SUMMARY OF GROUP 1

 

This group is working to identify their common ancestor in the southside Virginia area of Surrey, Sussex, Prince George, Dinwiddie and surrounding counties in the early 1700’s.  Lack of paper documentation especially in  Prince George and Dinwiddie counties is hampering their efforts. 

 

The group is collecting information related to the William RAINEY b ca 1679/80 who d 1769 Sussex Co. VA. Children named in the will were: (1) William RAINEY Jr. b ca 1722 who is believed to have married Mary Jackson; (2) Nathaniel RAINEY b ca 1730 mar Phoebe Wynne, d 1781 Sussex Co.; (3) Francis RAINEY; (4) Mary RAINEY who may have mar a Bailey; (5) Elizabeth RAINEY who mar William Richardson; and (6) Amy RAINEY who mar Ralph Jackson. 

 

Another lineage this group is exploring is Roger RANIE b ca 1700-1710 who mar Sarah ?, lived Sussex Co. Va. Children named in parish registers of births were: (1) Peter RAINEY b 20 Mar 1729; (2) William RAINEY b 13 Apr 1731; (3) Francis RANEY (named as a son in land records but not listed in parish register); (4) – RANEY b 12 Oct 1733 (no name given).

 

Test kits 7440, 7453, 7842, 9868, 13943, 12880, 55769, 61368, and 72134 trace their lineages to Francis RAINEY b bet 1725-1735 in Surrey or Sussex Co. and their DNA tests confirm their relationships. Name of first wife is not proved.  Some researchers believe she was Elizabeth or Mary Ann “Nannie” Rottenberry. Francis mar second to Judith Lambert 7 Jan 1797 in Mecklenburg Co., and d 1804 in Brunswick Co.   Children by his first wife were (may not be in correct order):  (1) James RAINEY b ca 1749 in Mecklenburg Co., mar Mary Davis, d 8 Nov 1773 in Mecklenburg Co.;  (2) Frederick RAINEY b ca 1755 in Dinwiddie Co., mar Mary Ann “Mollie” Morgan 10 Mar 1775 in Mecklenburg Co., d 10 Oct 1803 in Mecklenburg Co;  (3) Buckner RAINEY b ca 1759, mar first Rebecca Holmes 12 June 1780 in Mecklenburg Co., mar second Mary “Polly” H. Nance, d 26 Dec 1832 Mecklenburg Co.; (4) Williamson RAINEY b 2 Nov 1760 in Mecklenburg Co., mar Edith Morgan 23 Nov 1779 in Mecklenburg Co., d 8 Jan 1846 in Mecklenburg Co.; (5) Dicey RAINEY  b ca 1760 mar Randall Sturdivant 27 May 1776 in Mecklenburg Co., d 9 Feb 1846 Randolph Co. NC; (6) Drucilla “Celor” RAINEY b in Mecklenburg Co. VA, mar Mark Lambert Jackson 8 Nov 1784 in Mecklenburg Co., d bet 1794-1797; (7) Lucretia “Creacy” RAINEY b Mecklenburg Co. VA, mar ? Malone; (8) Sarah RAINEY mar  Henry Sturdivant and d bet 1820-1830 in Warren Co. NC. Children by second wife were (1) Isaac RAINEY b 1797 in Mecklenburg Co., mar Rebecca Carroll ca 1814 and d bet 1850-1860 prob in Brunswick Co. VA (2) Elizabeth “Betsy” L. RAINEY b ca 1800 in Brunswick Co., mar Lewis G. Thomas ca 1815, d bet 1841-45 in Henderson Co. TN.   Test kit  7440, 55769 and 61368 are descendants of Buckner RANEY, kits 7453, 9868, 13943, 72134  are descendants of Frederick RAINEY,  kit 7842 is a descendant of Isaac RAINEY, and 12880 is a descendant of Williamson RAINEY.

