Month: March 2009

Descendants of Mary Magdaline Rhodes & William Silas Anderson

Mary Magdaline (Rhodes) b. ca. 1800 and William Silas Anderson are ancestors of Drinda (Anderson) McCourt. We can thank Drinda for us the data on Mary Magdaline Rhodes’ descendants.? Mary Magdaline (Rhodes) Anderson was a descendant Christopher Rhodes, of Rockbridge County b. abt 1730-42, see: http://www.rhodesfamily.org/Christopher_Rhodes_&_ch.php.

Here is the link to descendants of Mary Magdaline Rhodes & William Silas Anderson: http://www.rhodesfamily.org/mary_magdaline_rhodes.php

Biography of Thomas J. Rhodes of Miami Co., IN

?Thomas J. Rhodes, who has been a resident on his present place in Jefferson township since March, 1901, was born in Fulton county, Indiana, June 14, 1867. He is one of eight children, all of whom are living, born to Joseph P. and Alma (Hoover) Rhodes, who were also natives of Fulton county.

To read in the biography of Thomas J. Rhodes of Miami Co., IN, in its entirety go to this link: http://rhodesfamily.org/bio_thomas_j_rhodes.php

Biography of David E. Rhodes

David E. Rhodes was a native of this Indiana, born on a farm in Fulton county. August 17. 1869, a son of Joseph P. and Alma (Hoover) Rhodes. Both sides of the family have long been identified with Indiana, and the mother’s people in particular were among the pioneers of this state. Joseph P. Rhodes, the father, was a farmer by occupation and during the war enlisted in Company A of the One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Indiana Infantry, giving loyal service as a soldier for the preservation of the Union.

To read the biography in its entirety go here: http://www.rhodesfamily.org/bio_david_e_rhodes.php

Biography of William P. Rhodes

He was prominent citizen of Williamsport, who is a leading member of the bar in Warren county, Indiana, was born near what is known as Crane, formerly Crane’s Station, Tippecanoe county, Indiana, July 17, 1833. He is a son of James I. and Nancy (Forshee) Rhodes, and a grandson of Jacob Rhodes, who was born in Philadelphia, fought in the Revolutionary war.

To read the biography in its entirety go here: http://www.rhodesfamily.org/bio_william_p_rhodes.php

Biography of Willis Rhodes

Willis Rhodes, a farmer living four and one-half miles northeast of Columbia City in Thorncreek township, is the son of John J. and Phimela (Parkason) Rhodes, and was born in Thorncreek township May 15, 1865. John J. was the son of Jacob Rhodes, who came from Switzerland to America in 1844.

To read the rest of biography follow this link: http://rhodesfamily.org/bio_willis_rhodes.php

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History of the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations of Colonial America

According to legend, the earliest celebration of St. Patrick?s Day in America took place in Boston in 1737, when colonists of Irish descent marked the event with a modest parade.

The Boston event is often cited as the earliest celebration of St. Patrick’s Day in America, but historians as far back as a century ago would point out that a prominent Irish-born Roman Catholic, Thomas Dongan, had been governor of the Province of New York from 1683 to 1688. Given Dongan’s ties to his native Ireland, it has long been speculated that some observance of St. Patrick’s Day must have been held in colonial New York during that period, although no written record of such events seem to have survived.

Events from the 1700s are recorded more reliably, thanks to the introduction of newspapers in colonial America, and in the 1760s we can find substantial evidence of St. Patrick’s Day events in New York City. Organizations of Irish-born colonists would place notices in the city’s newspapers announcing that St. Patrick’s Day gatherings would be held at various taverns.

The British Army in New York Marks St. Patrick’s Day

In late March 1766, the New York Mercury reported that St. Patrick?s Day had been marked with the playing of ?fifes and drums, which produced a very agreeable harmony.?

Prior to the American Revolution, New York was generally garrisoned by British regiments, and it has been noted that usually one or two regiments had strong Irish contingents. Two British infantry regiments in particular, the 16th and 47th Regiments of Foot, were primarily Irish. And officers of those regiments formed an organization, the Society of the Friendly Brothers of St. Patrick, that held celebrations to mark March 17th.

