4 July~Independence Day 2022

When our land is illumined with Liberty's smile,
If a foe from within strike a blow at her glory,
Down, down with the traitor that dares to defile
The flag of her stars and the page of her story!
By the millions unchained, who our birthright have gained,
We will keep her bright blazon forever unstained!
And the Star-Spangled Banner in triumph shall wave
While the land of the free is the home of the brave.

In Remembrance

of our Ancestors who fought 

for 

our Liberty and Independence.

Thomas Davis

b. 22 Mar 1760 – d. 20 March 1845

4th Great Grandfather

DAR & SAR Proven

That he entered the service of the United States under the officers named & served as stated in the following account. That he was drafted a short time before Christmas in the year __ & served as a Private under Captain Morris Murphy [Maurice Murphy] & Maj. Robert Lloyd [sic, Robert Lide], that he does not recollect the Regiment to which he belonged;1 that he was marched to a place called the "Long Bluff” on Pee Dee River [Pedee River] in the State aforesaid from there to Sewee Bay from there to Haderal's Point [sic, Haddrell's Point] & from there to James Island near Charleston from which place he returned home having served in this tour nine weeks. That he was again drafted & marched as a private under Capt. John DeWitt [John Dewitt] & Col. George Hicks to Cheraw in the District & State aforesaid where he remained one month & returned home. That he was again drafted as a private & then on this 8th day of February (year not recollected) he marched under Capt. Ellerbe [sic, Thomas Ellerbee] & Col. George Hicks crossed Black River at Benbows [sic, Benbow's Ferry?] & crossed Santee [River] at Lanud Ferry [sic, Lenud's Ferry] & proceeded to Charleston - that he was in Charleston at the time it was taken by the British under Clinton where he was taken prisoner on the 11th day of May after his March & was discharged on parole on the 19 of the same month having served this tour up to this time he was taken prisoner three months & four days.2 That he served two tours, of two weeks each, as one of a scouting party. That he was again drafted & marched as a private under Capt. William Preswood [sic, William Prestwood] to McCord's Ferry on the Congaree River in the State aforesaid where Col. Washington [William Washington] took command - That he returned home from McCord's Ferry having served this tour one month & remained at home two months. That he was drafted again & served as a private under Capt. Benton & Maj. Tristram Thomas for one month. That he never received a discharge. He hereby relinquishes every claim to a pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State. Sworn to in open Court the day & year above written.

S/ Richard Gantt                                                         s/ Thomas Davis, X his mark

Charles Dry

b. 1730 – d. bef 16 Oct 1797

5th Great Grandfather

DAR & SAR Proven

Patriotic Service during Revolutionary War - TOOK OATH OF ALLEGIANCE TO MAKE LAND ENTRY, MECKLENBURG
CO, 1778.

Acts of the North Carolina General Assembly, 1777

III. And be it also Enacted, by the Authority aforesaid, That every Person

-------------------- page 44 --------------------

except a Guardian who shall claim for an Orphan Child, and except Persons absent in the Service of this State, or the United States, before he shall enter a Claim for any of the Lands aforesaid, shall take and subscribe the Oath, or Affirmation, of Allegiance and Abjuration, prescribed by the Law of this State, which Oath the Entry Officer is hereby impowered and required to administer; and every Person claiming shall also, before he shall be entitled to enter a Claim for any of said Lands, pay into the Hands of the Entry Taker at the Rate of Two Pounds Ten Shillings for every Hundred Acres, together with the Fees, which shall be by this Act made lawful. Provided, That where any Person shall claim a greater Quantity of Lands aforesaid than Six Hundred and Forty Acres for Himself, and one Hundred Acres for his Wife and each of his children, including all that such Persons may have claimed in one or more Tracts or Surveys under this Act, within Twelve Months from the End of this present Session of Assembly, shall pay for every Hundred Acres exceeding the Quantity aforesaid Five Pounds, and so in Proportion.

