_John Morgan REA ____+
| (1734 - 1767) m 1755
_David Farmer REA ___|
| (1757 - 1839) m 1779|
| |_Martha TOMBERLIN ___
| (1737 - 1811) m 1755
_David REA __________|
| (1791 - 1834) m 1814|
| | _Joseph BERRYHILL ___
| | | (1734 - 1781) m 1763
| |_Mary BERRYHILL _____|
| m 1779 |
| |_Hannah (BERRYHILL) _
| (.... - 1790) m 1763
|
|--Eleanor REA
|
| _Michael STINSON ____
| | (1713 - 1776)
| _John STINSON _______|
| | (1757 - 1837) m 1782|
| | |_Ann (STINSON) ______
| | (1723 - 1778)
|_Jane STINSON _______|
(1793 - 1842) m 1814|
| _____________________
| |
|_Eleanor (STINSON) __|
(1760 - 1833) m 1782|
|_____________________
_David Farmer REA ___+
| (1757 - 1839) m 1779
_David REA __________|
| (1791 - 1834) m 1814|
| |_Mary BERRYHILL _____+
| m 1779
_Jonathan E. REA ________|
| (1820 - 1904) m 1855 |
| | _John STINSON _______+
| | | (1757 - 1837) m 1782
| |_Jane STINSON _______|
| (1793 - 1842) m 1814|
| |_Eleanor (STINSON) __
| (1760 - 1833) m 1782
|
|--Eleanor B. REA
| (1862 - 1886)
| _Jeffrey HILDRETH ___+
| | (1767 - 1820) m 1785
| _Jesse HILDRETH _____|
| | (1796 - 1859) m 1817|
| | |_Lilly BOWEN ________+
| | (1766 - 1800) m 1785
|_Agnes Matilda HILDRETH _|
(1836 - 1864) m 1855 |
| _Thomas TALBOTT _____
| | (.... - 1832)
|_Mary Ann TALBOTT ___|
(1800 - 1884) m 1817|
|_Susan (TALBOTT) ____
(.... - 1832)
Named in father's will.
_Willam REA _________
|
_John Morgan REA ____|
| (1734 - 1767) m 1755|
| |_Mary STRAIN ________
|
_David Farmer REA ___|
| (1757 - 1839) m 1779|
| | _____________________
| | |
| |_Martha TOMBERLIN ___|
| (1737 - 1811) m 1755|
| |_____________________
|
|
|--Elizabeth REA
|
| _____________________
| |
| _Joseph BERRYHILL ___|
| | (1734 - 1781) m 1763|
| | |_____________________
| |
|_Mary BERRYHILL _____|
m 1779 |
| _____________________
| |
|_Hannah (BERRYHILL) _|
(.... - 1790) m 1763|
|_____________________
Named in father's will.
_Willam REA _________
|
_John Morgan REA ____|
| (1734 - 1767) m 1755|
| |_Mary STRAIN ________
|
_David Farmer REA ___|
| (1757 - 1839) m 1779|
| | _____________________
| | |
| |_Martha TOMBERLIN ___|
| (1737 - 1811) m 1755|
| |_____________________
|
|
|--Hannah REA
|
| _____________________
| |
| _Joseph BERRYHILL ___|
| | (1734 - 1781) m 1763|
| | |_____________________
| |
|_Mary BERRYHILL _____|
m 1779 |
| _____________________
| |
|_Hannah (BERRYHILL) _|
(.... - 1790) m 1763|
|_____________________
_John Morgan REA ____+
| (1734 - 1767) m 1755
_David Farmer REA ___|
| (1757 - 1839) m 1779|
| |_Martha TOMBERLIN ___
| (1737 - 1811) m 1755
_David REA __________|
| (1791 - 1834) m 1814|
| | _Joseph BERRYHILL ___
| | | (1734 - 1781) m 1763
| |_Mary BERRYHILL _____|
| m 1779 |
| |_Hannah (BERRYHILL) _
| (.... - 1790) m 1763
|
|--Isabella Caroline REA
|
| _Michael STINSON ____
| | (1713 - 1776)
| _John STINSON _______|
| | (1757 - 1837) m 1782|
| | |_Ann (STINSON) ______
| | (1723 - 1778)
|_Jane STINSON _______|
(1793 - 1842) m 1814|
| _____________________
| |
|_Eleanor (STINSON) __|
(1760 - 1833) m 1782|
|_____________________
Will, dtd 13 Jul 1839, states that sons, John, David and James are deceased.
