Genealogy Report: Descendants of Matthew Campbell 'The Rebel' RHEA
Descendants of Matthew Campbell 'The Rebel' RHEA
1.MATTHEW CAMPBELL 'THE REBEL'35 RHEA(WALTER34CAMPBELL, MATTHEW33, WALTER32, MATTHEW31, WALTER30, DONALD29, COLIN28, COLIN27, DUNCAN 'SIR'26, COLIN25, CAILEIN IONGANTACH24, ARCHIBALD23, COLIN22, NEIL21, COLIN MOR20, GILLESPIE ARCHIBALD19, DOUGAL18, ARCHIBALD17, DUNCAN16, GILLESPIC 'ARCHIBALD'15, CAILEN MAOL MAITH 'BALD GOOD'14, DUNCAN MACDWINE13, GILLESPIC12, MALCOLM11, DIARMID10MACDUIBN, DUBHN9DERG, DUIBHN8, FERITHER7FINRUI, DUIBHN FUILT6DERG, FERITHER5EILE, ARTHUR OIG4MACDUIBHN, DUIBHN3MORE, FERITHER2OUR, SMERVIEMORE1) was born Abt. 1665 in Argyll, Scotland, and died in Co Donegal Ireland.He married (1) MAGDELENE DAUGHT/OF SIR FRANCIS KINLOCK.She was born Abt. 1665.He married (2) JANET BAXTER 27 Apr 1687 in Derry Cathedral, Templemore Parrish, IR, daughter of WILLIAM BAXTER and MARY OBRILLIGHAN.She was born Abt. 1660 in Ireland?.
Notes for MATTHEW CAMPBELL 'THE REBEL' RHEA:
Although the exploits of Matthew Rhea have been recorded by his
grandchildren and great grandchildren, the events of the early
life of Matthew in Scotland have yet to be confirmed.It is
thought he was the son of Walter Campbell.Circumstances and a
number of references point to this.It has yet to be proven. If
this lineage is true, the following would pertain this son of
Walter.
July 2, 1679 Archibald, Earl of Argyll signed a sasine in factor
of Matthew Campbell and Walter his father for a lifetime
interest in the lands of Orgaig in the Barony of Skipness,
parish of Kilcalmonell.This Matthew is also reported in Burkes
Landed Gentry as having married the daughter of Sir Francis
Kinlock. Matthew was a merchant and shipmaster.
In the Parish of Taughboyne, Barony of Raphoe, Co. Donegal,
Ireland in the year 1665 there appears a Matthew Reaugh on the
list of persons who paid 'Hearth Money Tax'.Also on the list
are 4 Baxter families - no William however.
Another modern source, Richard C. Fremon passes on this story:
"About Matthew, there was a Campbell of that name of about the
rightvintage who lived in Kintyre, second son of Walter
Campbell, Captain ofSkipness and Provost of Campbelltown. In
1930, a lady whose name now escapes me (later identified as Mary
Latham Norton) wrote an article in the Clan Campbell (USA)
journal to the effect that she had visited Scotland and
ascertained that the Matthew of Skipness was indeed the one who
found himself on the losing side of the Monmouth Rebellion,
escaped to Ireland, changed his name, had some adventures, and
married Janet Baxter. I am inclined to believe this story and
that Matthew and Janet had sons William, Archibald, and Matthew
Jr. in that order. I don't know what happened to William. He may
have come to America. I believe pro tem that Matthew Sr.'s son
Archibald was the immigrant who arrived in Augusta Co., VA with
his three sons about 1743."
Although Mary Latham Norton was a respected member of the Clan
Campbell Association, some of her work on the later Rheas has
since had to be corrected.
The remainder of the story is primarily from the writings of
Matthew's descendants including the memoirs of U.S. Congressman
John Rhea of Sullivan Co. TN.
On the occasion of the accession of James the Second, a Roman
Catholic, Archibald Campbell, 9th Earl of Argyll took a leading
part in fomenting the rebellion in favor of the Protestant Duke
of Monmouth (illegitimate son of Charles II by Lucy Waters).In
1685 when James Scott, Duke of Monmouth sailed to England, the
Earl with 3 ships and 300 men reached the Western Isles of
Scotland. The Earl endeavored to raise an army but the Scots
were not ripe for rebellion and he succeeded in leaving only a
small body of men, one of whom was his cousin, Matthew Campbell.
