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Archiver > KYBELL > 2004-12 > 1103024139


From: Will Wolfman Smith <>
Subject: Re: [KYBELL] BA Wilson Rice
Date: Tue, 14 Dec 2004 05:41:59 -0600
References: <002101c4e089$8c80a900$f55b4ace@wolfman><1102889853.1696.210636126@webmail.messagingengine.com><000701c4e09c$f9083080$ba5c4ace@wolfman><1102896645.9816.210640745@webmail.messagingengine.com><004201c4e0be$62a69970$6101a8c0@KKHOME><BAY7-DAV32F539C993BC33EF65DF21ACAB0@phx.gbl><000501c4e0c9$8a0be460$6f5b4ace@wolfman><001a01c4e0fd$32e9d730$ed9e1b41@Barbara><BAY7-DAV137D75DB66543C665889CACAC0@phx.gbl>


Has any documentation been found concerning BA's step-father John Robert
Rice? All I've ever found on him has been the Militia record where he served
during the War of 1812 with Stephen Rice. Seth Botts, Thomas Botts were also
in that same unit, Claiborne County, TN.

I am also looking for ANY info on a Thomas Rice who may also have been in
that area of Grainger/Claiborne/Hawkins counties in the period between 1793
and 1810. He was in Lee County, VA in 1793 with Abraham Rice, and I think
also Russell and Washington Counties, VA a few years before that.

Thanks,
Will
----- Original Message -----
From: "Connie Hoskins" <>
To: <>
Sent: Monday, December 13, 2004 11:07 PM
Subject: [KYBELL] BA Wilson Rice


> How exciting to read Ella Rae Wilson Coleman's letter! I think she's right
on track concerning BA Wilson Rice. Ella Rae Wilson Coleman's sister,
Florence Roe Wilson Bush told me the little story I posted last night about
their father, Dr Edward Sanders Wilson, Sr calling BA Wilson Rice, "Uncle
Ben". Ella Rae passed away not very long ago and her daughter in CA has her
research. Florence Roe has must have missed the session w/ old Dr Ed Wilson
that Ella Rae and young Dr Ed that Ella Rae discusses in her letter. With
the facts that Ella Rae gives, I have little doubt that BA Wilson Rice is a
brother to Wm Francis Marion Wilson, as she believed. Nothing is actually
proven, though the circumstances are conducive.
>
> Claiborne Co lists a marriage record of Lydia Sanders to a Wilson;
unfortunately, the first name is missing. In addition to the deed Ella Rae
mentions that lists BA's surname as Wilson, there are many deeds in the Bell
Co courthouse with his name recorded as BA Wilson, Benjamin Wilson, and
Benjamin A Wilson. He owned 8,000 acres of land on Straight Creek which he
sold in the 1850's for $60,000. Further, in his biography Florence Roe
Wilson Bush states that Wm Francis Marion Wilson was "born in a part of
Grainger Co TN, which became Claiborne Co". BA Wilson Rice moved back to
Tazewell, Claiborne Co in his later years, and that's where he died. He must
have had a desire to return to his birthplace.
>
> A marriage record exists for Benjamin Wilson and Zelphia McFetridge in
Grainger Co TN. In the archives in Frankfort are records of his divorce
proceedings from his second wife, Zelphia McFetridge. The divorce is in the
name of BA Rice. At some time in the early 1850's, he had his name legally
changed. I asked at the archives if they had a copy of that record, but they
said that they did not. He lived at Locke where the Wilsons lived and is of
the right generation to have been a brother to Wm Francis Marion Wilson. I
believe there was another brother named Isaac Sanders Wilson because he's
listed in BA Wilson Rice's household in one of the censuses, along w/ his
fifteen year old daughter, Lydia Wilson.
>
> I have a picture of BA Wilson Rice showing five generations that appeared
in the Harlan newspaper. The quality isn't wonderful, but his features are
discernable. He was a great landowner, millwright, contractor, and Mason.
His sons were active in civic roles in Bell and Harlan counties by serving
as city clerks, master commissioners, attorneys, and owners of the Rice Bank
in Pineville. He was quite a prolific man and is said to have fathered 20 or
21 children. In the early 1850's, Zelphia McFetridge wasn't happy w/ his
behavior and let it be known in the divorce proceedings. She cited witnesses
who swore to hearing him talk of his sexual escapades and resulting
unhealthy consequences.
>
> Regards, Connie
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Barb Rice
> To:
> Sent: Monday, December 13, 2004 5:19 AM
> Subject: Re: [KYBELL] Rices & John Rice Irwin
>
>
> When I first started researching in Bell County, I visited Holly Fee and
she
> gave me a copy of a letter she had received from a Mrs. Ella Coleman on
> Benjamin Ajax Rice regarding the Sanders/Wilson connection.
>
> If interested, email me personally and I will send it to you.
>
> Barb Rice
>
>
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