Amanuensis Monday~Eliza Rivers + Others to John W. Privett Deed

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 Land Deed, Eliza Rivers + Others to John W. Privett 


Transcription:

Eliza Rivers + Others to John W. Privett  Deed

State of South Carolina}
Chesterfield County}
                                 Know all men by these present that we Eliza Rivers, Frederick Rivers, Doc Rivers, Alfred Rivers and Nancy Rivers of the County of Chesterfield and State aforesaid for and in consideration of the sum of Seventy Eight dollars and seventy five cents, to us paid or secured to be paid by John W. Privett of the County + State aforesaid, have granted bargained, sold and released, and by these presents do grant, bargain, sell and release unto the said John W. Privett all that piece parcel or tract of land situate lying and being  in the State and County aforesaid, and bounded  by lands of S. D. Timmons, Kinchen Privett, Michael Davis + others, containing Fifty Two + half acres. Together with all and singular the rights members, hereditaments and appurtenances to the said premises belonging or in any wise incident or appertaining to Have and to Hold all and singular the said premises unto the said John W. Privett his heirs and afsignes forever; and we do hereby bind ourselves to warrant and forever defend all and singular the said premises unto the said John W. Privett his heirs and afsigns against ourselves, our heirs, and all thither persons lawfully claiming or to claim the same or any part thereof. In witnefs, whereof we have hereunto set our hand and seal this the 25th day of Jany A.D. 1871.
Signed Sealed  + delivered}                      Eliza X her mark Rivers {LS}
In the presence of }                                   Fred   Rivers {LS}
G. R. Boatwright}                                     W. D. X his mark Rivers   {LS}
W. A. Davis}                                             A. W. X his mark Rivers   {LS}
                                                                  N. A. X her mark Rivers    {LS}
Pd. W. stamps amounting to
Fifty cents properly canceled
                                        

State of South Carolina}
Chesterfield County}
                 Personally appeared before me G. R. Boatwright and made oath that he saw the within named Eliza Rivers,  Fred Rivers, W. D. Rivers, A. W. Rivers and N. A. Rivers sign seal and as their act and deed deliver the within  Deed and that he and W. A. Davis witnefsed the execution thereof.
Sworn to before me}                                G. R. Boatwright                          
12 July 1871}
T. F. Malloy}
Clk.|
Auditor’s Office}
Chesterfield Co.}
Recorded Dec. 16th, 1871 in Sales Book A, pg 3
                                                 T. L. Weston
                                                 A. C. C.

Recorded Dec. 16th, 1871

Original delv’d to John W. Privett

In this Land Deed, we have the surviving children of John B. Rivers and his wife Eliza Rivers selling 52 1/2 acres to my 2nd Great Grandfather John W. Privett.

John B. Rivers and his wife Eliza Rivers had eleven known children. John B. Rivers died 3 June 1859 leaving Eliza, a widow, with nine children under the age of 21. During the Civil War, Eliza lost 5 of her 8 sons to the war; killed in action or died of disease.

By the time of her death about 1870 the only children surviving are the 5 listed above, William Frederick, Doctor Wesley, Alfred W.; Nancy A. and Eliza Rivers.

The above-named Rivers are my 1st Cousins 5 times removed. John Washington Privett is my 2nd Great Grandfather.





__________________________
[1] Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Deed Book 3: Page 500-501, Eliza Rivers & Others to John Privett Deed; Register of Deeds, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina
NOTE: Blogger does not handle ampersands very well so I have substituted the plus (+) sign; so the + sign = and
NOTE 2: This land deed shows Alfred Rivers middle initial to be a “W”. His tombstone shows his middle initial to be an “L”.

Amanuensis Monday~Calvin and Frederick Rivers Agricultural Lien

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 an Agricultural Lien Executed by Calvin and Frederick Rivers with Graeser & Smith.

