Elizabeth Rayner McFarlane

Elizabeth Rayner ca 1750 –  ca 1805 | her parents
& Walter McFarlane ca 1747 – ca 1810/20 | his parents
of Hertford Co NC


This is my working hypothesis –
the way I see it as of this moment!!


1768 May  Walter McFarang and John Freeman witnessed a deed from William Freeman of Chowan to Joshua Freeman of Bertie Co. Bertie Deed bk L-2 134

1771, 21 June  Walter McFarland and David [x] Askew witnessed a deed from Thomas Ward, planter, of Bertie Co to Joshua Freeman of same. Deed Bk L-2 259

1772, 27 June  Henry (x) Haste & James Burrass, planters, both of Bertie Co to Walter McFarland school master of same. 27 Jun 1772. 10¬£5s proclamation. 50 acres (messuage) joining Blunts Branch, the main road, Deep Prong of Blunts Branch, old main road.
Wit: John(x)Rayner, William Nowell, Aug Ct 1774. John Johnston CJC
Bertie Co Deed Bk M -107 ~abstracts by Dr. Stephen E Bradley, Jr.

1773- 24 April  Adam [x] Harrell of Bertie Co to Meda White planter of Hartford Co witnessed by Luke [x] White and Walter McFarlane

1773, 12 Jan  Joshua Evans planter of Bertie Co to John Askew of same 200 ac joining Jacob Hill, James Burroughs, the river. Also signed by Elizabeth [x] Evans. witnessed by Walter McFarlane, William Sowell, Thomas Sowell.

1775, 22 July  Demcey Kail of Bertie Co to John Kail of same  100 ac joining Luke White’s former line, James Burroughs, Burrell Bell’s former line. witnessed by Walter McFarland, Jacob Kail, Jeremiah Kail.

1777, 2 Oct  John [x] Rayner of Bertie Co to William Rayner of same. 110 ac on east side of Quyoxison Swamp joining John Brittain, the glade witnessed by Nath. Holley, Amos Rayner, Walter McFarland

1779 Tax List Hertford Co NC Walter McFarlane 140 ac of land, 1 horse, 2 cattle, 8 pds money

1782, 9 Nov John Askew of Hertford Co to his son James Askew deed of gift land he purchased from Joshua Evans and Steven White witnessed by Milley Downing, William Downing, Walter McFarlin

1782, 17 Aug  John [x] Rayner of Bertie Co to his son Amos Rayner  where sd John Rayner now lives joining Barbagud Swamp. witnessed by Elizabeth McFarland, Ann [x] McFarland, Walter McFarland.

1785, 14 Feb  Jethro [x] Trumble of Bertie Co to Anna Rayner of same  15 acres joining John Rayner, John Freeman witnessed by William Rayner and Walter McFarlong

US Census 1790 Hertford Co
McFarlane, Walter 1 m over 16, 2 m under 16, 6 females

US Census 1800 Hertford Co
McFarlane, Walter 1m 16/25, 1m 45+, 2f 16/26, 1 f 45+

US Census 1810 Hertford Co
Walter MFarlane 1m 16/25, 1m 45+ 2f 0/10 1f 10/16 1f 26/45

Elizabeth Rayner and Walter McFarlane had:
. . Elizabeth related that when she met this Scotchman, Walter McFarlane, he was wearing a battle green suit and carried saddlebags.  He had been going through the country buying up Government Lands.
Walter had a brother named Billy in Glasgow, Scotland.
They married and settled at the Nathan Cullens Place in Hertford County‚

Another story: Once Elizabeth McFarlane visited a neighbor sick with “choking quenzy”  then as Elizabeth was walking home in the dark from her neighbor’s house she was badly frightened by a panther that followed her.
from a paper by Preston Grissom sent me by Jim Deans

