Notes for John B. Rice

Notes for John B. Rice

!US Census 1850 (21 October) Tennessee, Decatur Co., 10th District, page 447, lines 2-3: John Rice (b. 1785 - 65 - in TN - Occ: Farmer - Property Value $600) married to Sarah (b. 1788 - 62 - in TN)

John B. Rice served in the War of 1812, in Capt William Neilson’s Company of militia Infantry, East Tennessee Volunteers. He joined 30 Sep 1813, at a rate of $8.00 per month. His wife-to-be’s brother, Walter Brashears, was in the same company. The two men were life-long friends. Later, in Decatur Co, TN, John B. Rice helped Elizabeth (Roberts) Brashears, widow of Walter, to secure her bounty land grants, based on Walter’s service.

John B. Rice and Sarah Brashears lived their early married life in Roane Co, TN, where all of their children were born. In 1830, they were sending their two oldest children, Eliza Jane and Isaac Columbus, to a subscription school run by Master John C. Harvy. For each child, they paid 75 cents per month tuition for twelve months, beginning Jan 4, Ľ in corn, Ľ in pork, Ľ in cotton, and the balance due either in wheat or linen, all delivered to Mr. Harvy’s home.

Between 1831 and 1835, John and Sarah Rice moved to Perry Co, TN, (area now Decatur Co) and lived in the area near Scotts Hill. They bought 100 acres of land in Perry Co. on 19 Jan 1836, 169 acres in Decatur Co on 27 Aug 1846, and 346 acres in Decatur Co on 4 Sep 1846, adjoining their other property. By 1860, John and Sarah owned over 1000 acres of land and owned 8 slaves.

In their family Bible:
"John B. Rice deceased December Thursday morning at 2 o’clock the 5 day, aged 87 years, 2 months and 3 days."
"Sarah Rice deceased May, Saturday night at 10 o’clock, 23 day, 1874, aged
85 years 7 months & 7 days."