Calvin Rivers & Others to Graeser & Smith Lien

The State of South Carolina}
Chesterfield County }
Memorandum of Agreement, made and entered into the Fifteenth day of February in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy between Graeser & Smith of the State aforesaid, of the first part and Calvin Rivers and Frederick Rivers of the second part.
First, the parties of the first part agree with the party of the second part, who is engaged in the cultivation of the soil upon a plantation in Chesterfield County So. Ca., adjoining the lands of Eliza White and others, on Thompson’s Creek to make advances to him during the current year, in manners and provisions(?) to be used and expended in the planting of said plantation and cultivation of the soil, the said advances not to exceed, in all, the sum of One Hundred ($100.00) Dollars.
Second, the party of the second part agrees with the parties of the first part, in consideration of the advances so made, and to be made by them to him, that he will expend and apply the whole of said advances in and upon the planting and cultivation of his plantation in Chesterfield County as above described in which he is now engaged; and for and in consideration of the premises, the said party of the second part, hath given and granted, and by these presents doth give and grant to the said parties of the first part, and to the survivor or survivors of them, and the Executors and Administrators or Assigns of such survivor, a lien on the whole of the marketable crops which shall or may be made this current year upon the land, in the cultivation of which the advances so made by the parties of the first part shall be expended in preference to all other liens, existing or otherwise, to the extent and amount of such advances together with interest thereon at the rate of Twelve (12%) per cent, per annum, in accordance with the provisions of the Act of Afsembly of the Sate, entitled “An Act to secure advances for Agricultural Purposes,” ratified on the twenty fifth day of September eighteen hundred and sixty six, and subject to all the powers, conditions and provisions therein contained.
Third, The party of the second part doth herby mortgage to the party of the first part, as an additional security for the fulfillment of the terms of this Lien, all the mules, horses, cattle and farming implements on said plantation, consisting as follows, Viz: This obligation to be void as soon as the terms of this agreement are complied with.
Fourth. The party of the second part covenants and agrees with the parties of the first part in consideration of the advances, so made, and to be made by them to him, that he will send to them, for sale on commifsion the whole of the cotton crops made on said plantation, and in default thereof, that he will pay to them a commifsion of Five (5) per cent, on the estimated value of every bale of cotton not sent to them for sale, And further, the party of the second part gives the party of the first part a lien on the whole of the marketable crops for said commissions, in the same manner as for the advances previously named.
Fifth. The party of the second part obligates to send to the parties of the first part, sufficient cotton to pay all advances prior to the 15^th November next, and acknowledges all advances made as a debt, without further proof, and further agrees that all sums or balances or advances and debt not paid by 15 November next, shall be entitle to interest at the rate of Loan and –a--half per cent, per month, from that date until paid. In testimony whereof, the parties hereto have here under set their hands, in duplicate, the day and year first above written.
Signed and delivered} W. L. T. Reid & Sons Agnt
In the Presence of }                                                                 s/Calvin Rivers
A. T. Gaillard}                                                                        s/Fred Rivers

{U. S. Stamps amounting to}

[Five cents properly cancelled}

The State of South Carolina}
Chesterfield County}
Personally appeared before me A. T. Gaillard and made oath that he saw the within named W. L. T. Reid & Sons Calvin Rivers & Fred Rivers sign and as their act and deed deliver the within named written Lien and that I witnessed the execution thereof.
Sworn to before me, this Third
Day of March 1870
P. A. Brock, L. W.


After the Civil War times were very tough for everyone in the South. The period between 1865 and 1877 was known as the Reconstruction Era.  After returning from the war, those that did return, found their lands in a very sad state. Their money was useless and ”barter” became a way of life. Those that did have money exacted a “high cost” for those that were able to get a loan and in most cases a “lien” on their assets to enable them to borrow enough to plant and harvest another crop.

The above lien in typical for this time period and almost everyone borrowed money from these “money lenders”. 






_________________________
[1] Land Deed - Calvin and Frederick Rivers to Graeser & Smith, Lien.; 15 February 1870; Deed Book #Book 2; Page(s) 413-415; Register of Deeds; Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, SC; 31 August 2017.

Family Folklore~Separating Facts From Fiction!

My paternal line goes back to a Frederick Rivers, b. bef 1754 and died aft 1820, said to be the son of William Rivers and Temple Dempsey.

No document has been found in my 40 plus years of research that names the parents of Frederick Rivers or the name of his wife. 

Folklore is that William Rivers and Temple Dempsey were the parents of Frederick. This has not been proven. In fact not a single document has been produced for the era (pre-1800) by anyone with the name Temple Dempsey or Temple Rivers mentioned within the document.

In early 2000 this folklore gained some legs when someone published a note on the internet claiming that William Rivers baptism date of 30 November 1718 is recorded in Droxford, Hampshire, England and claimed that Temple Dempsey was from the nearby village of Bramshot, 20 miles away. It also stated that Temple Dempsey was born in 1720.

Most of the above data came from a LDS Church IGI Extraction.

There was a William RIVERS, christened 30 November 1718, Droxford, Hampshire
Father WILLIAM
( Source IGI, Extracted)
Siblings;
THOMAS, 23 November 1712
JOHN, 17 December 1709
WILLIAM, 27 December 1710 ( may have died and other William born c 1718)

But, there is no proof that he migrated to America and that he is the Father of Frederick Rivers.
As a result of all this misinformation I wrote the Hampshire Record Office asking for confirmations. Letter posted here:














The Hampshire Records Office replied that the only William Rivers marriage occurred on:

20 May 1730 William Rivers and Mary Dunce married by banns



At the time of this writing, no one has found a single document that supports the claim that William Rivers and Temple Dempsey are the parents of Frederick Rivers.

No one can prove who Frederick Rivers married. No documents has been found that names his wife.
There was a William Rivers that served in the Cherokee War under Col. George Gabriel Powell whose men were mainly from Cheraw and Georgetown Districts of old Craven County. But, there is no proof connecting this man to Frederick Rivers or the Rivers Family. 















The search continues to determine who Frederick Rivers married and who his parents were.  If you have source documents relative to the marriage and parentage of  Frederick Rivers I would love to see your data and discuss the issue with you.










