Sally’s great-great Grandparents:
William Rayner 1812 – 1860 | his parents
& 1834 Eliza C Drew 1818 – 1856 | her parents
of near Powellsville, Bertie County, North Carolina
This is my working hypothesis – the way I see it as of this moment!!
William Rayner and Eliza C Drew were married 22nd May 1834–Rayner Family Bible.
Bertie County Marriage Bonds: Wm. Rayner – Nelly Eliza Drew -May 20, 1834. Bondsman A. Oxley.
William Rayner, son of Joshua Rayner and his wife Martha Outlaw, was born 30 Oct 1812 at the family home in Bertie County near Powellsville, NC.
His mother died in 1820 and his father in 1825.
In 1830 Census I believe he is in the household of his brother in law Aquilla Oxley who was bondsman for his marriage bond.
He died 23 March 1860. Bertie Co Mortality 1860 Wm Rayner 46 m Mar farmer Ulcer 6 mos.
Eliza C Drew alias Nelly Eliza Drew daughter of Whitmell Drew and Penelope, his wife was borned 6th of Sept 1818–Family Bible Record.
She died 6 August 1856 age 38 years, 11 mo.
Her mother, Penelope Drew was a member of this household until her death 3 February 1880.
Children of William Rayner and Eliza C Drew:
1. Marcus Joshua Rayner 6 July 1835 – 4 Nov 1906
never married
2. John Alexander Rayner 31 July 1837 – 22 Dec 1901
married 1860 Mary Winifred Rayner 3 Feb 1840 – 26 Apr 1925
3. Martha Ann Penelope Rayner 18 Oct 1839 – 1916
married 1869 George B Harrell ca 1839 Bertie Co NC – bef 1900
son of George Harrell ca 1810 and wife Elizabeth ca 1810, brother of Michel D Harrell ca 1843, also in household 1850 Cyntha Harrell ca 1829 cannot read ~ all born NC
4. Mary Addlin Hannah Rayner 6 Nov 1842 – 18 Jun 1869
married 1868 Marcus B Evans ca 1839 –
5. Sarah Eliza Rayner 3 Oct 1845 – 26 May 1915
married 1886 William L (Billie) Mitchell 1832 – aft 1910
he had married 1st Mary Margaret Alston ca 1833 – ca 1886
6. Araminta Manda Rayner 9 Mar 1848 – aft 1910
married 9 April 1884 Jacob Lenow ca 1814 SH Co VA – 18 Feb 1892 Bertie Co NC
he had married 1st in Southampton Co VA 18 June 1838
Narcissa Murfree ca 1812 Hertford Co – 1860/1880
the census shows him with a 2nd wife L J on the 1880 census SH Co VA
7. William Reed Rayner 24 May 1853 – 1921 Bertie Co, NC
married 1876 Allie Frances Sessoms 1858 – 1944 Wake Co, NC
CENSUS BERTIE CO NC 1850 #453
William Rayner 37 m farmer 525
Eliza 32 f
Marcus J 15 m in school
John A 13 m in school
Martha A 11 f in school
Mary A 10 f in school
Sarah E 6 f in school
Araminta 2 f
Joshua Rayner 35 m (brother)
Penelope Drew 50 f (mother-in-law)
Mary A Ward 40 f ( ?) (Idiot checked)
Agricul Schedule 1850 William Rayner
75 (550) ac 525 farm val 30 farm imp
Two horse ten cows one ox five cattle seven sheep 45 swine 187 val
16 wheat 500 corn 15 wool 40 pea 40 pot 400 sw pot
50 butter four hay 20 flax three flaxseed
Ten honey 20 home man 127 slaughters
Will — Bertie Co NC dated 17 March 1860— May Ct 1861
I William Rayner of the County of Bertie and State of North Carolina. . . .
First, I give to my beloved sons Marcus J Rayner, Jno A Rayner, and William Rayner the tract of land whereon I now live to be equally divided between them & their heirs forever
subject to be rented out for two years for the benefit of my estate
Secondly I give to my beloved daughters Martha A Rayner, Mary A Rayner, Sally Eliza Rayner, and Araminta M Rayner
each one hundred fifty dollars to be paid by my Executors within five years from the time of my decease.