 

Test kits 9225, 8618, 10653,19581, 23856 and 61366 trace their lineages to the Francis RAINEY line but their DNA is not showing them as matches. They are continuing their research to reprove or disprove their lineages and to find another test participant. Test kits 8618, 19581 and 61366 trace their lineage to Francis RAINEY through son Buckner RAINEY to his son Robert Buckner RAINEY. Roberson A. Jackson “Jack” RAINEY b 17 Dec 1846 Marshall Co. TN is believed to be a son of Roberson RAINEY b 1809 Mecklenburg Co. VA son of Robert Buckner RAINEY who was son of Buckner RAINEY. Johnathan RAINEY was also a son of Robert Buckner RAINEY. However, DNA testing did not confirm this connection to others in the Francis RAINEY lineage at this time. More research is being conducted.   Test kit 9225 traces his lineage to Robert Granderson RAINEY b 28 June 1820 Rowan Co. NC. He mar first Terry Butler 28 Nov 1843 in Madison Co. TN. She died 1856 and he married second Mary Y. Walsh 1 Jan 1857 in Purdy TN. He died 24 Apr 1900 in Lamar Co. TX.  Robert Granderson RAINEY  was raised as a son of Edmond RAINEY and Mary “Polly” Hobson Morgan of Mecklenburg Co. VA. Edmond RAINEY was a son of Buckner RAINEY and grandson of Francis RAINEY.  DNA testing did not confirm this connection to others in the Francis RAINEY lineage at this time, but additional research has proved through bastardy bond in NC that Robert Granderson RAINEY was an illegitimate child of Edmond RAINEY. Edmond and Mary RAINEY had three children born in Rowan Co. NC before he died before 1832 in Rowan Co. NC.  Their children are believed to be: (1) William/Williamson B. RAINEY mar Matilda Dean; (2) Rebekah RAINEY mar Levi Savage; (3) Robert G. RAINEY identified above.  After Edmond’s death Mary mar John McGill and by 1828 they were in Hardeman Co. TN.  Test kit 10653 traces his lineage to Smith RAINEY b ca 1776 in Mecklenburg Co. VA, son of Frederick RAINEY and grandson of Francis RAINEY.  Smith RAINEY mar Anne Standley 1796 in Mecklenburg Co. VA and he d 1833 unknown place. His wife died in Hickman Co. TN after 1860. The family lived in Hickman and Williamson Co. TN. Their known ch were: (1) John RAINEY b 1800 mar Mary Giles; (2) Elizabeth W. RAINEY b bet 1800-08 mar William RAINEY, a cousin and son of Williamson RAINEY and Edith Morgan; (3) Lucinda RAINEY b 1808 mar Elija Joseph Holtsford; (4) Prudence RAINEY  mar Thomas Giles. Researchers believe Smith RAINEY had one more son b bet 1815-20 and six more daughters names unknown. Test kit 13943 identified above as a descendant of Smith Rainey did match DNA with the Francis Rainey lineage. Test kits 7688 and 23856 trace their lineages to John RAINEY b 1803 SC mar 1823 GA to Penelope Robertson. John mar 2nd Catherine McCullock 1863 Claiborne Parish LA. This John is thought to be son of John F. RANEY b ca 1777, son of Frederick RANEY who was a son of Francis RAINEY of VA.  However, DNA testing did not confirm these John RAINEY b 1803 descendants to be a match of the Francis RAINEY line. DNA testing also did not confirm these two descendants a match with each other.

