Rev Reuben Lawrence & Frances Rasco

Sally’s great-great-great Grandparents:

Elder Reuben Lawrence 1787 – 1843 | his parents
& ca 1808 Frances Rasco ca 1784 – 1845 | her parents
of near Windsor, Bertie County, North Carolina

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

Reuben Lawrence and his wife Frances (I believe she the daughter of Arthur Rascoe)
were married ca 1808 in Bertie Co, NC.
Reuben Lawrence, son of Frederic Lawrence was born in Bertie Co, NC in 1787.

“Reuben Lawrence (1787-1843) was encouraged to “exercise his gift within the bounds of this [Cashie] church” in 1818, with that “encouragement” extended to “wherever the Lord shall call him” in the following year. He was ordained on the 3rd Sunday in August, 1820, with Aaron Spivey and Richard Poindexter forming the presbytery. Lawrence’s “call” was to be to the Cashie Church, which he served from 1823-1843.”

Reuben Lawrence was ordained on the 3rd Sunday in August 1820
at the Cashie Baptist Church. Church was located one mile east of Windsor near Sandy Point, a 42 foot square building erected around 1770.
He served for twenty-one years as pastor of Cashie Baptist Church near Windsor. He also served congregations at Capehart Church from its founding on 10 Dec 1824 until his death – his sister Judith and her husband James McGloghon head the lists of 74 charter members and Sandy Run. Taylor-The Baptist Church at Cashie.
Reuben Lawrence died 25 Feb 1843.
deposition by Nathaniel Lawrence in Ct case.
23 May 1843 — $10 Bill for coffin Rev Reuben Lawrence estate.
Frances Lawrence’s coffin was delivered 15 June 1845.
Her inventory was taken 27 Dec 1845–

Children of Reuben Lawrence and Frances Rascoe?:
1810 census 1 0 1 0 0 – 0 0 0 1 0 0 1
1. Frederic Lawrence ca 1809 – 2 Sept 1845
married Martha H ? ca 1812-
she married 2nd a Bailey died bef 1850 census
2. Frances Florentine Levana Lawrence 29 0ct 1813 – 20 Dec 1847
married 1831 James Rascoe Rayner 1807 – 1852
3. Alpheus Lawrence ca 1815 – Dec 1843
married Mary Eliza Ann Worley ca 1821 – ca 1860

History of Chowan Baptist Association – Delke
ELDER REUBEN LAWRENCE, BORN 1787 – DIED 1843, AGE 56.
Served Cashie church as Pastor twenty-one years, till his death.
He did also much itinerant work–fought a good fight. (He preached the introductory Sermon at the Chowan Baptist Association three times.)

State of North Carolina, Bertie County
Where as it was the wish and intention of the late Reuben Lawrence deceased.
that he have made and executed a last will and testament,
to have given a special legacy to His grand daughter Frances Penelope Rayner,
daughter of James R Rayner, a certain Negro girl named Harriet now about twelve years of age: and knowing the wishes of the said Reuben Lawrence decd and being also willing and desirous, so far as we can do by our acts and deeds to carry out his wishes as though he had made a last will and testament:
Now know all men by these presents, that we Frances Lawrence, widow of the said Reuben Lawrence and Frederic and Alpheus Lawrence and James R Rayner (the latter in right of his wife Frances) Heirs at Law of the said Reuben Lawrence decd do hereby for ourselves our and each of our Heirs, Executors & Administrators remiso, release and forever quit claim unto the said Frances P. Rayner & her Heirs, Executors, administrators or assigns and ….to the said Negro girl Harriet & her future increase forever etc…..
In testimony of all which the said Frances Lawrence, Frederic Lawrence, Alpheus Lawrence and James R Rayner have here unto subscribed our names and affixed our seals this 20th day of April AD 1843.
Frances Lawrence; F Lawrence; A Lawrence; J R Rayner
Wit: N P P Lawrence; Miles Bagley; A W Mebane; T F White.

1845 Estate of Mrs Lawrence – J R Rayner
June 15 fine coffee & cups 12.00
Pd Moses L Mizelle for funeral services 2.00

An Inventory of the personal property of Reuben Lawrence deceased which came into the hands of Frederick Lawrence his Administrator and sold by him Augt 10th 1843
1 doz Windsor Chairs Mrs Francis Lawrence 1 00
1 set Dining Table do do 1 00
1 Desk do do 25
1 set Books do do 1 00
1 Brass Clock do do 1 00
1 Looking Glass do do 25
2 Tables do do 25
1 Safe & Contents do do 25
1 Small Bed do do 1 00
3 Chests do do 50
2 Sets Andions Shovel & Tongs do do 25
1 Set water & pitchers do do 05
1 set Crockery & Spoons do do 50
1 set old Chairs do do 25
1 Bed & furniture do do 1 00
1 Table & Chairs do do 05
1 Set Bed Close do do 1 00
1 Bed & furniture do do 1 00
1 Bed & two pillars do do 1 00
1 Table & Trunk do do 50
1 Wash Bowl do do 05
1 Saddle & Bridle Nathaniel T S Lawrence 05
1 Grain Fan Alpheus Lawrence 5 00
1 Sett Black Smith Tools James R Rayner 5 00
1 work Ox Mrs Francis Lawrence 1 00
1 Ox Cart do do 1 00
1 Double Gig do 1 00
1 Single Gig James R Rayner 2 00
27 20
1 Lot Ploughs Mrs Francis Lawrence 1 00
1 Spade do 25
2 Grub Hoes do 25
1 lot Weeding Hoes do 50
1 Gray Mare do 10 00
1 Black Horse N. F. P. Lawrence 10 00
7 Sheep @ 25 cts each Mrs Francis Lawrence 1 75
1 Cow & Calf do 1 00
1 Yoke Oxen A. Lawrence 6 50
1 do Frederick Lawrence 8 75
1 Red Steer N F P Lawrence 3 75
1 Spotted Hifer R P Freeman 2 00
1 Black Spotted Hifer James R Rayner 2 00
1 Red Crumply Horn Hifer do 2 05
1 Hifer do 2 55
1 lot Hollow ware Mrs Francis Lawrence 1 00
1 Table & 3 Trays do do 50
7 Shoats do do 7 00
1 Sow & 5 shoats do do 2 50
7 Hogs do do 7 00
10 Hogs in Buckeling A Lawrence 4 75
Gig & Plough harness Mrs. F Lawrence 1 00
Hire of negro Jefferson
balance of the year 1843 Mrs F Lawrence 12 00
Caenasy do 8 00
Rhody & 3 children do 8 00
Boy George do 8 00
Boy Grunderson do 8 00
$125 30
Mrs. Francis Lawrence
700# Bacon & Pork
3000 Herrings
15 bushels wheat
The growing Crop & the corn & wheat & fodder to make fifty bls
corn & Two thousand five hundred the fodder
Articles allowed in the years Provision of
100 lbs lard
38 lbs wool

