Isham Reese

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Husband Isham Reese

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 1801 - Sumter District, South Carolina
         Buried: 

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         Father: Common Father Reese (      -      )
         Mother: 

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       Marriage: This person had no known marriage and no known children

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Wife

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

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Children

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General Notes: Husband - Isham Reese

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PARENTS:

There is clear documentary evidence that five brothers with surname Reese/Rees were in South Carolina in the second half of the 1700s. They were William, Benjamin, Hugh, Edwin, and Isham. Benjamin and Hugh migrated westward to Georgia. The other 3 remained in South Carolina.

The christening records of Bristol Parish in Virginia in the period 1720-1760 show that Hugh and Sarah Reese had 4 children:

Prissilla, born 21 Feb 1729
Isham, born 8 Aug 1732
Sarah, born 10 Oct 1735
James, born 29 Aug 1741

Using historical records, we can identify at least 5 Isham Reeses who lived in Virginia or nearby states in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

1) Isham Reese born 8 Aug 1732 in Bristol Parish
2) Isham Reese in the Dinwiddie Co. personal property tax lists from 1782 until 1794
3) Isham Reese in the Brunswick Co., Virginia personal property tax lists from 1782 until 1801
4) Isham Reese who received a land grant in South Carolina in 1770 and who died in South Carolina in 1801
5) Isham Reese who died in Jones Co., Georgia in 1816

There is evidence that 2) and 5) are the same person. 3) and 4) cannot be the same person, so 1), 3), and 4) are at least two separate persons.

Isham born in 1732 might be the same Isham who died in South Carolina in 1801. However, none of the 4 other brothers appear in the christening records. Dinwiddie Co., formed in 1752, is in the area served by Bristol Parish. It is a burned county, and there is a dearth of early records. However, tax lists exist from 1782 onward. A large number of Reeses are in the tax lists in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, including Isham and Capt. Hugh Reese (1782-1790).

Hugh and Isham are not rare names, but they are not ubiquitous like William and James. That the two name occur together in the Dinwiddie Co. area of Virginia and in South Carolina suggests, but does not prove, that the South Carolina brothers came from Dinwiddie Co., Virginia. Due to the paucity of early records, it will probably be impossible to establish with certainty who their parents were.

LAND in CRAVEN CO., SOUTH CAROLINA:

Summaries of documents relating to land grants and early land transactions in South Carolina can be seen at http://www.archivesindex.sc.gov/.

A document dated 26 Jan 1770 relates to a grant to Isham Rees of 100 acres on the Santee River in Craven Co., South Carolina. Other documents refer to Isham Rees as an owner of adjacent property.

Other documents refer to Isham's brothers Edwin Rees, Benjamin Rees, Hugh Rees, and William Rees.

According to Wikipedia, Craven Co., South Carolina was one of the 3 original counties established by the Lords Proprietor of the English colony of Carolana in 1682. The original Craven County's lands now lie in parts of Berkeley, Charleston, Georgetown, and Williamsburg counties. The Santee River drains a substantial part of South Carolina and enters the Atlantic Ocean at Charleston. It is formed by the confluence of the Wateree River and the Congaree River about 140 miles NW of Charleston.

BROTHERS:

The will of Isham Rees establishes that William, Benjamin, Hugh, Isham, and Edwin are brothers. Edwin's will names his brothers Hugh and Isham as executors. Isham's will indicates that he had no wife or children (at least at the time of his death).

CENSUS:

<pre>1790 Claremont District, South Carolina
Isham Reesse 122; 3 slaves
males >= 16 1
males < 16 2
females 2 </pre>

He is in the sequence Wm Reesse, Isham Reesse, Huberd Reese, Scarbro Reese, 38x, Thomas Reesse.

<pre>1800 Sumter District, South Carolina, Claremont
Isham Reese 00001 -- 00001; 13 slaves
male female
<10
10-15
16-25
26-44
1 >45 1 </pre>

He is in the sequence Hubert Reese, 7x, William Reese, 64x, Scarborough Reese, 16x, Isham Reese.

WILLS:

The following two handwritten wills are slightly different. In the first one italics are used for lines that cannot be read in the handwritten will because of tape used for repair and have been replaced by the wording in a typescript at http://www.archivesindex.sc.gov/.

"South Carolina, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1670-1980" at ancestry.com:
Sumter > Estate Records, Bundles 79-82, 1784-1960; image 299/447:

In the [name] of God Amen
I Isham Rees of the State of South Carolina Sumter District, being in a low state of health, but of sound mind and Memory but Calling to mind the Mortality of all men, do make this my last Will and Testament, after the payment of all my Just debts, and the discharge of my funeral Expenses which I wish to be done in a decent and Christian like manner, and also a Tombston to be affixed over my grave, I Will that my Estate both Real and Personal be disposed of in the following manner,
Imprimus; I give to my Sisterinlaw Mary Rees, Wife of brother William, fifty dollars, also all my Stock of Poultry-
Item I give to my Niece Sarah, Daughter of my Brother Edwin Rees Dec'd two hundred dollars.
Item I give to my nephew William J. Rees the plantation whereon I now live with all my Household and kitchen Furniture. also a Negro Man Named Gilbert.
Item I give to my Nephew Hugh, son of my Brother Hugh Rees my young bay Gelding with one eye. also my new saddle & bridle
Item after paying off the above Legacyes I give the whole of the remainder of my Estate, both Real and Person Equally Equally to my three Nephews, Namely, William J. Rees, Son of William, Benjamin Rees, son of Hugh, and Richey Rees, son of Benjamin. Consisting of a Plantation Situate in the Swamp, Containing four hundred Acres my stock of Horses, Cattle, and hogs and twelve negroes with all their future Issue, Namely Fill and his Wife Sarah, and their Children, Nancy, Dorcas and Edmond Hanah and her children Daphnay, Lucy, Elsey, and her young Child a Daughter. Sam and Sigh Men.
My Will and desire is that the above property given to my said three Nephews William Benjamin and Richey, be divided in the following manner (To Wit) that a fair Valuation be made of the said property by William Bracey, Tolefaro James James, and Huberd Rees and that my Nephew William if he Chuses shall have the whole at such valuation and he shall pay to his Cosens Benjamin and Richey their proportion in Money on or before th first day of January one thousand eight hundred and three and in Case it should so happen that my said nephew William should not take the above mentioned land, negroes, Horses Cattle and Hogs as above; my Brother William may take them at such Valuation on his paying my three three Nephews the Amount of said Valuation on the date above mentioned. But should my Brother and Nephew both decline taking the whole of my property as above, it must in that event be sold to the best Advantage but each family of Negros must be Sold together, to one Person, as my Will and desire is, that my Negroes shall not be seperated from their own family by any means whatever.
Lastly I do give and bequeath all and [every] part and parcel of my said Estate both Real and Personal not herein before mentioned to my said three nephews, William Benjamin, and Richey, Equally and also that my Negro Girl Dorcos Daughter of Fill and Sarah, be set free at the age of thirty years which will be in the year of Our Lord One Thousand Eight hundred and twenty five, And that the same be announced on the day and place of the Valuation of my Estate as above
Provided that in case of refusal or other wise of Either of the persons named to value my Estate as above mentioned my Will is in that event that others shall be chosen by my said three Nephews whom it mostly concerns to make such Valuation. all my ready Money ____ disposed of in the same manner and to my said three nephews above mentioned as my other property is to be
Made and done at the Warm Springs, in North Carolina on the Sixth day of August in the year of Our Lord one Thousand Eight hundred and one
Isham Rees (Seal)
Signed Seeled and
Acknowledged in presence of
W. Wright Jun'r
James Scott
H. Rees

I do appoint my Nephew William J. Rees and my friend Talefairo James my Executors to this my last Will and Testament.

a Statement of ready Money I have with me at this date.
Three hundred dollar Bills. $300
one Twenty dollar Ditto. 20
in Specie 100
$420

The will was proved by the oath of Hubert Rees November 17, 1801.