Thirdly I give to my beloved daughters Martha A Rayner and Mary A Rayner each one bed furniture (each to get bed, dresser &)
Fourthly It is my will and desire that all the residue of my estate of any species and kind after taking out the above named go to all my children
Fifthly I do at this moment constitute and appoint my beloved sons Marcus J Rayner and John A Rayner my lawful executors & execute this my last will according to the true intent and meaning of the same
In witness because of that I the said William R Rayner do at this moment set my hand and seal this the 17th day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty.
Wm Rayner
Wm J Freeman J M Outlaw Proved May Ct 1861
Acct. Sale of hire negroes & rents lands of the estate of Wm Rayner decd
Dec 30th, 1861 for the Ensuing year
George to M J Rayner 98.00
Blunt ” John Rice 60.00
Joe ” Jat Tayloe 48.00
Harriet ” John W Perry 46.00
Bet ” M J Rayner 37.00
Mariah ” J C Clark 26.00
Sam & General ” Thos Nickols 25.00
$337.00
To Keep
Winey & five children to M J Rayner 48.50
Cintha & three children ” 19.00
Mary & three ” ” 17.75
$85.25
Land
House field to M J Rayner 15.00
Cotton ? field ” 10.00
Large New Grown ” 15.00
Wheat Patch ” 2.00
Branson’s North Carolina Business Directory for 1896 lists
Manufactory of Carriages – Powellsville, NC – Raynor Bros.
“Uncle Marc”
Marcus Joshua Rayner 1835 – 1906 | his parents
never married:
of Powellsville NC
This is my working hypothesis – the way, I see it as of this moment!!
Uncle Marc
Home of Uncle Marc Rayner
Uncle Marc and Aunt Pat Harrell on bottom porch; Joe Harrell in yard, two unidentified servants; On top porch are niece Nell Rayner, nephew Morton Rayner, and niece Luta Harrell
On the death of his father, William Rayner (1812-1860) Marc Rayner became the head of the household that included six younger siblings. The youngest William Reed Rayner was just turning seven. His mother had died in 1856, but her mother Penelope Drew (1799-1880) was also living with the family. Uncle Marc never married. It was Uncle Marc who gave Raynor Moore his first pair of long pants. (Before that he wore a dress.) Uncle Marc had a general store (the one Uncle Percy later had) in Powellsville where he also sold brandy that his family distilled.
Militia Records: 8th Reg Bertie County; 2d Brigade;
3rd Lt Rayner, Marcus J 16/ Aug 61 Trap, Colerain;
NR; 9th Reg Bertie County;
2d Brigade; 2d Lt (Promoted) Rayner, Marcus J 16/Aug/61 Trap Dist.; Captain Rayner, Marcus J 11/Jan/63 Com No 5
Marcus Rayner was the head of the Populist Party in Bertie County in the 1890’s.
CENSUS 1860 BERTIE CO NC COLERAIN
1099 1099
Thos Hoggard
John A Rayner 22 M
1100 1100
Marcus J Rayner 24 M 1300 16,606
Martha A 20 F
Mary A 17 F
Sarah E 14 F
Araminter M 12 F
William R 6 M
Penelope Drew 61 F
CENSUS 1870 BERTIE CO NC COLERAIN TWSP
41 Rayner Marcus J 34 M farmer 850 1000
Rayner John A 32 M farm laborer
Rayner Mary W 30 F keeping house
” Gustave B 8 M at home
” Johnnie F 6 F at home
” Percy L 3 M at home
” Morton L 1 M at home
Drew Penelope 71 F House keeping
Rayner Sarah E 24 F House keeping
Rayner Araminta 22 F Housekeeping
Rayner William R 17 M Farm laborer
Freeman Brown M 12 M Farm lavorer
Ward Mary A 60 F House keeping
US Census Bertie Co NC Colerain Twsp
1880 131/131 Rayner M J w m 44 farmer
” Arry w f 31 sister
Drew Penelopy w f 80 g mother
1900 4/4 Rayner, Marcus J head w m July 1835 64 s
Harrell, Martha A sister w f Oct 1839 60 wd 4/3
Lenow, Arrie M sister w f Mar 1848 52 wd 0/0
Bertie Co Wills M J Rayner dated 4 Jan 1901–proved Nov 1906
I M J Rayner being in sound mind and good judgment but considering the uncertainty and shortness of life and the certainty of death do hereby make indite and execute this my will and testament as followers viz.
