Thomas Rice III Esq. (1728 - 1800)

Born 23 Feb 1728 in Hanover, Colony of Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Jane (Mills) Rice — married 1741 in Hanover County, Virginia

Descendants

Died 13 Apr 1800 at age 72 in Caswell, North Carolina, United States [uncertain]

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Wesley Doughman [send private message], David Shannon [send private message], and Robin Page [send private message]

Biography

This Thomas Rice lived in St. Martin's Parish, Hanover County, Virginia, and was married there about 1750.
The land which he inherited from his father was located in Louisa County, Virginia, and is mentioned in the deeds of that county with his wife, Jane Rice.
He sold his land in 1764 and moved to Orange County, North Carolina where he was Justice of the Peace.
Later he became the first Sheriff of Caswell County
He died in 1800.

Thomas received several pay vouchers for the Revolutionary War. At least some are reimbursement for oats and other produce he supplied for the war effort.

Will

Thomas Rice's will is dated April 13, 1800. A copy of it has been provided by Mrs. B. C. Tompkins. It does not list all of Thomas Rice's children. Mr. Albert Richard Blackwell of Caswell County, North Carolina, a descendant of this family, compiled a listing for Mrs. Tompkins which she in turn has sent to me. The children of Thomas Rice, first Sheriff of Caswell County, North Carolina.

WILL OF THOMAS RICE ^[1]

In the name of God Amen, I Thomas Rice of the county of Caswell, being sick in body, but of perfect mind and memory, do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following.
First, I give and bequeath to my beloved wife, Abigail, the house wherein I now live with one Hundred and Fifty Acres of land to be laid off in or near a square to include said house and improvement to her use and behoof during her natural life, and the remainder of my said tract of land adjoining I give and bequeath to my son, Zeri Rice, also the afore said house and furniture with said hundred fifty acres to him and his heirs forever after my wife's death.
Also, I give to my six children or their heirs, viz, Zeri Rice, George Sims, Robert Blackwell, Lancelot Johnson, Daniel Gwyn and Louest Vannoy, my three negroes, viz Charles, Ben and Lydda, the said Lydda to be valued and have liberty to choose her master. The other two to be sold and all three equally divided among the aforesaid six children or their heirs.
I give unto Margaret Starkey a mare colt named Jewel and one featherbed. Likewise, it is my desire that a small tract of land on the north side of country line where John Payne (Taylor) formerly lived and my ......set of surveying instruments be sold to pay off my debts.
All the remainder of my estate real and personal I give to my beloved wife during her natural life and at her death to be equally divided among her children. But it is my will and desire that each of the children shall have a home and a bed as they come of age or leaves their mother or what other property she can best share to be valued and counted in their dividend.
I constitute and appoint Robert Blackwell and Lancelot Johnson Executors of this my Last Will and Testament revoking all and every former wills by me made. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 13th day of April 1800.

Thomas Rice
Signed, seal and pronounced in presence of us
Thos Slade (illegible)
Zire Guegn (illegible)

Research Notes

Note: Zeruiah Rice Johnston headstone - http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=image&guid=c3b6a6cf-0ee4-4b93-a1aa-911f0d51f22d&tid=33965356&pid=1387

Sources

1. ↑ Will Book 2 Pg 438 - Caswell County, North Carolina, 13 Apr 1800

• https://caswellcountync.org/genealogy/getperson.php?personID=I3695&tree=tree1
• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/158951389/thomas-rice
• North Carolina, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1790-1890 - Ancestry.com, 1999
• "United States Census, 1790," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VJ1N-Z6H : accessed 16 December 2021), Thomas Rice, Caswell, North Carolina, United States; citing p. 82, NARA microfilm publication M637, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 7; FHL microfilm 568,147.
• U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900, Yates Publishing, posted on Ancestry.com 2004
• North Carolina, State Census, 1784-1787, published on Ancestry.com, 2006
• "Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : modified April 21, 2020), entry for Thomas Rice III(PID https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/GQWD-99Z); contributed by various users. PersonID GQWD-99Z Thomas Rice III Link: https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/GQWD-99Z
• "North Carolina Probate Records, 1735-1970," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-JX3J-RX?cc=1867501&wc=32LJ-ZNR%3A169767801%2C170038001 : 21 May 2014), Caswell > Wills, Inventories, Settlements, 1777-1783, Vol. A > image 622 of 642; county courthouses, North Carolina.
• "North Carolina Probate Records, 1735-1970," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S7WF-3QCF-99?cc=1867501&wc=32LR-829%3A169767801%2C169862501 : 21 May 2014), Caswell > Wills, 1777-1963, Vol. 1 > image 137 of 208; county courthouses, North Carolina.
• Record for Nicholas Rice Link: http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=1030&h=240163869358&indiv=try
• Record for Thomas Rice Link: http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=1030&h=46367317665&indiv=try

Acknowledgements

• 22 Apr 2018 - David Shannon created Thomas Rice (1720-abt.1800) (Rice-11822).
• WikiTree profile Rice-2467 created through the import of GerkeFam.ged on Jun 14, 2012 by Matthew Gerke.