_Willam REA _________
|
_John Morgan REA ____|
| (1734 - 1767) m 1755|
| |_Mary STRAIN ________
|
_David Farmer REA ___|
| (1757 - 1839) m 1779|
| | _____________________
| | |
| |_Martha TOMBERLIN ___|
| (1737 - 1811) m 1755|
| |_____________________
|
|
|--James REA
| (.... - 1839)
| _____________________
| |
| _Joseph BERRYHILL ___|
| | (1734 - 1781) m 1763|
| | |_____________________
| |
|_Mary BERRYHILL _____|
m 1779 |
| _____________________
| |
|_Hannah (BERRYHILL) _|
(.... - 1790) m 1763|
|_____________________
_David Farmer REA ___+
| (1757 - 1839) m 1779
_John Farmer REA ____|
| (1779 - 1826) |
| |_Mary BERRYHILL _____+
| m 1779
_David Smith REA ____|
| |
| | _____________________
| | |
| |_Mary Jane SMITH ____|
| |
| |_____________________
|
|
|--James Calvin REA
|
| _John Morgan REA ____+
| | (1734 - 1767) m 1755
| _Robert Wright REA __|
| | (1762 - 1852) |
| | |_Martha TOMBERLIN ___
| | (1737 - 1811) m 1755
|_Martha McCrary REA _|
|
| _____________________
| |
|_Agnes Jane PATTON __|
|
|_____________________
_John Morgan REA ____+
| (1734 - 1767) m 1755
_David Farmer REA ___|
| (1757 - 1839) m 1779|
| |_Martha TOMBERLIN ___
| (1737 - 1811) m 1755
_David REA __________|
| (1791 - 1834) m 1814|
| | _Joseph BERRYHILL ___
| | | (1734 - 1781) m 1763
| |_Mary BERRYHILL _____|
| m 1779 |
| |_Hannah (BERRYHILL) _
| (.... - 1790) m 1763
|
|--James Franklin REA
| (1822 - ....)
| _Michael STINSON ____
| | (1713 - 1776)
| _John STINSON _______|
| | (1757 - 1837) m 1782|
| | |_Ann (STINSON) ______
| | (1723 - 1778)
|_Jane STINSON _______|
(1793 - 1842) m 1814|
| _____________________
| |
|_Eleanor (STINSON) __|
(1760 - 1833) m 1782|
|_____________________
1774: Ordered by the Court that John Rea another Orphan Son of John Rea deceased be bound unto Ambrose McKee untill he arrive at the age of 21 years to learn the art and Mystery of a Taylor, he being ten years of Age the 7th of August next, and the said Ambrose McKee agrees to pay the said John Ten pounds provn Money at the Expiration of the Term aforesaid and further comply with the Act of afsembly.
__
|
_Willam REA _________|
| |
| |__
|
_John Morgan REA ____|
| (1734 - 1767) m 1755|
| | __
| | |
| |_Mary STRAIN ________|
| |
| |__
|
|
|--John REA
| (1764 - 1843)
| __
| |
| _____________________|
| | |
| | |__
| |
|_Martha TOMBERLIN ___|
(1737 - 1811) m 1755|
| __
| |
|_____________________|
|
|__
[10629] After the death of John Rea, his sons must have left the area to settle in Indiana. Apparently, the mother, Mary, and the youngest daughter, Margaret L., remained in North Carolina. The will of David Rea, Sr. ( Will Bk E, pp 238-239) notes that John is deceased and names his daughter-in-law, Mary, and her daughter, Margaret L. There is also a deed transferring property from David Rea to Mary Rea and M.L. Weeks, their heirs, assigns, etc..... So, it appears that Mary was married to Weeks by 1839 (Deed Bk 225, pg 173, 1839).
According to Tom Rea of San Francisco, the mother went to Indiana with the children, but she must have joined them at a later date, perhaps after the death of Weeks? Need to check later census records (1850-1870) under the name of Weeks.
Since Margaret was the only child of John's who was named in the will, one wonders what happened to William, whose birthdate has been estimated as 1824, the same as Margaret's. Were they twins? William could have been apprenticed to a friend or relative in North Carolina, or he could have been taken under the wing of one of his older brothers. He was only about 15 years old in 1839 at the time of his grandfather's death.
The middle name of Farmer has been assigned by present day family members. The early records identify him only as John.
Appendix shows burials in Providence Cemetery, adjoining the church. John Rea tombstone dated 8- -1826; aged 47.
