Rives, Thomas

Summary

Father:
Mother:

Birth: c1772, Virginia
Birth Source: 1850 Census

Death: 31 Jan 1854
Death Source: Equity Case

Spouse1: Harriet E.

Narrative

Children of Thomas Rives:

1. Priscilla Rives, b. c1800, m. Sterling Williamson
2. Harriet Rives, b. c1804, m. Thomas Veale
3. Rebecca Rives, b. c1832, m. Thomas M. Hair
4. Simon J. Rives, b. c1833
5. Judith Rives, b. c1835

The will of Thomas Rives lists the above named children. Based on the ages, it's likely Thomas was married twice. In 1850, the younger children were in his household, specifically, Rebecca (b. c1832), Simon (b. c1833), and Judeth (b. c1835). On the 1840 census, there is a middle aged female living in the household as well, but no corresponding middle aged male. This was probably an error by the census taker.

This individual is variously called Rives, Reives, and Reaves on the census. It's likely his surname was Rives and given his Virginia birthplace, was probably a descendant of the Timothy Rives clan. On the 1810 census, he is called Capt. Thomas Rieves. In 1820, he was living next door to Sterling Williamson. This would indicate a close connection to the family of Timothy Rives who named a son by that name and whose son-in-law was a Sterling Williamson.

This is probably the Thomas Rives who bought some furniture, a cow and a calf at the estate sale of Frederick Entzminger in Richland County in 1808.

In 1843, Thomas "Reves" sold two acres of land in Lexington County to Samuel Lykes. In this deed, Thomas's wife, Harriet E. "Reves" relinquished her right to dower.

Deeds from 1857 reveal that T. M. Hair of Newberry District was the administrator of the Last Will and Testament of Thomas Rives of Lexington District. The deed to Williamson concerns 322 acres of land in Lexington County "except one half acre around the graveyard." In the deed from Williamson to Veale, it states that the land was originally granted to Thomas Rives in 1814. There are two plats for land in Orangeburg District for Thomas Rives from 1814.

Although the Lexington Probate records don't appear to be extant, the will of Thomas Rives was recorded in an equity court case in Newberry County. It was written 16 Jul 1853 and recorded in the case on 22 May 1854. The case beings: "Humbly complaining shew unto your Honors your complainants Harriet E Rives and Simon Rives that Thomas Rives died on the 31st day of January AD 1854..." The will mentions his wife Harriett E. and children Simon Rives, Rebecca Hair, Judith Rives, Priscilla Williamson and Harriet Veale.

Research Notes

This may be the son of Simon Rives. Simon's son Herbert mentions a brother Thomas in his will. That family was in Richland County, which is right next to Lexington County.

Based on the ages of the individuals in the households on the various censuses, it is possible that the apparent deceased son whose family was living with Thomas was the Joseph Reeves living in Orangeburg County (next to Lexington) in 1830.

Sources

1800 Census:  Lexington, Orangeburg District, South Carolina
1810 Census:  Lexington County, South Carolina
1820 Census:  Lexington County, South Carolina
1830 Census:  Lexington County, South Carolina
1840 Census:  Lexington County, South Carolina
1850 Census:  Lexington County, South Carolina

1843 Deed - Thomas Reves to Samuel Lykes - Lexington County, South Carolina Deed Book N, p46
1857 Deeds - T. M. Hair Exr. to Thomas Veale - Lexington County, South Carolina Deed Book T, p472, 473, 474
1857 Deed - T. M. Hair Exr. to Wade Williamson - Lexington County, South Carolina Deed Book T, p474
1857 Deed - Wade Williamson to Thomas Veale - Lexington County, South Carolina Deed Book T, p475

1814 Plat - SC Archives S213192, Vol 43, p495, Item 2 (315 Acres)
1814 Plat - SC Archives S213192, Vol 43, p512 Item 0 (155 Acres)
Richland County, South Carolina Book E, p164
1853 Will - Thomas Rives - Newberry County, South Carolina Equity Bill Box 49, No. 15