1st I lend to my sisters Martha A Harrell and Arrie M Lenow the use of my farm conjointly provided if either one shall become in possession of a Farm of their own by purchase, gift, or marriage then while in possession of such farm said legates is to have no interest in my farm
2nd My sisters Martha A Harrell and A M Lenow is to have provision enough for one years support with a part of my stock.
3rd It is my will that my nieces Luta Harrell Trevathan, Lizzie Harrell Smith and nephew Josiah Harrell have my lands Josiah Harrell to have the farming part adjoining with the house inclusive, and he is to have his choice 1 one of my horses all his stock of cattle and goats etc
4th The balance of my property of every kind to be divided equally between Luta Harrell, Lizzie Harrell and Josiah Harrell when agreeable with the parties
5th I appoint hereby Martha A Harrell and Arrie M Lenow my lawful exectrisen to take charge of my entire estate as the lawful representatives
In testamony where off I hereunto set my hand and seal this 4th day of Jany. 1901
M J Rayner (seal)
Wit: D V Sessoms W J Freeman proved 23 Nov 1906
The property of the said M J Rayner consisting of land, known as the Charles Freeman tract about 170 acres in Colerain Township worth about $1000 and personal property consisting of horses, cattle, hogs, farming implements, household & kitchen furniture & crops & peanuts is worth about $300 so far as can be ascertained at the date of this application.
“Aunt Mary”
Mary Addlin Hannah Rayner 1842 – 1869 | her parents
and 1868 Marcus B Evans ca 1839 – aft 1880 | his parents
of Hertford Co NC
This is my working hypothesis – the way I see it as of this moment!!
Mary Addlin Hannah Rayner 6 Nov 1842 – 18 Jun 1869.
Marcus B Evans appears to be the son of Lemuel Evans of Hertford Co and his wife Sarah Porter – both born about 1805. Marcus B Evans had married again by 1880 Martha. – but they seem not to have had children. His brother Judson B Evans named his son for Marcus.
Child of Mary Addlin Hannah Rayner and Marcus B Evans:
1. Beulah May Evans 21 Jan 1869 – 23 July 1869
1850 Census Hertford Co NC – southern dist #87
Lemuel Evans 45 m 850 NC
Sarah Evans 45 f
Turner L Evans 20 m laborer
Celia Evans 18 f
Quinton D Evans 16 m student
Sally J Evans 13 f
Marcus B Evans 11 m
Frusa A Evans 9 f
Judson Evans 7 m
Casanda Evans 4 f
Rebecca E Evans 2 f
1860 Census Hertford Co NC 779-841
Lemuel Evans 58 m farmer 2500 10280 Hertford Co NC – deaf
Sarah Evans 58 f Bertie Co
Jane Evans 21 f Hertford Co
M B Evans 21 m ”
Frusey A Evans 18 f ”
Kasanda Evans 13 f ”
J D Evans 16 m ”
Rebecca Evans 12 f ”
M F Evans 8 f ”
1870 Census Hertford Co NC
Lemuel Evans 66 m w farmer 900 500 NC
Sarah 66 f w housewife
Judson B 24 m w laborer on farm
Mary T 15 f w housekeeper
Casanda 17 f w at home
M. B Evans 31 m w farmer 600 150 NC
Frusey A ” 25 f w housekeeper
1880 Census Hertford Co NC
M B Evans w m 41 works on farm
Martha ” w f 41 wife keeping house [NC VA Eng]
Margaret Fletcher w f 7 neice [VA VA NC]
J B Evans w m 37 works on farm
Casanda ” w f 30 sister
Sally ” w f 75 mother
“Aunt Sallie”
Sarah Eliza Rayner 1845 – 1915 | her parents
& 1886 William L Mitchell 1832 – aft 1910 | his parents
& ca 1856 Mary Margaret Alston ca 1833 – ca 1885 | her parents
of Powellsville NC
This is my working hypothesis – the way I see it as of this moment!!
Sarah Eliza Rayner was born 3 October 1845 the fifth child and third daughter of William Rayner & Eliza C Drew.