_Willam REA _________
|
_John Morgan REA ____|
| (1734 - 1767) m 1755|
| |_Mary STRAIN ________
|
_David Farmer REA ___|
| (1757 - 1839) m 1779|
| | _____________________
| | |
| |_Martha TOMBERLIN ___|
| (1737 - 1811) m 1755|
| |_____________________
|
|
|--John Farmer REA
| (1779 - 1826)
| _____________________
| |
| _Joseph BERRYHILL ___|
| | (1734 - 1781) m 1763|
| | |_____________________
| |
|_Mary BERRYHILL _____|
m 1779 |
| _____________________
| |
|_Hannah (BERRYHILL) _|
(.... - 1790) m 1763|
|_____________________
_John Morgan REA ____+
| (1734 - 1767) m 1755
_David Farmer REA ___|
| (1757 - 1839) m 1779|
| |_Martha TOMBERLIN ___
| (1737 - 1811) m 1755
_David REA __________|
| (1791 - 1834) m 1814|
| | _Joseph BERRYHILL ___
| | | (1734 - 1781) m 1763
| |_Mary BERRYHILL _____|
| m 1779 |
| |_Hannah (BERRYHILL) _
| (.... - 1790) m 1763
|
|--John M REA
|
| _Michael STINSON ____
| | (1713 - 1776)
| _John STINSON _______|
| | (1757 - 1837) m 1782|
| | |_Ann (STINSON) ______
| | (1723 - 1778)
|_Jane STINSON _______|
(1793 - 1842) m 1814|
| _____________________
| |
|_Eleanor (STINSON) __|
(1760 - 1833) m 1782|
|_____________________
[10888] Nothing is known about the early life of John Rea. He may have been born in Scotland and perhaps came to America in his youth with his family, along with other Scotch-Irish. Many residents of Mecklenburg County were Lowland Scots, who had migrated to Ulster in Ireland before coming to America. As early as 1730 there was a Providence Church in Pennsylvania and a plaque from that church is still in possession of Providence Church in Matthews, NC. These Scots may have followed their minister, Alexander Craighead, as he went from one jurisdiction to another.
From birth records of his children, we know that John Rea was in Kent Co., DE in 1757 and in Lancaster Co., PA 1762. By 1767 there are deeds in Mecklenburg Co., NC, showing that he purchased land from Henry E. McCulloch. Also noted in early Mecklenburg Co. records were Andrew and Thomas Rea, who were probably John's brothers.
By October 1767 John died, leaving a wife and several young sons. His wife, Martha, was granted Letters of Administration for handling his estate. By 1774 she had remarried and was named in many court documents, along with her husband, Robert Lewis, as they jointly managed John Rea's estate.
[15034] There has been a lot of speculation amongst researchers as to the identity of Martha, who married John Rea, Sr. Surnames of Tomlin or Tomblin, Little, Farmer and McCrary have all been considered but there is no real proof for any of those names. The marriage date of 1755/56 is estimated from the birth of the first son, David, in 1757.
John Rea died intestate. Letters of Administration were granted 20 Oct. 1767 to Martha Rea of Mecklenburg Co., in the estate of her husband, John Rea. Henry Downs and John Ramsey, securities, with a bond of 250 pounds. October Court, Robert Harris, C.C. An inventory of John Rea's estate was taken on 12 Nov. 1767. An auction was held that day to sell his goods and effects to raise money to provide for his young widow and orphans.
[10890] Rea estate papers discarded Feb. 2006 as they are no longer readable. They were copied in Raleigh, NC 1973 by Shirley Underwood, researcher from Charlotte.
__
|
__|
| |
| |__
|
_Willam REA _________|
| |
| | __
| | |
| |__|
| |
| |__
|
|
|--John Morgan REA
| (1734 - 1767)
| __
| |
| __|
| | |
| | |__
| |
|_Mary STRAIN ________|
|
| __
| |
|__|
|
|__
[10639] Early researchers identified this Jonathan Rea as the person who appeared in the California records and whose wife was Agnes Hildreth. His age did not match that of the Californian, who seemed too young to be the child of David, Sr. A researcher in Charlotte, NC, discovered a missing generation, that of David Rea, Jr. The Rea families used the same given names repeatedly and it is very difficult to distinguish one generation from another.
Named in father's will.