________________
folk·lore; the traditional beliefs, customs, and stories of a community, passed through the generations by word of mouth.
1. synonyms:
mythology, lore, oral history, tradition, folk tradition;

1. 
   

Wordless Wednesday~Frederick Rivers Signature, 1797

_______________________________________
[1] Land Deed, in 1797 Land Deed - Frederick Rivers to William Rivers, 11 January 1797, privately held by Ann Rivers, [address for private use], North Carolina, 2013. 1797 Land Deed.

Amanuensis Monday~1797 Land Deed between Frederick Rivers and William 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 a 1797 Land Deed between Frederick Rivers and William Rivers.¹



 

Land Deed between Frederick Rivers and William Rivers
Revised & Corrected 22 October 2013
Transcribed by Charlie Purvis
State of South Carolina
This indenture made the eleventh day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety-seven and of the Independence of the United States of North America the twenty first BETWEEN Frederick Rivers of Chesterfield County and state of South Carolina of the one part and William Rivers of the same County and State parties of the other part.

WITNESSETH that the said Frederick Rivers for and in consideration of the sum of Fifty………. Pounds lawful sterling money to him in hand well and truly paid by the said William Rivers the receipt whereof he doth hereby acknowledge and himself to be therewith fully contented satisfied and paid. He the said Frederick Rivers hath Granted bargained sold aliened empraffed conveyed and confirmed and by these presents DOTH grant bargain sell alien empraff conveyance confirm unto the said William Rivers and to his heirs and assigns forever ALL of a certain Plantation parcel or part of a tract of land containing three hundred and fifty acres be the same more or less being part of a tract of two hundred acres of land granted unto the said Frederick Rivers on the second day of January one thousand seven hundred and eighty six and part of a tract of one thousand acres granted unto the said Frederick Rivers on the sixth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty six. Situate and being in Chesterfield County on Abrams Creek and is bound by Gilbert Purvis land Druery Lunday’s land Peter Hays land, Barnebe Wells land John Frantain land and Mark Rivers land being land sold by the said Frederick Rivers to the aforesaid persons out of the aforesaid two tracts or plantations of land. Together with all and singular the Houses out houses yards gardens woods under woods timber and timber trees ways waters and water courses passages privileges profits commodities advantages hereditaments rights members and appurtenances to the said land belonging or in any wise appertaining and the aversion and aversions and remain unto issues and profits thereof and of every part and parcel thereof and all deeds evidences and writings touching or concerning the same TO HAVE AND TO HOLD all and singular the said three hundred and fifty acres of land with the premises and appurtenances thereunto belonging unto the said William Rivers and to his heirs and assigns to the only proper use benefit and behalf of him the said William Rivers and of his heirs and assigns forever and for no other use intent or purpose And the said Frederick Rivers his heirs and assigns doth covenant promise grant and agree to and with the said William Rivers heirs and assigns in manner and form following that is to say that he the said Frederick Rivers stands seizes of a good sure and indefeasible estate of inheritance in fee simple of in and to the aforesaid land and premises and every part and parcel thereof and that he hath good rights and lawful and absolute authority to sell and convey the same and every part and parcel thereof and that free and clear and freely and clearly and sufficiently kept harmless from all and all former and other debts grants bargains sales titles leases executions judgments dower or title of dower or any other encumbrances whatsoever to other changes or determine the same or any part or parcel thereof AND THAT he the said William Rivers and his heirs and assigns shall and lawfully may from time and at all times forever hereafter peaceably and quietly into have hold (sic) use occupy possess and enjoy the aforesaid land and premises and every part and parcel thereof without the suit let trouble hindrance molestation interruption or denial of him the said Frederick Rivers or of his heirs and assigns or any other person or persons whomsoever AND LASTLY that he the said Frederick Rivers and his heirs and assigns the aforesaid tract of three hundred and fifty acres with the premises and appurtenances thereunto belonging unto the said William Rivers and to his heirs assigns against him the said Frederick Rivers and his heirs and assigns and against all person or persons whomsoever claiming or to claim the same shall warrant and forever defend by virtue of these presents In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year first above written.

Signed, sealed and delivered}
In the presence of }
John Johnston }
John Craig }
Memorandum that on the day of the date the within written. Indenture full and peaceable
possession and seizure was made by the within named Frederick Rivers of the land and premises within mentioned to have and to hold to the said William Rivers and to his heirs and assigns forever according to the form and effect of the within written Indenture.
In the presence of }
John Johnston }                                                                 Frederick Rivers
John Craig }
Received the day of the date of the within written Indenture from the within named William Rivers the sum of Fifty ... pounds lawful money being the consideration money within mentioned to be paid by him or Issues received by me.
Witness
John Johnston }
John Craig }
State of South Carolina}
Chesterfield County}
Personally appeared before me Alexander Craig Clerk of the County Court of Chesterfield County John Craig who being dully sworn make plain that he was present and did see the within named Frederick Rivers sign seal and as his act and deed deliver the within Instrument of writing unto the within named William Rivers for the uses and purposes therein contained and that he saw the said Frederick Rivers sign the Memorandum and receipt thereon endorsed and that he saw John Johnston subscribe his name as a witness to the same together with himself.
Sworn before me }
15th day of March 1797}                                               John Craig
Alex. Craig }
Chesterfield County Clerk Office recorder in Book No. 3, Pages 24 to 26 this 16th day of March 1797 and examined by Alex. Craig Clk, C.C.
 