1. William McFarlin 1776/80 – aft 1840 census Bertie Co
US Census 1820 Hertford Co
William McFarlane 2 0/10, 1 16/18, 1 16-25, 1 26/45,
F 3 0/10, 3 10/16, 1 26/45
US Census 1830 Hertford
William McFarlane 1 10/15, 1 20/30, 1 50/60
F 1 5/10, 2 10/15, 1 15/20, 1 40/50
Amos McFarlain 2 0/5, 1 30/40,
F 1 10/15, 1 30/40
US Census 1840 Bertie Co
Wm McFarlane 1 10/15, 1 60/70
F 1 20/30, 1 30/40
US Census 1840 Hertford Co
Wm McFarlane 1 0/5, 1 30/40,
F 2 5/10, 1 15/20

a. William Mc Farlane ca 1802/04 – Nov 1845 Hertford Co

?married Mary Beasley ca 1820  
i. Adaline McFarlane ca 1834 

ii. William McFarlane ca 1835
iii. Mary Mc Farlane ca 1836 
iv. Julia McFarlane ca 1840
2. Judith McFarlin ca/bef 1786 
married Bertie Co 3 July 1802 Cullen Cowan [rem. Montgomery Co, AL]
3. daughter McFarlane dec.1828

married Obediah Sowell
Sowell, Obediah of Wake Co, NC 8 Dec 1827 appoints his friends William McFarlane & Isaac Taylor of Hertford Co, NC his attorney to manage that part of the legacy that should fall to him or his children, Asa & Mary Sowell by the last will & testament of William Rayner deceased, as the Heirs of Walter McFarlane, deceased, Reg in Bertie Co Nov Ct Term 1828.
a. Asa Sowell
Sowell, Asa of Wake Co, NC 24 Dec 1830 appoints his father Obediah Sowell , his attorney to recover all debts due him from the Estate of William Rayner deceased, formerly of Bertie Co, NC.
b. Mary Sowell

4. Mary [Peggy] McFarlane
married Isaac Taylor 1770/80 – 1835
Inventory taken 6 March 1835 by John B Taylor Exr.

a. Rachel Taylor 1798 –
married William Deans 1799 –
1850 Census Chowan Co dist west of Edenton shows
Adaline McFarland 16 living with them

i. Thomas Deans ca 1824-
ii. William Deans ca 1833-
b. John B Taylor ca 1800 – 1866/67

married Elizabeth
i. John P[or B] Taylor ca 1833 –
ii. Dorsey Taylor ca 1835 –
iii. Mary Elizabeth Taylor 27 Oct 1838 – 5 Jan 1912
married Bryant Mitchell ca 1822 –
iv. Isaac Lafayette Taylor ca 1840 –
v. Irene Taylor [Copeland] ca 1844 –
vi. Amanda Taylor [Howell] ca 1846 –
vii. Frusey A Taylor ca 1850 –
viii. Hillory Taylor ca 1853 –
ix. Beatrice V Taylor ca 1857 –
x. Sarah E Taylor ca 1861 –
xi. Florence M Taylor ca 1863 –

will of John B Taylor written December 1866; probated Feb Ct 1867
Mentioned:
John B. Taylor
wife Elizabeth
five younger children: Frusey A., Hillory, Beatrice V., Sarah E., and Florence M.
Gave: five younger children mentioned above the residue of my landed estate
Other children mentioned in Item 3-8 are listed in this order:
daughter Elizabeth Mitchell
Son Dorsey
daughter Irene Copeland
daughter Amanda Howell
son Lafayette
Ex son Dorsey Taylor
 e-mail from Becky Dozier

c. Issac Taylor 1800/10 – bef Feb 1843
i. Martha Taylor
ii. Thomas Taylor
iii. Isaac Taylor
d. Simeon Taylor 19 Jan 1812 Hertford Co NC – 19 Mar 1902 Grimes Co TX
married ca 1840
Sally Nowell 5 Feb 1821 Hertford Co NC – 6 Apr 1888 Grimes Co TX
e. Maj. Hillary/Hillery Taylor 1819 – of Mill Neck