_Willam REA _________
|
_John Morgan REA ____|
| (1734 - 1767) m 1755|
| |_Mary STRAIN ________
|
_David Farmer REA ___|
| (1757 - 1839) m 1779|
| | _____________________
| | |
| |_Martha TOMBERLIN ___|
| (1737 - 1811) m 1755|
| |_____________________
|
|
|--Jonathan REA
|
| _____________________
| |
| _Joseph BERRYHILL ___|
| | (1734 - 1781) m 1763|
| | |_____________________
| |
|_Mary BERRYHILL _____|
m 1779 |
| _____________________
| |
|_Hannah (BERRYHILL) _|
(.... - 1790) m 1763|
|_____________________
His middle name may be Eustis, because his son, listed as Jonathan Eustis Rea in voting records (Great Register) was known as Jonathan E. Rea, Junior. Later records also spell the name Eustace. So far, there is no explanation for the occurrence of either name in this family. It is entirely possible that the present Jonathan Rea never had a middle name, and that it was attributed to him erroneously by a later generation seeking to explain the name of his son Jonathan Eustis Rea.
[10283] Little is known about the early life of Jonathan Rea except that he was raised on a plantation where owning slaves was the custom of the time. Jonathan was 14 years old when his father died in 1834 and by 1836 his mother had married James Biggert or Biggart. There is evidence to suggest that Jonathan's mother died by 1842 and he must have left North Carolina shortly afterward.There is a gap of several years when Jonathan's whereabouts are unknown. In 1847 Jonathan served as a teamster with the Missouri Volunteers in the Mexican War. On file at the National Archives is a Declaration for Service Pension which contains considerable information of genealogical value, including a physical description. Jonathan was 5' 3 1/2" in height, had a dark complexion, grey eyes and black hair. His nickname was "Shorty".
In The Argonauts of California by Haskins, reference is made on page 405 to "Shorty" Ray from Palmyra, MO, who arrived in California in 1849 via the overland route. I believe this is one of the earliest references to our Jonathan Rea and establishes his presence in California at the time of the Gold Rush.
Accounts vary, but it is not known when Jonathan Rea met the Hildreth family. It could have been in Missouri or on his first trip to California. There is evidence to suggest that Jonathan may have served in the Mexican War with Emphrey Hildreth, who was to become his brother-in-law. At any rate, by 1853 Jonathan Rea was on the wagon train that brought the Hildreth family to southern California, where they settled near Mission San Gabriel.
Jonathan Rea and Agnes Matilda Hildreth were married in Monte Twp., Los Angeles Co., CA. A certified record in my possession shows they were married by a Protestant minister, not at Mission San Gabriel, as local historians suggest. Jonathan must have been considerably older than Agnes, whose birthdate has been approximated as 1836 from the 1850 census of Ralls Co., MO., where the Hildreth family was residing at that time.
The Gold Rush was probably the initial reason for Jonathan Rea migrating to California, but copper was found near Buchanan, CA, and he was one of the first to file a claim at Millerton, then the Fresno County seat. Perhaps the mining venture didn't work out, because it wasn't long before Jonathan turned to sheep ranching. He is credited with bringing the first large herd of sheep to California.
Land sold at $1.25 per acre in the early days and the settlers were able to amass vast land holdings. It has been estimated that Jonathan Rea owned 17,000 to 20,000 acres of land near Buchanan, CA, along the Chowchilla River. This acreage was in Fresno County until about 1893 when a boundary change placed it in Madera County.
The first land titles by Americans in Fresno Co., CA, were acquired by patent from the U.S. government or the State of California. The first land patent in Fresno County was granted to Jonathan Rea by President Abraham Lincoln and is recorded in Fresno Co., CA in BK A, Certificate #530, dated 1 January 1862.
By 1872 the family was residing in Chowchilla, CA, as Jonathan appears in the Great (Voting) Register for Fresno Co: Jonathan Rea, age 46, native of North Carolina, occupation farmer. Date of registration: April 9, 1869.
[10291] Early land patents in California (BLM GLO Records) show that Jonathan Rea owned considerable land in counties of Madera, Mariposa and Merced counties. At this writing (Jan. 2009) information about the land parcels can be found on the internet at the government site but the actual documents are not yet online. One wonders what became of all that land as the family did not inherit it. Other family members with land information on that site were: Emphrey Hildreth and Henry Dalton.
Birthdate and place as well as physical description given in this document. In March 1847 he enlisted at Chihuahua, Mexico, serving as a Teamster in the 1st Reg't, Missouri Volunteers under the command of Col. Donophin. He served for about 4 months and was honorably discharged at New Orleans in June 1847.
