A Southern Welcome to the Stubblefield Family Genealogy

The arms appear as blazoned by John Burke in Burke's Commoners of Great Britain and Ireland [London: 1834-1838], volume 3, page 675, for Owsley, of Skeffington, Leicestershire. Or. A chevron sable between three holly leaves vert. On a chief of the second a lion passant, between two fleurs-de-lis, argent.

Antiquus Restituatur Honor. Ancient Honor Restored. The arms depicted on the Main Page are a modern rendering of those borne by the family of Owsley, of Skeffington, Leicestershire. These arms were a subject of correspondence in 1796 between Major William Ouseley, then posted to the Ayrshire Light Dragoons and Dr. John Owsley, of Blaston, Hallaton, Leicestershire, and is included in Harry Bryan Owsley's The Owsley Family in England and America 1635-1890 [Chicago: 1890]. Dr. Owsley wrote that these arms were borne by Newdigate Owsley [1660-1714], then by his son, John Owsley [1690-1754]. Charles Owsley, younger brother of John, died in 1731, and was buried at Lowlaton Church, county Essex. The arms appear there on a marble monument erected to the memory of his father. John Owsley, being unmarried, as were all of his brothers, gave the seal bearing the Owsley arms to Dr. John Owsley [1717-1808], a grandson of Newdigate Owsley's sister, Edith [1662-1714] and her husband and cousin, Rev. William Owsley [1662-1733]. The original granting of these arms has been investigated by The Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies, in Canterbury, Kent, England. In a letter of 15 January 1998, Cecil R. Humphrey-Smith, F.S.A., Principal of the Institute, wrote-       "There is no coat of arms recorded for OWSLEY. As likely as not, it is descended from OUSELEY and at the time of the Heralds' Visitations in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, there were families in Cheshire and Northamptonshire. The Cheshire family appears to have disclaimed the title of gentility and use of arms. The Northamptonshire family of OUSELEY of Courteen Hall appears in the Visitation records of that county dating from 1564, 1610, 1613 and 1618. This was the work carried out in preparation for the 1617-1619 Visitations completed by William Camden, Clarenceux King of Arms, with Sir William Segar, Garter King of Arms, and Augustin Vincent, Rouge Rose Pursuivant of Arms." As Mr. Humphrey-Smith noted, the arms borne by the Leicestershire Owsleys were very similiar to those of the Northamptonshire Ouseleys. William Berry, in his County Genealogies, Pedigrees of Buckinghamshire Families [1837], page 61, depicts the armorial bearings of Sir Gore Ouseley [1770-1844], Baronet. The arms are described as- Or, a Chevron sable, between three Holly-leaves Vert; a Chief of the second. Whereas the arms of both families are identical, the crests are very different. Crests were not of a hereditary nature and each bearer of the arms could change it to whatever please him. That of Sir Gore Ouseley is described as- On a Ducal Coronet Or, a Wolf's head, erased, Sable, holding in the mouth, a dexter hand, couped at the wrist, Gules. The motto, Mors Lupi Agnis Vita, was also different, but could, like the crest, be changed to suit the bearer. In America, the arms were also ascribed to Thomas Owsley [1658-1700], of Stafford County, Virginia, a brother of both Newdigate Owsley and Edith Owsley. The arms were recorded in Matthew's American Armoury and Blue Book [1907], Armorial Addenda, page 58, John Matthews, editor. Source: http://www.owsleyfamily.com/

 

Generation No. 1

 1.  Major Thomas1 Owsley was born 1658, and died 1700.

Notes for Major Thomas Owsley:
http://www.owsleyfamily.com/stephensfamily.html
 
Child of Major Thomas Owsley is:
+ 2 i. Thomas2 Owsley, born Abt. August 1697; died 1750.
 

Generation No. 2

 2.  Thomas2 Owsley (Major Thomas1) was born Abt. August 1697, and died 1750.
 
Child of Thomas Owsley is:
+ 3 i. John Sr.3 Owsley, born 1734; died December 1764.
 

Generation No. 3

 3.  John Sr.3 Owsley (Thomas2, Major Thomas1) was born 1734, and died December 1764.  He married Ann Stephens, daughter of Robert T. Stephens.

Notes for John Sr. Owsley:
John was murdered in December 1764 by Francis Kennady, who was arrested and charged with his murder. This author has read two conflicting reports on the outcome of Kennady's trial.

John Owsley fell victim to foul play in late September or early October 1764 leaving his widow Ann to raise their five minor children, John, Robert, Sarah, Mary, and Ann. John Owsley had few possessions to sustain his family. Ann quickly sold what little land they had possessed to John's brother, Thomas Owsley, for £ 10 (Loudoun Co. Minutes, vol. B, p. 526 and Deeds, vol. D, p. 392). Further assistance was surely forthcoming from Ann's own family, as well as from the Owsleys, ensuring that she and the children would not have to depend upon assistance from the county.
 

