Hugh Reese
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth Date: 20 Dec 1742 Christening: Death: 12 Dec 1825 1 Burial: in Hugh Rees Family Cem., Wrightsboro, McDuffie Co., Georgia Cause of Death:
Parents
Father: Common Father Reese ( - ) Mother:
Spouses and Children
1. Sarah ( - Bef 19 Nov 1794) Marriage: Children: 1. Dorcas Reese (Abt 1762-After 1830) 2. Mary "Polly" Reese (Abt 1770-After 1840) 3. Nancy Reese (Bef 1775- ) 4. Elizabeth Reese ( -Bef 1823) 5. Benjamin Reese (Bef 1775- ) 6. Jeremiah Reese (1775/1794- ) 7. Harris Reese (Abt 1786- ) 8. William Reese (Bef 1790- ) 9. Hugh Reese (Abt 1790-1860/1870) 10. Thirza Reese (Abt 1790-Between 1840/1850) 11. Moses Reese (Bef 1793- ) 2. *Elizabeth Newsom (22 Feb 1772 - 7 Jan 1848) Marriage: 20 Nov 1794 - Warren Co., Georgia 2 Children: 1. Mahala Reese (Between 1795/1796-1837) 2. Simmons Averitt Reese (Abt 1798- ) 3. Britton C. Reese (Abt 1801-After 1880) 4. Mariah P. Reese (Abt 1804- ) 5. Vincent Reese (1807-1880) 6. Sarah Reese ( -After 1823)
Notes
General:
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.
Isham of the 5 brothers may, or may not be, the same person as the Isham Reese born 8 Aug 1732 in Bristol Parish, Virginia. See notes under Hugh's brother Isham for more details. We know nothing about Hugh's parents apart from what we know about Isham.
CENSUS:
<pre>1820 Columbia Co., Georgia, Capt. Benjamin Watson's District No 9
Hugh Rees 111101 -- 10010; 12 in agriculture, 16 slaves
male female
1 <10 1
1 10-16
1 16-18
1 16-26
26-45 1
1 >45 </pre>
<pre>1830 Columbia Co., Georgia, District No 9
Elizabeth Rees 0000 -- 0001000001; 6 slaves
male female
< 5
5-10
10-15
15-20 1
20-30
30-40
40-50
50-60
60-70
70-80 1 </pre>
The number of slaves may be 30. Her son Vincent Rees is the next entry.
In 1850 Elizabeth Reese (80, Va) is living in Warren Co., Georgia in the household of her stepson Harris Reese.
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 2 Mar 1767 relates to a grant of 75 acres in Craven Co., South Carolina on the Wateree River to Hugh Rees. Another document dated 20 Dec 1772 relates to a grant to Hugh Rees of 150 acres in Craven Co. in the Santee River Swamp. Two other documents in 1775 refer simply to a 150-acre grant in Craven Co. The latter 3 documents may refer to the same grant or to different grants.
Other documents refer to Hugh's brothers Edwin Rees, Isham Rees, Benjamin 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.
DEEDS in CRAVEN CO., SOUTH CAROLINA:
http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/warren/bios/rees854gbs.txt
File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Davis Reese, October 21, 2005:
13 Feb 1777; Hugh Rees sold 75 acres to John Rees Craven Co., Parish of St. Marks. This John Rees and wife Mary Pentecost are mentioned as moving to SC in the Bristol Parish Register. It is likely that Hugh and John were related, but not brothers.
20 Feb 1780; Hugh Rees & Sarah, his wife, of St. Marks Parish, Craven Co. to William Bracey of same; 50 acres and 150 acres "near Dry Swamp, Wateree River"; Signatures: Hugh (LS), Sarah (X); Witnesses: William Rees (LS) and Isham Rees (LS); This shows Hugh and two of his brothers could write.
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.
LAND in WILKES CO., GEORGIA:
"Georgia, Headright and Bounty Land Records, 1783-1909" at familysearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:CK7N-J92M), image 275/415:
State of Georgia
Wilkes County
personally appeared before us Mr. Hugh Reese and being duly sworn declares upon his oath as a Residenter of this State and that Never obtained any Land, upon his headright. Sworn before us 26th apriel 1794 -- and never -- Claimed any Lands, before nor Since the Revolution for him ___ Wife and Seven Children, and Six Negros -- as affors'd. Sworn before us --
as date affore said.--
Wm Downs S J C
Samuel Coleman J P
John Hill J. P.
