Surname Saturday – James Rivers of Chesterfield, SC

Today's spotlighted individual is somewhat a mystery. Not much is known about his life.

James Rivers was born about 1835 in Chesterfield County, South Carolina.[1] James Rivers and Nancy A. Dozier were married in Chesterfield County, South Carolina.[2] Nancy A. Dozier, was a daughter of Britton Dozier. James River was the youngest son of William Rivers & Elizabeth "Betsy" Rivers.

A note within the files of Leon Madison Rivers (Box 1, Folder 75) at the Caroliniana Library, Columbia, SC,  states "James Rivers married Dozier [Nancy A.]." <Leon M. Rivers Genealogical Collection, South Caroliniana Library, Columbia, SC, Box 1, Folder 75, reviewed 24 March 2004>.

This note sent me looking for a source for this information. The only known source that references this marriage is contained within the "Burnt Book" on file in the Probate Judge Office, Chesterfield Court House, Chesterfield, SC.

The following information is from the BURNT DEED BOOK: [3]

"BURNT DEED BOOK: Chesterfield County, SC; Page 50, Land Deed between John C. Davis to Thomas C. Davis Deed: Parts illegible, Burnt. Visible names and comments are: John C. Davis to Thomas C. Davis Deed; Wm. A. Rivers, Estate Lands of Britton Dozier, laid off to Nancy A. [Dozier] Rivers the wife of James Rivers, dated 22nd Day of December 1859".

Family folklore says that James Rivers died in the Civil War. The National Parks Service (NPS) Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System,- http://www.itd.nps.gov/cwss/ -- has 4 James Rivers listed but I have not been able to determine if either of these 4 men is the correct James Rivers. Also on Fold3.com, there are only four (4) James Rivers from South Carolina – James Rivers, James  S. Rivers, James  K. Rivers and James R. Rivers. None of these 4 Rivers matches age information or enlistment place for a James Rivers from Chesterfield County, SC.  There are no James Rivers listed in "Broken Fortune" [4] by Randolph W. Kirkland,  Jr. Nor, is there a James Rivers listed in the "Roll of the Dead".[5]

To date, this is all the known information for either James Rivers or Nancy A. Dozier.

If you have information on this couple please contact me at my e-mail.

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[1] 1850 U. S. Census, Chesterfield District, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield District, South Carolina, Page 179B, Line 16, family 1242, dwelling 1242, Household of William Rivers; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 2010); citing National Archives Microfilm M432 Roll 851.

[2] Chesterfield County, South Carolina, BURNT DEED BOOK: page 50, Land Deed between John C. Davis to Thomas C. Davis Deed; 22 December 1859, Register of Deeds, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina. 

[3] The "Burnt Deed Book or Burnt Book" is a book that was recovered from being destroyed during the Civil War.

[4] A book listing SC soldiers, sailors & citizen who died in the service of their country and state in the War for Southern Independence, 1861-1865. 

[5] Roll of the Dead : South Carolina troops, Confederate States service, by William J. Rivers, South Carolina. Dept. of Archives and History