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From: "Willie Smith" <>
Subject: [TNDEKALB] Attn: Dee Owsley: Ref:Rice-Owsley
Date: Wed, 13 Dec 2000 16:44:48 -0500


Dee,
THANK YOU! FOR THAT LEAD!!!!! I checked the info you gave me. I could not find any "Owsley" anywhere, but found that they were listed as "Housely", and guess what??? John "Housely" and William Rice were in the Revolutionary War IN MARYLAND! This explains the Adam Dale connection in Claiborne County, as Dale was, himself, a Marylander!!!!
Both John Owsley and William Rice were listed in the Sixth Maryland Regiment, 4th Company, 2nd Battalion of Col. Williams' Regiment, in October 1780. John was listed as "Housely". Other names on that roster which are familiar to me are Henry Davis and Robert Rice. A Robert Rice appears on the 1801 (or 1803?) Jackson County, TN taxlist. This may have been William Rice's brother!
In 1782-1783, we find these two men in the payroll records of 4th Company, 2nd Battalion under Lt. William Adams, and Ensign John D. Carey. That roster includes also William MOORE (Ann Moore also proved William Rice's will in Claiborne County court minutes in 1816), and a Charles HICKEY. Now, I don't know if there's anything to this particular Hickey, but Elijah Hickey (I think he may have been a grandson of John or James Hickey. I'm sure Hickey descendants in DeKalb County will straighten me out on this) was a witness to William B. Rice's will in DeKalb County, TN in 1845 (Will Book A, pages 68,69). An Albert G. Davis proved William's will in 1848. I believe Albert is somehow connected to the Henry Davis family. I'm not sure if the White County Henry Davis is the same as the one on the Maryland Continental Line roster in 1780,though. I suppose it is possible.
I hope that you can provide me with info on these folks while in Loudon County, VA, which borders Maryland.

You referenced the fact that these folks moved to Morgan's District, Wilkes County, N.C. Well, lo and behold. This William Rice is right there in 1790 with Charity "Housely" (John must have died before 1790, and before they moved to Claiborne County, TN), in the sixth company. They're right in the middle of my Gambell's(Gambrell's), Bussell's, Grimes's, Judds, Maynards, etc.... They all must have just picked up and moved into Tennessee together! There are Massey's there too! My Rices are connected with the Massey's (Massa's), Gambrell's, Howell's, Hickey's, and Judds in White and Putnam Counties.

I hope you have some dates on these Owsley's for me, as (I'm crossing my fingers) this just might be my bunch of Rices, and would explain why I've not been able to connect William to the Rice's in Grainger, Hawkins, and Roane Counties.

Thanks for your help! Merry Christmas!
Will and family

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