Deed Bk 1, pg 58: Grantor, James Biggert, Jane Biggert, his wife; Grantee - Jonathan Rea, dtd 14 Jan. 1842. Description: East side of Catawba, 133 1/2 acres. Land bought by the late John Stinson of the heirs of Jonathan Price, and land willed to Jane Biggert during her natural life.
Records of graves in old cemetery at Raymond shows the name Jonathan Rea with dates 1820-1904. The small cemetery was known locally as the "Old Rea Cemetery" but unless it was originally on Rea land, historian does not know why it was so called. No other marked Rea graves.
Tombstone reads: 1820-1904.
[10289] Feb. 2006: Discarded the handwritten list as other tombstones did not seem to be family related.
Name spelled Ray, instead of Rea. Married in Del Monte Twp. by J. G. Johnson, D.D. There are errors in print, written by local historians, saying this marriage took place in Mission San Gabriel. The Los Angeles Star, dtd 27 Oct. 1855, pg 2, carried the following: On Tuesday afternoon, 23rd inst., near the Mission San Gabriel, by Eld. J. G. Johnson, Mr. Jonathan Ray to Miss Agnes, daughter of Jesse Hildreth, Esq.
Mariposa Gazette, dtd 27 Oct. 1866, p 2/7 - marriage of Jonathan "Rey" (sic) to Mrs. M. A. Marsh of San Joaquin Co.
_John Morgan REA ____+
| (1734 - 1767) m 1755
_David Farmer REA ___|
| (1757 - 1839) m 1779|
| |_Martha TOMBERLIN ___
| (1737 - 1811) m 1755
_David REA __________|
| (1791 - 1834) m 1814|
| | _Joseph BERRYHILL ___
| | | (1734 - 1781) m 1763
| |_Mary BERRYHILL _____|
| m 1779 |
| |_Hannah (BERRYHILL) _
| (.... - 1790) m 1763
|
|--Jonathan E. REA
| (1820 - 1904)
| _Michael STINSON ____
| | (1713 - 1776)
| _John STINSON _______|
| | (1757 - 1837) m 1782|
| | |_Ann (STINSON) ______
| | (1723 - 1778)
|_Jane STINSON _______|
(1793 - 1842) m 1814|
| _____________________
| |
|_Eleanor (STINSON) __|
(1760 - 1833) m 1782|
|_____________________
Full name of Jonathan Eustis Rea, was found online in the Great Register (voter's registration) for Madera Co, CA, 1898. Jonathan was 28 years of age, born in California; height was 5' 5 1/2", light complexion and blue eyes.
_David Farmer REA ___+
| (1757 - 1839) m 1779
_David REA __________|
| (1791 - 1834) m 1814|
| |_Mary BERRYHILL _____+
| m 1779
_Jonathan E. REA ______________|
| (1820 - 1904) m 1866 |
| | _John STINSON _______+
| | | (1757 - 1837) m 1782
| |_Jane STINSON _______|
| (1793 - 1842) m 1814|
| |_Eleanor (STINSON) __
| (1760 - 1833) m 1782
|
|--Jonathan Eustis REA
| (1870 - 1965)
| _____________________
| |
| _____________________|
| | |
| | |_____________________
| |
|_Martha Ann (CHIDESTER) MARSH _|
(1835 - 1915) m 1866 |
| _____________________
| |
|_____________________|
|
|_____________________
Named in father's will: I allow the family of my son Joseph to have the benefit of the plantation they now live on until youngest child reaches 18, at which time the sd land is to fall to him (Joseph?) as surveyed by Thos. Downs.
_Willam REA _________
|
_John Morgan REA ____|
| (1734 - 1767) m 1755|
| |_Mary STRAIN ________
|
_David Farmer REA ___|
| (1757 - 1839) m 1779|
| | _____________________
| | |
| |_Martha TOMBERLIN ___|
| (1737 - 1811) m 1755|
| |_____________________
|
|
|--Joseph REA
|
| _____________________
| |
| _Joseph BERRYHILL ___|
| | (1734 - 1781) m 1763|
| | |_____________________
| |
|_Mary BERRYHILL _____|
m 1779 |
| _____________________
| |
|_Hannah (BERRYHILL) _|
(.... - 1790) m 1763|
|_____________________
Also in "The Madera County Historian", Vol. IX, No. 4, Oct. 1969, pg 6: Leila married William Murray. They had two children, Clyde, now living in San Francisco and Kyrle who died in 1966.