 

Test kit 7434 traces his lineage to Henry G. RAINEY b 1786 in Dinwiddie Co. VA, mar first ?? in 1808 in Dinwiddie Co. VA, mar second Jane Riley 1846 in Hardeman Co. TN, d 1856 in Hardeman Co. TN.  All census and court records examined indicate his name as Henry G. RAINEY but one family history written in 1938 by a descendant in Woodruff Co. AR gives his name as Henry Harrison RANEY. A handwritten note on that history says he mar Martha Ellington 8 Feb 1808 in Dinwiddie Co. but no proof of that name or date has been discovered.  Henry G. RAINEY is listed on the 1804 tax list for Dinwiddie Co. VA as being over the age of 16 enumerated with James RAINEY.  Some researchers believe this James was a brother rather than his father and that his father was Daniel RAINEY b 1753 and d 1799.  Henry G. RAINEY mar ca 1808 and was on the tax lists from 1810-1817. He moved to Giles Co. TN ca 1818 and then to Hardeman Co. TN ca 1836.  Children by first wife were: (1) Hartwell Harrison RANEY b 1810 Dinwiddie Co. VA, mar twice in Giles Co. TN with one wife believed to be Elizabeth Lee, d after 1870 Izard Co. AR; (2) Thomas Gilliam RANEY b 1811 Dinwiddie Co. VA, mar Eliza Atkins 1835 in Giles Co. TN; (3) Elizabeth RANEY b 1814 Dinwiddie Co. VA, unmarried, d Woodruff Co. AR; (4) James L. RANEY b 1815 Dinwiddie Co. VA, mar Lucy Simmons, d 1860 Limestone Co. AL; (5) Josiah F. RAINEY b 1816 Giles Co. TN, mar Temperance M. Irwin 1839 Fayette Co. TN, d 1854 Hardeman co. TN; (6) Epps RANEY (may be Peter Epps RANEY);  (7) Susan Winafred RANEY b 1820 Giles Co. TN, mar first Samuel Irvin 1837 Hardeman Co. TN, mar second Richmond Pearson Reed 1854 Hardeman Co. TN, d 1880 Hardeman Co. TN; (8) Patrick Henry RANEY b 1823 Giles Co. TN, mar first Mary V ? 1845, mar second Susan V.? 1863 Woodruff Co. AR, mar third Mary C. Thompson 1876 Woodruff Co. AR, d 1877 Woodruff Co. AR; (9) Daniel P. RAINEY b 1827 Giles Co. TN, mar Barbara Caroline Carricker 1848 Hardeman Co. TN, d 1869 Woodruff Co. AR.  Children by second wife were (1) Stephen Goodwin RANEY b 1847 Hardeman Co. TN, d ca 1870 Woodruff Co. AR; (2) Sarah Frances RANEY b 1848 Hardeman Co. TN, mar Benjamin F. Powell 1870 Woodruff Co. AR.

 

Test kit 7677 traces his lineage to James Rainey b 1814 in VA, mar Milly Roberts 1832 in Somerset KY, d 187? in Spurgeon IN. Children were: (1) Absolom RANEY b 1 June 1833 Somerset KY mar Mary Jane Riddle 27 Sept 1853, d 18 June 1907 in Pike or Warwick Co. IN; (2) Larkin RANEY b Nov 1837 in Somerset KY mar Martha Lance 7 Feb 1857 Warwick Co. IN, mar second sister Eleanor Lance 28 Aug 1864, d 10 Feb 1914 Oakland City IN; (3) James T. RANEY b 1839 Somerset KY, mar ?, d ?; (4) Cynthia RANEY b 1841 Somerset KY mar ?, d ?; (5) Everett RANEY b 1844 Somerset KY, mar Nancy Anne Dougan 15 Dec 1865, mar second Polly Ann Early, d 26 Jan 1899 Blodgett MO; (6) Serena RANEY b 1845 Pike Co. IN, mar William H. Mason 5 Dec 1865, d ?; (7) Melvina RANEY b 1852 Pike Co. IN, mar David Hanover, d?