Probate records of Sumter Co., South Carolina at familysearch.org, "Will book, vol. A-AA, 1800-1822", film # 355728; Book A, page 16, image 23/366:

In the Name of God Amen
I Isham Rees of the State of South Carolina Sumter District being in a low state of Health But of sound mind and memory but calling to mind the mortality of all man, do make this my Last Will and Testament after the payment of all my Just Debts, and the Discharge of my funeral Expenses, which I wish to be done in a decent and christian like manner and also a Tombstone to be affixed over my Grave, I will that my Estate Both Real and personal be disposed of in the following manner (Imprimus, I give to my Sister in law Mary Rees, Wife of my Brother William, Fifty Dollars, also all my Stock of Poultry (Item) I give to my Neice Sarah Daughter of my brother Edwin Rees, Deceased two Hundred Dollars (Item) I give to my Nephew William J Rees the plantation whereon I no[w] live with all my household and Kitchen Furniture also a Negro man Named Gilbert (Item) I give to my Nephew Hugh Son of my Brother Hugh Rees my young Bay Gelding with one Eye also my New Saddle & Bridle (Item) after paying of the above Legacees I give the whole of Remainder of my Estate, Both Real and personal equally to my three Nephews, Namely, William J Rees, son of William, Benjamin Rees, son of Hugh, and Rechey Rees, son of Benjamin, Consisting of a plantation Situate in the Swamp containing four Hundred acres my stock of horses Cattle and Hogs, and twelve Negroes with all there Future Issue Namely, Fill and his Wife Sarah, and their children Nancy Dorcas and Edmond, Hannah and her children Daphnay Lucey Elsey and her young child a Daughter, Sawen and Sigh Mew, My Will and desire is that the above property given to my Said three Nephews William Benjamin and Richey, be Divided in the following manner To Wit, that a fair Valuation be made of the said property by William Bracey, Tolefero James, James, and Hubert Rees and that my Nephew William if he chuses shall have the whole at such Valuation and he shall pay to his Cousins Benjamin and Richey their proportion in money on or before the first Day of January one thousand eight Hundred and three and in Case it should Happen that my Said Nephew William should not take the above mentioned land Negroes Horses, Cattle and Hogs as above my Brother William May take them at such Valuation on his paying my three Nephews the amount of Said Valuation on the date above mentioned, But should my Brother and Nephew both decline taking the whole of my property as above, it must in that Case be sold to the best advantage, but each family of Negroes must be Sold together to one person as my Will and Desire is, that my Negroes shall not be Seperated from their own Family by any means whatever Lastly I do give and Bequeath all and every part and parcel of my Said Estate both Real and Personal not herein before mentioned to my Said three Nephews William, Benjamin, and Richey, Equally and also that my Negro Girl Dorcas, Daughter of Fill and Sarah be Set free at the age of Thirty years which will be in the year of our Lord one thousand eight Hundred and twenty Five and that the same be annexed on the day and place of the Valuation of my Estate as above provided that in case of Refusal or other wise of either of the persons named to Value my Estate as above mentioned, my will is in that event that others shall be chosen by my Said three Nephews whom it mostly concerns to make such Valuation, all my Ready money to be Disposed of in the same manner and to my Said three Nephews, above mentioned as my other property is to be -----
Made and done at the Warm Springs in North Carolina on the Sixth day of august in the year of our Lord one thousand eight Hundred and one -----
Isham Rees (Seal)
Signed Sealed and acknowledged
in presents of
Wm Wright Jun'r
James Scott
H Rees

I do appoint my Nephew William J Rees and my Friend Tolefero James my Executors to this my last Will and Testament --- Statement of Ready money I have with me at this date.
three hundred Dollar Bills, one Twenty Dollar Ditto --$320
In Specia 100
$420

Proven by the oath of Hubert Rees, one of the subscribing Witnesses and at the same time William J Rees was Duly Qualified as an Executor to said Will -- Done before me in the Court of ordinary this 17th of November 1801 ------
William Taylor

DEATH PLACE:

Isham signed his will August 6, 1801 at the Warm Springs in North Carolina. He lived in South Carolina, and the will was proved November 17, 1801 in Sumter Co., South Carolina. We don't know why he was in North Carolina, but in the 19th century hot mineral water from natural springs was thought to be healthful and restorative. We don't know where he died.