The observances generally consisted of both military men and civilians gathering to drink toasts, and participants would drink to the King, as well as to ?the prosperity of Ireland.? Such celebrations were held at establishments including Hull?s Tavern and a tavern known as Bolton and Sigel?s…. from http://history1800s.about.com/od/entertainmentsport/a/stpatparade.php

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St. Patrick’s Day during the American Revolution

During the Revolutionary War from about 1780-1781, my 5th-great-grandparents Richard & Frances (Fairchild) Breeden served in Gen. George Rogers Clark’s Illinois Regiment. Richard was a soldier and his wife Frances sewed clothing for the men of the Regiment.? They were stationed at the farthest reaches of the Colonies in a remote hastily built log stockade called Fort Jefferson and the adjoining civilian village of Clarksville.? It was located at the mouth of of the Ohio River in present day western Kentucky. Fort Jefferson was miles from civilization and sometimes under constant attacks by the local Indians. A log was kept about the goings on in at the fort.? In spite of their hardships, they did find occasion for revelry on St. Patrick’s Day:

March 17, 1781 Much drinking to St. Patrick’s health1.

March 18, 1781? Drinking to the health of St. Patrick’s wife1.

April 1781? Drinking continues1.

1The Personnel of George Rogers Clark’s Fort Jefferson and the Civilian Community of Clarksville, Kentucky, 1780-1781, by Kenneth Charles Carstens, page xx

Biography Lt. Colonel William Rhodes of Quebec (1867)

From: Portraits of British Americans By Fennings Taylor, William Notman Published by W. Notman, 1867
Page 39-50

Lieutenant-Colonel William Rhodes was born and raised Yorkshire England. He was the second son of William Rhodes, Esq., of Bramhope Hall, in Yorkshire. Lieutenant-Colonel William Rhodes was an officer in the British Army. Later moving to Quebec Canada he be and became Lieutenant-Colonel in the militia.

To read more about him here is the address of the biography: http://rhodesfamily.org/william_rhodes_quebec.php

Lieutenant John Rhodes, of Prince Williams Co. Virginia

Anecdotes of the Revolutionary War in America: With Sketches of Character of Persons the Most Distinguished, in the Southern States, for Civil and Military Services
By Alexander Garden
Published by Printed for the author, by A. E. Miller, 1822

p. 381

LIEUTENANT JOHN RHODES, OF PRINCE WILLIAMS.

The British, While in possession of Port-Royal Island, kept a strong detachment of troops at Roupell’s Ferry. A small militia guard, commanded by Lieutenant Rhodes of the Prince William’s Company, were stationed at Page’s Point, on the opposite shore. Sensible that it would be easy for an enterprising enemy, from the number of navigable creeks that led to his rear, to cut off his party, the Lieutenant judiciously made a representation of his perilous situation to the commanding Continental Officer at Sheldon. Brigade Major Hamilton of the 1st Regiment, was immediately sent to judge of the accuracy of the statement, who, finding it strictly correct, wrote for and obtained a Sergeant’s guard of Continentals, to strengthen the command. " While so near the enemy," said Hamilton, " I would pay them a closer visit could I find a proper guide." " I am acquainted," replied Lieutenant Rhodes, " with every foot of the ground they occupy, and will willingly accompany you across the river." Hastily conceived, and promptly entered on, the expedition was immediately carried into effect. A boat was prepared, and the river passed with muffled oars. A Sergeant’s guard was approached, surrounded, and with the exception of one man who escaped, and the Sergeant, who resisting, was severely wounded by Lieutenant Rhodes, brought off. This Partisan stroke was accomplished by eleven men, officers included, four of whom never quitted the boat.

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Biography of David B. Rhodes

From: A History of Northwest Missouri

edited by Walter Williams
Published by The Lewis publishing company, 1915
Page 1171

David B. Rhodes was reared in Virginia and there attended the public schools until reaching the age of eighteen years, at which time he started to learn the trade of carpenter, an occupation which he followed for ten years. He was married in 1856 and in 1858 partially gave up carpentering and engaged in farming, which he followed in Virginia until 1868, and in that year came to Ray County. Here he settled on a farm in Section 35, Grape Grove Township, purchasing ninety-six acres of land on which he carried on farming and stock- raising up to the time of his death. During the period of the Civil war, .Mr. Rhodes lived in the "burned district" of the Shenandoah Valley, and suffered considerable loss by reason of the ravages of warfare, but his courageous spirit and determination did not allow him to become discouraged, and in after years he was able to accumulate another fortune and to die in comfortable circumstances. He was one of the substantial men of his section and one who could be implicitly relied upon to perform conscientiously and well the duties of citizenship. He and his wife were consistent members of the German Baptist Church and wherever known were highly respected and esteemed.

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