_David Farmer REA ___+
| (1757 - 1839) m 1779
_David REA __________|
| (1791 - 1834) m 1814|
| |_Mary BERRYHILL _____+
| m 1779
_Jonathan E. REA ______________|
| (1820 - 1904) m 1866 |
| | _John STINSON _______+
| | | (1757 - 1837) m 1782
| |_Jane STINSON _______|
| (1793 - 1842) m 1814|
| |_Eleanor (STINSON) __
| (1760 - 1833) m 1782
|
|--Leila REA
| (1868 - 1925)
| _____________________
| |
| _____________________|
| | |
| | |_____________________
| |
|_Martha Ann (CHIDESTER) MARSH _|
(1835 - 1915) m 1866 |
| _____________________
| |
|_____________________|
|
|_____________________
Named in father's will. Proceeds of one parcel of land, named above, to be sold and divided amongst heirs.
_Willam REA _________
|
_John Morgan REA ____|
| (1734 - 1767) m 1755|
| |_Mary STRAIN ________
|
_David Farmer REA ___|
| (1757 - 1839) m 1779|
| | _____________________
| | |
| |_Martha TOMBERLIN ___|
| (1737 - 1811) m 1755|
| |_____________________
|
|
|--Martha REA
|
| _____________________
| |
| _Joseph BERRYHILL ___|
| | (1734 - 1781) m 1763|
| | |_____________________
| |
|_Mary BERRYHILL _____|
m 1779 |
| _____________________
| |
|_Hannah (BERRYHILL) _|
(.... - 1790) m 1763|
|_____________________
_John Farmer REA ____+
| (1779 - 1826)
_David Smith REA ____|
| |
| |_Mary Jane SMITH ____
|
_James Calvin REA ___|
| |
| | _Robert Wright REA __+
| | | (1762 - 1852)
| |_Martha McCrary REA _|
| |
| |_Agnes Jane PATTON __
|
|
|--Martha Elizabeth REA
|
| _____________________
| |
| _____________________|
| | |
| | |_____________________
| |
|_Martha CHANDLER ____|
|
| _____________________
| |
|_____________________|
|
|_____________________
_Willam REA _________
|
_John Morgan REA ____|
| (1734 - 1767) m 1755|
| |_Mary STRAIN ________
|
_Robert Wright REA __|
| (1762 - 1852) |
| | _____________________
| | |
| |_Martha TOMBERLIN ___|
| (1737 - 1811) m 1755|
| |_____________________
|
|
|--Martha McCrary REA
|
| _____________________
| |
| _____________________|
| | |
| | |_____________________
| |
|_Agnes Jane PATTON __|
|
| _____________________
| |
|_____________________|
|
|_____________________
Named in father's will.
_Willam REA _________
|
_John Morgan REA ____|
| (1734 - 1767) m 1755|
| |_Mary STRAIN ________
|
_David Farmer REA ___|
| (1757 - 1839) m 1779|
| | _____________________
| | |
| |_Martha TOMBERLIN ___|
| (1737 - 1811) m 1755|
| |_____________________
|
|
|--Mary REA
|
| _____________________
| |
| _Joseph BERRYHILL ___|
| | (1734 - 1781) m 1763|
| | |_____________________
| |
|_Mary BERRYHILL _____|
m 1779 |
| _____________________
| |
|_Hannah (BERRYHILL) _|
(.... - 1790) m 1763|
|_____________________
An extensive obituary appears in the Fresno Bee (Fresno, California), 13 jan 1952: "Mrs. Mary Brock Dies At 93 After 89 Years In Valley. HANFORDDD, Kings Co., Jan. 12.—Mrs. Mary Jane Brock, who lived all but four of her 93 years in the San Joaquin Valley, died to day in a Hanford hospital of the infirmities of old age. She was a daughter of a pioneed, Jonathan E. Rea, who came to California in 1847 and was born in San Gabriel in the shadow of the mission where her parents were married. Her father, a veteran of the Mexican War, panned for gold on the Feather River after James Marshall's Coloma discovery became known, made a comfortable stake and returned to the East in 1849 to organize a wagon train. He helped to guide the train back across the plains in 1850 and fell in love with Agnes Hildreth, who was accompanying her parents West. They were married in the Mission San Gabriel and lived in Southern California until 1863 when they moved to Fresno County and settled near Raymond in what is now Madera County. Rea was a sheep man with extensive holdings and was away a great deal of the time. One of Mrs. Brock's early recollections was of the tims bandits came during the absence of the menfolk, ransacked the family home looking for valuables and departed with most of the food supply. She was married in 1880 to Lawrence Reynolds, but he died within a short time. In 1886 she married Thomas J. Brock, and soon afterward moved to Alameda County where her husband was a grain farmer for several years. The couple came to Hanford in 1902 and Mrs. Brock