Samuel Rayner & Winnifred Perry

Sally’s 4-great-Grandparents:

Samuel Rayner ca 1744 – 1817 | his parents
& ca 1770 Winnifred Perry ca 1755 – 1810/17 | her parents.
Of Bertie County, North Carolina

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

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Samuel Rayner was born ca 1744 son of John Rayner & Judith Chappell.
He married Winny Perry. [family tradition]
Mar 1765 Bertie County Ct. Records: Ordered that J William Brown, Jonathan Miller, John Rainer, Sr, John Rainer, junr., & Samuel Rainer work on the road where Nathaniel Holley is overseer.
Mar 1765 A Deed from John Phelps to Samuel Ranner. Oath John Freeman.
Mar 1766 Saml. Rainer on Grand Jury.
Mar 1770 Saml. Rainer on Petit Jury.
Mar 1770 Saml. Rainer gave security for James Wilson Ad. Bond Sarah Wilson Estate.
1777 Samuel Rayner signed Rev. War pledge of allegiance to the state of NC against George III King of Great Britain.
Bertie County Tax Lists: Sam Rainer-1774;
Samuel Rayner-1781.
As there is no mention of his wife in Sam’s will date 16 Aug 1817, I think she had already died.

I am still looking for Winny’s parents.
All of Sam and Winny’s children named a daughter Mary. WinefredWinny) Perry is not the daughter of Benjamin Perry & his wife Mary who were in Bertie County, North Carolina, He died ca 1794 in Kershaw County, SC and left two wills in Kershaw Co, one dated 1779 named a wife Mary, the other dated 1789 his wife is Sarah. Their daughter Winefred was still a young girl in 1779.
Family tradition is that Winny’s father was a Benjamin Perry. Over in Perquimans County, I find that the Jacob Perry, who died in 1790, had a son named Miles Perry. This Jacob names a Benjamin Perry as his executor. I also see a Noah Perry left a will in Martin County in 1824.

Children of Samuel Rayner & Winny Perry:
1. Enoch Rayner 1771 – 1823 Bertie Co. shop joiner
Enoch R. was a subscriber in 1803 to Burkett’s History of the Kehukee Baptist Assoc.
Married Penelope Rasco
daughter of James & Elizabeth
2. Elijah Rayner ca 1775 – Oct 1844 TN
Elijah was a subscriber in 1803 to Burkett’s History of the Kehukee Baptist Assoc.
He moved to Haywood Co, TN after 1830.
Death notice appeared in RReg 1 Nov 1844
Married Catherine Outlaw ca 1782 – 1861 TN
daughter of Lewis & Elizabeth
3. Lot Rayner ca 1779 – bef 20 Dec 1805 Bertie Co.
In Feb 1805 John Outlaw age 17 bound to Lot Rayner, House Carpenter
On 20 Dec 1805 inventory of Lot Rayner’s estate turned in by Samuel Rayner
4. Miles Rayner 1782- 1819 Bertie Co.
Miles was a subscriber in 1803 to Burkett’s History of the Kehukee Baptist Assoc.
Married Celia Perry (died 1845) daughter of Josiah & Amillicent
She married ca 1824 2nd Sampson Wilder died 1836 Hertford Co
5. Noah Rayner ca 1784 – ca 1819 Bertie Co.
6. Celia Rayner 1785 – 1832 Bertie Co.
Married 1st Thomas Leary died 1814 Bertie Co.
Married 2nd prior 15 Oct 1822 John Capehart died 1828
7. Joel Rayner ca 1787 – 1818 Bertie Co.
8. Phoebe Rayner ca 1792 – bef 1850 Bertie Co.
married 1810/17 James Duer ca 1784 – 1853 Bertie Co.