 

Test kits 8098, 25429 and 30725 trace their lineages to Peter RANEY  b ca 1768 mar Margery McKay, d 1858 Lunenburg Co. VA.  This Peter RANEY had land transactions recorded in both Dinwiddie Co. and Lunenburg Co. VA and is believed to be the son of Buckner RANEY b prob ca 1745 who liv Dinwiddie Co. VA.  Children of Peter RANEY: (1) Jane G. RANEY b ca 1797 mar 1817 Thomas Pearcey; (2) William RANEY b ca 1799 mar 1822 Susan L.?; (3) Buckner M.D. RANEY b ca 1801 mar 1822 Jane Tomlinson; (4) Margaret P. RANEY b ca 1803 mar 1819 John Pearcy; (5) Peter RANEY Jr. b ca 1806 mar 1826 Julia Ann Crowder; (6) Mary Ann RANEY b ca 1808 mar George Tucker; (7) Celia A. RANEY b bet 1809-1814 mar 1838 Parks Tucker; (8) Robert Atkinson RANEY b 1815 mar 1851 Minerva W. RANEY (a first cousin, dau of Alexander RANEY); (9) Matthew A. RANEY b ca 1818 mar 1847 Sarah “Sally” Gee. Test kit 8098 descends through Robert Atkinson Raney and test kits 25429 and 30725 descend through Peter Raney, Jr.

 

Test kit 7480 traces his lineage to Daniel Epps RAINEY b 1798 Dinwiddie Co. VA, mar first to Mary Birchett, mar second to Martha S.J. Williams, d 1862 Dinwiddie Co. VA.  Daniel and Mary RAINEY had eight ch: (1) Goodwin Franklin RANEY b 1818, mar 1854 to Martha Ann Ellington, d 1899 Taney Co. MO; (2) Edwin E. RANEY b 1820 d 1901; (3) son b before 1825, d before 1857; (4) William H. RANEY b ca 1826; (5) Mary Louisa RANEY b ca 1829 mar Thomas B. Elder and d bef Aug 1870; (6) dau b bef 1830, d bef 1857; (7) James A. RANEY b ca 1834, d 1887 KS; (8) Virginia R. RANEY b ca 1836 mar John W. Williams.  Daniel and Martha RAINEY had  five ch: (1) Robert T. RAINEY b ca 1839 d bef 1857; (2) Anne Jane RAINEY b ca 1843; (3) Daniel Franklin RAINEY b ca 1846; (4) Susan Hester RAINEY b 1849; (5) Mary “Mollie” Osborne RAINEY b ca 1853 mar John F. Bristow, d 1884.

 

Test kit 8296 traces his lineage to George James RANEY of Van Vleck TX. No further information has been contributed about this lineage.

 

Test kit 12721 traces his lineage to William RANEY b ca 1770 who mar Rebecca Abernathy 1791 and lived in Brunswick Co. VA.  Only one son David Greenway RANEY who was b 1799 Brunswick Co. VA has been definitely identified. David Greenway RANEY mar Harriet Jordan of VA, dau of Miles Jordan and Harriet Pettus. Their nine children included: (1) infant son b & d 18 Dec 1835; (2) William Harrison RANEY b 26 Aug 1837, d 12 Oct 1849; (3) David Greenway RANEY Jr. b 29 Oct 1839, d ca 1900; (4) Edward Jordan RANEY b 22 Feb 1842, d 7 July 1883; (5) Frances Harriett RANEY b 20 Sept 1843, mar Rev. John Oven, d 15 Aug 1875; (6) George Pettus RANEY b 11 Oct 1845 Apalachicola FL; (7) James Abernathy RANEY d Apalachicola FL, no children; (8) Mary Porter RANEY b 18 Nov 1850, d 1926, no children; (9) Virginia RANEY b 23 Oct 1852 mar Richard W. Porter, Apalachicola FL.