Notes for Ann Stephens:
Ann Stephens was married 1st to John Owsley, killed in 1764, and 2ndly, about 1770, to John Adams, Jr. She was still living 10 December 1810, when, as Anny Adams, she sold Seth Botts (her grandson) all of her possessions for $92.00 (Claiborne Co., TN, Deeds, vol. C, p. 229).

By 1769, Ann Owsley may have been reaching the end of her ability to support her family. On 14 November 1769, Robert Stephens Senior of Cameron Parish, Loudoun County, "....for the natural love and affection which I have and do bear unto my well beloved Daughter Ann Owsley, Widow and for her better support and maintenance have given her one negro slave and her future increase...." (Loudoun Co. Deeds, vol. G, p. 209).

 
Child of John Owsley and Ann Stephens is:
+ 4 i. Mary4 Owsley, born Bet. 1752 - 1760 in Probably Cameron Parish, Loudon County, VA..
 

Generation No. 4

 4.  Mary4 Owsley (John Sr.3, Thomas2, Major Thomas1) was born Bet. 1752 - 1760 in Probably Cameron Parish, Loudon County, VA..  She married William Rice Bet. 1772 - 1782 in probably in Loudon County, VA.  He was born Abt. 1752, and died Abt. 1816.

Notes for William Rice:
settlers in what became Claiborne County, TN. This Rice family seems to have originated in Cameron Parish, Loudon County VA. A William Rice was listed in Cameron Parish along with a possible brother, James Rice. Two other possible brothers may be George Rice and Robert Rice. These Rice men were listed as serving with the 11th Virginia Continental Line from Loudon County, VA during the Revolutionary War. The Owsley family was also from Loudon County, and Owsleys also served with the 11th Continental Line, Loudon County Militia. Among these were John Owsley ("Housely") and William Owsley.
source: http://www.lcs.net/users/wsmith/williamrice.html

This family moved first to Rowan County, N.C., then Wilkes County, N.C., until settling in Claiborne County, Tennessee
 
Children of Mary Owsley and William Rice are:
+ 5 i. William B.5 Rice, born 1795 in probably in Wilkes County, North Carolina; died 1845 in Claiborne County, TN.
 6 ii. Daniel Rice.
 

Generation No. 5

 5.  William B.5 Rice (Mary4 Owsley, John Sr.3, Thomas2, Major Thomas1) was born 1795 in probably in Wilkes County, North Carolina, and died 1845 in Claiborne County, TN.  He married Eleanor Unknown.  She was born 1792, and died 1865.

Notes for William B. Rice:
Notes for WILLIAM B. RICE:
William B. Rice was in White County by 1814 in Capt. William Williams' Company, and was the son of old William Rice (c.1752-1816) and his wife, Mary Owsley.

He first appears in the White County, TN tax lists in 1814. The name Daniel Rice appears in the White County tax list in 1818, with land on Cane Creek. This author believes that this Daniel Rice is a brother of William B. Rice. Daniel Rice is also listed on the 1820 Maury County, TN census, and in Warren County, TN in 1840. Another possible brother is the Samuel Rice found in the 1850 Linn County, Missouri census, 50th District, living near Seth Botts Sr. and Seth Botts Jr.

In the 1820 White County, TN census, William's household included himself, three males under the age of 16, his wife, and two daughters. One son died before 1830.

William Rice was known to have been in White County as early as 1814, as proven by these taxlists:

1814:
Rice, William 1 white poll, no black poll, no stud horse, no stud fee
rate, no retail stores, no town lot, no carriage, no acres of land. Tax:
$.25 [Continuation of Taxable property and polls in the bounds of Capt.
William William's Company of Militia for the year 1814, page 190, White
County, Tennessee Trustee's Office Tax Book 1813-1815, Tennessee State
Library and Archives micropublication roll 123]

1815:
Rice, William 1 white poll, same as above. [Capt. Wm. William's Company,
Tax Book 1813-1815, page 231]

1816
(There were two men or one man let the tax collector charge him twice):

Rice, William 1 white poll, same as above. [Capt. William Guinn's
Company, Tax Book 1816-1818, page 10]

Rice, William 1 white poll, same as above. (This one appeared to live
near or on Calf Killer.) [Capt. Wm. William's Company, Tax Book 1816-1818,
page 21]

1817:
Rice, Theoderick B. 1 white poll, 6 black polls, 1 retail stores, 5 town
lots, 700 acres on Calf Killer. Tax: $29.99. [Capt. James Harbert's Company,
Tax Book 1816-1818, page 36]