Wilkes Co., Georgia, "Index to land grants, 1784-1829" at familysearch.org, "Vols. 1-2 1784-1829", film # 227284, image 78/107:
Hugh Rees, 200 acres, Brier Creek, 1785, Book GGG, pg 484
Hugh Rees, 100 acres, Brier Creek, 1785, Book III, pg 6
Hugh Rees, 200 acres, Brier Creek, 1785, Book III, pg 46
Hugh Rees, 100 acres, -----------, 1788, Book PPP, pg 548
According to Wikipedia, Brier Creek rises in Warren County east of Camak and flows southeast to the Savannah River in Screven County, 12 miles east of Sylvania. Warren Co. was formed in December 1793, all or partly from Wilkes Co.
WRIGHTSBORO:
https://hrcga.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/The-Story-of-Wrightsboro.pdf
LAND in WARREN & COLUMBIA COUNTIES, GEORGIA:
In 1786 Hugh's brother Benjamin Rees bought a large tract of 1285 acres on the boundary between Columbia and Warren Counties and probably in both counties. On September 1, 1791 Hugh buys 210 acres of it (Warren, A93). On January 6, 1797 he sells the 210 acres to his son-in-law Jacob Burkhalter (A569). On February 25, 1799 Hugh buys 236 acres out of his brother's large tract (A554), and on February 14, 1801 he buys another 47 acres (B6).
The following deed suggests that Hugh Reese might have been a miller.
On 29 May 1804 Hugh Reese of Warren Co. purchases 4 contiguous tracts in Columbia Co. from Mercer Brown, Junior, containing in all 172 acres, more or less. The first tract of 50 acres on both sides of Maddox's Creek includes a gristmill and a saw mill with the utensils thereunto belonging (Columbia, M368).
The deed records of Columbia and Warren Counties indicate that Hugh Reese bought and sold land in other parts of those counties and also slaves.
WILL:
Columbia Co., Georgia Probate records at familysearch.org, "Wills, 1789-1939", "Wills, Perry - Z 1789-1930", images 79-82/698:
The following will of Hugh Rees, Senr was presented to a court in Columbia Co., Georgia 22 May 1825 by Eliz__ (her X mark) Rees, B. M. Sanders, and Henry Scott.
Georgia Columbia County
In the name of God, amen.
I Hugh Rees being old and infirm of body but of sound mind and disposing memory do constitute and ordain this to be my last will and testament.
First. I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Elizabeth Rees all that tract of land lying on the east side of Maddox's creek which I purchased of Joel Sanders supposed to be about one hundred and forty acres for and during her natural life or widowhood. I also give her during her life or widowhood a negro man and negro woman to be chosen by her out of ____ belonging to my estate at the time of the division thereof hereinafter mentioned. Said tract of land and negroes at her death or future marriage to be equally divided between all the children she may then have living. I also give my sd wife one ____ bridle & saddle, a bedstead & bed & furniture, side board and table -- half dozen chairs -- all my kitchen furniture two cows and calves a sow & pigs & half Dozen ________ -- provisions and plantation tools Sufficient to last her a year -- all the ___ articles to be selected by her at the time of _____ previous to the division of my estate hereinafter named.
2nd I give and bequeath to my son Simmons Averitt Rees the tract of land on which he now lives containing about one hundred and ten acres on the south end of a tract purchased from Joseph Landrum and adjoining Frederick Brown and others.
3rd It is my will and desire that my two sons Britain Rees & Vincent Rees have & enjoy all that tract of land containing two hundred acres lying on middle creek in Warren County adjoining Robert Walton & others, -- & which was deeded to them by Richard Fletcher to be equally divided between them.
4th I give and bequeath to my several children following viz. to Benjamin Rees - Hugh Rees - William Rees Moses Rees - Jeremiah Rees - Thirza Duckworth, Dorcas Burkhalter, Mary Burkhalter, Nancy Rees -- and Sarah Holliman in addition to what they have already received fifty dollars each---. and fifty dollars to be divided among the children of my daughter Elizabeth Brooks deceased.