Comments:
This land deed mentions three men - William, Frederick and Mark Rivers - thought to be the sons of William Rivers. We have Frederick, who received three land grants for his service during the Revolutionary War, selling three hundred and fifty (350) acres of land to William Rivers. [a tract of land containing three hundred and fifty acres be the same more or less being part of a tract of two hundred acres of land granted unto the said Frederick Rivers on the second day of January one thousand seven hundred and eighty six and part of a tract of one thousand acres granted unto the said Frederick Rivers on the sixth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty six]. 
 
I first learned about this land deed back in the mid-1980’s when a hand transcribed copy of the Deed came into my possession provided by a very dear departed 2nd Cousin, twice removed. Her presence in my life has been a real blessing since that time.  I took her a copy of the Deed in 2014 during my visit with her and she was thrilled to at last see a copy of the actual Deed.  She passed away this past August a day after my last visit with her.
 
I found a copy of the deed locally through a friend and fellow Chesterfield researcher in the fall of 2013. Just this week, I made contact with another researcher that had a copy of this Deed in her possession.

Almost Wordless Wednesday~Frederick Rivers-Revolutionary War

Frederick Rivers-Revolutionary War

1897 Yearbook

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.

The death date (20 Feb 1820) is in error. No proof has been found that supports this date. 

















______________________________
[1] "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.
[2] DAR Patriot Index, Daughter of the American Revolution
[3] 1897 Charleston Yearbook

Witness to Benjamin Marion Will~Frederick Rivers

I have researched Frederick Rivers and his family for the past 38 years. It has been years since I have found a new document with Frederick Rivers named within the document.
I was thrilled recently to find an 1846 newspaper article about the Marion family that mentioned the name Frederick Rivers.  In a discussion of the Benjamin Marion Will, Frederick Rivers is listed as one of the three witnesses to the Will.

Benjamin Marion is the brother of General Francis Marion, the Swamp Fox. 
 
I know that my 5th Great Grandfather Fredrick Rivers served with the Swamp Fox during the Revolutionary War. But, is this Frederick Rivers my 5th Great Grandfather. The newspaper is a secondary source so I need to run down Benjamin Marion Will and estate file to connect the dots properly.  



The Will of Benjamin Marion, of St. Thomas’, is dated Dec. 7, 1775 and proved Dec. 9, 1776. The Witnesses were Thos. Ashby, Frederick Rivers and Susanna Gignilliat. He must have survived his wife, as she is not mentioned in his Will. Besides her son Peter and Anthony Bonneau, she also had two daughters by her first husband, Esther (who married Jos. Maybank) and Magdalen. Benjamin Marion left daughters only and no sons. The following was his leading testamentary dispositions. To each of his daughters, Ann, Martha, Catherine and Elizabeth, he left specific legacies of £7000 current money of South Carolina, a few negroes, and some furniture; and he directed the rest and residue of his estate to be kept together, until his daughters should be severally portioned, with survivorship between them, on death before marriage or maturity, -the personalty <sic> to be equally divided between them , - and they to be maintained out of his estate, and to have the free use of his lands and negroes until married. He appointed Benjamin Simons and Edward Thomas, and his daughters, when of age, his executors and executrixes. The appraisers of his estate were Robert Quash, Thomas Ashby, Hopson Pinckney, and James Smyth, who, Dec. 24, 1776, appraised his negroes, (98 in number,) and other goods and chattels, as £128,765.10s.; and his stock and choses in action, at £39,768.19s6d,.total £168,534 9s6d., f currency. In the inventory are the following entries, indicative of the prevalence of a duality, if not a plurality, of wives, among the African slaves of that day; ‘Brutus and his two wives, Clay and Peggy.”
The daughters of the testator all married. Ann became the wife of Thomas Roche, of St. Mark’s , on the 31^st December, 1778; Martha, first the wife of Patrick Rochs of St, John’s Berkley, and then of Paul Warley; Catherine, the wife of Thompson Whitehouse, of Charleston, an Englishman, who deserted her and quit the country soon after the revolutionary war; and Elizabeth, the wife of Peter Porcher, St. Stephen’s. All of them died childless, except Elizabeth Porcher, who left three daughters, (Peter, a son, having died in childhood.) Elizabeth Catherine, Marianne and Martha, through whom she is the ancestress of a numerous progeny.
We find on record, in the office of the Registers of Means Conveyances, in Charleston, a deed, dates 20^th January, 1786, in which the four daughters of Benjamin Marion, and their husbands unite n conveying to Hopson Pinckney, of St. Thomas’, 500 acres on Ashley swamp, Berkley county, bounded north-east on land of Samuel King, south-east on land formerly of Benjamin Simons; and 500 acres, bounded north-east on land of Samuel Burcham, south-east and south-west on land of Benjamin Simons, and north-west on land of Samuel King; and also 500 acres. Bounded west on Mr. Ashby’s land, south-east on land not laid out, north-east on land of Samuel Burcham and Mr. Ashby.
As to the part taken by Benjamin Marion in the revolutionary war, we are as uncertain as we were in the case of his brother Gabriel. He, also, died in too early a stage of the war (1777), to have become conspicuous in it. In the journals of the Council of safety, under date, 12^th March 1776, is the following, among other memoranda; James Akeen, (commissioned to be) 1^st Lieut. Capt. Benjamin Marion’s company, Berkley county regiment, --22d Dec., 1775.” This record doubtless relates to Benjamin Marion, of St. Thomas’, (which parish, as well as that of St. John’s , Berkley was included in Berkley county,) the General’s brother. We are confirmed in this opinion by the inspection of another antiquarian treasure, which has recently came within our reach. It is a record of births, deaths, and marriages, most carefully kept, by Col. Isaac Hayes, the martyr of the revolution, who fell a sacrifice to a cruel and vindictive policy, and was executed on Saturday, the 4^th August, 1781. In dates range from 1701 to 1779, and it is not only a great curiosity, but invaluable to the compilers of genealogies or family trees. We learn from the ancient record. We learned from this ancient record, that major Benjamin Marion died on 20^th September, 1778. Corresponding with the date of the death of Benjamin Marion, of St. Thomas’, as inferrible <sic> from the proof of his Will on the 9^th Dec., 1778. It appears, that he was not only a captain in the service, but had actually been promoted to a majority, when death prematurely cut short his military career. But for this conclusive proof, there were two Marions, named Benjamin, who might have been held competitors for these military honors-Benjamin Marion, of St. John’s, Berkley, (son of Benjamin so St. John’s  and cousin of Benjamin, of St. Thomas’) whose Will was proved, June 7^th 1783, and who probably died about that time; and old Benjamin, of St, John’s, himself, the General’s uncle, (who died in 1778) then an octogenarian, -- a first in itself conclusive against his captaincy.
 
_______________________________
[1] The Charleston Courier, Charleston, South Carolina, 29 May 1846, Page 2, column 2 & 3.

Was there two Frederick Rivers in Colonial Cheraw?

Since mid-1976 I have researched the families of Chesterfield County South Carolina focusing on those families that are connected to my direct line. Surnames that I have extensively researched are Rivers, Davis, Brock and Graves others less documented surnames are Previtte, Teal, Eddins and others assorted families.

The document within this blog suggests that there were two Frederick Rivers in Chesterfield County at the end of the Revolutionary War. The document is very interesting and contains a nice story; but, after 38 years of research that is all it is – a nice story.


Transcription of Document:

Mrs Laura Thurman of Cheraw says – my Grandfather told me – Frances Marion said to get together & have a 4th of July celebration in Chesterfield - Thomas Davis who married Nancy Rivers dau of Frederick – old Col Claudius Pegues called the roll – when he had finished he remarked that he had called two Fredk Rivers & asked them to step forward --- the Chesterfield Fredk called Big Fred was about 270 lbs (Uncle David Rivers (Grandson of Fredk)
The other one then said both came from across the water – he asked Big Fred where he came from & Fred answered directly from across the water from England to Charleston – The other Dry Fred (dark & thin) said he was French from near the Swiss border.
My Grandfather Fredk had a brother named Franklin who settled at Beaufort near Charleston. Lester Rivers of Beaufort – now an official…

Comments:
In my researched of Frederick Rivers I have not found a single document that names a wife or children. Frederick and his family is listed in censuses for 1790-1820.
From these 4 census we can reconstruct the family and it consisted of two sons and two daughters.

Snapshot of the reconstructed family is:
1 Male 46+ ----------Frederick Rivers, bef. 1754; d. 1820 -1830
1 Female 21-45+----His Wife (Unknown), b. 1755-1765, d. aft 1820
2 Males 10-15------- William Rivers, b. 25 Feb 1776, d. 7 June 1855
------------------------- Frederick F. Rivers, Jr., b. 3 Nov 1779, d. 31 May 1860
1 Female 16-20 ----- Sarah Rivers, b. 1 Jan 1782, d. July 1871, AR
1 Female 10-15 ----- Unknown at this time, b. 1785-1790

I have many documents on Frederick and nowhere does any show two Frederick Rivers of the same age in Chesterfield County.