Frederick F. Rivers, Sr.

b. bef 1754- d. aft 1820

5th Great Grandfather

REVOLUTIONARY WAR:  SOURCE- "American Revolution Roster, Fort Sullivan (Later Fort Moultrie) 1776-1780, Battle of Fort Sullivan, Events Leading to First Decisive Victory" Published by Fort Sullivan Chapter Daughter of the American Revolution, Book # US/CAN 975.7915, M2d, Page 270. RIVERS, FREDERICK -- YB; AA-6452; PI (1740-20 Feb 1820) SC Mil (Cheraw District); at fall of Charleston in 1780;
The YB above is a source reference. Page 74 shows Key to Sources. YB says "Charleston, S.C., YEARBOOK OF THE CITY OF CHARLESTON (Charleston, 1897), pp. 401-408, Gen. Benjamin Lincoln Papers in Thomas Addis Emmet Collection, New York Public Library, including petitions from the country militia at Charleston in May 1780 urging the surrender of the city." PI is the Daughters of American Revolution, PATRIOT INDEX, and AA-6452 is South Carolina Archives; Revolutionary War Audited Accounts.

Enlisted in Marion's Brigade, Benton's Regiment in 1782 at Cheraw (Revolutionary War). Surrender at Charleston and held prisoner for a while. Frederick Rivers Sr. was born near Chesterfield SC and was a farmer. He received grants of land 1784 -1787 for 200, 1000, and 227 acres lying on Abrams Creek. He enlisted (1782) in Cheraw SC in Marion's Brigade, Benton's Regiment. He may have seen action at Black Creek, the ferry on Georgetown/Cheraw Road, and Society Hill. He was held prisoner by the British in Charleston at the end of the war. [History of the Old Cheraws, page 412]

[Note] I need a document proving that Hulda Rivers, b. 13 October 1816 is the daughter of William Rivers and his wife Elizabeth “Betsy” Rivers to get Frederick Rivers accepted as my Revolutionary War Patriot. Any help greatly appreciated. 

______________________________

[1] Flag Image Courtesy of https://pixabay.com/.

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Star-Spangled_Banner; a fifth stanza added to the song in 1861

[3] Thomas Davis, W8655, My thanks to Will Graves for the use of his transcribed Revolutionary War Record of Thomas Davis. https://revwarapps.org/w8655.pdf

[4] Charles Dry - https://docsouth.unc.edu/csr/index.php/document/csr24-0002

[5] Frederick Rivers--Right Rev. Alexander Gregg D.D., History of the Old Cheraws (Columbia, South Carolina: The State Company, 1925), page 412.

Vital Records Can Be Wrong...Especially Death Certificates

Family Historian and Genealogists put a lot of faith into Vital records. But, every Genealogists I know  ensure that an exhaustive search has been made and if possible the data they find is not limited to one single document. Multiple sources are searched to ensure the data, when presented, is accurate. 

Case in point is Georgia Death Certificate #28075 for Frederick Francis Rivers. This single document contains multiple errors. On line 16a the informant looks to be L. E. Rivers. I have no knowledge who L. E. Rivers is!   

The Georgia Death Certificate shows Frederick middle name to be Frederick Francis Rivers. A majority of documents show his middle name to be Franklin. The Rivers family community accepts the fact the Frederick was named Frederick Franklin a long standing name within the Rivers family. However, the Delayed Birth certificate for his daughter, Mary Louise, b. 8 July 1898, shows her Father name to be Fredrick Francis Rivers.

Mr. F. F. Rivers and Mary Eugenia “Jennie” Bennett were married on 18 December 1894 at the Brides Mother’s home in Ansonville, NC by a Baptist Minister named John P. Boyd.

The parents of Frederick Franklin Rivers ARE NOT C. Lemuel Rivers and Mary Elizabeth Davis.

The parents of Frederick Franklin Rivers ARE Calvin Rivers and Louise Gatewood. We can see Frederick AKA Freddy as a 13 year old teenager in the Calvin and Lou Rivers household in 1880 Chesterfield County, South Carolina.

The ONLY C. Lemuel or Lemuel C. Rivers is Lemuel Clyde Rivers who married Mary Eva Tucker plus he was born in 1908 about 43 years AFTER Frederick Franklin Rivers. 

It's important to ensure that a reasonably exhaustive search has been made and that each fact has a complete, accurate source citation.  

Frederick Franklin Rivers is my 2nd Cousin 4X removed.

________________________________

1. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database and digital images, (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed  3 March 2012); Memorial page for Frederick Franklin Rivers; (24 April 1866–October 1940); Find a Grave memorial # 73723442, Citing Louisville City Cemetery; Louisville, Jefferson County, Georgia, USA.

2. 1880 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) 5, page 323, dwelling 230, family 230, Household of Calvin Rivers; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed July 2011); citing National Archive  Microfilm T9, Roll 1225.

3. 1900 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Cole Hill, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) #19, Page: 64B; Line 93, Dwelling 125, Family 126, Household of Frederick F. RIVERS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : viewed 6 August 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm T623_Roll: 1523.

4. 1920  U. S. Census, Louisville, Jefferson County, Georgia, population schedule, Louisville, Jefferson County, Georgia, enumeration district (ED) #47, Page: 138, Line 64, Dwelling 165, Family 165, Household of  F. F. RIVERS; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 6 August 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm Series: T625, Roll: 260.

5. State of Georgia, death no. 28075 (4 November 1940), F. F. Rivers; Georgia Health Department, Office of Vital Records,, Atlanta, Georgia.

6. "North Carolina, Marriages Record, 1741-2011," database, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : Viewed 3 March 2020), Marriage: F. F. RIVERS and Mary Bennett, Marriage Date: 18 Dec 1894.

7. 1880 U. S. Census, Anson County, North Carolina, population schedule, Lanesboro, Anson County, North Carolina, enumeration district (ED) #4, Page 388A; Line 39, Dwelling 83, Family 83, Household of  Mary BENNETT; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 6 August 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm T9, Roll 0951.

8. State of Georgia, death no. 6057, (8 March 1948), Mary E. Rivers.

9. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database and digital images, (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed 6 August 2011); Memorial page for Mary Eugenia Bennett Rivers; (1869–1948); Find a Grave memorial # 73723481, Citing Louisville City Cemetery; Louisville, Jefferson County, Georgia, USA.

Sale of Frederick and Siddie Rivers Estate Lands

Frederick F. Rivers, Jr. and his wife, Sarah “Siddie” Boatwright both died within 13 months of each other. First, Frederick died 31 May 1860 then Sarah died on 3 July 1861. Their death left 7 surviving children: 

i. William M. "Billy" Rivers, born 1805, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; married Anne Eliza Kelley, 27 Dec 1837, Mt. Croghan, Chesterfield, South Carolina; died  Mar. 18, 1891, Mt. Croghan, Chesterfield, South Carolina.
ii. Sarah "Siddie" Rivers was born in 1808 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina. She was still living on 23 Jan 1879.
iii. David T. Rivers, born 10 Jun 1810, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; married Katherine Eugenia Edgeworth, abt 1844, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; died 8 Feb 1891, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.
iv. Lewis Rivers, born 6 Nov 1811, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; married Lenora L. Padgett, 12 Dec 1839, Mt. Croghan, Chesterfield, South Carolina; died 11 Feb 1895, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.
v. Eliza Rivers, born abt 1815, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; married John B. Rivers, 1832, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; died bef 26 Jan 1870, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.
vi. Frederick F. Rivers III was born in 1828 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina. He served in the Civil War and died before 11 Jan 1866 at the age of 38 most likely due to service connected injuries. Frederick had his estate probated on 29 Jan 1866; Probate Folder #103 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina. He was buried in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.
vii. James Calvin Rivers, born 9 Jan 1831, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; married Louise Gatewood, 5 Jan 1860, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; died 3 Nov 1907, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.

Sometime near 11 January 1866, one of the children, Frederick III,  passed away leaving 6 remaining children.

On 28 April 1869, five of the remaining six children, William, Sarah, Lewis, Eliza and Calvin sold their interest in their parents estate lands (162 + acres) to their brother David T. Rivers for $500.00 dollars. [Chesterfield County, SC; Deed Book 4, pages 497 and 498].  

Another Chesterfield Land Deed (DB 4, pages 263 to 265] shows that the six children sold 69 acres to B. F. White for three hundred and sixty seven dollars ($367.00).



Transcription:
by these presents do grant, bargain, sell and released unto the said B. F. White all that tract and parcel of land formerly owned by F. F. Rivers (deceased).