5th It is my will and desire that the rest & residue of my estate after paying my just debts be kept together till the _____ of January after my son Vincent Rees comes of lawful age for the Support of my wife Elizabeth Rees and her children ___ for the education of sd children according to the discretion of my sd wife, and then to be equally divided among all the children of my sd wife. For the better execution of this my last will and testament I appoint my wife Elizabeth Rees my executrix, and my son in law Henry Scott and B. M. Sanders my executors.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 13th day of November 1823.
Hugh Rees (seal)
Witness
B. M. Sanders
John Reese
Benjamin Adams
Georgia Columbia County
Billington M Sanders one of the witnesses to the within instrument of writing and after being duly sworn deposeth & saith that he saw Hugh Rees the testator sign seal & acknowledge the within instrument to be his last will & testament and that the testator was of sound mind & disposing memory at the time of subscribing the same and that he together with John Rees & Benjamin Adams signed the same as witnesses in the presence of each other & by the request & in the presence of the testator.
B. M. Sanders
Sworn to in open court
May 22nd 1826
S. Crawford clk
CHILDREN:
The children mentioned explicitly in Hugh Rees's will are Btitain Rees, Vincent Rees, Benjamin Rees, Hugh Rees, William Rees, Moses Rees, Jeremiah Rees, Thirza Duckworth, Dorcas Burkhalter, Mary Burkhalter, Nancy Rees, Sarah Holliman, and Elizabeth Brooks, dec'd.
This list is not complete. There is documentary evidence that Mahala and Mariah are daughters of Hugh, but they are not mentioned in the will. Harris Reese is also not mentioned, but in 1850 Hugh's widow (Harris's stepmother) is living with him, and often in the census Harris is living close to Hugh's sons or grandsons. A discordant note is that in the 1850 census Harris is said to have been born in North Carolina.
Mahala's obituary says that she was a daughter of Hugh and Elizabeth Rees of Columbia Co. Henry Scott is named as an executor in Hugh's will, and he is referred to there as "my son in law Henry Scott". Henry Scott was married to Mariah Reese; hence Mariah is Hugh's daughter. Billington M. Sanders is the other executor; he is presumably not a son-in-law since 'son-in-law' in the will is singular, not plural.
WRIGHTSBORO:
https://hrcga.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/The-Story-of-Wrightsboro.pdf
CEMETERY:
See Find-a-Grave Memorial # 73724357 relative to the Hugh Rees Family Cemetery. Click on the name of cemetery.
This cemetery is located near the T-intersection of Knox Rivers Road and Wrightsboro Road. The cemetery is back off in the woods to the west of this intersection. There is a small dirt trail that goes back to the cemetery. It is gated off so you cannot drive back there unless you contact Dudley's Nursery to open the gate for you. If you go straight back along the gravel trail, when it turns to dirt and splits take the middle opening (it is grassy and only has ruts) it veers SLIGHTLY to the right (don't take the right fork). You will see a knoll up ahead of you. When you get to the top of that knoll look to the right and you will see the cemetery just into the woods. This cemetery is not maintained and in poor shape. In 2003 there were three graves with inscribed markers [Hugh Rees, Elizabeth Rees and William H. Rees]. There was another marker that was broken and unreadable. When I went back on 27 Aug 2011 to take photographs of the markers, Elizabeth's marker is now missing. It is possible it is buried but we looked and couldn't find it. Her footstone is still present. There are approx 25 fieldstone markers. This is a large family cemetery.
The GPS coordinates are not exact. I did GPS it when I went out to get photos but I can't get the coordinate back out of my GPS! I simply plotted it on the map which is going to be off. I will fix it if I can figure out how to get my Lat and Long out of this thing.
Of interest is the marker of William H. Rees, son of Vincent and Susan Rees. There are three more children buried at the Rees-Wade-Short Family Cemetery that have matching markers to this one.
Caroline S. P. Rees
03 Apr 1843 - 19 Jul 1844
Joseph T. Rees
24 Feb 1845 - 27 Sep 1846
William S. Rees
18 Dec 1838 - 04 Sep 1840
These graves, along with their father Vincent Rees, are listed on Find-A-Grave in the Rees-Wade-Short Family Cemetery.
1 "Find-a-Grave," Memorial # 73724357.
2
"Familysearch.org," Warren Co., Georgia Vital Records, "Index to marriages, 1794-1835", Film # 005190829, Marriages, pg 1, image 32/581.
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