Washington County, Virginia was formed from Fincastle County in 1777. It originally contained Sullivan County, Tennessee.
Robert Rhea was born about 1784 in Ireland. He was the son of William Rhea, son of Matthew Rhea and Elizabeth Lockhart.
His father, William, emigrated to America with his seven children and his cousin, John Rhea. They landed in New Castle, Delaware, then moved to Lancaster, Pennslvania where Josiah Lockhart lived.
They later moved to Washington County, Virginia and then to Sullivan County, Tennessee.
He married Elizabeth Rhea.
Sarah Rhea (1805 married George Woodsun Gaines),
Joseph R. Rhea (1805, married Emaline M. Alexander),
John Rhea (1810, married Elizabeth Dodson),
Elizabeth M. Rhea (1807, married Joseph Anderson),
His second wife was Jane Scott. Jane was the daughter of John Scott
Mary Rhea, (1827, married James J. Snapp)
Jane Rhea Smith,
Margaret Rhea (1833, married Audley Anderson)
Sullivan County is in far northeast corner of Tennessee between North Carolina and Virginia and was originally part of those states. It was formed in 1779 when it was divided from Washington County.
from Notable Southern Families, Volume 2 by Zella Armstrong and Janie Preston Collup French
Robert Rhea (1784-1841) (was born in Ireland and came In America with his father (1785) and located in Washington County, Virginia. Later he moved to Sullivan County, Tennessee, where he lived until his death).
He married twice: First, Elizabeth Rhea (daughter of Rev. Joseph Rhea and Elizabeth (Mcllwaine) Rhea); Second, Jane Scott (daughter of John Scott, a colonel in the Revolutionary War).
By his first wife he had four children, given in full under Elizabeth Rhea.
By the second wife he had children:
(a) Mary Rhea, (1827-1882) who married James J. Snapp...
(b) Jane Rhea, who married Smith;
(c) Margaret Rhea, who married Audley Anderson....
Elizabeth Rhea (1767-1821), daughter of Rev. Joseph Rhea and Elizabeth (Mcllwaine) Rhea, married Major Robert Rhea (1784-1841). Major Robert Rhea and Elizabeth Rhea were born in Ireland, the former, presumably near St. Johnstone, the latter at Faban, near Londonderry. He came to America, with his parents, in 1785, she, with her parents, in 1769. They were married and lived until their deaths in Sullivan County, Tennessee. She had children:....
1 Sarah Rhea (-1849), married (1826) George Woodsun Gaines
2 Joseph R. Rhea, married (1830) Emaline M. Alexander.
3 John Rhea (1810-1863), married (1839) Elizabeth Dodson.
4 Elizabeth M. Rhea (1807-1853), married (1831) Joseph Anderson,