An Inventory of Notes found in the possession of Ruben Lawrence deceased
& which came into the hands of Frederick Lawrence his administrator Augt 10th 1843.

One note signed & sealed by F Lawrence due 1st Jan 1837 $35.00
One note against John Hoddow? Due 1st Augt 1842 $ 5.00
One note signed by James Holder and James R Rayner
due 26th June 1840 $ 8.81
One note Against A. Lawrence due 1st June 1844 $19.75
An account of personal property advanced by Reuben Lawrence
to his children in his lifetime as follows:
to Jas R Rayner & wife Frances
Hire of negro Ganzy for 1839, ’40, ’41, ’42, ’43
making five years @ $71.25 per year 356.25
negro Dick per value at 750.00
one sow & pigs 5.00
Two cows and calves 12.00
one mule colt 32.00
cash 4.00
negro girl 150.00
$1309.00
to Alpheus Lawrence & F Lawrence
Hire of 3 negroes for 2 years @ $80 for year $480 –
5 months labour of 2 boys @ $8 an per month 80 –
5 months ” at $4. 20—
Amt of the value of the slaves got on R Lawrence’s land $1455
to 1/3 of which the owner of the land would be entitled 970—
1550
¬Ω of $1550 to A Lawrence 775.00
value of negroes allotted to Alpheus 1100.00
a mule 80.00
$1955
¬Ω of $1550 to Fredrick Lawrence 775.00
value of negroes alloted to Fred 1100.00
one horse 80.00
$1955

Grandchildren of Reuben Lawrence and his wife Frances:

Frances Florentine Lawrence 1813-1847 and James R Rayner had:
1. Aura Elizabeth Rayner 29 Sept 1832 – ?
married 1851 James Bryant went to Indiana
2. Alice Z Rayner 26 Sept 1834 – 15 July 1853
3. a son 10 April 1836 – 10 April 1836
4. Frances Penelope Rayner 22 Jan 1838 – 7 January 1866
(Neppie went blind at an early age. Eunice Waters had a little box with the braille characters she used for writing. She was in a school in Philadelphia when Lincoln was shot. The girls in the dormitory had hung crape on the Bedposts.
Being a good Southern girl, she went into a rage and tore it all down!)
5. Mary Winifred Rayner “Mollie” 3 Feb 1840 – 26 Apr 1925
married 1860 John Alexander Rayner
6. Celia Octavia Rayner 3 Apr 1842 – 20 Apr 1916
married 1865 Wm J Northcott
7. James Thomas Rayner 22 Jan 1844 – 6 Mar 1892
married 1867 1st Celia A Holly 1845-1876
married 1884 2nd Margaret E Mitchell 1866-
8. Joseph Reuben Rayner 25 July 1846 – 9 July 1909
(never married– lived Gates Co, NC)
9. Francis Samuel Rayner 30 Nov 1847-
went to Indiana
married 11 Aug 1903 Hertford Co, NC Mary N. Askew ca 1877 –

Frederic Lawrence c1815- Sept 1845 and Martha H —– had:
1. Elizabeth M Lawrence ca 1839 –
married 23 Dec 1856 Thos Bagley
2. Damavis Lawrence ca 1841
married 8 Jan 1862 Jackson Rountree
3. Humphrey Lawrence died 1846
4. a child died Sept 1845

1850 Census
Martha H. Baily 38 F 1500 real NC;
Elizabeth M Lawance 11 F NN;
Demarius 9 F NC

Alpheus Lawrence ca 1815-1843 and Mary Eliza Ann Worley of Mill Landing:
1. Thomas R Lawrence ca 1835 –
living 1880 New Hope, Perquimans, NC
married 6 May 1858 Sarah Ann Hodder
2. Mary Frances Lawrence ca 1840 – died between 1854 & 1860
3. Alpheus Elizabeth Lawrence 6 Mar 1844 –
married 4 Dec 1860 William H. Slaughter 1 May 1838 – 1898
attended W. F. College in Murfreesboro, NC

Wesleyan Female College, Murfreesboro, NC ca 1870
built in 1853 next door to Chowan Baptist Female Institute
This is the first building that burned in 1877,
It was rebuilt 1881 and burned again 1893, was not rebuilt.

1850 Census
William G Worley 27 M Farmer 2000real NC;
Mary E. A Lawrence 29,
Thomas A Lawance 12 M NC S;
Mary F Lawrence 10 F NC S:
Alpheus E Lawrence 6 F NC