Sylvanus Rice was born December 25, 1769 in Charlemont, Massachusetts, a son of Sylvanus and Esther Nims Rice. His father Sylvanus, Sr. was a patriot of the Revolutionary War, a Captain of militiamen. His older brother Luther Rice was killed at the storming of West Point in 1782 when Sylvanus was twelve. He came of age at the formation of our country. He was married in Charlemont to Margaret Shurtleff on April 13, 1797. After the War of 1812, in about 1816, Sylvanus and his family left Massachusetts and moved to Virginia settling near French Creek in Lewis County (the part now known as Upshur Co, WV). He and his wife Margaret became active members of the French Creek Presbyterian Church.
In the early 1830's, many of the Yankee settlers in the French Creek area (including Sylvanus) found that the title to their land was defective. Some ended up paying twice for the same land. Others of the family left the area for Edwards Co, Illinois about 1832. Sylvanus and his family were among those who left Virginia and settled in what was called the "Yankeetown" settlement (later known as Bone Gap, Illinois). These Yankee settlers also started the Shiloh Presbyterian Church in the area. This church was later voted to be changed to Trinity Congregational Church. A church structure was built on land that was earlier entered on January 25, 1836 by Joel Gould. By deed of gift he and his wife Electa transferred to Ezra Brooks, Alpheus Rude and Nathan Gould about 1 1/2 acres in the northeast corner of Section 17, Township 1 South, Range 14 West as the site for a church building and cemetery. This was on January 28, 1845. They were the first in the county to build a parsonage adjacent to their church.
Sylvanus farmed for a living. He died May 29, 1847 in his 78th year and was buried in the cemetery adjoining the church. His widow Margaret died in June of 1855 and was buried beside him. Ten years later, in 1865, Joel Gould made another deed of gift including the same tract and another 2 acres for a churchyard, burial ground and parsonage lot. About the same time, David Stanley deeded an acre about a half mile south of the church to trustees for the purpose of a school. The building placed there was known as the Yankeetown schoolhouse. In later years, the church building disappeared and the Yankeetown schoolhouse was most recently the residence of Herman and Lillian Ford (we met this family on a visit in about 1979). The cemetery came to be known also as the "Rice Yard". Upon a visit to the area in 1999, even the schoolhouse was now gone (Herman and Lillian having both passed away). The remains of the cemetery were found overgrown in a wooded area not far back from the main road. Only a run-down barn remains on the site. Many stones have now disappeared, including those of Sylvanus and Margaret Shurtleff Rice, although with much searching, stones were found for two of their children (Cyrus and Sylvanus, Jr. and their wives). In a reading taken by George C. Bassett, Earl Rigg, and Herman and Lillian Ford in May of 1971, they listed the inscription of Sylvanus Rice's tombstone as follows:
Sylvanus Rice born in Mass. Dec 25 1769, died May 29 1847. " Blessed are the dead, which lie in the Lord" Margaret Rice born Nov 10 1775, died June 9, 1855. "Her children arise up and called her blessed"
In the early 1830's, many of the Yankee settlers in the French Creek area (including Sylvanus) found that the title to their land was defective. Some ended up paying twice for the same land. Others of the family left the area for Edwards Co, Illinois about 1832. Sylvanus and his family were among those who left Virginia and settled in what was called the "Yankeetown" settlement (later known as Bone Gap, Illinois). These Yankee settlers also started the Shiloh Presbyterian Church in the area. This church was later voted to be changed to Trinity Congregational Church. A church structure was built on land that was earlier entered on January 25, 1836 by Joel Gould. By deed of gift he and his wife Electa transferred to Ezra Brooks, Alpheus Rude and Nathan Gould about 1 1/2 acres in the northeast corner of Section 17, Township 1 South, Range 14 West as the site for a church building and cemetery. This was on January 28, 1845. They were the first in the county to build a parsonage adjacent to their church.
Sylvanus farmed for a living. He died May 29, 1847 in his 78th year and was buried in the cemetery adjoining the church. His widow Margaret died in June of 1855 and was buried beside him. Ten years later, in 1865, Joel Gould made another deed of gift including the same tract and another 2 acres for a churchyard, burial ground and parsonage lot. About the same time, David Stanley deeded an acre about a half mile south of the church to trustees for the purpose of a school. The building placed there was known as the Yankeetown schoolhouse. In later years, the church building disappeared and the Yankeetown schoolhouse was most recently the residence of Herman and Lillian Ford (we met this family on a visit in about 1979). The cemetery came to be known also as the "Rice Yard". Upon a visit to the area in 1999, even the schoolhouse was now gone (Herman and Lillian having both passed away). The remains of the cemetery were found overgrown in a wooded area not far back from the main road. Only a run-down barn remains on the site. Many stones have now disappeared, including those of Sylvanus and Margaret Shurtleff Rice, although with much searching, stones were found for two of their children (Cyrus and Sylvanus, Jr. and their wives). In a reading taken by George C. Bassett, Earl Rigg, and Herman and Lillian Ford in May of 1971, they listed the inscription of Sylvanus Rice's tombstone as follows:
Sylvanus Rice born in Mass. Dec 25 1769, died May 29 1847. " Blessed are the dead, which lie in the Lord" Margaret Rice born Nov 10 1775, died June 9, 1855. "Her children arise up and called her blessed"
Sylvanus Rice was born December 25, 1769 in Charlemont, Massachusetts, a son of Sylvanus and Esther Nims Rice. His father Sylvanus, Sr. was a patriot of the Revolutionary War, a Captain of militiamen. His older brother Luther Rice was killed at the storming of West Point in 1782 when Sylvanus was twelve. He came of age at the formation of our country. He was married in Charlemont to Margaret Shurtleff on April 13, 1797. After the War of 1812, in about 1816, Sylvanus and his family left Massachusetts and moved to Virginia settling near French Creek in Lewis County (the part now known as Upshur Co, WV). He and his wife Margaret became active members of the French Creek Presbyterian Church.