After 2 or 3 skirmished most of these followers deserted the
standard of the Earl of Argyll, but he and the faithful few
remaining undertook to make their way to England to join the
Duke of Monmouth.They were surrounded and taken prisoners.
After a failed attempt to shoot himself, Argyll was caught by
the Government forces at Inchinnan, near the town of Renfrew and
taken to Edinburgh.Argyll had been under Royal Parole
(previously convicted of refusing to subscribe to the Test Act)
and when he was captured was executed under the original
sentence on June 30, 1685 without trial at the same spot and
manner as his father at the market cross in Edinburgh.Other
Covenantors who here captured were taken to Dunnottar Castle
outside Stonehaven in Kincardineshire.About 100 here shut up
in a vault of the castle called "Whig's Vault".Many died here
from disease, hunger and rancorous air.Some survivors were
taken to Leith near Edinburgh where they got the choice of
acknowledging James VII or being sent as slaves to America. Most
accepted exile.Argyll's cousin, Matthew was tried, condemned
to life imprisonment and was confined to the Isle of Man in the
Castle Peel.He escaped by bribing a jailor and fled to the
small fishing village of Fahan in Ireland.
In Ireland, he assumed the name of Reah (variously spelled Rhah,
Reagh, Rea, Ray and finally established Rhea) and by this act
became the founder of the family of Rhea in Ireland.
An index of 'Persons who paid Hearth Money Tax in th Parish of
Taughboyne, Barony of Raphoe,Co. Donegal, Ireland in 1665 shows
three Reaghs: Hugh Momein Reagh, Matthew Momein Reagh and
Matthew Coughfin Reogh.Also on this list are a number of other
family names associated with the Rheas - Alexander, Baxter (no
William), Breadin, Deniston, Lata, McRabb,Nichol and Scott.
In 1687 He married Janet ('Jenot') Baxter In Londonderry at the
Cathedral at Templemoore.The Cathedral is in the center of
Derry near the little fountain on the west bank of Foyle.
Templemoore is a district of the city on the west bank.Janet's
parents William and Mary are also among names which appear in
records of the Cathedral.In his memoirs, Matthew's grandson
U.S. Congressman John Rhea says it is not known whether the wife
of Matthew Rhea (his great grandfather) was married to him in
Scotland before his imprisonment or in Ireland but subsequent
research has answered this question posed in 1830.
King James II set up a court to try people who participated in
the earlier uprising.More than 300 were sentenced to death and
over 1000 were sent as slaves to the West Indies. The English
were so upset with his cruelty, they asked King William of
Holland to be their new king.James II fled to France but
later tried to take Scotland but was defeated.He besieged
Londonderry Ireland from April 19th till July 30th 1689 but the
city held out over 3 months under desperate conditions.2300
townspeople were slain or died of starvation. In 1690 King
William himself came to Ireland and at the Battle of River Boyne
defeated the Jacobites and James II.These were the times the
Rebel lived in.
From these roots in Scotland, pausing for a generation in
Ireland, spring the American descendants of the Rebel.
More About MATTHEW CAMPBELL 'THE REBEL' RHEA:
Occupation: merchant, shipmaster
Notes for MAGDELENE DAUGHT/OF SIR FRANCIS KINLOCK:
Burkes reports her as the first wife of Matthew, son of Walter Campbell of
Skipness.
Notes for JANET BAXTER:
Her parents are determined by inference. Janet's first son was named William,
which is consistaant with traditional Irish naming.
Derry Cathedral, Templemore Parish records show the marriage of Jenot Baxter
and Mathew Reagh.Her birth does not appear but a William married Mary
O'Brillighan in 1654.Only other Baxters appearing were John, Robert,
Margaret and Agnes.
Children of MATTHEW RHEA and JANET BAXTER are:
2. | i. | WILLIAM36 RHEA, b. 01 Jan 1686/87, Ireland; d. 01 Jan 1777, Augusta Co., VA. | |
3. | ii. | ARCHIBALD RHEA, b. 01 Jan 1687/88, Londonderry, Co. Donegal, IRE; d. 01 Jan 1743/44, Walkers Creek, Augusta Co. VA. | |
4. | iii. | II. MATTHEW CAMPBELL RHEA, b. 01 Jan 1688/89, Co. Donegal, Ireland; d. Co. Donegal, Ireland. |