Documents I have consists of:

• The 1897 Charleston Yearbook – Fall of Charleston Documentation
• The Patriot Index
• 3 Land  Grants, 1000, 200, 227 acres of land
• 1797 Land Deed (Have image of original land deed)
• Witness to a 1814 Land Deed (image of Deed)
• Witness to WILL of Jacob Waldburger
• Accounts Audited – AA-6452
• Census – 1790-1800-1810-1820
• Greggs History of the Old Cheraws, page 421

No proof has been found for:

• The birth of Frederick Rivers
• The death of Frederick Rivers
• The wife of Frederick Rivers
• The name of his second daughter born between 1785-1790

Nor has any proof been found for two Frederick Rivers of the same age alive during the Civil War.

If Thomas Davis and Claudius Pegues got together for a 4th of July celebration it would have made the news. No reference to such an event has been found.

There is a Frederick Rivers referred to as Dry Freddie. He was born 13 May 1800 to Isaac Rivers, seventeen years after the Revolutionary War ended.

No evidence has been found that suggests that Frederick had a brother named Franklin.

The Roster of South Carolina Patriots in the American Revolution by Bobby G. Moss
Frederick Rivers b.1740, d 20 Feb 1820, m Mary Boatwright
He served in the Militia in the Cheraw  District and was at the fall of Charleston (May 12 1780). A.A. 6425; P.I. ; yearbook 1787

Frederick Rivers b. 1739, d. 1810, m. Sarah Purvis
He served 36 days in the militia during 1782. Patriot Index Supplement ; AA. 6452 ; N650
.
Audited Account AA-6452 is for Frederick Rivers; Audited Account #AA-6425 is not for a Rivers but for John Riggens.  

No proof has been found for two Frederick Rivers living simultaneously in Chesterfield County during the Revolutionary War.














____________________________
[Comments attributed to Mrs. Laura Thurman, undated , were compiled by L. M. Rivers and copied from his archived files, Box 3, Folders 74-75-76, reviewed and copied 18 May 2004.]

Founding Families of South Carolina

In  April 1997, the Columbia Chapter of the South Carolina Genealogical Society launched a project entitled “Founding Families of South Carolina”.The project served a two-fold purpose, 1) fund raising purposes, 2)  to celebrate the 210th anniversary of Statehood by recognizing ancestors who were in South Carolina on or before May 23, 1788 when we were granted statehood.
I participated in this project and submitted my application for qualification of my 4th Great Grandfather Thomas Davis (22 Mar 1760-20 March 1845),  a Revolutionary War Solider. ¹

.

A list of all the Foundling Families can be found here:
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~scccscgs/ffhomepage.htm

Also on the list is my 5th Great Grandfather Frederick Rivers, the father of my 3rd Great Grandmother, Hulda Rivers who married Michael Davis. 

The Columbia Chapter published of a two-part book containing a listing of all the ancestors and connecting families and a copy of the original descent charts submitted by participants to qualify as a “Founding Family”. ²



There are 276 men lists on the Founding Families website and within this book. There is an order form for the book on the Founding Family website listed within this postings. This was a 1997 project, I would suggest sending an e-mail to verify copies are still available if you desire a copy of this book.
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~scccscgs/ffhomepage.htm








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[1]  http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~scccscgs/ffhomepage.htm
[2] Columbia Chapter - SCGS, Founding Families of The State of South Carolina (Columbia, South Carolina: Columbia Chapter - SCGS, November 2000), Alphabetical listing,  Thomas Davis.

Surname Saturday~Frederick Rivers, Wife Unknown

A massive potpourri of data can be found about Frederick Rivers on the internet but there are very few actual source documents available  that documents his life. 

You will find that Frederick supposedly married Sarah Purvis and Mary Boatwright. The fact is that – There is no known source document that names the wife of Frederick Rivers. Therefore, any named wife is just a figment of someone imagination. 

Conversely, Frederick parents are also unknown due to a lack of records. 

Frederick Rivers is listed in the Cheraw/Chesterfield District Census for the years 1790 though 1820.

1790 Census1 Frederick RIVERS, age 16+ 1 Male 16+ (Frederick) 2 Male under 16 2 Females

1800 Census2 Frederick RIVERS, age 46+ 2 Male 16-20 1 Male 46+ (Frederick) 1 Female 10-15 1 Female 16-20 1 Female 21-45 (Wife?)

1810 Census3 Frederick RIVERS, Sr. age 46+ 1 Male 46+ (Frederick) 1 Female 26-45 (wife)

1820 Census4 Frederick RIVERS, Sr. age 45+ 1 Male 0- 10 1 Male 45+ (Frederick, Sr.) 1 Female 45+ (wife)

Based upon Census data Frederick was born sometime before 1754 and died between 1820 and 1830. Looking at these 4 censuses we can see that Frederick Rivers and his wife had 2 sons and 2 daughters. We can identify three of these four children:  William Rivers, born 25 Feb 1776; Frederick F. Rivers, Jr. born 3 November 1779 and  Sarah Rivers, born 1 Jan 1782. The other daughter has not been identified as of this writing.


Thus reconstruction of the family is: 

1 Male 46+ ----------Frederick Rivers, bef. 1754; d. 1820 -1830
1 Female 21-45+----His Wife (Unknown), b. 1755-1765, aft 1820
2 Males 10-15------- William Rivers, b. 25 Feb 1776, d. 7 June 1855
---------------- Frederick F, Rivers, Jr., b. 3 Nov 1779, d. 31 May 1860
1 Female 16-20 ----- Sarah Rivers, b. 1 Jan 1782, d. July 1871
1 Female 10-15 ----- Unknown at this time, b. 1785-1790

There are on-line trees that show Nancy Rivers as Frederick’s daughter but known facts do not support this conclusion. The acceptance of this as factual is based on a affidavit by to by William Rivers, son of Frederick, where he states that “Before me personally appeared William Rivers Sr. a resident of Chesterfield District aged 76 years the 25th last month, who being first duly sworn according to law says that he was intimately and personally acquainted with Thomas and Nancy Davis. Since his first recollection, that he was raised within one fourth of a mile from the said Nancy Davis, then Nancy Rivers, deponents aunt and well recollects the time they were married but was not present at the marriage and to the best of his knowledge and belief would say they were married about the year seventeen hundred and seventy seven or eight (1787 or 1788) that the said Thomas Davis lived the year before he was married with his deponents’ father and has known them as husband and wife ever since…” ⁵

6<sup>6

7</sup>

This statement infers that Nancy Rivers is the sister of William’s father Frederick; definitely, she is not Frederick Rivers daughter.

A timeline of Frederick’s life reveals the few documents found after 38 years of research; of which 25 years were performed on site at the LDS Family History Library in Salt Lake City. 



The lines of the three known children of Frederick Rivers – William, Frederick, Jr. and Sarah - are well documented. The two boys stayed in Chesterfield County; but, Sarah Rivers married John H. Brown and migrated to Georgia, then to Lauderdale, Mississippi where John H. Brown died on 4 September 1855.⁸

After John H. died Sarah Rivers Brown moved to ElDorado, Union County, Arkansas to live with her son, Epps Rivers Brown. Sarah Rivers Brown died about 1871 in Union County, Arkansas. No tombstone have been found for either of them even though John’s probate file directs that his tomb be encased in concrete.
  
If you are a researcher of this family line be very aware of the misinformation available and steer away from it. If you haven't familiarized yourself with the Genealogical Proof Standard (GPS) now would be a good time to take a look at it on the Board of Certified Genealogist website. 

If you read, follow and religiously document your genealogical research to this standard you can avoid these pitfalls. The 5 elements of the GPS are:

• Reasonably exhaustive search
• Complete and accurate citation of sources
• Analysis and correlation of the collected information
• Resolution of conflicting evidence.
• Soundly reasoned, coherently written conclusion.⁹

^{_________________________________________
[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 (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 1999); citing National Archives Microfilm M 32, Roll 47.
[5] Affidavit of William Rivers for Thomas Davis Pension Application, compiled military record (5th Co. Capt. Thomas Hall, Marion's Regt. 1779), Rev. War Pension and Land-Bounty Application Files, (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration), NARA microfilm publication M804, Roll 766.
[6] http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/f/r/a/Margaret-R-Frasier/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-0458.html
[7] http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/RIVERS/1999-10/0941223059
[8] Lauderdale County, Mississippi, Probate Court Estates, Filebox 31: No 253, John H. Brown.
[9] http://www.bcgcertification.org/resources/standard.html}

Treasure Chest Thursday ~ Frederick Rivers, 1797 Land Deed

Today’s posting is a 1797 Land Deed between Frederick Rivers and his brother William Rivers.  My first exposure to the 1797 Land Deed was a handwritten copy belonging to a dear friend and cousin while stationed in Ogden, Utah back in the 1980’s with the Air Force. Later, I found a copy of this deed in a file while doing research on the Rivers.¹ The land deed is 3 pages long (typewritten)  and basically is transferring land from Frederick Rivers to William Rivers. 

Frederick Rivers for the sum of Fifty [50] pounds lawful sterling hereby transfer to William Rivers and his heirs a tract of land consisting of three hundred and Fifty [350] acres it being part of a tract of one thousand acres granted unto the said Frederick Rivers on the sixth day of November in
the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty six. Situate and being in Chesterfield County on Abrams Creek and is bound by Gilbert Purvis land Druery Lunday's land Peter Hays land Barnebe Wells land John Frantain land and Mark Rivers land being land sold by the said Frederick Rivers to the aforesaid persons out of the aforesaid two tracts or plantations of land.

These three Rivers men are believed to be brothers. It is not known who did the transcription of the original deed nor when it took place.



Tip of the Day:
If someone else does a transcription of a deed or document, VERIFY that the transcription is ACCURATE. This hand written transcription had SKIPPED an entire paragraph in the original Deed.

