Re: Matthew Sutherland Rea, County Down, Northern Ireland
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In reply to:
Re: Matthew Sutherland Rea, County Down, Northern Ireland
Karen McGettrick 8/14/06
Karen, I'm not sure where you got the idea 11850 and I matched. In fact, we are 8 mutation steps apart; i.e., no relation at all. The closest I have come to a match, to date, is with 4571, who is one step away from me. Henry matched with 13689, not with me.
The results of 63329 proved that I am no relation to William Rea of Drumskee (1680-1785). He and I are 7 steps apart.
The mythology of a descent from William Rea has persisted in my family for at least five generations and was also confused with a William Rea or MacRea of Kintail, Wester Ross, Scotland. According to "The History of the Clan MacRae," this William was born in Kintail and emmigrated to Delaware and New Jersey at an earlier date than Matthew Sutherland Rea came to America. A Clan MacRae genealogist told me that the lineage of William Rea or MacRea of Kintail is false, for one thing. For another, my ancestors (probably James Azel Rea) confused William Rea of Drumskee with William Rea or MacRea of Kintail and the myth that we descended from MacRae highlanders was born. It has persisted until the present. William MacRea was said to have married a "Miss Creighton" and the reason I know James was probably the perpetrator of this myth is that he named one of his sons Merchant Creighton Rea (1859-1940).
As for Matthew Sutherland Rea (1732-1812), I know he's my ancestor because my data for him comes from the book "Conococheague Headwaters of the Amberson Valley," by Harry E. Foreman (1968) and Foreman's source for the Rea data in his book was my second cousin (twice removed) Stanley B. Rea, a genealogist himself. Stanley was a grandson of James Azel Rea, who was my great-great-grandfather and a grandson of Matthew's. So, I have a good paper trail as far back as Matthew, but that's where my "new" brick wall begins. I'm having no luck finding anything on Matthew in County Down, Northern Ireland yet. I know that's where all five of his children were born (in Newry) and that was where he emmigrated from in 1774.
About the spelling change; I've seen my surname spelled Rhea, Rae, Ray and Rea. Most often, it's been spelled either Rea or Rhea. James's son Robert Scott Rea had a son named Robert Scott Rea, Jr. who, for some reason, changed the spelling to Ray and every one of his descendants to this day spells it that way. I came across one of them online and she insisted Ray was the correct spelling, despite my evidence to the contrary.
I don't know what to tell you about your PV Rhea. I have not found anyone in my line who was ever in Tennessee. My line came from County Down, Northern Ireland to Pennsylvania (Franklin County) and from there spread to Ohio, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Indiana, Nebraska, Iowa and so on. I suppose it's possible a line of cousins from County Down may have emmigrated to Tennessee or Virginia, but I haven't found any link to any yet.
Gary
More Replies:
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Re: Matthew Sutherland Rea, County Down, Northern Ireland
Karen McGettrick 8/14/06
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Re: Matthew Sutherland Rea, County Down, Northern Ireland
Gary Rea 8/14/06
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John1 + Gauche HOWELL, Mary2 HOWELL d. 1588 + Thomas LATHROP ~ England to Conn.
Jan Rose 8/29/06
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Re: Matthew Sutherland Rea, County Down, Northern Ireland
Karen McGettrick 8/15/06
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John1 + Gauche HOWELL, Mary2 HOWELL d. 1588 + Thomas LATHROP ~ England to Conn.
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Re: Matthew Sutherland Rea, County Down, Northern Ireland