Ezekiel L RICE

  General Notes:

Notes from Norma Rice Gertz: NormaGertz@aol.com

Will of Ezekiel Rice:

I, Ezekiel Rice, of the County of Carter and State of Kentucky, knowing the uncertainty of life and the certainty of death, do make, this my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking and annulling all former wills. I will and bequeath to my Son, William M. Rice, all my real estate situate lying and being in the County of Carter and State of Kentucky, on the Little fork with all and singular the appurtenances thereunto belonging, and I will that after the payment of my just debts and funeral expenses, my personal property shall be equally divided between my eleven children to wit: James M. Rice, Jacob Rice, Jeremiah Rice, Cindarilla Rice, Ruth Carter, Sarah Rice, Ezekiel Rice, William M. Rice, Eleanor Mullins and Hannah Miller and my grandchildren, who are the children of Mary Gollihugh, deceased, each of my said eleven children and my said grandchildren to take one-twelfth part. In testimony where of I have hereunto affixed my hand and seal this 30th day of April, 1862 Witness Ezekiel his Rice Bazel Rucker x J. R. Botts mark

Proven by J. R. Botts and Basil Rucker as to the Ezekiel Rice Signature June 9th, 1862 R. D. Davis for E. F. Davis, Clerk

State of Kentucky Carter County I Frank Prater, Clerk of the Carter County Court do certify that the foregoing will of Ezekiel Rice have this day been duly recorded in my office by virtue of the above endorsements thereof said will and endorsement

Following is a partial genealogy of Ezekiel Rice, who settled in Greenup County, KY around 1820 and whose descendants lived mostly in Eastern, KY. In "The Big Sandy Valley - History of the People and Country - From the Earliest Settlement to the Present Time" by William Ely (1887), it says:

"The Rice Family is one of the most noted of all the old families which has given to the Big Sandy Valley its prestige in developing men of marked ability. Their ancestors were of the Celtic race, and lived in Wales. James M. Rice's grandfather came to America before the great Revolution. He took sides with the Colonies and fought for freedom. His son (Ezekiel L. Rice), the father of James M. Rice, came from his Virginia home, east of the Blue Ridge, in 1799, and settled near Guyandotte, VA (Now West Virginia). The next year he married, and in 1802 his most noted son, James M., was born.

Ezekiel L. Rice died in Carter Co., KY on May 6, 1862, according to KY Vital Statistics and his parents were listed as James and Eliner Rice, With (Wythe) Co., VA

In "Kentucky: A History of the State," Battle, Perrin, & Kniffin, ed. 8-B Lawrence County, it said that Ezekiel L. Rice was a farmer of Welsh descent, who settled near Coulton.

Obtained copy of Ezekiel Rice's death certificate in Carter Co., KY.

Ezekiel married Elizabeth MILLER, daughter of John MILLER and Unknown. (Elizabeth MILLER was born in Philadelphia PA.)