
> County was then the scene of appalling Indianoutrages, and the settlers were
> fleeing to Carlisle, York,and other places of safety. The history of that
> period showsthat at this very time the Cumberland Valley was sufferingfrom
> incursions of the Indians, and the savages werecommitting appalling outrages
> and cruelties. On April 2,1757, two men were killed on Conochocheague
> Creek." Anumber of others were killed in the vicinity, and as lateas 1763,
> a large body of Indians invaded Franklin County,and murdered a number of
> persons, setting fire to houses,etc. Most of the settlers fled for safety
> with theirfamilies, some to the fort at Chambersburg, others to thefort at
> Shippensburg, and others to Carlisle or York County. History says there were
> as many as 1400 of thepanic-stricken settlers in Shippensburg at one time.
> Afterputting their families in places of safety, many of thefearless pioneers
> returned to look after their abandonedhomes, horses, cattle and crops. In the
> meantime, SamuelRhea continued his search for land, finally settling inGreen
> Township, in what later became Franklin County. Intothis neighborhood, Samuel
> Rhea and his family moved about1757, braving the dangers of the wilderness,
> wild beasts,and savages. They settled on the Conochocheague Creek.
> William Lindsay made application to the Province ofPennsylvania for a
> grant, warrant, or patent, number 1188on September 9, 1766, for 370 acres.
> This tract which hadbeen surveyed for him, was situated in Green Township,
> whichlater became Franklin County. Samuel Rhea took assignmentof this
> application, paying $268.21. He received the granton October 12, 1804. At
> the same date Samuel paid for andreceived warrants for 40 acres; 125 acres;
> and 111 acres inGreen Township. It appears Samuel Rhea at once bought afarm,
> probably in Green Township, where he moved, but inaddition to the warrants
> for land paid for in 1804, there isa receipt signed by Joseph Kebbe,
> Philadelphia,Pennsylvania, for 110, for 100 acres of land on ChestnutRidge,
> dated March 1785, making a total of 746 acres ownedby Samuel Rhea. He
> cleared the land and built a log house,into which the family moved as the
> trouble subsided. SamuelRhea became in time a prosperous farmer, and his
> propertybecame known as the "Rea Mansion."
> Apparently about this time or shortly after, Samuel changedthe spelling
> of his name to "Rea". The reason for this isnot known, but we find documents
> signed by him prior to1800, using the "Rea " spelling. His oldest son,
> GeneralJohn Rea, always spelled the name "Rea", but otherssometimes spelled
> it "Rhea" or "Ray".
> Samuel was a man of means and education. One of the papersof the time
> refers to the Rheas as "an aristocraticfamily".. He had a library to dispose
> of in his will,(while many people at that time could neither read norwrite.)
> The Mansion remained in the family until 1826 whenGen. John Rea sold it to
> the Chambersburg Bank for $1010.The mansion house was once the finest in the
> community. Itgradually fell into disrepair and by 1867 it was indilapidated
> condition. That year, Charles Stanley Rinehart,a Pittsburgh artist who later
> gained internationalrecognition, made a sketch of it while on a walking
> tourwith his friend, James Culbertson Rea, great grandson ofSamuel. By 1904
> the home had been restored at which timeJames C. Rea photographed it.
> They were members of the famous Rocky Spring PresbyterianChurch, and Pew
> No. 49 still bears the Rhea name. SamuelRhea had for his second wife a widow
> named Mrs. RosannaEnglish, and after her death he married Mrs. Martha
> GrierWallace, who survived him. He died August 15, 1811, in his86th year at
> the Rea Mansion and was buried in Rocky SpringChurchyard in the same grave as
> his first wife and themother of his children. The following interesting
> letter waswritten by John Rea to his brother, Samuel, in Erie County,Penn.,
> communicating the death of their father Samuel Rhea:
> "The melancholy task devolved upon me of informing you ofthe death of our
> aged and beloved father, who departed thislife on the 15th day of August late
> in the afternoon and onthe following day his body was interred at Rocky
> SpringPresbyterian Churchyard, attended by a very numerousassemblage of
> relatives and acquaintances. We thought itproper to deposit his remains in
> Mother's grave, who hasbeen an inhabitant the silent tomb for upwards
> oftwenty-eight years. She died in the latter end of April inthe year 1783
> and, strange as it may appear to you, herbones were but little decayed. We
> collected them carefullyand returned them to accompany those of her much
> belovedhusband in the hope of a joyful resurrection to them bothwhen time
> shall be no more. I have often heard them both saythat there was but little
> differences in their ages. I knowof no record of either of their ages, but
> from all thecircumstances that I am acquainted with, father was 86 or 87years
> of age, old and full of days... During the last twoyears of his life his
> comforts and pleasures wereconsiderably interrupted by frequent attacks of
> giddiness orpain in his head. The day before he took his last illness herode
> up on the South Mountain to a cold spring, there tobathe his head in hopes of
> some relief. Indeed his last ridewas the only one he had taken of any
> considerable distancefor many months before his decease. In the night after
> hisreturn from the cold spring, he was seized with an excessivepain in the
> head attended by frequent vomiting. In a day ortwo after the attack he was
> totally deprived of the use ofhis speech and apparently of his reason, and
> remained inthat state till within a few days of his death, when he wasin some
> degree restored to the use of both. From the timethat he took his last
> illness until his death, was somethingshort of two weeks. Then ended the life
> of the man who fromfilial affection, as well as other considerations
> arisingfrom his having been the support of our youth, we are boundto venerate
> and respect and always to have his memory ingrateful remembrance."
> His estate was worth between $25,000 and $35,000. He ownedseveral tracts
> of land, Pine Grove, Reas Farm, Rea Mansion,Chestnut Ridge, Williamsburg,
> etc. His will and manyletters and documents relating to it are in the
> possessionof James C. Rea at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
> Rosanna: Widow of Mr. English when she married Samuel.Martha: Was the
> widow of Mr. Linday when she married SamuelRhea.
> Children by Eleanor SNODGRASS:
> i Ann RHEA born 2-Mar-1751, County Down, Ireland, married
> Patrick WRIGHT, born abt 1751. Ann died 24-Apr-1817, Peters Township,
> Frankin Co. PA.
> 2. ii John 'Major General' REA born 17-Jan-1755.
> iii William RHEA born 1-Aug-1757, Chester Co., PA, married Sarah
> SNODGRASS, born abt 1757. Enlisted in Cumberland Co. in 1777. Served as
> Captain. In private life later he was a farmer and surveyor. He died
> intestate survived by his wife and six children over 21 years of age.
> iv Sarah RHEA born 27-Oct-1759, Chambersburg, Franklin Co. PA,
> married John RENFREW, born abt 1759.
> 3. v Samuel REA born 27-Dec-1761.
> vi Hannah RHEA born 19-Jan-1768, Chambersburg, Franklin Co. PA,
> married John THOMSON, born abt 1766.
> vii James RHEA born 8-May-1768, Chambersburg, Franklin Co. PA,
> died abt 1818, Springfield, Clark Co. OH, buried: Sinking Creek Baptist
> Society Cemetery.
>
> Second Generation
>
> 2. John 'Major General' REA (1.Samuel1 ) born 17-Jan-1755, PA?, married
> 1806, Elizabeth CULBERTSON, born abt 1755. John died 1829, Chambersburg,
> Franklin Co. PA, buried: Rocky Spring Presbyterian Church Cem. Entered
> military service as a volunteer in Cumberland Co. in July 1775. Muster of
> this contingent was answer to a Resolution of the Continental Congress
> calling for 18 companies of riflemen. 1777 Lt., 1778 Capt., 1802 Lt. Col.,
> 1812 Brig. Gen., 1814 Maj. Gen. He served long and well in Congress. He
> died of food poisoning at the Robert Peebles Hotel in Chambersburg PA where
> he had gone to meet some political leaders. He was buried with full military
> honors.
> Children:
> i Samuel RHEA born 21-Apr-1808.
> ii John REA born 28-Jun-1809, Born at Sea.
> iii James REA born 23-May-1811, PA?, President of Pennsy. R.R.
> iv William REA born abt 1813, PA?. Drowned in infancy.
> v Andrew Jackson REA born 1815, PA?.
> vi Elizabeth REA born 20-Nov-1817, PA?.
> vii William REA born 6-Jun-1820, PA?.
> viii Charles REA born 5-Jan-1823, PA?.
>
> 3. Samuel REA (1.Samuel1 ) born 27-Dec-1761, Chambersburg,Franklin Co. PA,
> married 1787, in Erie Co. PA,Margaret Jane EATON, born 3-Aug-1766, Franklin
> Co. PA,(daughter of John EATON and Jame RAMSEY) died 10-Nov-1830, Springfield
> Township,Erie Co. PA, buried: East Springfield Cemetery, Erie Co. PA. Samuel
> died 5-Mar-1813, Springfield Township, Erie Co. PA,buried: East Springfield
> Cemetery, Erie Co. PA. Went westto Erie County PA when he was a young man.
> Served as aprivate, John Rea's Company (his brother), 1st
> Battalion,Cumberland Co. Militia, commanded by Col. James Johnston,Aug. 1780
> and also Aug. 6, 1781. Also listed as a privatein class roll of Capt. John
> McConnel's Company, CumberlandCo. Militia, Aug. 29, 1782. (The Erie Co.
> "Soldiers of theAmerican Revolution," published in 1929, Vol. 23, p. 791,
> of3rd series and DAR Patriot Index 1927, pg. 63, 64.)
> He is one of the earliest settlers of Erie Co. PA, comingfrom Franklin
> Co. PA. Beers History, Part II, pg. 64, says"Samuel entered 250 acres of
> land in the wilderness, livingwith a neighbor until a hut was erected. Samuel
> Rea residedon the farm (which is now one of the most productive in thecounty)
> until his death. Of their family of nine children,two survive: Johnston, and
> Eliza, wife of Joseph Ware,residing on a portion of the homestead." This
> referencecannot be right however, as his son Samuel was 92 when
> hedied--clearly outliving his father right in the sametownship.