married Nancy E. ca 1827 – bef 1870
i. Lt. William P Taylor ca 1843  of Winton
married Sarah Martha\ Sallie Mitchell 1 May 1842 – 21 July 1911
ii. Lavenia C Taylor ca 1845 –
married George M Matthews
? ? son of John Matthews & Louise Eure
iii. Cornelia A Taylor ca 1848 –
iv. Mary W Taylor ca 1850 –
v. Georgiana Taylor ca 1852 –
vi. Josephine B Taylor ca 1854 –
vii. Simeon Pipkin Taylor ca 1857 –
viii. Lurinda P Taylor ca 1860 –
ix. Nancy E Taylor ca 1862 –
x. Theodonia Taylor ca 1864 –
xi. Magalena Taylor ca 1866 –
xii. Lena Taylor ca 1868 –
married bef 1870 Sallie A ca 1840 –

1850 Harrellsville, Hertford Co., NC
Hellery Taylor -age 31
Nancy Taylor -age 22
Wm P Taylor -age 6
Lavenia C Taylor -age 4
Cornelia Taylor -age 1
Emily Green -age 30


1860 Hertford Co., NC
Helry Taylor -age 40
Nancy Taylor -age 35
Wm P Taylor -age 17
L C Taylor -age 14
C A Taylor -age 12
M W Taylor – age 10
Georgiana Taylor-age 8
J R Taylor age 6
S P Taylor -age 3
Lurinda Taylor age 1 
Levinia Askew -age 15, b. Bertie Co., NC
G W Askew -age 14, b. Bertie Co., NC


1870 Harrellsville, Hertford Co., NC
Hillary Taylory -age 50, b. NC, farmer
Sallie J. -age 32
Mary W. -age 19
Georgeanal -age 17
Josephine R. -age 15
Simeon P. -age 13
Lurinda P. -age 11
Nancy E. -age 8
Theodoria – age 6
Magdelena -age 4
Lena -age 2
3 black servants – labors on the farm

5. Walter McFarlane Jr
6. Fruzy McFarlane 7 Jan 1790 – 4 Sept 1859 Gates Co age 70 yrs 8 mo 27 days
married 1st John Fairless, son of Hardy Fairless

a. Joseph A Fairless ca 1810 – 1869
married Mily (Emily) unknown ca 1815 – aft 1870
1870 census shows Emily living with children: Christian, Elizabeth, Mary, and William
i. Christian Fairless ca 1836 –
ii. John A Fairless ca 1838 Mintonsville twsp, Gates Co NC – 15 Oct 1862
Carpenter, enlisted CSA 27 Feb 1862 –
deserted to the enemy 1 July 1862

married 11 Aug 1858 Elizabeth Chappell
1. Sarah Fairless 1859 –
iii. Elizabeth Fairless ca 1843-
iv. Joseph W Fairless ca 1846 – 1864 pneumonia
v. Mary Fairless ca 1848 –
vi. William Fairless ca 1857 –
married 2nd Robert [Robin] Taylor ca 1810 –
as his 2nd wife
a. Mary Virginia Taylor
married Welch
ancestors of Robert Winslow Welch
I descend from Walter McFarlane and Elizabeth Rayner’s daughter Fruzy that married Robert or Robin Taylor.
My father was William H. Welch, son of Edward C. Welch and
Nora Prescilla Wiggins and was born at their place near the Chowan river in Chowan county at the Gates county line.
married 3rd Simon Stallings bef 4 Sept 1859

7. Amos Mcfarlain ca 1790/1800 –
?8. Sarah Mcfarlane
    married Lewis Davidson
provision in the will of Sarah Rayner 4th “I desire that fifty Dollars out of my Estate be placed in the hands of Isaac Taylor for the benefit of Sarah Davidson to be laid out by I Taylor as she may stand in need.”
– I do not think Sarah Rayner trusted Sarah Davidson’s husband