Transcription:
Page 497
Wm Rivers + Others to David Rivers Deed
The State of South Carolina}
Chesterfield County}
Know all men by these presents that we William Rivers Sarah Rives Lewis Rivers Eliza Rivers + Calvin Rivers of the State and County aforesaid for and in consideration of the sum of $500 Five hundred Dollars to us paid in hand by David Rivers of the State and County aforesaid have granted bargained sold and released and by these presents do grant bargain sell and release unto the said David Rivers a certain piece or parcel of land lying and being in the State and County aforesaid lying on Jimmey’s Creek bounded on the West by lands of John John Bitels [Bittle??] and Phillip G. Hinson in East by lands of A. J. Edins [Eddins] and others containing 162 1/2 more or less together with all and singular the rights members hereditaments and appurtenances to the said premises belonging in in <sic> anywise incidents or appertancy [appertaining] to have and to hold all and singular premises above mentioned unto the said David Rivers his heirs and afsigns against ourselves our heirs and against any person or persons whomsoever lawfully claiming the same or any p[art thereof. In witnefs whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals, the 28 of April Anno 1869.
Signed, Sealed and delivered}                      Lewis Rivers {seal}
In the presence of}                                       Wm. Rivers {seal}
A. J. Eddins}                                                Calvin Rivers {seal}
W. B. Davis}                                 Eliza X her mark Rivers No Seal

The State of South Carolina}
Chesterfield County}
Personally appeared before me A. J. Eddins and made oath that he saw Lewis Rivers, Wm. Rivers, and Calvin Rivers sign seal and as their act and deed deliver the within written deed and that he and W. B. Davis witnefsed the execution thereof.
Sworn to before me 29^th}                               A. J. Eddins
day of Jany 1879}
Thomas F. Malloy}
Clk}

Auditors Office}
Chesterfield County}
                  Recorded 29 Jany 1879 in Sales Book “A” page 132
                                                             C. L. Evans
                                                             A. C. C.

Recorded 29 Jany 1879

Orig.l deliv’d to P. Streater

Frederick F. Rivers, Jr.  an his wife Siddie are my 4th Great Grand Uncle and Aunt.

_________________________
1. 1830 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, page 262, Line 7, Household of Frederick RIVERS Jr.; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm M19_172.
2. 1850 U S Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, page 177B, Dwelling #1213, Family/1213, Household of Frederick Rivers Sr.; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed May 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm M432 Roll 851.


3. Land Deed - Frederick W. Rivers to Frederick Rivers, Jr.; 21 November 1846; Deed Book #DB #1; Page(s) page 186; Register of Deeds; Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina; 2000.
4. Chesterfield County, South Carolina, DB 4: pages 263, 264 & 265, Wm. RIVERS and Others to B. F. WHITE; 26 January 1870, Register of Deeds, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina.


5. Chesterfield County, South Carolina, DB 5: pages 497-498, William Rivers and Others to David Rivers; 28 April 1869, Register of Deeds, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina.
6. James C. Pigg, Chesterfield County Cemetery Survey; Self-Published, 1995, page 1160. Tombstone of Frederick F. Rivers; 3 November 1779–31 March 1860, Rivers Cemetery, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina.
7. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database and digital images, (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed November 2008); Memorial page for Frederick Rivers, Sr.; (3 November 1779–31 May 1860); Find a Grave memorial # # 47259651, Citing Rivers Cemetery; Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, USA.
8. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database, "Record, Pvt Frederick F. Rivers, Jr.  (1828–11 January 1866), Memorial # # 47259387.
9. James C. Pigg, Chesterfield County Cemetery Survey, Self-Published, 1995. Tombstone of Siddie Rivers.
10. Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Probate Files & Loose papers, Frederick F. RIVERS; digital images, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org: viewed 21 May 2014); Estate Folder #103.

Chesterfield County SC Estates~Estate Folder #103–Pvt. Frederick F. Rivers.

 

This is a new series of posting, appearing every Sunday, on selected Estate Folders from the Estate files of Chesterfield County. No known estates exist for the period before the Civil War. They were destroyed with the burning of the Courthouse. There are a few “Equity Records” in the State Archives. Do not overlook this valuable resources if you are looking for ancestors in Chesterfield County, South Carolina. 

Today we will be looking at the following Estate folders:
Folder #103
Frederick F. Rivers. ^{1 2}
This estate folder begins at image #497 and ends with image #513. (images 497-513) 
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-19384-45382-8?cc=1911928

Private Frederick F. Rivers, age 38, son of Frederick F. Rivers and Siddie Boatwright died about January 1866.

On 11 January 1866, Calvin Rivers, his youngest brother, petitioned the Courts for Letters of Administration of the Estate and affects of Frederick F. Rivers.
   


Transcription:
State of South Carolina}

Chesterfield District}

To Hugh Craig, Sen. Esq. Ordinary

I do hereby apply for Letters of Administration of the Estate and effects of Frederick F. Rivers deceased – Jan’y 11^th 1866.
                                                                                   Calvin Rivers

Calvin Rivers was granted Letters of Administration and Mssrs. John H. Perkins, D. R. Davis and P. G. Hinson were appointed by the Courts to inventory the estate. 
 