Rice, William 1 white poll and nothing else. Tax: $.53 [Capt. John C.
White's Company, Tax Book 1816-1818, page 58]

1818:
Rice, William 1 white poll and nothing else. Tax: $.37-1/2 [Capt. White's
Company, Tax Book 1816-1818, page 77]

Rice, T. B. 1 white poll, 5 black polls, 7 town lots, 614 acres on
Calf Killer. Tax: $13.32. [Capt. Matlock's Company, Tax Book 1816-1818, page
84]

Rice, Daniel no polls, only 35 acres on Cane Creek. Tax: $.17-1/2 [Capt.
Rhea's Company, Tax Book 1816-1818, page 90]

William Rice, Sr., and William Rice, Jr., were living in
District 7 in 1838. Apparently, T. B. Rice lived out his life in White
County. In 1840, there was a listing for Heirs of T. B. Rice in District 1.

He appears on the 1820 White County, TN census with three males under the age of 10, but in 1830, has only two males, in addition to himself, enumerated. One son apparently died before 1830.

William probably married about 1810 in Claiborne (possibly even Jackson) County, TN. Eleanor Rice was born about 1792 in South Carolina. We do not know her maiden name as yet. She died in 1865, and is buried in the Rice-Saylors cemetery in White County, TN.

In 1836, DeKalb County was established out of parts of Jackson, Smith, Warren and White Counties, and William Rice's farm fell within the boundaries of the new county. In the 1840 census, page 254, his household was enumerated as follows:

1. One male 40-50

2. One female 10-15

3. One female 15-20

4. Two females 20-30

5. One female 40-50

His son, William Rice Jr, who married Mary Massa in 1839, was enumerated on the 1840 DeKalb County census, page 253 as follows:

1. One male 20-30

2. One female 20-30
 

 
Children of William Rice and Eleanor Unknown are:
+ 7 i. John A.6 Rice, born 1810; died 1837.
 8 ii. William Rice Jr, born 1815.  He married Mary Massa 1839 in White County, TN.
 9 iii. Elizabeth Rice, born 1812.
 10 iv. Mary Rice, born 1820.
 11 v. Martha Rice, born 1824.
 12 vi. Matilda C. Rice, born 1827; died 1881.  She married Silas Howell; born 1821; died 1899.
 

Generation No. 6

 7.  John A.6 Rice (William B.5, Mary4 Owsley, John Sr.3, Thomas2, Major Thomas1) was born 1810, and died 1837.  He married Sarah Howell Bet. 1830 - 1832 in White County, TN, daughter of John Howell and Betty Brewer.

Notes for John A. Rice:
No marriage record has been found for them. John Rice was killed by a bear or wild boar between 1834 and 1838, about the time Sarah married John Jaco.

Notes for JOHN A. RICE:
He was killed by a bear or wild boar

1850 census ahows John Jaco age 36 with Sarah age 36. Mason Rice, Age17 in this housewhold and a John Rice living in thw household of Alex Bussell Married Anggie Howell, sister of  Sarah Howell.
 
Children of John Rice and Sarah Howell are:
+ 13 i. Marion7 Rice, born 1833 in lived in Putnam County, TN; died 1902 in Sandy Hickey Cemetery in Putnam County.
 14 ii. John Granton Rice, born 1834; died 1911.
 

Generation No. 7

 13.  Marion7 Rice (John A.6, William B.5, Mary4 Owsley, John Sr.3, Thomas2, Major Thomas1) was born 1833 in lived in Putnam County, TN, and died 1902 in Sandy Hickey Cemetery in Putnam County.  He married (1) Mary Ann Myers.    He married (2) Susannah Lee 1853 in White County, TN.

Notes for Marion Rice:
name could be Mason
 
Child of Marion Rice and Mary Myers is:
 15 i. William Augustus8 Rice, born April 01, 1871.

 
Children of Marion Rice and Susannah Lee are:
+ 16 i. John H.8 Rice, born April 03, 1855; died in Red Boiling Springs, Macon County, TN.
 17 ii. Nelly (Eleanor?) Rice, born 1854.

Notes for Nelly (Eleanor?) Rice:
No info possibly died young

 18 iii. Sarah C. Rice, born 1856; died 1937 in Rhea County, TN.  She married Jesse Thomas 1880 in Putnam County, TN.
 19 iv. Belzara Rice, born 1858.

Notes for Belzara Rice:
No info, but Rufus Rice always talked about his "Aunt Belle". She may have lived to adulthood and married. No info.
 