> We know that this Samuel is the son of Samuel Rhea andEleanor Snodgrass.
> Samuel's brother James wrote him aletter describing the death of his father
> Samuel Rhea in1811, which was published in "Samuel Rea, 1725-1811,Heritage
> and Descendants" by Henry Oliver Rea, printed bythe Tyrone Printing Co.,
> Ltd., Dungannon, Northern Ireland,1960.
> Margaret: One record says she was the sister of Rev.Johnston Eaton and
> thus would be the daughter of John Eatonof Franklin Co. P who had nine
> children.
> Children:
> i John REA born 19-Apr-1788, Chester Co., PA, carpenter,
> married 1814, in Springfield Township, Erie Co. PA, Nancy LAW, born
> 2-Dec-1794, County Down, Ireland, (daughter of John LAW and Anna CARROLL)
> died 13-Feb-1877, South Buffalo Township, Armstrong Co. PA. John died
> 8-Jan-1848, South Buffalo Township, Armstrong Co. PA, buried: Slate Lick
> Cemetery, Armstrong Co. PA. In his will he left his carpenter tools,
> steelyards and books. Witnessed by John Boyd (son-in-law) and James Reddick.
> He came from Chester Co. to Erie Co. in 1812. Apprenticed at least one
> person who immigrated from England in the carpentry trade. Nancy: Came to
> Erie Co. PA in 1812 with her parents.
> ii Samuel REA born 27-Oct-1792, WashingtonCo. PA, married
> Elizabeth FERGUSON, bornabt 1792. Samuel died 8-Sep-1883, buried:
> EastSpringfield Cemetery, Erie Co. PA. "History ofErie Co.," published by
> Warner Beers PublishingCo. in Chicago in 1884 contains a picture ofSamuel Rea
> (1792-1883) in the book and also apicture of his brother, Johnston Rea (b.
> 1805),with biographical notes on both of them. OnSamuel Rea it reads:
> "Samuel Rea, the subjectof this sketch, was born in Washington, Penn.,October
> 27, 1792. He, with his father's family,moved to Springfield, Penn. in 1804,
> and onApril 12 that year, settled on the farm onwhich he lived until the time
> of his death 8Sept. 1883. He was of Scotch-Irish descent, andhe inherited
> many of their traits of character.He was strictly temperate in a broad sense
> ofthe word and adhered closely to justice, rightand truth. Although deprived
> of his father'scounsel in quite early life, yet these innateprinciples were
> so truly his own, that he neveryielded, however great the temptation.
> Itseemed very necessary that he should be justwhat he was. Settling here in
> the then denseforest, it required strength, determination,frugality, and all
> that is noble for a man toassist in building a home for his parents
> andfinally for himself. He served in the War of1812 in recompense for which
> he for severalyears received a pension. He was one of thefounders of the
> Presbyterian Church inSpringfield and united with it in early manhoodand ever
> endeavored to live a consistentChristian life. In 1818 he married
> ElizabethFerguson, who in every way proved herself atrue wife, counselor and
> Christian mother. Shedied in 1855, leaving her husband and 8children to mourn
> their great loss. It canreadily be seen that had the subject of thissketch
> lived until the 27th of October, 1883,he would have been 91 years of age.
> Thus livedand died one of the early settlers ofSpringfield Twp., Erie Co.,
> Pa."
> His service record which lists him as a privatein 17 Regiment
> Wallace's Pennsylvania Militia,War of 1812. He was present August 3-19,
> 1812for 2 dollars and 83-1/3 cents and July 23 toAugust 8, 1813 for 5 dollars
> and 66-2/3 cents.
> In the 1850 census, National Archives Series#M432, Microfilm
> 778, page 430 the family isenumerated: Samuel Rea, age 58, male,
> farmer,$4,500, born PA, Betsy, age 51, Harriet, age24, Edmond, age 21,
> Louisa, age 18, Matilda,age 16, Mary L., age 13. From the census andcemetery
> records it appears they had 10children; 2 died in childhood. Some of
> thedates in the census are confusing. Samuel wasliving with three of his
> unmarried children in1870 and 1880. Son Edmond is listed as 43 inthe 1870
> census and 48 in the 1880 census.
> Reported in the Crawford Journal, Meadville,PA, Sept. 21,
> 1883: Deaths: Rea - At hisresidence in Springfield Township, Erie Co.
> PA,Sept. 8th, Samuel Rea in his 91st year.
>
>
> iii Johston REA born 2-Aug-1805, PA.
> iv Margaret REA born abt 1807, PA.
> v Eliza REA born 19-Aug-1808, PA.
> vi Rebecca REA born abt 1809, PA.
> vii Nancy REA born abt 1811, PA.
> viii Hannah REA born abt 1813, PA.
>
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