Transcription:
State of South Carolina} By Hugh Craig, Sen.
Chesterfield District} Esquire, Ordinary
To Mess’^rs John H. Perkins, D. R. Davis and P. G. Hinson
These are to authorize and empower you, or any three or four of you, to repair to all sucj places, within this districts, as you shall be directed unto by Calvin Rivers Adm. of the Estate of Fred’k F. Rivers late of said district, dec’d. Wheresoever any of the goods & chattels of said decease, are or do remain, and which shall be shewn to you by the said Calvin Rivers and there view and appraise the same being first duly sworn on the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God, to make a just and true appraisement of the same, and to make a true & perfect inventory thereof, and cause the same to be returned certified under your hand, or any three or four of you to the said Calvin Rivers on or before the do first day of April now next ensuing.
Dated the 29^th day of January
In the year of our Lord One thousand
Eight Hundred and sixty-six.
Hugh Craig, Sen.
O. C. D.

Memorandum – This 30^th day of January Anno Domini 1866, personally appeared before me John H. Perkins, Phillip G. Hinson and D. R. Davis being three of the Appraisers appointed to appraise the goods & chattels of Fred’k F. Rivers deceased, who being duly sworn, made oath, that they would make a just and true appraisement of all the goods & chattels of said deceased as shall be shown to them by Calvin Rivers Admn. Of the estate of said deceased, and that they would return the same certified under their hands, to the said Calvin Rivers within the time prescribed by law. –
Sworn to before me}                                         John H. Perkins
Hugh Craig, Sen.                                               P. G. Hinson
O.C.D.                                                               D. R. Davis
 

Pvt. Frederick F. Rivers was never married. He served with Company “D”, 6th SC CAV CSA and was captured and taken prisoner at Stoney Creek on 1 Dec 1864.

His War records shows that Frederick took the Oath of Allegiance on 17 June, 1865 while a prisoner at Point Lookout Maryland. He was released that same day. The document shows him as dark complexion, Black Hair, blue eyes, 6 feet and 3/4 inch in height.  His place of residence is listed as Chesterfield District, SC.

No record exist that show why Frederick died so young but I suspect it was related to injuries or diseases acquired during the Civil War.

Pvt. Frederick F. Rivers is buried in the Rivers Cemetery, Chesterfield County, South Carolina.





 
_______________________________
[1] Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Probate Files & Loose papers, Frederick F. RIVERS; digital images, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org: viewed 21 May 2014); Estate Folder #103.
[2] "South Carolina Probate Records, Files and Loose Papers, 1732-1964," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-19384-45382-8?cc=1911928 : 21 May 2014), Chesterfield > Probate Court, Estate records > 1865-1927 > Cases 0088-0152 > image 497 of 1495; county courthouses, South Carolina, and South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Columbia.

52 Ancestors: #51, Frederick F. Rivers

 

Amy Johnson Crow of No Story To Small has started a challenge of 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks.

From her blog “The challenge: have one blog post each week devoted to a specific ancestor. It could be a story, a biography, a photograph, an outline of a research problem — anything that focuses on one ancestor. Not only should this get me blogging more, but also to take a deeper look at some of the people in my family tree.”

The focus of my blog post today is Frederick F. Rivers.

Frederick F. Rivers is my 5th Great Grandfather. His birth date is unknown but Census data tells us that he was born before 1754 and died after 1820. Frederick is enumerated in the 1790-1800-1810 and 1820 Censuses for Chesterfield County, South Carolina. ^{1 2 3 4}

His wife is totally unknown. If the oldest female in the above four mentioned censuses are accurate and the oldest female is his wife then we know she was was born between 1755 & 1765 and that she died aft 1820.

Census	Age	Predicted Birth Yr.
1800	21-45	1755-1779
1810	26-45	1765-1784
1820	45+	1775

Frederick and his wife had 4 children; 2 sons and 2 daughters. Three of these 4 children are known, William Rivers, Frederick F. Rivers, Jr, and Sarah Rivers.

Page 412 of ”The History of The Old Cheraw's” along with Audited Account AA-6452 proves his participation in the Revolutionary War. He was in Charleston, SC during the Sieze of Charleston, captured and imprisoned for a short while.⁵

After the war he received 3 grants for land for his active participation  consisting of 1000 acres, 227 acres and 200 acres for a total of 1427 acres of land in Chesterfield County, South Carolina. I have found no evidence that Frederick owned slaves during his lifetime. ^{6 7 8}

Equity Records for Alex Melton and Edith Lundy alias Edith Wages, J. J. Evans, Defts Solc, dated 11 December 1814 shows Frederick Rivers and Lewis Boatwright as the two witnesses to this document. This is the latest document I have other than the 1820 census for Frederick Rivers. ⁹

I have a Will dated 9 Jan 1769 that shows a Frederick Rivers as the Witness for the Will of Jacob Waldburger, St. Peter's Parish, Granville County. This is the earliest document I have that names a Frederick Rivers. I have no proof that this Frederick Rivers is in fact our ancestor.¹⁰
Exors: wife during her widowhood; Rev. J. Joachin Zubly; Dr. Heny Bourquin; Capt. Cornelious Dupont.
Wit: Lachn. McGillivary, Jean Jaque Goante, Temoin., Frederick Rivers.
D: 9 Jan. 1769.  P. 22 Mar. 1770    R:nd.    Page 436

Frederick's Wife.
In 1927, in an un-sourced history of the David/Davis Family by Harry Alexander Davis made the following comments. ¹¹


*Frederick Rivers b ca 1739 died 1810, married 1762 Mary Boatwright, b. 1745 died1814. Chesterfield Dist. S. C. He served as a Private in the Revolution. (Stub Entries to Indents, Lib. N, No. 650.) Left children; Frederick Jr. Isaac, James and Nancy.

On Page 54, Mr. Davis is detailing the facts for my Great Grandfather Thomas Davis states:
“He [Thomas Davis] married July 1786 Nancy, daughter of Frederick Rivers,* and Mary Boatwright, born 15 Dec 1767.” ¹²

I stated earlier that Frederick had two daughters as indicated by the 1800 Census:



You can see by this Census that Frederick had two sons and two daughters.
1 Female, Daughter?, age 10-15, birth year – 1785-1790
1 Female, Daughter?, 16-25, birth year – 1775-1884 – Daughter Sarah was born 1 January 1782. So we have a perfect match.  She married John H. Brown and died after 1870 in Arkansas.
1  Female, Wife?, 26-44

But, it quite obvious that the second presumed daughter in the household wasn’t even old enough to play when Thomas and Nancy were married in July 1786. She may not have even been born when Thomas & Nancy married.

The second part of this is that there is no known Mary Boatwright that was the wife of Frederick Rivers. The Boatwright Family has been well documented and no evidence has been found that Mary Boatwright even existed.

http://www.boatwrightgenealogy.com/

But this was not going to stop those intent on creating a family history so Frederick Rivers wife Mary Boatwright morphed into a  female named Sarah Purvis, daughter of Gilbert Purvis.  

Well, Gilbert did have a daughter called Sally that most likely was named Sarah Purvis. The problem here is that she went to Mississippi with her family and when her older brother (Gilbert Johnston Purvis) died he left a stipend for her care. She died there some time after 1836 having never married.¹³



So on iteration #3, Sarah Purvis is now Gilbert Purvis’s sister thus her parents are John Purvis and Sarah Johnston who were married 2 April 1746 in Parish Prince Frederick Winyaw, South Carolina. No proof of this has been found as of today but that doesn't stop the tree copiers on-line from continuing to propagate this myth. ¹⁴

To summarize:
Frederick Rivers was born before 1754. His first son was born 25 February 1776 so he probably married about 1774 or 1775.  His wife is also unknown. She was was born between 1755 & 1765 and died after 1820. The Census shows they had 4 children; 2 sons and 2 daughters. One daughter is unknown. Frederick and his wife died after 1820. 

Frederick F. Rivers and his wife are my 5th Great Grandparents. The search continues to identify my 5th Great Grandmother.