US Census Bertie Co NC
1790 Sam Rayner 3 M under 16; 4 M over 16; 3 F 6 slaves
1800 Sam Rayner Males 2 0-10; 2 16-25; 1 over 45; Females 1 10-16; 1 16-25; 1 26-45
1810 Sam Rayner Males 1 16-25; 1 over 45 Females 1 16-25; 1 over 45

Will of Samuel Rayner 16 August 1817; Nov Term 1817
In the name of God Amen. I Samuel Rayner of Bertie County and State of North Carolina being at this time old and weak in body but of a sound mind and memory and knowing the certainty of death I do make and ordain this to be my last Will Testament in manner and form as follows to wit
first I give myself to God.
Secondly I give my body to the Earth to be Buried by my Executor in a decent manner that hoping that when Christ, who is and before & shall appear that we may also appear with him in glory and as touching my Worldly Estate that God has been pleased to bless me.
I give to my son Enoch Rayner the Negroes and other property that He has.
I give to my son Miles Rayner the land and Negroes that he has;
I give to my son Elijah Rayner the land and Negroes and other property that he has.
I give to my son Noah Rayner the land and one Negro man of yrs and other property that he has.
I give to Joel Rayner the land that I bought of Lewis Miller, the land I bought of Thomas Holley and the plantation whereon I now live.
But I dower and provide for my daughter Selah Larry that she shall have to her as a Benefit one-half of my plantation orchards houses and profits during her natural life in widowhood.
I give to my son Joel Rayner one Negro man named Tony
(The residue) To be divided equally among my children Enoch Rayner, Miles Rayner, Elijah Rayner, Noah Rayner, Joel Rayner, Selah Larry and Phebe Duers by my Executors Elijah Rayner & Noah Rayner. Samuel Rayner
Wit: Ezekial Green & Joshua Rayner

An Inventory and Account of Sales of the property of Samuel Rayner deceased
sold the 10th of October 1817 on a credit of Six Months
1 Tenant Law to Wm Leary .55
1 Plow Joel Rayner 1.00
2 ” ” .70
2 ” Celia Leary .70
2 ” Matthew Morriss .90
Two plows & leather Joel Rayner 1.00
Four weeding hoes ” .75
One lot Hoes ” .50
1 ” William Rayner .30
One lot Trumpery Joel Rayner .12 ¬Ω
One frow & 2 Axes ” 1.15
One frow & 2 Axes Miles Rayner .75
4 Axes Filgow .55
1 Lot Trumpery Elijah Rayner .25
1 Board Ax & 1 Broad Ax William Jernigan .50
1 Bell Joel Rayner 1.50
2 Axes Noah Rayner .60
3 ” James Freeman .50
1 Lot Trumpery Joel Rayner .15
1 Broad Ax & 1 Hatchet ” 1.35
One lot axes ” .55
1 Lot Trumpery Miles Rayner .56
1 Still (old) Peter White 4.50
1 Lot Trumpery James Freeman .40
2 Hoes Joel Rayner 2.30
One crose & comperse Noah Rayner .55
2 Jointers ” 1.50
Three planes Joel Rayner 1.50
23.572 (first of about 14 pages)

NCGSJ Aug 90 p141
Sec 4 Where the court allocated dower to a widow, without giving notice to the heir, it was, of course, irregular, and the heir might take advantage of the irregularity; but seven years’ possession under this allotment ripens into a title for the widow, which is good against a stranger—
Rayner vs. Capeheart, 2 Hawks 375

Grandchildren of Samuel Rayner and Winnifred Perry:

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Enoch Rayner and Penelope Rasco had:
1. Samuel Rayner ca 1802 –
married 1828 Harriet Coward
2. James Rasco Rayner 31 Aug 1807 – 27 Sept 1852 Bertie County
married 27 Feb 1831 Frances Lawrence 29 Oct 1813 – 20 Dec 1847
married 2 April 1850 Mary Elizabeth Collins Howe 10 Dec 1805 – 29 Oct 1855
widow of Dr. Alexander Wood Mebane
3. Mary Rayner ca 1812 –
married 1829 William Maer
married 2nd bef 1850 William Leary ca 1807 –
4. Nancy Rayner 1815 – ca Aug 1861 Haywood Co, TN
married 30 May 1833 Collin Hopkins 1810 – 1851/59
5. Thomas J Rayner ca 1817- 17 Feb 1838 unmarried

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Elijah Rayner and Catherine Outlaw had:
1. “Col.” Eli Rayner 1815 Bertie Co., NC – 28 Feb 1892 Memphis, TN
Cotton planter near Memphis, TN Memphis Newspaper Clipping re Eli

The Antebellum 1856 Eli Rayner Home at 1020 Rayner, Memphis, TN
on National Historic Register

married 18 Aug 1841 May Ann Jones 1826 VA – 15 Nov 1884 Memphis, TN
A. Sarah O Rayner 1842 – 1843 age nine months
B. Juan Timoleon Rayner 1844 Fayette Co, TN – 1931 Pueblo, CO
Moved to Colorado after the war- there one day he was shot in the leg during a drunken bar brawl (the fighters were downstairs, and he and Mary were in their room – the bullet came through the floorboards).
Married 1866 Mary Howard 1850 – 1925
they had 11 ch/ 5 living in 1900
her mother Fralicia R Howard ca 1826 living with them in 1910 CO
1877, 1878 – Juan Rayner, 483 Larimer under groceries and provisions [[Denver Business Directory]
1880 Juan Rayner r 9 Broadway
1889 – Juan Rayner, groceries 229 S Un, r 98 blk L Corona Park [Directory of The City of Pueblo]
He was a Confederate Civil War hero. Where his name originated, we haven’t a clue, but it has caused some curiosity. A historian in Memphis told us that it’s pronounced “Joo-un,” rather than “Wan” as it would be here in Texas. Note from Fran Bennett Oct 1997]
i. Catie Rayner ca 1867 – dy aft 1870
ii. Howard H Rayner 20 Nov 1871 – 8 June 1950 TN
iii. Maude Rayner Nov 1872 – single 1900
married William Barber
came from Scotland for the gold mining in Colorado
1. Thomas Howard Barber
married Anita Williams
a. William Carlton Barber
married Beverly Rudd of OK
i. Thomas Howard Barber.
ii. Jennifer Susan Barber.
iii. Cynthia Anne Barber [Wiggins]
iv. Fredie Rayner 29 July 1879 – 22 Oct 1881 CO ts MVC
v. Margarite F Rayner Feb 1883 – 1924 CO ts MVC
& 1885 census ‘died of a broken heart.’
vi. Irene Rayner Sept 1885 – 1979 CO MVC dsp
[Cynthia knew her]
vii. Mary E Rayner May 1889 – 30 Dec 1982 CO MVC
[Cynthia knew her]
married E Earl Brook 1889 – 1976 CO MVC
viii, ix, x, xi all died young before 1900.
C. Louisa C. Rayner 1846 – 3 Jan 1941
married Dr. William R. Hodges 1840 – 1878 Memphis TN
i. Charles Hodges 1869 – 1896
ii. Ada Knight Hodges 1873 – 1964
married Ceylon B. Frazer 1864 – 5 Sept 1921 Memphis TN
1. Ceylon B Frazer Jr. 1901 – 1970 Memphis TN
2. Louise Frazer 1903 – 1973 Memphis TN
married Charles Patrick Joseph Mooney ca 1900 – dec.
D. Catherine Rayner 1848 – 1872
E. Irene Rayner 1849 – 1939 Memphis, TN

snapshot of portrait of Irene Rayner Turley

married 1871 Thomas Battle Turley ca 1845 – 1 July 1910 age 65
prominent lawyer and U S Senator 1897 – 1901
i. Eli Rayner Turley 1872 –
a Memphis lawyer
Married 1899 Annie McCory ca 1878 – dec.
1. Henry M Turley
married Cordelia Jones
2. Mary Lou Turley
3. Eli Rayner Turley
4. Thomas B Turley
ii. Flora Turley 1873 – dec
married Dr. John M Maury ca 1870 – dec Memphis, TN
iii. Thomas Jefferson Turley 1875 – ca 1933 Memphis, TN
In 1923, President of the Turley-Bullington Mortgage Company
Married Sallye Johnson ca 1875 – dec.
iv. Mary Louise Turley 1878 – 1962 Memphis, TN
married John M Trenholm ca 1875 – dec
1. Margaret Trenholm
married McGhee Moore
v. Margaret Turley 1882 – 1907 [1897] Memphis, TN
F. Samuel Rayner 1849 – 1849 age 9 months
G. Ada Rayner 4 Dec 1851 Fayette Co TN – 2 Feb 1874 Memphis TN
married Mr. Askew ca 1850 – dec
H. Ely Whitfield Rayner 18 Oct 1852 – 10 June 1907
all born in Fayette Co. and Shelby Co., TN
Whitfield E. Rayner 18 Oct 1852 TN – 10 June1907 ts
Whit, Alice and little son all buried in Mount Hope Cemetery, Anson, TX
1900 Census for Stonewall County ED 145, Sheet 2
“He was a land speculator in the early days of Lubbock who almost got the town where he wanted it.” Judy
“W E Rayner was a cattleman, manager and part owner of the Rayner Cattle Company with home offices in St. Louis, Missouri and a ranch operation in King County. With the organization of Stonewall County immediately to the south in 1888, Rayner . . acquired a section of land and laid off a town which was designated the county seat. The town was named Rayner and although there was organized opposition to it the county commissioners court sustained the town and ordered a courthouse built there in 1889. The population in 1890 was 234 people. but then Aspermont was laid off and in 1898 gleaned the most votes [for the location of the county seat.] In 1890 too Rayner became interested in establishing a town in Lubbock. . .[the land in Lubbock was purchased in the name of his nephew Howard Rayner who joined him in this enterprise –was not his nephew, but rather Whit Rayner himself using the name Howard for his business dealings]” page 72 “the History of Lubbock” edited by Lawrence L Graves and pub in 1962 by the West Texas Museum Association.
married Alice Yates 10 Nov 1867 TN – 6 April 1932 ts
i. Eli Rayner 24 June 1891 – 22 Oct 1892 ts
ii. Mary Rayner 1895 TN –
married Bob Neathery ca 1895 –
I. Eli Rayner, Jr. June 1861 Memphis, TN – Apr 1933 Memphis, TN
Eli Rayner, Jr. was a Mississippi riverboat gambler.
At the time of his death, he owned the St. James Hotel, at 72 Beale St., Memphis, TN
married 20 Jul 1883 Memphis TN Sarah Olive Greenlaw
July 1863 Memphis TN – 6 Jan 1915 Memphis, TN
i. Whitfield Eli Rayner 12 Aug 1885 Memphis, TN – 29 May 1968 Dallas, TX
1. Russell McGee Rayner
married Loretta Thomas
2. Richard Emmett Rayner
married Ellen Schrimer
3. Ruth Rayner
4. Evelyn Rayner
married Joseph Dijoseph
5. James Rayner
ii. Emmett Greenlaw Rayner 10 Jul 1890 Memphis, TN – 9 Oct 1942 Dallas, TX

Emmett Greenlaw Rayner 1890 – 1942

ca 1919 Emmett Rayner with daughters Sally [holding his hand] and LouRene

married Fanny Brown Greenlaw Davis
11 Feb. 1887 Dallas, TX – 29 Oct 1960 Dallas, TX
1. Sara Frances [Sally] Rayner 29 April 1914 Dallas TX – 18 March 1997 Austin TX
married 1 Sept 1934 Clayton H. Billings14 March 1914 MI – 12 Oct 1997 Austin TX
parents of Janice and Fran
2. LouRene Jeanette Rayner 21 Jan 1916 Memphis TN – June 2006
married Richard Ferguson ca 1915 – 1989 Dallas TX
married 2nd Hal Gray
3. Dorothy Davis Rayner 5 July 1918 – 20 April 1997
married ca 1935 Vaughn Apple ca 1915 – dec
married Horace Fields 3 July 1916 – 9 Aug 1968 Dallas TX
4. Marjorie Elaine Rayner 10 Nov 1921 Dallas TX – 21 June 1974 Dallas TX
married Charles Carrel 21 Jan 1914 IL – 13 Sept 1985 Dallas TX

