Rives, Benjamin
Summary
Father: Thomas RivesMother: Hannah Bishop
Birth: c1730
Birth Source:
Death: 1790, Greensville County, Virginia
Death Source:
Spouse1: Sarah (Gooodwin?)
Narrative
Children of Benjamin Rives and Sarah:- Benjamin Rives, b. c1756
- Elizabeth Rives, b. c1760, m. David Rosser
- Mary Rives, b. c1765, m. John Jeter Jr.
- Priscilla Rives, b. c1767, m. Michael Ezell
- Sarah Rives, b. c1769, m. William Robinson, Jr.
- Rebecca Rives, b. c1771, m. Edmund Jeter
- Winifred Rives, b. c1773, m. George Norwood
From Reliques of the Rives:
Benjamin Rives was born about 1730 and resided in that part of Brunswick county, Virginia (the lower part), from which Greensville county, Virginia, was formed in 1781, and where he died in 1790. As Benjamin Rives, of Brunswick county, Virginia, he purchased on April 16, 1762, from Simon and Daniel Lunday, 180 acres of land on the southside of the Meherrin river in Brunswick, to which John Peterson, James Parham, Exum Williamson, John Parham, William Parham, Foster x Rives, and Edward x Lunday were witnesses. Suit was brought against him on July 29, 1766, for £5 due by account to Carmichael Scutchello. On June 22, 1771, he bought for £150 from Robert Hicks, of Brunswick county, 11o acres on the southside of the Meherrin river, the witnesses to which were James Wall, Benjamin Chapman, George Wyche, and David Riner. In 1776 he was named one of the executors of the will of his brother, Harmon Rives.
Benjamin Rives was evidently a man of considerable estate for his day, for in 1782, according to the tax lists of Greensville county, he owned three tracts of land of 448, 111, and 95 acres, respectively, or a total of 654 acres, and paid taxes at the same time on no less than 24 slaves, 8 horses, and 53 head of cattle.
From the first court held at Greensville county on February 22, 1781, until November 3, 1783, when the American Army was disbanded, there were claims presented to the Court by those whose property or services had been impressed for the benefit of troops. Among these claims is found the allowance of a payment of £4:7:6 to Benjamin Rives "for 35 days service driving and collecting beaves for the Continental Line."
Benjamin Rives made his will dated November 2, 1790, which was probated in Greensville county, January 27, 1791, as follows:
In the Name of God, Amen, I Benjamin Rieves Senr. of Greensville County do make and ordain this to be my last Will and Testament in manner and form as follows, Vizt. Imprimis —I give to my beloved Wife Sarah Rieves two feather beds and furniture, one Horse the choice of all that I have, six head of Cattle, eighteen head of Hogs between twelve and eighteen months old, five good Ewes, twenty Geese, all my pots and pewter, six setting chairs, thirty-two barrels of Corn, eight bushels of Wheat, seven hundred weight of Good Pork, two bushels of Salt, one Spinning Wheel, one pair of Cotton Cards, one small Walnut Table, one Walnut Chest and one Pine Chest, four hoes and one axe, one Sadle and Bridle, one Meat Tubb, one-third part of my flax, two hundred weight of Seed Cotton, one good plough and plough-hoe, one flax wheel, and one butter pott and Coffee pott, and one tea kettle, cups and saucers. Item. I lend to my beloved Wife Sarah Rieves during her natural life one negro man Ned, one negroe boy named Jim and one negroe Girl named Lid, and after the death of my wife I desire that the above mentioned negroes may be equally divided between all my seven Children, and if e'er a one or more of my Children should die before my wife, I desire that their Children shall have an equal part with the surviving children. Item. I lend unto my beloved wife Sarah Rieves during her natural life my Mansion House, and Plantation whereon I now live, the line is as follows, Beginning at the middle of the Swamp at the Bridge, from thence down the run of the said Swamp to a sweet Gum corner Tree, from thence up Bynum's line to Wommack's line from thence up Wommack's line to Maye's line, and up Mayes's line to Brown's line to a white Oak on the Church Path, from thence down along the said Path to the beginning bridge in the Swamp. Item. I lend to my son Benja. Rieves my Land that lies between the line in the Swamp and Brown's line, and Isham Lundie's and Wm. Lundie's Lines to the butter wood at the fish pond, from thence to corner Sweet Gum on Bynum's line, but if my son Benja. Rieves does not think proper to live on the said Land I have lent him, he shall not have any power to sell or rent it to any one, and immediately after the death of my said wife, I desire that all the Land that I have lent to my son Benjamin Rieves and to my wife may be sold, and the money arising from such sale to be equally divided between my seven Children namely Benjamin, Betty, Mary, Sarah, Rebecca, Priscilla, and Winny and to them and their heirs and assigns. Item. I leave my Tract of Land lying on the south side of Meherrin River, that I purchased of Robert Hicks, to raise money to pay my just debts. Item. I give to my daughter Betty Rosser, one negro boy named Bob, and four pounds ten shillings current money, and to her and her heirs and assigns. Item. I give to my daughter, Mary Jeter one negro boy named Simon, and to her and her heirs and assigns. Item. I give to my daughter Priscilla Ezel one negroe boy named Dick, and to her and her heirs and assigns. Item. I give to my daughter Sarah Rieves one negroe equal to them I give to