She is listed on the 1850 Census as Sarah E 6.
In 1860 she is Sarah E 14;
1870 Sarah E Rayner 24.
She married ca 1886 a local widower Billie Mitchell and they lived in Powellsville.
They had no children.
She died 26 May 1915
Sarah Eliza and William L Mitchell had no issue.
Mrs. Sarah E Mitchell of Coleraine is listed as a teacher
in the 1890 & 1896 Directories
step – children of Sarah Eliza
Children of William L Mitchell and Mary Margaret Alston:
Margaret was the dau of James Alston and wife Elizabeth of Hertford Co [1850 census next to W D Pruden]
USCensus 1850 Hertford Co SoDist
124 James Alston 48 m cooper 500 NC
Elizabeth ” 31 f
Margaret ” 18 f
James ” 10 m
Kiddy ” 9 f
Catherine ” 6 f
Eliza ” 5 f
“Aunt Arrie”
Araminta Manda Rayner 1848 – aft 1910 | her parents
and 1884 Jacob Lenow ca 1814 – 1892 | his parents
and 1838 Narcissa Murfree ca 1816 – aft 1860 | her parents
and bef 1880 L J ca 1840 – bef 1884 | her parents
of Powellsville NC
This is my working hypothesis – the way I see it as of this moment!!
Aunt Arrie
Jacob Lenow was married to A M Rayner April 9, 1884. Rayner family Bible
Jacob Lenow departed this life Feb 18, 1892. Rayner Family Bible
Jacob Lenow was a coach maker from Southampton Co VA.
The census seems to indicate that he had no children by any of his 3 wives.
Arrie and Jacob Lenow had no issue.
“The Falling Picture: A falling picture is one of the more common portents of death. A Bertie County, North Carolina, story illustrates how a person may be so marked for death. Shortly after the Civil War Arie Rayner Lenow and her family were living in the old Etheridge house upon the west bank of the Chowan River near Colerain. The Etheridge family had moved elsewhere leaving the house furnished, including the family portraits hanging on the walls. One night a violent storm swept over the countryside. Lightning flashed continuously and thunder jarred the house. Midway the storm the grandfather clock began striking while the hands were on neither the hour nor half-hour. Amidst the bonging Mr. Etheridge’s picture quavered and then fell shattering to ‘the floor, splattering the glass. Next morning, the news came, and it was not unexpected. Mr. Etheridge had died during the night and at the exact time his picture had fallen.”
“The Phantom Coach: John Alexander Rayner, had two sisters, Pat and Sally, who lived at the old Rayner homeplace in Bertie County between Powellsville and Cremo. A third sister (Arie), who had married the widower Lenow lived in a small house down the road apiece”. Before the War Lenow had lived in Rocky Mount with his first wife. He was rich then, and now he delighted in telling the Rayners about his fine coach and many servants. Such stories were about the only riches both families had brought out of the war.
Having advanced in years, one Sunday afternoon Lenow became very sick and he was expected to die at any time. Meanwhile Aunt Pat was sitting on the front porch of the Rayner home. Suddenly she sees this elegant coach coming down the road, a beautiful coach with a red capped coachman and two fashionably dressed black men standing behind, and drawn by fine black horses, stepping high. The coach carried only one passenger, a woman; it comes on down the road and goes around the corner towards where the Lenows lived. Then, just about five minutes afterwards, word comes to the Rayner home that Lenow had just died.
Aunt Pat was much perturbed. She could find no other person who had seen the coach although she inquired up and down the road several miles. Then she was convinced: Lenow’s first wife whom he seemed to have loved so dearly was waiting for him. When he died “she came and got him” – as told by Eunice to James Moore
Jacob Lenow married 18 June 1838 Narcissa Murfree in Southampton Co VA
1840 Census Nottoway, SH Co VA Jacob and wife both in their 20’s
1850 Census Nottoway Parish SH Co VA
Jacob Lenow 34 m coach maker
Narcissa Lenow 32
1860 Census SH Co VA east side of Nottoway River
J Lenow 44 m coachmaker 12000 9000 Southampton VA
N Lenow 41 f Hertford Co NC
didn’t find him in 1870
1880 Census Southampton Co VA Franklin
Jacob Lenow 68 w m
L J ” 40 w f wife