remained here until her death. Brock died in 1915. Brock, J. W. Barber and H. Clawson were among the first to plant grain in the Tulare Lake Basin as the water of the once vast lake began to recede. Mrs. Brock used to recall that Hanford's main business section was on Sixth Street, between Irwin and Douty Streets, when she came here, and the town boasted 32 saloons. Surviving are four daughters, Mrs. Louise Drennen, for many years the business manager of the Kings General Hospital; Mrs. Gertrude Church, also of Hanford, Mrs. Sarah Benedict, Santa Cruz and Mrs. Evelyn Jensen, Coalinga; two sons, Charles Reynolds, Hanford, and Thomas J. Brock, Los Angeles; a brother, Jonathan E. Rea, Jr., retired Madera County probation officer; 17 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren, and three great great grandchildren. The funeral will be Tuesday at 2 PM in the Peoples Undertaking Parlor. Burial will be in the Hanford Cemetery."
In memory of Mary Jane Brock, born 26 May, 1858; passed away 12 Jan. 1952. Services at Chapel of the People's Undertaking Parlor, Tues., 15 Jan. 1952 at 2:00 p.m. Officiating: Rev. George W. Chrichton of the First Presbyterian Church.... Services concluded at Hanford Cemetery.
Death certificate contains errors regarding parents of Mary Jane.
Jan. 12 ...Mrs. Mary Jane Brock, who lived all but four of her 93 years in the San Joaquin Valley, died today in a Hanford hospital of the infirmities of old age. She was a daughter of the pioneer, Jonathan E. Rea, who came to California in 1847 and was born in San Gabriel in the shadow of the mission where her parents were married. Her father, a veteran of the Mexican War, panned for gold on the Feather River after James Marshall's Coloma discovery became known, made a comfortable stake and returned to the East in 1849 to organize a wagon train. He helped to guide the train back across the plains in 1850 and fell in love with Agnes Hildreth, who was accompanying her parents West. They were married in the Mission San Gabriel and lived in Southern California until 1863 when they moved to Fresno County and settled near Raymond in what is now Madera County. Rea was a sheep man with extensive holdings and was away a great deal of the time. One of Mrs. Brock's early recollections was of the time bandits came during the absence of the menfolk, ransacked the family home looking for valuables and departed with most of the food upply.She was married in 1873 to Lawrence Reynolds, but he died within a short time. In 1879 she married Thomas J. Brock, and soon afterward moved to Alameda County where her husband was a grain farmer for several years. The couple came to Hanford in 1902 and Mrs. Brock remained here until her death. Brock died in 1915. Brock, J.W. Barber and H. Clawson were among the first to plant grain in the Tulare Lake Basin as the water of the once vast lake began to recede. Mrs. Brock used to recall that Hanford's main business section was on Sixth Street, between Irwin and Douty Streets, when she came here, and the town boasted 32 saloons. Surviving are four daughters, Mrs. Louise Drennen, for many years the business manager of the Kings General Hospital; Mrs. Gertrude Church, also of Hanford, Mrs. Sarah Benedict, Santa Cruz, and Mrs. Evelyn Jensen, Coalinga; two sons, Charles Reynolds, Hanford, and Thomas J. Brock, Los Angeles; a brother, Jonathan E. Rea, Jr., retired Madera County probation officer; 17 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren and three great great grandchildren. The funeral will be Tuesday at 2 PM in the Peoples Undertaking Parlor. Burial will be in the Hanford Cemetery.
[10220] There are a number of errors in this obit, including the marriage dates, which have been altered to show actual dates. However, there was enough accurate information that it helped launch my search for the Rea family.
Index to Fresno Co. CA marriage records, Fresno, CA: Bk A, pg 136, marriage of Lawrence J. Reynolds to "Minnie" Rea.
Index to Fresno Co., CA marriage records, Bk B, pg 139. Married at Rea's ranch by Justice of the Peace; Mary Jane Reynolds to Thomas Brock. Mary Jane was a widow with three young children when she met and married Thomas Brock.