For almost 30 years the location of the original Land Deed was unknown; that is until  last month. The owner of the original Land Deed is now known. A copy of that deed was graciously given to me by the owner.
I have included the top portion of the deed² here:



Over the past 30 years I have many times thought that this deed no longer existed. Oftentimes, I wondered if it ever existed. Those doubt have now been put aside.  Rather than answering question, the deeds has generated questions; questions that may never be answered due to loss of records from this area during the Civil War. 






_________________
[1] Privately held Rivers documents.
[2] Land Deed, in 1797 Land Deed - Frederick Rivers to William Rivers, 11 January 1797, privately held by [name and address for private use], North Carolina, 2013.

Surname Saturday~Rivers

The results are in……… and the myth of the 3 brothers or 5 brothers are just that.

I started my genealogical research journey 37 years ago in October 1976. For 37 years, I have been told that the two Rivers families of Chesterfield County are brothers. Actually, there are several stories of three or fives brothers who came to America.

These stories, myths or family tradition has been passed around from generation to generation. Today, we can put these “old family stories” aside and discard them as they should have been years ago when no proof could be found to substantiate their validity.

Today we have some preliminary DNA evidence that suggests that the progenitor of the Frederick Rivers line and the Isaac Rivers lines, of Chesterfield County, SC, are not related, thus could not be “blood” brothers.


This limited DNA sample of these two lines cast a undefinable probability – that there is no connection between these two lines.

One Frederick Rivers descendant fall into the Haplogroup B which is an African Haplogroup.


One Isaac Rivers descendant fall into the Haplogroup R1b which is a Northern European Haplogroup.


The two charts above  are a small portion of the actual DNA sequence for these two lines. The full charts can be viewed at - http://www.worldfamilies.net/surnames/rivers/results

Keep in mind that the results presented are just a small sample. Additional DNA testing of both lines is necessary to determine if these two samples are a true representation of the two lines. 
Regardless, based on these two samples, we know that these two men (Frederick and Isaac RIVERS) DID NOT have the same birth Father up-line – though they could have been raised as brothers.

Twenty years ago I extracted this information from a file while living in Utah. I think it’s time to revisit this file again. 



The second statement above “There were two sets of Rivers here who were not related” seems to be confirmed by the DNA results for Frederick and Isaac Rivers. 




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[1] http://www.worldfamilies.net/surnames/rivers/results

Spotlight on: Frederick Rivers

Genealogical research in Chesterfield County, South Caroline is extremely hard due to the loss of pre-civil war records. Almost no newspapers have survived this period and very few from the civil War until 1900. This has resulted in a potpourri of genealogical miss-information especially on the internet.  

Today I want to discuss the death of Frederick Rivers. First, I want to state unequivocally there are no tombstone, no estate, and no document that states when Frederick Rivers died.  There are many trees on Ancestry that shows Frederick Rivers died in 1810. 

Ancestry.com Family Tree page

There are two documents that's refutes this information. One is the 1820 Census for Chesterfield County.[1]

1820 Census - Ancestry.com

The other documents that proved that Frederick did not die in 1810 is this land deed witnessed by Frederick on 11 December 1814.[2]

State of South Carolina}

Chesterfield District }                     Know all men by these presents that we Alex Melton Rebecca Melton and Edy Wages of the state and district aforesaid for the consideration of one hundred dollars to us in hand paid by William A. Lang of the state and district aforesaid have granted bargained and released and by these presents  do firmly bargain grant sell and release unto the said William A. Lang a tract or parcel of land lying in the State and district aforesaid it being on the North side of Thomson's Creek on Abrams Creek bounded on the north west by part of the said tract to the South West by John Frantoms land now in the possession of others; it being one hundred acres be the same more or less it being part of a thousand acres tract granted to Frederick Rivers the 7th day of Nov 1786 and convey to Barney Wells and from Wells to Simon Lundy and by the last will and testament of the said Simon Lundy to the aforesaid Alexander Melton, Rebecca Melton & Edy Wages together with all and singular the rights members and appurtenances hereunto belonging to have and to hold all and singular the premises before mentioned unto the said William A. Lang his heirs and assigns forever and we do hereby bind ourselves and our heirs Executors, administrators and assigns to warrant and forever defend all and singular the rights and premises the said William A. Lang his heirs and assigns against ourselves & our heirs and against every person or persons whomsoever claim claiming or to claim the same or any part thereof as witness whereof we have set our hands and seals this the 11th day of December 1814 & c.

                                                                (Signed)               Alex Melton

                                                                                             Rebecca Melton

                                                                                             Edy  X Wages

                                                                                                 Her mark

Signed, sealed &

Delivered in the presence of

Frederick Rivers

Lewis Boatwright

Proved in Common form before Peter Robeson, J. P.

All that is known of Frederick Rivers death is that he died after the census was taken on 2 August 1820.

Be certain that you verify any genealogical information you might find on the internet.There a lot of miss-information all over the web.

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[1] Source Citation: 1820 U S Census; Census Place: , Chesterfield, South Carolina; Page: 128; NARA Roll: M33_119; Image: 263.

[2] Cheraw Equity Records, SC Archives, Columbia, SC.