Monday, September 18, 2017

Mystery Monday~Thomas J. Rivers~Land Deed Proves Lineage


For many years I have had two entries in my database for two men known as William Rivers.

The first entry showed that John B. Rivers and his wife Eliza Rivers (Same Surname) oldest son was William Rivers born 1835.

The second entry was for William Rivers, b. 1831, died 15 July 1864 in Battle leaving behind a wife, Mary Ann Graves and a son, Thomas born May 1860. 

Wm & Mary Ann Rivers




1860 CENSUS: Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Roll: M653_1217; Page: 137; Image: 277; Family History Library Film: 805217; Line Line 22, Dwelling 612  Family 611; Household includes, William F. RIVERS, age 29, Farmer, born in SC; Mary A. RIVERS, age 20 and Thomas RIVERS, age 1/12.

The below land Deed makes it’s evident that William Rivers son of John B. Rivers is the same William Rivers that married Mary Ann Graves and had a son names Thomas J. Rivers.

When her husband William Rivers failed to return from the war, Mary Ann Graves Rivers married Ferguson Hale Smith who raised her young son Thomas Rivers.

Thomas Rivers can be found in 1860 with his Father and Mother and in 1870 in the Household of Ferguson Hale Smith, his step father where he is listed as T. J. Graves.

What happen to Thomas J. Rivers, aka Thomas J. Graves after 1870 was unknown until the below Land Deed (Chesterfield County DB 5, 798-799)was found  this past week.

In 1880/1881 Thomas J. Rivers aka Thomas J. Graves was in Grayson County, Texas per Chesterfield County Deed -
William Rivers (Killed in War)
Thomas J. Rivers  to Frederick Rivers Alfred Rivers, D. W. Rivers Deed


Thomas J. Rivers

DB 5, Page 798DB 5, page 799

William Rivers (Killed in War)
Thomas J. Rivers  to Frederick Rivers Alfred Rivers, D. W. Rivers Deed

The State of Texas]
Grayson County]
         Know all men by these presents, that I Thomas J. Rivers of the County and State aforesaid being entitled to an undivided interest in the real and personal estate of my deceased Grandmother Eliza Rivers late of the County of Chesterfield in the State of South Carolina in consideration of the sum of two hundred and ten dollars to me paid by my Uncles Frederick Rivers, Alfred Rivers and D. W. Rivers of the county and state last aforesaid the receipt whereby is hereby acknowledged has granted, bargained, Sold and released and by these presents do grant, bargain, sell, release and forever quit claim unto the said Frederick Rivers, Alfred Rivers and D. W. Rivers all my right title claim and interest of into and out of the real and personal Estate of the said Eliza Rivers in pofsession or expectancy in law and in Equity or by any means whatever Together with all and singular the rights, members, hereditaments or appurtenances to the said lands belonging or in any wise incident or pertaining and with full power and authority to collect and receive the said personally. To have and to hold all and singular the said premises unto the said Frederick Rivers, Alfred Rivers and D. W. Rivers their heirs and assigns and the survivor or survivors of them and the heirs and assigns of such survivor or survivors forever. And I hereby warrant and forever defend the interest herein conveyed unto the said Frederick Rivers, Alfred Rivers and D. W. Rivers their heirs, executors administrators and assigns and the survivor of survivors of them and the heirs executors administrators and assigns of such survivor or survivors from and against myself my heirs executors administrators and all other persons claiming by through or under me. Witness my hand and seal this 2nd day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty one in the one hundred and fourth year of the Sovereignty and Independence of the United States of America.
Signed, Seal and}                                                             Thomas J. Rivers {seal}
Delivered in presence of}
H. B. Nichols}
Charles Reynolds}

The State of Texas}
County of Grayson}
             Personally comes before me H. B. Nichols who makes oath that he saw the above named Thomas J. Rivers sign seal and as his act and deed deliver the above written deed and that he with Charles Reynolds witnessed the execution thereof.
Sworn to before me}                                                          H. B. Nichols
This 2nd day Feby 1880}
J. M. Wilson, J.P. {seal]}
And Ex Officis Notary Public}

The State of Texas}
County of Grayson}
             I, G. A. Dickeman clerk of the county and for said state and County, do hereby certify that J. M. Wilson whose signature in his own hand writing is subscribed to the proceeding proof of above written deed was at the date thereof a Justice of the Peace and Notary Public of said state and county and his official seal is stamped thereon, according to due form of law. Given under my hand and seal of office this 13th day of March 1880.
                                                                                  G. A. Dickeman Clerk {seal}
                                                                                  By H. N. Guck Deputy
Auditors Office}
Chesterfield County}
             Recorded 5th April 1880 in Sales Book “A”, pager 156
                                                                                   C. L. Evans
                                                                                   Auditor

Recorded 5th April 1880
Orign’l Dlv’d to Frederick Rivers

Thos J. Rivers Ancestors



Still, a quick on line search of the Census found no Thomas J. Rivers in Grayson County even though the land deed above places him there at that time.








_________________________
1. 1860 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) No ED, page 137; Line 22, dwelling 612 family 611, Household of William F. RIVERS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 15 July 2011); citing  National Archives Microfilm M653-1217.
2. National Park Service, "Soldiers" database, Civil War Soldiers & Sailor System (
http://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-soldiers.htm : accessed 8 October 2011), entry for William Rivers, First Sergeant; 8th Regiment, South Carolina Infantry; Confederate.
3. 1850 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page 176B, Line 19, Dwelling 1196; Family #1196, Household of Thomas GRAVES; digital images, Ancestry.com (
http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 3 September 2011); citing  National Archives Microfilm M432 Roll 851.
4. 1870 U. S. Census, Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) No ED, Page 294B, Line 28, Dwelling 143; Family 143, Household of F. H. SMITH; digital image, Ancestry.com (
http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 15 July 2011); citing National Archive  Microfilm M593, Roll 1491.

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