Marriage Proof Found in Land Deed

James Rivers was born about 1835 to William Rivers and his wife, Elizabeth “Betsey” Rivers. The 1850 Census for Chesterfield County, SC shows James, age 15, in the household of his father, William Rivers, age 75. ¹

 

This is the only census in which James Rivers, born 1835, has been found. Folklore says that he served in the Civil War and was killed in 1862.   I have not been able to confirm his service in the Civil War.

There is a Civil War tombstone and a FindAGrave memorial for James S. Rivers, who served with Company “D”, 6th Cavalry. A July 19, 1862 shows that James S. Rivers was 20 years of age making his birth year to be about 1842, much younger than James Rivers, son of William & Betsey^.2

James S. Rivers returned home and is buried in the Rivers cemetery. At present, it is not known what happen to James Rivers, born 1835.

A check of the Civil War Soldiers and Sailors Database (CWSS), Broken Fortunes, Dark Hours and the Roll of the Dead turned up no viable candidates.

Pre-Civil records for Chesterfield County were destroyed by the Union forces in March 1865. There are very few, if any, records of an ancestor prior to the Civil War.

Available resources are very limited. One of those limited resources is a deed book “recovered” from the bonfire that General Sherman troops used to burn every record within the county. That book is maintained in the Probate Judge Office, Chesterfield County Courthouse and is known as the “Burned Book”. Within that deed book we find, on page 50, a Land Deed between John C. Davis to Thomas C. Davis. 



That Deed, John C. Davis to Thomas C. Davis, on page 50 contains a “Golden Nugget” for a genealogist.

That “Golden Nugget” is:


“conveyed to me by Wm. A. Rivers, by deed bearing date 10th Dec 1858. Said
Tract of land being a portion of the real Estate of Britton Dozier, laid off
To Nancy A. Rivers the wife of James Rivers, reference being had to a …”

This deed tells us that the land being sold is the Estate lands of Britton Dozier.

• That Britten Dozier has passed away prior to date of this deed.
• That the land being sold was set aside for Nancy A. Rivers.  Thus Nancy is related to Britten Dozier; we know from research that Britton is the Mother of Nancy A. Dozier.
• That Nancy and James Rivers were married before 10 Dec. 1858.

No record of James or his wife, Nancy has been found after this Land Deed. Folklore claims that James died in the Civil War but this information has not been confirmed.  It is not known what happen to Nancy A. Dozier Rivers after the Civil War. There is no application on file, in South Carolina, for a Widow’s Civil War pension.

In summary, James Rivers, age 15, is listed in the household of William Rivers in the 1850 census for Chesterfield County, SC. A land deed dated December 1858, mentions James and his wife, Nancy A., daughter of Britton Dozier.

James Rivers is my 3rd Great Grand Uncle.

If you have information about James Rivers and his wife, Nancy A. Dozier please contact me through this blog.








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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]  http://www.fold3.com/image/20/65078433/


[3] 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.