William Rhea (abt. 1714 - 1802)

There are no families by the name of Rhea at any time in Donegal. The family is Reagh on all documents in known locations. William Reagh who married Elizabeth Clark was from the family of Mathew Reagh. William would be a son from his first marriage. But this would need further clarification. Dates of birth of the children cannot be confirmed accurately. There was however a William Rhea who lived in County Down, Ireland who is showing up in America around 1760, but this is in Albany New York. Part of this family remained in Ireland until at least the 1920's. The family at this time, based on very limited documentation, were claiming descent from Mathew Reagh of Donegal & connection to the Reagh-Rhea family of Tennessee. The Tennessee family descend from the Reverend Joseph Reagh who emigrated from Fahan in Donegal to Pennsylvania, in 1769, Initially Pennsylvania then Maryland. He purchased land in what was North Carolina, but never lived there himself. Dying before the family moved. His son John Rhea was a Senator in Tennessee. John Rhea was also in the Virginia Militia during the Revolutionary War, along with his brothers. Also in the same Militia was an Archibald & John Reagh, cousins, who I believe we're connected to William Reagh (sons?). There is a small file in the Public Records Office Belfast I hope to get to see in the next couple of weeks that was submitted by the descendants of William Rhea of County Down in 1922. By that time they were spelling the name Rea.

In the early Pennsylvania tax rolls, it would appear to me that the Rhea family, or at least part of them are still using the spelling Reagh. You can see by the locations two families. I have not followed these familes yet.

'A' haplogroup looks to relate more to Rea, who are not connected to the Reagh/Rhea lines. Ray & Wray do in some locations. Campbell is not a correct name for this family early on. ie Mathew Campbell Reagh of Donegal. It is Mathew Reagh. No one can say who the original ancestor of this line was. In 1660 there were four male Reagh's in Donegal,no doubt connected due to their proximity. This family has no connection whatsoever to the Reagh's of Cork Ireland. Autosomal dna connections multi times between Donegal family descended from the Reagh's & the US Rhea's of TN. William Rhea emigrated from one British colony to another British colony. Flag should be 1606 Union Flag.....as used by George Washington. Reagh/Reah's were Ulster Scots Presbyterian, not Irish, ever.