Rives, Robert

Summary

Father: William Rives
Mother: Elizabeth Foster

Birth: c1722, Prince George County, Virginia
Birth Source: Reliques of the Rives

Death: 1774, Prince George County, Virginia
Death Source: Reliques of the Rives

Spouse1: Elizabeth (Hicks?)

Narrative

Children of Robert Rives and Elizabeth:

1. William Rives, b. c1748
2. Martha Rives, b. c1750
3. Nathaniel Rives, b. c1753
4. Irvin Rives, b. c1755

From Reliques of the Rives:
Robert Rives, was born about 1722 in Prince George county, Virginia, where he was a resident throughout his life and where he died in 1774. He was a member, as his father appears to have been, of Martin’s Brandon Parish; his descent from Col. William Rives being presumed from the approximate date of his birth, his place of residence, and the fact that one of his sons settled in Chester county, South Carolina, along with the three children of Col William Rives' son, George.
Martin's Brandon Parish, of which Robert Rives was a resident, was a very early parish in Charles City county when that county extended across the James river into the region from which Prince George county was formed in 1703. It was enlarged in 1720 by the addition of those parts of Westover Parish and Weynoake Parish which lay south of the James river, and included Old Brandon Church and Old Merchant's Hope. Martin’s Brandon Parish included only the southeastern part of Prince George county, or that part adjacent to Surry county, as Bristol Parish embraced the upper part of Prince George. There is neither a vestry—booknor register of Martin’s Brandon Parish extant; and, as there is no mention to be found of Col. William Rives, father of Robert Rives, in the Bristol Parish Register, it may be presumed that the former was also a member of Brandon Parish.
A happy circumstance has preserved for us a copy of the will of Robert Rives which was probated in Prince George county and, with almost all the wills of that county, destroyed by Union troops in 1865. This will, which is all that remains from the Prince George county records to enlighten us as to the life of Robert Rives, has been preserved as a result of a chancery suit, arising out of the settlement of his estate, which was heard in Greensville county, Virginia, and where a copy of his will was found filed among the chancery papers as follows:

In the name of God Amen. I Robert Rives of the Parish of Brandon in the County of Prince George in reasonable health and of sound mind and memory thanks to almighty God for it but considering the mortality of my body knowing that it is appointed to all men once to die do make and appoint this my last Will and Testament in the manner and form following, first of all I recommend my Soul into the hands of Almighty God who gave it me and my Body to the Earth to be buried in a Christian and decent manner and as to my Worldly Goods that it hath pleased God to bless me in this life with I give and dispose of it in manner and form following.
Amen. I Robert Rives of the Parish of Brandon in the County of Prince George in reasonable health and of sound mind and memory thanks to almighty God for it but considering the mortality of my body knowing that it is appointed to all men once to die do make and appoint this my last Will and Testament in the manner and form following, first of all I recommend my Soul into the hands of Almighty God who gave it me and my Body to the Earth to be buried in a Christian and decent manner and as to my Worldly Goods that it hath pleased God to bless me in this life with I give and dispose of it in manner and form following.
Item. I lend unto my loving wife Eliza. Rives the use of my plantation whereon I now live and my two Negroes Jammy and Hannah during her life of Widowhood. I give unto my said Wife one Negro Girl named Grace to be at her own disposal also I give unto my said Wife six head of Crown Cattle, Ten Hoggs one feather Bed and furniture and one horse.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my Son William Rives one negro Wench Lucy and one negro boy named Arthur to him and his Hairs forever. I give unto my said Son William Rives one Feather Bed and Furniture.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Patty Fox one negro Wench named Sarah being already possessed with her the said Sarah’s increase to her and her Heirs forever.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my son Nathaniel Rives one hundred pounds current money to be raised out of my Estate also one negro fellow named Charles, one negro girl named Jenney and one feather Bed and furniture to him and his Heirs forever.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my son Urvin Rives the lands and plantation whereon I now live and one Negro Boy named David one Negro Boy named Bob and one Negro Girl named Amey to him and his Heirs forever. And my will is that all and every of the residue of my estate be equally divided among my four children hereafter named William Rives, Nathaniel Rives, Urwin Rives and Patty Fox only one Feather Bed and Furniture which I give unto my Son Urwin Rives and I do hereby constitute and appoint my two Sons William Rives and Nathaniel Rives Executors to this my last Will and Testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed My Seal this fourteenth day of April 1772. Signed and Acknowledged in presence
)Robert Rives (SEAL)
John Nugant )
his )
Benjamin X Figg)
mark )
Henry Williams )
At a Court held for Prince George County at the Courthouse on Tuesday the 13th day of September, 1774.
This last will and Testament of Robert Rives deceased was presented into Court by William and Nathaniel Rives the Executors named therein who made oath thereto according to law and being proved by the oaths of John Nugant and Benjamin Figg two of the Witnesses thereto it is by order of the Court truly Recorded and on the motion of the said Executors Certificate is granted them for obtaining a probate of the said Will in due form.
Test
A Carlos D. C.
Copy Teste
John Morison Ci. Cur.

Subjoined to the will is the decree of the chancery court, viz.:

The residuary clause in this will includes two slaves James and Hannah, & Hannah has had issue three children. William Rives, one of the legatees, died after the testator leaving issue a son, Robt. Hix Rives. Urwin Rives died also after the testator, without issue. Neither of them made any disposition of their interest in these slaves. And the question is how they are to be divided by the Extrs. at this day. To which I answer that Patty Fox & Nath. Rives are intitled to a 4th part each. And that Robt. Hix Rives will take the residue as heir at law to both his father William & his uncle Urwin
(Signed) G. Briggs
Sussex Court Apl. 21, 1785.

The foregoing documents bear the endorsement: "Robt. Hix Rives by Nath. Heath &c., vs. Nath. Rives Wm. Fox & wife Patty. Chy."
Robert Rives, it would appear, married Elizabeth Hicks (d. 1774-1785), daughter of Robert Hicks, and his wife Elizabeth Urwin or Irvin, daughter of Nathaniel Irvin (who, with Capt. Robert Hicks, was licensed to trade with the Indians) and his wife, Elizabeth.

Research Notes

Robert appears to have bought some land in 1773 in Sussex County from John Adams. This deed was recorded a second time the same day except with both John Adams and his wife Mary as the grantors in Deed Book E, p132.

Sources

Childs, James Rives. Reliques of the Rives, p309
1773 Deed - John Adams to Robert Rieves - Sussex County, Virginia Deed Book E, p115
1785 Chancery Case - Greensville County, Virginia - Robt Hicks Rives by Nath Heath &c vs Nath Rives - Wm Fox & w Patty - Chy
1772 Will - Robert Rives - included in 1785 Chancery Court Case from Greensville County, Virginia