In the early 1830's, many of the Yankee settlers in the French Creek area (including Sylvanus) found that the title to their land was defective. Some ended up paying twice for the same land. Others of the family left the area for Edwards Co, Illinois about 1832. Sylvanus and his family were among those who left Virginia and settled in what was called the "Yankeetown" settlement (later known as Bone Gap, Illinois). These Yankee settlers also started the Shiloh Presbyterian Church in the area. This church was later voted to be changed to Trinity Congregational Church. A church structure was built on land that was earlier entered on January 25, 1836 by Joel Gould. By deed of gift he and his wife Electa transferred to Ezra Brooks, Alpheus Rude and Nathan Gould about 1 1/2 acres in the northeast corner of Section 17, Township 1 South, Range 14 West as the site for a church building and cemetery. This was on January 28, 1845. They were the first in the county to build a parsonage adjacent to their church.
Sylvanus farmed for a living. He died May 29, 1847 in his 78th year and was buried in the cemetery adjoining the church. His widow Margaret died in June of 1855 and was buried beside him. Ten years later, in 1865, Joel Gould made another deed of gift including the same tract and another 2 acres for a churchyard, burial ground and parsonage lot. About the same time, David Stanley deeded an acre about a half mile south of the church to trustees for the purpose of a school. The building placed there was known as the Yankeetown schoolhouse. In later years, the church building disappeared and the Yankeetown schoolhouse was most recently the residence of Herman and Lillian Ford (we met this family on a visit in about 1979). The cemetery came to be known also as the "Rice Yard". Upon a visit to the area in 1999, even the schoolhouse was now gone (Herman and Lillian having both passed away). The remains of the cemetery were found overgrown in a wooded area not far back from the main road. Only a run-down barn remains on the site. Many stones have now disappeared, including those of Sylvanus and Margaret Shurtleff Rice, although with much searching, stones were found for two of their children (Cyrus and Sylvanus, Jr. and their wives). In a reading taken by George C. Bassett, Earl Rigg, and Herman and Lillian Ford in May of 1971, they listed the inscription of Sylvanus Rice's tombstone as follows:
Sylvanus Rice born in Mass. Dec 25 1769, died May 29 1847. " Blessed are the dead, which lie in the Lord" Margaret Rice born Nov 10 1775, died June 9, 1855. "Her children arise up and called her blessed"
In the early 1830's, many of the Yankee settlers in the French Creek area (including Sylvanus) found that the title to their land was defective. Some ended up paying twice for the same land. Others of the family left the area for Edwards Co, Illinois about 1832. Sylvanus and his family were among those who left Virginia and settled in what was called the "Yankeetown" settlement (later known as Bone Gap, Illinois). These Yankee settlers also started the Shiloh Presbyterian Church in the area. This church was later voted to be changed to Trinity Congregational Church. A church structure was built on land that was earlier entered on January 25, 1836 by Joel Gould. By deed of gift he and his wife Electa transferred to Ezra Brooks, Alpheus Rude and Nathan Gould about 1 1/2 acres in the northeast corner of Section 17, Township 1 South, Range 14 West as the site for a church building and cemetery. This was on January 28, 1845. They were the first in the county to build a parsonage adjacent to their church.
Sylvanus farmed for a living. He died May 29, 1847 in his 78th year and was buried in the cemetery adjoining the church. His widow Margaret died in June of 1855 and was buried beside him. Ten years later, in 1865, Joel Gould made another deed of gift including the same tract and another 2 acres for a churchyard, burial ground and parsonage lot. About the same time, David Stanley deeded an acre about a half mile south of the church to trustees for the purpose of a school. The building placed there was known as the Yankeetown schoolhouse. In later years, the church building disappeared and the Yankeetown schoolhouse was most recently the residence of Herman and Lillian Ford (we met this family on a visit in about 1979). The cemetery came to be known also as the "Rice Yard". Upon a visit to the area in 1999, even the schoolhouse was now gone (Herman and Lillian having both passed away). The remains of the cemetery were found overgrown in a wooded area not far back from the main road. Only a run-down barn remains on the site. Many stones have now disappeared, including those of Sylvanus and Margaret Shurtleff Rice, although with much searching, stones were found for two of their children (Cyrus and Sylvanus, Jr. and their wives). In a reading taken by George C. Bassett, Earl Rigg, and Herman and Lillian Ford in May of 1971, they listed the inscription of Sylvanus Rice's tombstone as follows:
Sylvanus Rice born in Mass. Dec 25 1769, died May 29 1847. " Blessed are the dead, which lie in the Lord" Margaret Rice born Nov 10 1775, died June 9, 1855. "Her children arise up and called her blessed"
Inscription
Sylvanus Rice born in Mass. Dec 25 1769, died May 29 1847. Blessed are the dead, which lie in the Lord. Margaret Rice born Nov 10 1775, died June 9, 1855. Her children arise up and called her blessed.
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