Thomas Rice

Contributed by Diane Payne
©1999, updated ©2000, updated ©2008

Note: Thanks to Rusty Kleine and Karla French for providing additional information on this family line.

Thomas J. Rice appears to have married three times. The name of his third wife is difficult to read in the will and her estate records. The following is what I am able to piece together on this family line. I welcome corrections!

Thomas J. Rice was born abt. 1813 and died abt. 1867 in Sumner Co. TN. He married first to Elizabeth. Thomas J. Rice married 2nd on 11 February 1848 in Sumner Co. TN to Jane K. PAYNE (daughter of Robert PAYNE and Sarah BEARD- For more information see Robert Payne). Jane Payne was born 22 October 1815 Sumner Co. TN and died 8 June 1851. Thomas J. Rice married 3rd to a Serina/Seviar/Sariah or Survira.

Thomas wrote his will September 23, 1867 and it was proven December 19, 1867. Due to the lack of commas in the will and the poor writing it is very hard to determine which children belong to which wife. His will states..."this my last will and testament revoking all others...I will and bequeath ..my beloved wife Seviar?...having.. raise our _ little children Isabel, James and Nathaniel..the remainder of my land...I have will to my wife...to be divided equal between my children of my first wife namely Martha Bradley Eliza Lovell _ heirs to wit Benjamin Franklin Thomas Jefferson and George Wiley and John Rice. Having paid for my son in law P. L Hayes? husband of my daughter Sarah Catherine the sum of two hundred and forty dollars...and also Emaline Worley daughter of my second wife...my hand 23rd day of September 1867."

Children of Thomas Rice and 1st wife Elizaeth:

  1. Martha Rice who married Benjamin BRADLEY.
  2. Eliza Rice who married Reuben B. LOVELL.
  3. Sarah Catherine Rice born abt. 1840 married Philip Lewis Hargiss on 25 March 1854 in Sumner Co. TN.
  4. John W. Rice born abt. 1842 married Arabia Rahab "Ruby" EASLEY on 21 August 1860 in Sumner Co. TN.

Thomas Rice married second to Jane K. Payne on 1 February 1848 in Sumner Co. TN. Sarah died on June 8 1851. Her obituary is found in the Banner of Peace and Cumberland Presbyterian Abstract, Oct 23, 1851.

      Departed this life June 8, 1851, Mrs. Jane K. Rice, consort of Thomas J. Rice, and daughter of Robert and Sarah Payne, in the 36th year of her age, leaving many kind neighbors, an affectionate husband, and two small children (the youngest only four weeks of age) and a numerous train of relatives and friends to mourn their loss.
      Sister R. was born and raised in Sumner Co., Tenn. At the age of 17 she professed religion at the Beech camp-ground in Sumner Co, and joined the C. P. Church, in which she was a bright star as long as she lived.
      On the 1st day of February, 1848, she became united with T. J. Rice in the marriage relation. In the latter part of last year her health began to decline...She then, in the more earnest manner..and especially to train up her two little girls in the fear of God...
     P. S. Since the above was written, the infant of sister Rice has closed its eyes on earthly things...

Children of Thomas Rice and 2nd wife Jane K. Payne are:

  1. Emaline Rice born 15 May abt. 1846/1848 died 1885. She married Alancett Dewitt WORLEY (son of Joel L. and Judith Law).
  2. Female Rice born May 1851 Sumner Co. TN died 1851.

Thomas and his 3rd wife appear in the 1860 Sumner Co. TN Census, District 19, with the following children in the household: John, Emeline, Isabella and James.

Children of Thomas Rice and 3rd wife Saviar/Saviah/Salvira are:

  1. Isabel Rice born abt. 1852. Married Thomas J. Cook.
  2. James Rice born 1859. Married Judith Worley.
  3. Nathaniel Rice born 1861. Married 6 Dec 1883 to Georgia Ann Bell 1865-1930, daughter of William T. Bell and Mary Frances McDowell. They moved to Lousiburg KS. They are both buried in the Louisburg Cemetery in Louisburg according to the Miami Co KS cemetery books. For more information see the Bell Family Line.


Eliza Rice (daughter of Thomas J. Rice and wife Elizabeth) married Thomas Jefferson Lovell. See the Family Album contribution Lovell for more information.
Children are:

  1. Benjamin Franklin Lovell born 1 Apr 1851, died 18 1940.
  2. Thomas Jefferson Lovell born 16 June 1855, died 31 Jan 1936.
  3. George Wiley Lovell born 1858, died 1895/1900.


John W. Rice born abt 1842 (son of Thomas J. Rice and wife Elizabeth) married Arabia Rahab "Ruby/Rabee" Earley on 21 August 1860 in Sumner Co. TN. Known children (according to the 1880 Sumner Co. TN Census) are:

  1. Henry Rice b. abt. 1863
  2. William J. Rice b. abt. 1863
  3. Mary Rice b. abt. 1868
  4. George Rice b. abt. 1869
  5. Charles Rice b. abt. 1871
  6. Eddie Rice b. abt. 1873
  7. Frank Rice b. abt. 1877
  8. Laura Rice b. abt 1879


Children of John Worley and Lucinda are:

  1. Mary Worley, born 1865.
  2. James H. Worley, born 1867.


Emaline Francis Rice (daughter of Thomas Rice and Jane Payne) was born 15 May 1846?, died 1885. She married Alancett Dewitt WORLEY (son of Joel L. and Judith Law) was born 21 September 1838 in Sumner, TN, and died 1901 in Dallas, TX. For more information on Alancett D. Worley see Joel Worley Family.

Children of Alancett WORLEY and Emaline RICE are:

  1. George Namon Worley, born 15 May 1864. He married Perilee Alexander. Notes for George Namon Worley: interesting that supposedly his parents were married in 1865. Have no proof of the marriage however.
  2. Nancy Jeanette WORLEY, born 21 December 1866 in TN; died 04 September 1958 in Altus, Jackson, OK.
  3. Charlie Phillips WORLEY, born 23 July 1869.
  4. Albert Dewitt WORLEY, born 20 August 1873.
  5. Virgil Clarence WORLEY, born 01 October 1874.
  6. Joel Daniel Worley, born 15 May 1876 in TN; died June 1950 in Olney, TX.
  7. Zechariah Thomas WORLEY, born 28 July 1878. Notes for Zechariah Thomas WORLEY: known as Zack
  8. Jeff WORLEY, born 21 June 1883.
  9. Hattie Mae WORLEY, born 21 December 1884. She married North. Notes for Hattie Mae WORLEY: lived in Bowie, TX
  10. Benjamin Franklin WORLEY, born 05 July 1885.
  11. William Edgar WORLEY, born 21 April 1887.



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