________________________________
[1] 1790 U S Census, St Thomas, Cheraws District, South Carolina, population schedule, St Thomas, Cheraws District, South Carolina, page 373, Household of Fredk. Rivers; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed January 2009); citing National Archives Microfilm M637, Roll 11.
[2] 1800, Second Census of the United States, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield District, South Carolina, page 109, Household of Frederick Rivers; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed January 2000); citing National Archives Microfilm M 32, Roll 47.
[3] 1810 U S Census, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina, page 555, Household of Frederick Rivers; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed February 1976); citing National Archives Microfilm M637, Roll 60.
[4] 1820 Census of the United States, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield County, page 128, Line 21, about mid-page, Frederic Rivers; digital image, Ancestry.com
[5] Right Rev. Alexander Gregg D.D., History of the Old Cheraws (Columbia, South Carolina: The State Company, 1925), page 412.
[6] "Plats for State Land Grants, 1784 - 1868, S108092," SC Department of Archive & History (SCDAH), SCDAH Database Search (http://www.archivesindex.sc.gov/onlinearchives/search.aspx : viewed 11 October 2011), transcription, Frederick Rivers, "Plat for 200 acres," Volume: 0003, Page: 00151.
[7] "Plats for State Land Grants, 1784 - 1868, S108092," SC Department of Archive & History (SCDAH), SCDAH Database Search (http://www.archivesindex.sc.gov/onlinearchives/search.aspx : viewed 11 October 2011), transcription, Frederick Rivers, "Rev War Accounts Audited," Reel: 0125, Frame: 00255.
[8] "Plats for State Land Grants, 1784 - 1868, S108092," SC Department of Archive & History (SCDAH), SCDAH Database Search (http://www.archivesindex.sc.gov/onlinearchives/search.aspx : viewed 11 October 2011), transcription, Frederick Rivers, "Plat for 1000 acres," Volume: 0014, Page: 00112.
[9] Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Cheraw Equity Records, SC Archives, Equity Film, Second Section, Pages 0000-0014, Alex Melton ads Edith Lundy alias Edith Wages, 11 December 1814; SC Archives & History, Columbia, SC.
[10] Caroline Moore, ABSTRACTS OF WILLS OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA 1760-1784 (Columbia SC: R. L. Bryan Company, 1964), page 129.
[11] Harry Alexander Davis, The Davis Family (Davies and David) in Wales and America: genealogy of Morgan David of Pennsylvania (Washington, D.C.: H. A. Davis, 1927), 54.
[12] Ibid.
[13] Hinds County, Mississippi, Will Book 1: page 48, Gilbert Johnson Purvis; Family History Library, Film #878728, Salt Lake City, Utah.
[14] National Society of the Colonial Dames of America, The Register Book of Parish Prince Frederick Winyaw (Baltimore, Maryland: William & Wilkins Company, 1916), page 55.

Amanuensis Monday~Estate Folder #22 - David T. Rivers

Amanuensis Monday is a genealogy blogging theme. It was started by John Newmark who writes the TransylvanianDutch blog.

His definition of Amanuensis is:
Amanuensis: A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.

Today’s subject is Chesterfield County, SC Estate Folder #22, David Rivers, February 1891.¹

David T. Rivers, son of Frederick F. Rivers and Sarah “Siddie" Boatwright, died on 8 February 1891. His lifetime mate, Katherine Eugenia Edgeworth, had passed away almost 18 1/2 years earlier on 28 September 1872. David and Katherine were married about 1844. Together they raised a family of eleven; 5 sons and 6 daughters.

His daughter Siddie Rivers submitted a request for Letters of Administration and was granted Administratorship of the Estate on 12 March 1891. 


State of South Carolina}
County of Chesterfield}
To Hon. H. D. Tiller Judge of Probate for Chesterfield County
The petition of the undersigned respectfully represents to the Court
1^st That David Rivers late of Chesterfield County died intestate on the 8 day of Feb 1891 leaving a small personal Estate amounting to about Seventy five dollars
2^nd That letters of Administration has not [been] issued to any one and that the heirs of Said Estate have mutually agreed for letters of Administrations to be granted to the undersigned wherefore yore Petitioner prays that letters of Administrations be granted unto her in order that the Said Estate may be managed and Settled according to law and yore petitioner will ever pray

D. R Davis, J. C. Cason and A. H. Buchanan were appointed as appraisers for the estate on 7 March 1891. The inventory consisted of 3 pages of items with a total value of $84.97. 
The top three high value items in the estate were:

Mule – $15.70
Wagon – $12.75
Cow – $7.75




Goods worth $1 in 1891 dollars are now worth $26.32; so David’s 1891 Estate is valued at $2236.41 in today dollars.  

I haven’t checked the land records in Chesterfield County but there was no mention of land ownership in his estate file. If David owned any land it was sold or passed on to his sons before death.

The estate was settled and Letters of Dismissal were issued to Siddie Rivers on 19 March 1892.

This estate can be viewed free, on-line at www.FamilySearch.org.