 

Test kits 12993 and 50814 trace their lineages to William RAINEY b ca 1774 in VA, mar Margaret ?, d after ca 1855 Greenville Co. SC. Their ch were: (1) John RAINEY b 11 Dec 1807 Greenville Co. SC, mar Mary Meadows, d 26 Mar 1888 Knox Co. TN; (2) Martin RAINEY b bet 1809-1812 Greenville Co. SC, mar Mary Roberts 1832 Greenville Co. SC, d bet 1870-1878 Titus Co. TX; (3) Obediah H. RAINEY b bet1812-1814 Greenville Co. SC, mar Nancy Roberts, d aft 1860 Polk Co. TN; (4) Peter RAINEY b ca 1814 Greenville Co. SC, mar Vashtie?; (5) Moses RAINEY b ca 1815 Greenville Co. SC; (6) Mary RAINEY b ca 1816 Greenville Co. SC; (7) Samuel Hiram RAINEY b ca 1822 Greenville Co. SC mar Annie Mary Brown, d bef 1880 Greenville Co. SC; (8) William H. Colonel RAINEY b 14 May 1827 Greenville Co. SC,  mar 1st Elizabeth Louisa Batson, mar 2nd Mary Elizabeth Meadows, d 16 June 1886 Greenville Co. SC.  There were believed to be two other unknown children b ca 1805 and 1819 according to census records.  Although kit 12993 has the paper documentation to this lineage his DNA does not match and this researcher is exploring a non-paternity event.

 

Test kit N15340 traces his lineage to J. Russell M. RANEY b ca 1856 in MS, mar Nancy Elizabeth “Betty” Hooker in MS, d 1884 Pontotoc Co. MS. Their ch were: (1) William W. RANEY b 1878 MS; (2) Columbus Washington RANEY b 24 Feb 1880 Pontotoc Co. MS, mar 30 Nov 1902 to Laura Dell Williams, d 1957 Nueces Co. TX; (3) Maxie RANEY b 1882 Pontotoc Co. MS, mar Robert Owens, d San Antonio TX; (4) Arena RANEY b 1885 Pontotoc Co. MS, mar R.C. Archer in Pontotoc Co. MS, d Comanche Co. TX. Researchers believe J. Russell M. RANEY’s father was from NC but this test participant is match with descendants of William RAINEY b ca 1774 in VA listed above.

 

Test kit 55703 traces his lineage to William RAINEY b ca 1734 in VA, mar Mary Morris, d 1815 in Brunswick Co. VA. Their ch were: (1) William RAINEY, (2) Mary “Molly” RAINEY, (3) Jesse RAINEY mar Frances Duggar 1799 Brunswick Co. VA; (4) Elizabeth RAINEY mar John Edwards 1785 Brunswick Co. VA, d 1792 Meriwether Co. GA; (5) Martha RAINEY; (6) Herbert RAINEY d 1813 Brunswick Co. VA; (7) Isham RAINEY mar Sally Firth 1788 Brunswick Co. VA, moved to Oglethorpe Co. GA; (8) Zebulon RAINEY mar Nancy Lloyd 1795 Brunswick Co. VA, lived Bedford & Giles Co. TN, Limestone Co. AL, and MS.  This test participant is descended through Zebulon RAINEY.

 

Test kit 67573 traces his lineage to John Augustus RAINEY b ca 1831 in Covington Co. MS, mar Susan Emily Jolley 20 Aug 1849 Leake Co. MS, d 1904 Attala Co. MS. Their ch were: (1) Louis RANEY, (2) Marcus RANEY, (3) William Benjamin RAINEY, (4) Frank RANEY, (5) Emma RAINEY who mar a Corder, (6) Betty RAINEY who mar John Bell (7) Flora Love Augusta RAINEY who mar Robert Griggs.

 

Test kit 74592 traces his lineage to William RANEY b 18 July 1805 in either NC or KY, d 23 Nov 1885 in Gallatin TN. He mar 1st ca 1828 to Eliza ?. Children by first marriage were: (1) Stephen RANEY b 1829 mar Octavia Allison, (2) John W. RANEY b 1831 mar Margaret Nettles, (3) Martha A. RANEY b 1834 mar Albert Taylor, (4) Elias RANEY b 1837 mar Louisa M. ?, (5) William RANEY Jr. b 1840 mar Elizabeth ?. William RANEY Sr. mar 2nd to Keziah Wilson in Dekalb Co. TN. They had one ch: James Henry RANEY b 1850 mar Mary Taylor.