Sally Rayner 1914 – 1997

iii. Oliver Greenlaw Rayner 9 May 1905 Memphis, TN – 1986 Denison, TX
married Elizabeth Locke
2. Samuel Rayner ca 1817 Bertie Co., NC – bef. 1858 Fayette Co., TN
3. Mary Ann Rayner ca 1819 Bertie Co., NC – bef. 1858 Fayette Co., TN

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Miles Rayner and Celia Perry had:

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Celia Rayner and Thomas Leary had:
1. Edwin Leary ca 1804 – bef 1832-
2. William Leary ca 1807 –
married bef 1850 Mary E. Rayner (Maer) ca 1812 –
3. West Leary 9 June 1811 Bertie Co – 24 July 1881 Chowan Co, NC
10 of 13 children living in 1881- obit Baptist Minister
married 14 June 1832 Eliza Thatch ca 1813 – 23 June 1860
a. Thomas Leary ca 1833 –
b. West Leary ca 1835 –
c. Celia Leary ca 1837 –
d. Martha F Leary ca 1839 –
e. William Leary ca 1841 –
f. Quinton Leary ca 1842 –
g. Stephen Leary ca 1844 –
h. Mary Leary ca 1849 –
married 8 Jan 1862 Mrs A V Townsend d 29 April 1872
The following came from the Chowan Baptist Association.
ELDER WEST LEARY – Elder West Leary was born June 9, 1811.
In the 29th year of age he made a profession of religion,
uniting with the church of Capeharts, Bertie County. N.C..
On the 14th of June 1832, he married Mary E. Thatch,
and in the year 1847 moved to the county of Chowan.
His church regularly ordained him into the gospel ministry 1848.
In the year 1850 he organized and established the church in Macedonia,
in the pastorate of which he continues thenceforward to his death,
a period of over 30 years.
June 23 1860, he lost his wife;
January 8th 1862 married Mrs. A. V. Townsend, who died April 29th 1872.
He served in the pastorate many churches in the bounds of the Chowan Association- Mars Hill, Salem, Ballard’s Bridge, Ebenezer, Whiteville Grove, Ross Church, Providence, Macedonia and others.
He died at his home in Chowan county after a brief illness on the 24th of July, 1881, in the 71st year of his age.
Ten of the thirteen children born unto him now survive him.
His educational advantages were few indeed, but a native vigor of intellect,
fired by zeal for the cause of his master, and tempered by devoted piety,
made him a powerful instrument in God’s hands in the accomplishment of a great work. The churches he served as pastor, the communities where he labored in conjunction with others at the recurring protracted revival seasons, will acknowledge the efficiency of his ministry and grateful cherish his memory. ‚W. H. M
Note the following info recorded in Capeharts Baptist Church in Merry Hill.
West Leary joined Capeharts June 11, 1842, and his wife Eliza also.
Capehart’s Church ordained him in October 1846.
August 1850, Brother West Leary petitioned church for himself, wife and son Thomas (I or J) Leary and sister Mary (C ) Thatch for a letter of dismission to join some other sister church. Our church role has that West Leary, Eliza Leary and Mary C. Thatch were dismissed by letter August of 1850.
e-mail from Neil Baker
Note: Mary Thatch was 21 on the 1850 census. I expect she was Eliza’s niece. smk
4. Joseph L. Leary ca 1814 –
married 1834 Harriet Bell Van Pelt 3 May 1809 –
daughter of Daniel II and Jemima Van Pelt
a. Joseph H Leary ca 1834 –
b. James B Leary ca 1839 –
c. John W Leary ca 1841 –
d. Harriet A. E. Leary ca 1842 –
1828 Celia Capehart guardian of West Leary and Joseph Leary orphans of Thomas Leary
1832 James N Reed guardian of Joseph Leary orphan of Thomas Leary

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Phoebe Rayner and James Duers had:
1. Winnefred Ann Duers 1821-
married 1st Sunday, Dec 1850 Daniel Valentine lived Oak Villa
brother of William Darden Valentine d.1856 Hertford Co
2. James R Duers 1825 – 1895
3. Mary E Duers ca 1828 – died prior 1853
married 29 Aug 1849 William A Ferguson ca 1819
a. William F Ferguson 1851 –