my other daughters when they had them, one feather bed and furniture and four Pounds ten shillings current money, and to her and her heirs and assigns. Item. I give to my daughter Rebecca Rieves one negroe equal to them I gave to my other daughters when they had them, one feather bed and furniture and four Pounds ten shillings current money to her and her heirs and assigns. Item. I give to my daughter Winney Rieves one negroe equal to them I gave to my other daughters when they had them, one feather bed and furniture and four Pounds ten shillings current money and to her and her heirs and assigns. Item, I desire that all my negroes that is not lent to my wife shall continue on my plantation the ensueing years to make a Crop, also I desire that my Horses and Stock of alr Kinds shall continue together on the plantation the ensueing year, and after the crop is made, I desire that it may be sold, and all my Horses, Stock of all kinds, plantation utensils, and Household and Kitchen furniture that is not given away before, and the money arising from such sale to be applyed towards paying my just debts, and if there be any over I desire that the overplus may be equally divided amongst my six daughters. Item, I leave all the rest of my negroes that is not lent to my wife before to be equally divided between my six daughters Betty, Mary, Sarah, Rebecca, Priscilla, Winney, and if either of them dies without a lawful heir that their part of the above mentioned negroes shall be equally divided amongst the surviving daughters of their heirs and assigns. Item, I leave that Tract I purchased of James Turner and all the rest of my Land that is not lent or devised before to be sold and the money arising from such sale to be equally divided between my seven children, namely Benjamin, Betty, Mary, Sarah, Rebecca, Pricilla, and Winney, and to them and their heirs and assigns. I do also nominate and appoint my son Benja. Rives, Mical Ezel and David Rosser my executors of this my last Will and Testament, revoking and disannulling all other Wills made before in witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal this 2nd day of Nov'r, 1790.
Benjamin x Rieves (L. S.)
Signed and Sealed in presence of
William Lundy
William Wommack
Howell Scharbrough
Mary x Brown
mark
and ordered to be recorded.
At a Court held for Greensville County the 27th day of January, 1791. This will was proved according to Law by the oaths of William Lundy, William Wommack and Howell Scarbrough, witnesses thereto
Test. P. Pelham, CI. Cur
At March Court, 1791, Benj. Rives and Micell Ezell qualified as executors of the estate and on May 23, 1793, a division was made of the slaves of the testator as follows:
In obedience to an Order of Greensville County Court, we John Jeter, Mathew Mayes, Turner Williamson, have proceeded to make partition and division of the Slaves of Benjamin Rives, dec'd among his children in the following manner. To David Rosser and wife one negro man by the name of Phill, and to receive from Edmund Jeter and Wife six Pounds 6/8, and from Sarah Rives three pounds 13/4 and three pounds 13/4 from Winnefred Rives. To John Jeter and wife have allotted one Negro Man by the name of Toby and one Negro Woman called Patience upon his paying unto Miell Ezell three pounds 13/4. To Edmund Jeter & wife have allotted three negroes by names Will, Peter and Nan upon paying to David Rosser six pounds 6/8 and to Miell six shillings and eight pence. To Sarah Rives three negroes, to wit, Hannah and Child and Celie upon her paying unto Miell Ezell three pounds 13/4. To Winnefred Rives have allotted the three following slaves, to wit, Amy and Child and Hall upon her paying unto Miell Ezell three Pounds thirteen shillings and four pence.
Mathew Mayes
Turner Williamson
Joshua Mayes.
Benjamin Rives married Sarah (Goodwin?) who survived her husband and left a will as follows:
In the name of God Amen. I Sarah Reives of Greensville County, Virginia, do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and form as follows (vizt) Imprimis. I give to my daughter Winney Norwood my Sorrel filley, and one feather bed and furniture which said Filley, and bed & furniture she has received. I also give said Winney Norwood after my decease my Walnut Chest to her & her assigns forever. Item, I desire that all the rest and residue of my estate not yet given, shall be sold and the money arising from such sale to be equally divided between my six daughters and Grandson, namely, Betty, Mary, Sarah, Rebecca, Priscilla and Winney, and John Goodwin Reives, to them and their heirs and assigns forever. Item, I also nominate and appoint David Rosser and Miel Ezell my Executors of this my last Will and Testament, revoking all others heretofore made. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal this 13th of January, 1801.
Sarah x Reives (L. S.)
Acknowledged in the presence of
Teste
G. Norwood
Turner Williamson
Betsy Williamson
Greensville County Court, 1804. This Will was proved according to Law by Turner Williamson and Betsy Williamson, Witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded. And on the motion of Miel Ezell one of the Executors therein named who made oath thereto, and with Lewis Dupree and Turner Williamson his securities acknowledged Bond in the penalty of Seven Thousand Dollars with condition as the Law directs Certificate was granted for obtaining a probate thereof in due form.
Teste:
P. Pelham, C. G. C