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[1] "South Carolina Probate Records, Files and Loose Papers, 1732-1964," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-19383-21511-22?cc=1911928&wc=MPP5-829:190567401,190561002,190567402,190567403 : accessed 05 Oct 2014), Chesterfield > Probate Court, Estate records > 1865-1927 > Cases 0001-0022 > image 470 of 493.[Probate Folder #22, Images 470-490, 20 pages]

Never Mind the Facts, This is my Family Tree

This is a family tree on Ancestry for which I have deliberately hidden the owner name to avoid embarrassment.

I have pointed out such errors in the past without any resolution so I gave up. I have not contacted the owner of this tree.

I know these lines, they are my family lines, and I have researched them for 37 plus years. Research in Chesterfield County is not easy; but, this owner has deliberately disregarded the original source documents that he/she reference as the source of their data. Thus, the name is this blog reflect those actions.

The first problem here is that Siddy/Siddie Boatwright Rivers, age 65 married Frederick Rivers, age 72, and the 1850 Census cited clearly shows that Frederick is the head of household.

So, why is Isaac Rivers listed as the Husband of Siddie Boatwright Rivers in their tree?

Siddie did marry Frederick Rivers abt 1804. Frederick was born on 3 November 1789 so the birth date listed for Isaac in the tree is the correct birth date for Siddie husband but the husband name is wrong.

Next, If Siddy Boatwright Rivers had a first name it most likely was Sarah and her 1st born daughter was named for her. Frederick and Siddie had a daughter named Sarah that was also called Siddie. The only Laura Boatwright in Chesterfield County was born in 1857.

The tree shows that Isaac and Laura son Frederick was born in 1805. The 1850 census shows that Frederick was age 22 or about 1828.  Frederick and Siddie son Frederick was born in 1828.

Fredrick Rivers, the husband of Siddie Boatwright did die on 31 May 1860. See Find A Grave Memorial# 47259651.

There is no Isaac Rivers married to a Laura in Chesterfield County, South Carolina.

Citing a Frederick Rivers census for a source of data for an Isaac Rivers doesn't make sense.



A portion of my research on Frederick and Siddie:
 
Frederick F. Rivers was born on 3 Nov 1779 in Chesterfield County, South Carolina.^{1 2} He died on 31 May 1860 at the age of 80 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina. He was buried in the Rivers Cemetery in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina. A Memorial has been created for Frederick at www.findagrave.com. ³

Frederick F. Rivers and Siddie Boatwright were married about 1804 in Chesterfield County, South Carolina.^{4 5} Siddie Boatwright, daughter of Lewis Boatwright and Sarah Lundy, was born in Jan 1786 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina. She died on 3 Jul 1861 at the age of 75 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina. She was buried in the Rivers Cemetery in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.

Frederick F. Rivers and Siddie Boatwright had the following children:

1. William M. "Billy" Rivers, born 1805, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.
2. Sarah "Siddie" Rivers was born in 1808 in Chesterfield County, South Carolina.
3. David T. Rivers, born 10 Jun 1810, Chesterfield County, South Carolina.
4. Lewis Rivers, born 6 Nov 1811, Chesterfield County, South Carolina.
5. Eliza Rivers, born abt 1815, Chesterfield County, South Carolina.
6. Frederick F. Rivers was born in 1828 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.
7. Calvin Rivers, born 9 Jan 1831, Chesterfield County, South Carolina.

In closing, I just don't understand what motivates someone to put together such a tree while ignoring the facts in front of them. 




 
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1. James C. Pigg, Chesterfield County Cemetery Survey; Self-Published, 1995, page 1160. Tombstone of Frederick F. Rivers; 3 November 1779–31 March 1860, Rivers Cemetery, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina.
2. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, digital image, (http://www.findagrave.com : Accessed on November 2008); Headstone for Frederick Rivers; (3 November 1779–31 May 1860); Records of the Rivers Cemetery; Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, USA.
3. James C. Pigg, Chesterfield County Cemetery Survey, Self-Published, 1995. Tombstone of Siddie Rivers.
4. James C. Pigg, Chesterfield County Cemetery Survey, Self-Published, 1995. Tombstone of Frederick F. Rivers.
5. Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, digital image, (http://www.findagrave.com : Accessed on November 2008); Headstone for Frederick Rivers; (3 November 1779–31 May 1860); Records of the Rivers Cemetery; Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, USA.