_David Farmer REA ___+
| (1757 - 1839) m 1779
_David REA __________|
| (1791 - 1834) m 1814|
| |_Mary BERRYHILL _____+
| m 1779
_Jonathan E. REA ________|
| (1820 - 1904) m 1855 |
| | _John STINSON _______+
| | | (1757 - 1837) m 1782
| |_Jane STINSON _______|
| (1793 - 1842) m 1814|
| |_Eleanor (STINSON) __
| (1760 - 1833) m 1782
|
|--Mary Jane REA
| (1858 - 1952)
| _Jeffrey HILDRETH ___+
| | (1767 - 1820) m 1785
| _Jesse HILDRETH _____|
| | (1796 - 1859) m 1817|
| | |_Lilly BOWEN ________+
| | (1766 - 1800) m 1785
|_Agnes Matilda HILDRETH _|
(1836 - 1864) m 1855 |
| _Thomas TALBOTT _____
| | (.... - 1832)
|_Mary Ann TALBOTT ___|
(1800 - 1884) m 1817|
|_Susan (TALBOTT) ____
(.... - 1832)
_John Morgan REA ____+
| (1734 - 1767) m 1755
_David Farmer REA ___|
| (1757 - 1839) m 1779|
| |_Martha TOMBERLIN ___
| (1737 - 1811) m 1755
_David REA __________|
| (1791 - 1834) m 1814|
| | _Joseph BERRYHILL ___
| | | (1734 - 1781) m 1763
| |_Mary BERRYHILL _____|
| m 1779 |
| |_Hannah (BERRYHILL) _
| (.... - 1790) m 1763
|
|--Mary Matilda REA
|
| _Michael STINSON ____
| | (1713 - 1776)
| _John STINSON _______|
| | (1757 - 1837) m 1782|
| | |_Ann (STINSON) ______
| | (1723 - 1778)
|_Jane STINSON _______|
(1793 - 1842) m 1814|
| _____________________
| |
|_Eleanor (STINSON) __|
(1760 - 1833) m 1782|
|_____________________
[10897] From old notes: Robert Rea of Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Indiana. DAR Lineage, Vol. 68: Mrs. Robert Right Rea (Laura J. Rea) born at Madison, IN., joined DAR as #67238, from the service of Robert Rea (1761-1852). He was born in PA, moved to NC and died at Madison, IN. A private in 1777 in NC under Capt. James Harris Wiley, Thomas Shelby, William Hutchinson and Samuel Martin and Colonels Henderson and Wm. Polk and was placed on NC pension rolls in 1833.
Information from Tom Rea mentions that the Rev. War papers of Robert Rea contain at least one letter from David Rea, his brother.
Ordered by the Court that Robert Rea an orphan son of John Rea, dec'd, be bound to James Harris untill he arrives at the age of Twenty one years to learn the art and mistery of a waggon maker, he being 12 years of age the 22d Day of June last, and the said James Harris agrees to give to the said Robert Ten pounds provn Money at the Expiration of the Term aforesaid and further comply with the Act of Afsembly in such Cases &c.
Place of birth may have been Derry Twp., Lancaster Co., PA.
__
|
_Willam REA _________|
| |
| |__
|
_John Morgan REA ____|
| (1734 - 1767) m 1755|
| | __
| | |
| |_Mary STRAIN ________|
| |
| |__
|
|
|--Robert Wright REA
| (1762 - 1852)
| __
| |
| _____________________|
| | |
| | |__
| |
|_Martha TOMBERLIN ___|
(1737 - 1811) m 1755|
| __
| |
|_____________________|
|
|__
Named in father's will: I will to my son Silas all the remainder of my land except a parcel between the property of Widow Mary (Rea) and her dau. and the lands of James Black, including the whole of my meadow over the creek.
_Willam REA _________
|
_John Morgan REA ____|
| (1734 - 1767) m 1755|
| |_Mary STRAIN ________
|
_David Farmer REA ___|
| (1757 - 1839) m 1779|
| | _____________________
| | |
| |_Martha TOMBERLIN ___|
| (1737 - 1811) m 1755|
| |_____________________
|
|
|--Silas REA
|
| _____________________
| |
| _Joseph BERRYHILL ___|
| | (1734 - 1781) m 1763|
| | |_____________________
| |
|_Mary BERRYHILL _____|
m 1779 |
| _____________________
| |
|_Hannah (BERRYHILL) _|
(.... - 1790) m 1763|
|_____________________