 20 v. Lucinda E. Rice, born May 1861; died 1934 in McMinnville, Warren County, TN.  She married John Denton Brown Bet. 1879 - 1880; died 1908 in McMinnville.

Notes for John Denton Brown:
Their family is buried in the Faulkner Cemetery in McMinnville
 

Generation No. 8

 16.  John H.8 Rice (Marion7, John A.6, William B.5, Mary4 Owsley, John Sr.3, Thomas2, Major Thomas1) was born April 03, 1855, and died in Red Boiling Springs, Macon County, TN.  He married (1) Nancy Canady 1869.    He married (2) Sophia Lee Slate Bef. 1900, daughter of John Slate and Nancy Donaho.  She was born 1845, and died 1920.

Notes for John H. Rice:
Macon County, Tennessee Census, 1920
Dis HN Name Relation Sex Race Age Marital Status Birth Place
6 259 Rice, John H. Head M W 62  M Tennessee

Notes for Nancy Canady:
Surname could be Kennedy.
Surname could be Canady, source is Will Smith Hillsboro, TN [wolfman@blomand.net]

Notes for Sophia Lee Slate:
Sophia was the first cousin of James B. GRISHAM born 1843 Macon County, TN to Moses Grisham and Elizabeth Slate. John B. Grisham was the great-great grandfather of William Jefferson Blythe IV, a.k.a. President William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton.

 
Child of John Rice and Nancy Canady is:
+ 21 i. Rufus Edward9 Rice, born July 15, 1880; died 1957.
 

Generation No. 9

 21.  Rufus Edward9 Rice (John H.8, Marion7, John A.6, William B.5, Mary4 Owsley, John Sr.3, Thomas2, Major Thomas1) was born July 15, 1880, and died 1957.  He married Almeda (Alley) Snow 1899 in Red Boiling Spring, TN. Macon County, daughter of Albert Snow and Sarah Stafford.  She was born October 08, 1880 in Red Boiling Springs, Macon Co., TN, and died January 23, 1928 in Red Boiling Springs, Macon Co., TN.
 
Children of Rufus Rice and Almeda Snow are:
+ 22 i. Laura10 Rice, born June 09, 1911; died October 02, 1998.
 23 ii. Cleo Rice.
 24 iii. Jessie Rice, born 1907 in Red Boiling Springs, Macon Co., TN; died 1966 in Red Boiling Springs, Macon Co., TN.  He married Essie B. Gentry October 18, 1925 in Red Boiling Spring, TN. Macon County.
 

Generation No. 10

 22.  Laura10 Rice (Rufus Edward9, John H.8, Marion7, John A.6, William B.5, Mary4 Owsley, John Sr.3, Thomas2, Major Thomas1) was born June 09, 1911, and died October 02, 1998.  She married King Alexander Stubblefield March 29, 1929, son of John Stubblefield and Alice Coward.  He was born October 17, 1905, and died August 1988.

Notes for Laura Rice:
Family legend is that we are related to President Andrew Johnson.  This has not been confirmed.

Notes for King Alexander Stubblefield:
Macon County, Tennessee Census, 1920
Dist. 7 House number-284 Stubblefield, King A. Son M W 12  S Tennessee
Macon County, Tennessee Census 1930
Stubblefield, King A
  Age: 23 Year: 1930
  Birthplace: Tennessee Roll:  T626_2263
  Race: White Page:  1A
  State: Tennessee ED:  8
  County: Macon Image:  0750
  Township: District 7
  Relationship: Head

 
Child of Laura Rice and King Stubblefield is:
+ 25 i. Bobby Joe11 Stubblefield, born September 03, 1940 in Goodlettsville, Sumner, Tennessee.
 

Generation No. 11

 25.  Bobby Joe 11 Stubblefield (Laura10 Rice, Rufus Edward9, John H.8, Marion7, John A.6, William B.5, Mary4 Owsley, John Sr.3, Thomas2, Major Thomas1) was born  in Goodlettsville, Sumner, Tennessee.  He married RUTH CATHERINE BENNETT  daughter of LESLIE BENNETT and NETTIE BOSTON.  She was born in Lebanon,TN Wilson County, Tennesssee.

Child of BOBBY STUBBLEFIELD and RUTH BENNETT is:
6. i.  BOBBY JOE6 STUBBLEFIELD Jr., b. , Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee.
 

Generation No. 12

 26.  Bobby Joe Jr12 Stubblefield (Bobby Joe11, Laura10 Rice, Rufus Edward9, John H.8, Marion7, John A.6, William B.5, Mary4 Owsley, John Sr.3, Thomas2, Major Thomas1) was born  in Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee.  He married LAURA MICHELE CARDEN, daughter of JARVIS CARDEN and LINDA EDDINGS.  She was born  in Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee.