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Genealogy: Finding Your Folks

Dr. John Rivers and Sarah Hunt Rivers, Part 1

By Judy Fowler Kilgore

This week’s Bethany family genealogy was researched jointly by Mary M. Harper of Florida (Maryharper@cfl.rr.com) and Tom Howle of Fayetteville (thowle@mindspring.com). Unfortunately, the story is too long for just one installment. But, because I don’t want to leave out any detail that may help other researchers, I will divide it into two parts.

John and Sarah Hunt Rivers had 13 children, but not all of them are buried at Bethany. In fact, not all of them even remained in Georgia. I will give information on some this week and some next week.

The two main sources of information which prove the children of this couple are a Bible record and a deed from Pike County naming the heirs of John Rivers. This deed was signed after John’s untimely death by the children who relinquished claim to his land and property. There is a question about Martha Rivers, child no. 3, whose name does not appear in the Bible record, but family members have attached her to Thomas Foster whose name was on the deed. Neither the owner nor the location of the Bible today is known.

Other sources included: Bethany cemetery headstones; Carol King Garrett family group sheet; Family Puzzlers #647, March 11, 1980, “Robert Rivers Bible Record,” copied about 1952 by Mrs. Leonard (Dorothy) Yoder from the original Bible in the possession of Tabitha Adeline Rivers Blackman; Kirkpatrick, W. E., manuscript, p. 99-101; partition deed, Deed Book H, Page 194, dated Nov. 13, 1847, Pike County, Ga.; and the will of Judkins Hunt, Bk. F, pp 177-179, Hancock Co., Ga., probated Jan. 5, 1818.

The children of John and Sarah Hunt Rivers included Mary, Thomas, Martha, Joel, John, Robert Augustus, Elizabeth (Betsy) Green, William Judkins, Nancy Couls, Sarah, James Hunt, Caroline Turner, and Rebecca Ann Franklin. I’ll let Mary take the story from here. She writes:

“One of the earliest graves in Bethany Cemetery is that of Sarah Rivers who died on 30 Jan. 1859. Her grave is marked by a small broken stone.

“Sarah (Hunt) Rivers was born 3 Dec. 1777, in Sussex County, Va., the daughter of Judkins Hunt, Sr. and Martha Batte. She moved with her family to Hancock County, Ga. around 1787 and married Dr. John Rivers about 1796, probably in Hancock County.

“Dr. John Rivers was born 25 August 1775 in Virginia, the son of Thomas Rivers and Mary Jones. He became a medical doctor, probably after having received only a limited medical education. As with many doctors of his time, he only worked part-time at his profession, sharing time with his other pursuits such as farming, religion, teaching, politics and other civic activities.

“They began their marriage in Hancock County and in 1809 moved to Jasper County. John Rivers served as Ordinary of Jasper County from 1815 until at least 1820. At the time of the 1820 census he had 11 children. Two more would be born later.

“About 1825 when Dr. Rivers purchased land in Pike County, he left his family in Jasper County while he constructed a house. He died suddenly on 5 Jan. 1826 while in Pike County. An inventory and an appraisal of his estate were filed in Jasper County. In 1827 his property was deeded to his oldest son, Thomas. At that time Sarah moved with her children who were still at home to Pike County. She never married again.

“On 13 Nov. 1847, a partition deed was made, selling the 202-1/2 acres of land with a framed house and grist mill in Pike County. Those listed in the body of and signing the deed were: Sarah Rivers (widow); sons, Joel, Thomas, Robert and James Rivers, as well as sons-in-law Henry F. Jackson, Thomas Holsey, Edward C. Bustin and John C. Horton. Probably because they were either not living in the area or were deceased, Joel Rivers signed the deed on behalf of his brothers John Rivers and William J. Rivers (deceased) and brothers-in-law Thomas A. Foster, Wilkins Harper and Edmond J. Horton.

“In the 1850 Census Sarah (Hunt) Rivers was living with her daughter Nancy (Rivers) Holsey and husband Thomas Holsey in Pike County. She later moved to Fayette County.

“Dr. John and Sarah (Hunt) Rivers had the following children:

“1. Mary Rivers born 28 Sept. 1797, married 5 May 1816 Wilkins Harper in Jasper Co., Ga. Moved to Mississippi. They had nine known children: John W.; Sarah A.; Martha; William; Thomas R.; Female child; Robert; Joseph; and James. (Bible record, partition deed.)

“2. Thomas Rivers, born 9 May 1800, married Nancy B. Coggins on 12 Nov. 1840 in Pike County. He died 10 Feb. 1873. They had four known children: Sarah E.; Martha C. who m. J. P. Martin; Henry Thomas m. (1) Exer J. Unknown and (2) Mrs. Rebecca Adeline Harper Ellington; and James M. m. Shady A. Ellis. Thomas Rivers inherited his father’s land in Jasper County. Lived in Fayette County in 1850 Census. (Bible record, partition deed.)

“3. Martha Rivers, born 14 March 1802, married Thomas A. Foster on 23 Dec. 1824 in Jasper County. (not in Bible record, on partition deed.)

“4. Joel Rivers, born 13 Feb. 1804, married 1 Oct. 1839 Rebecca B. Harper in Pike County. He died 23 May 1870. He and his wife had seven children: Susan Harriet married Josiah Ellington (bur. Bethany Cemetery); Henry Sanford married Jane Rebecca Milam (bur. Bethany Cemetery); Sarah Margaret; James William married (1) his cousin Emily Jane Harper (bur. Bethany Cemetery) and (2) Caroline Matilda Thayer Milam (bur Bethany Cemetery); Lavinia Leah; John Matthew; and Robert Franklin. (Bible record, partition deed.)”

We will stop here and continue with the rest of the Rivers children next week. My thanks to both Mary and Tom for this informative story.

I welcome all letters and e-mails about genealogy and info on south metro Atlanta families. Send them to The Citizen, P.O. Drawer 1719, Fayetteville, GA 30214; e-mail jkilgore@thecitizennews.com or jodiek444@aol.com. Any letters and/or e-mails I receive are subject to being used in the column.

Until next week, happy hunting!