SUMMARY OF GROUP 2:
This group is researching Benjamin Johnson RAINEY / RANEY also known as Benjamin J. RAINEY and Johnson RAINEY / RANEY b ca 1765 possibly VA, lived in Laurens Co. SC at least in 1780’s and 1790’s. He mar ca 1786. Speculation is wife’s name might have been Sarah ? since both Johnson RAINEY and Sarah RAINEY are found frequently in Laurens Co. SC records as witnesses. He moved to GA after the 1800 census then to Bedford Co. TN by 1817. He moved to IL with two of his sons ca 1830 but later returned to TN where he died. All children have not been identified. Three of his known sons were (1) William W. (Wells or Walter) RAINEY b 1805 SC or GA, mar Cynthia Hicks/Hix ca 1826-27, d IL; (2) Bennett C. RANEY b 1807 SC or GA, mar first Cynthia Merrill ca 1825 TN, mar second Margrett Hutton 1856 Franklin Co. TN; (3) Thomas A. RANEY b 1810-12 SC or GA mar first Susan Merrill in Lincoln Co. TN and mar second Mary Catherine Moffitt, d 16 Oct 1899 Clear Springs, Texas Co. MO.
Test kits 7466 and 12971 are descendants through William W. RAINEY b 1805. William W. Rainey’s children were: (1) Benjamin J. b ca 1827 mar 1846 Mary Eliza Sugg; (2) Rhoda b ca 1827-29 mar 1847 Isaac Jesse Alexander; (3) Ruth C. b ca 1830 mar 1848 William P. Robuck; (4) James H. b ca 1832-34; (5) Thomas A. b 23 Jan 1835, mar 1st 1853 to Martha Ann Casey, mar second to Anna Elizabeth Buchanan, d 24 Nov 1910 Texas Co. MO; (6) William Franklin b 9 Dec 1836 mar 1st 1857 to Lucy Tyler Thompson, mar 2nd Sarah L. Fogleman Bandy, d 19 Nov 1909 Montgomery Co. IL; (7) Louisa Jane b ca 1838 mar 1857 George W. Thompson d 1877; (8) Joshua H. b ca 1840 mar 1861 Nancy Jane ?, d 7 Jan 1924 Dallas Co. TX; (9) Mary E. b ca 1844 mar 1865 Noah T. Herby. Test kit 7466 is a descendant of Thomas A. RAINEY and 12971 is a descendant of William Franklin RAINEY.
Test kit 7637 and 8878 are descendants through Bennett C. RANEY b 1807. Bennett C. RANEY’s children were: (1) Jane b 1830 mar Hezekiah Ray; (2) James S. b ca 1831 mar Nancy Smith in 1850; (3) Nancy b ca 1833 mar John Lock in 1851; (4) Ruhaney b ca 1835; (5) Rosana b ca 1838 mar Jacob Holt in 1857, d ca 1865; (6) Mary b ca 1840; (7) Thomas Benton b ca 1841 mar 1st Mary A. Poe, mar 2nd AnnieBell Stafford; (8) Parthenia b ca 1844; (9) Lucy/Lucinda b ca 1846; (10) Samuel Merrill b ca 1847 mar Mahala Jane Cagle; (11) William Franklin b ca 1848 mar Juliet Whitman. Test kit 7637 is a descendant of William F. RAINEY and 8878 is a descendant of Thomas RAINEY. Both brothers moved to Northwest Arkansas in the late 1800’s and their families remained very close.
Test kit 11815 is a descendant through Thomas A. RANEY b 1810-1812. He mar Susan Merrill and their ch were: (1) Nancy b ca 1830; (2) Phebe J. b ca 1832 mar Jonathan Smith; (3) Harriet b ca 1836 mar Jasper Tankersly; (4) Mary A. b ca 1837 mar Andrew Morgan 1853; (5) Susan M. b ca 1838; (6) Isom/Isham L. b 30 Aug 1843, d 3 June 1926; (7) Pauline T. b ca 1844; (8) James P. b ca 1846; (9) Elizabeth T. b ca 1849; (10) Alinda b 1851; (11) William b 1853, d 1925; (12) Almedia b 1857 d 1922.
Test kit 8874 is a descendant of William G.B. RAINEY b ca 1826 in Bedford Co. TN. He mar Maranda Hensley in Jefferson Co. IL 14 Aug 1848. They had two ch: (1) John Henderson RAINEY b 1849, mar first Margaret E. Badgett and mar second Elfrida Mary Isabel Harlow, d 1919; and (2) Elizabeth RAINEY b 1852. They lived in Marion Co. IL in 1850-60. Researchers are not sure how William G. B. RAINEY is related to the other descendants of Benjamin Johnson RAINEY.
Test kit 53771 traces his lineage to James Monroe Smith b 1810 either SC or GA. He is a 37 marker match with these other descendants of Benjamin Johnson RAINEY which makes his biological ancestor most likely a RAINEY. Researchers are trying to determine how he fits into this lineage or a related lineage.