Stop the presses

In the previous post, I thought I had found a connection between the Tudor, Morris, White, Rainey family in Brunswick, Virginia and Granville, North Carolina. But, alas, it is not to be that easy. I have learned that there were multiple William Rainey’s (Raney) in Brunswick County, Virginia and they seem to all be messed up with one another.

While reading deed and court records for Brunswick, Virginia, I found multiple William Rainey’s (sometimes spelled as Raney). As I read the deeds though, I noticed that each William Rainey had a different set of F.A.N. (Family, Associates, Neighbors) associated with them. This is a red flag to my research and I have spent most of the day today trying to separate the William Rainey's. 

Here are just a few of the deeds and court orders I found.

Deed Book 3, 1744-1749, Brunswick County, Virginia, on 6 Oct 1748, Thomas Jones of Brunswick, Virginia sold to Theophiles Field of Prince George, Virginia, Merchant, a tract of land purchased by the said Thomas Jones of one William Rainey on 6 Aug 1747 lying in Brunswick County on North side of Little Creek of three creeks, 137 1/2 acres. Witness: Michael Wall Jr, Henry Jackson, Sterling Clack

Deed Book 6, 1755-1762, Brunswick County, Virginia, 3 Apr 1756, Henry Morris of the Parish of St. Andrews County of Brunswick to William Rainey of the same, a tract of land in Brunswick on both sides of Haw Forks, 406 acres, joining George Bailey, part of a patent of 1842 acres granted in 1746 to Henry Morris. Witness: Drury Stith, Martha Stith, Thomas Stith

Will Book 3, 1751-1769, Brunswick County, Virginia, 1752, The estate of Thomas Jackson deceased

Paid to Wall

Paid to Jackson

Paid to William Rainey Jr

Paid to William Rainey Sr

Deed Book 9, 1767-1770, Brunswick County, Virginia, 9 Jun 1768, William Rainey Sr of Sussex County to Elizabeth Edwards of Brunswick County for love and affection, a slave named Cesar. Witness William Morris, Frances Morris, James Cain

1764 - William Rainey Sr of Sussex to granddaughter Mary Richardson of Brunswick. Witness Lewis and Patty Brown

1780 - Brown deed, Lloyd's Run joins William Rainey

1783 - Henry Morris's will, children of William Rainey

1784 - Brunswick order book, motion of Peter Cain, Henry Sturdivant, against William Rainey, (saddler)

1786 - William and Mary Morris Rainey to son William Rainey Jr land in Brunswick, VA on both sides of the south fork of Lloyds Run

1786 - Lewis Brown Sr to William Rainey branches of Lloyd's Run

1788 - Aaron Brown to William Rainey land on both sides of the head of Lloyd's Run

1791 - Cuddy Rainey the son of William Rainey is exempt from Levies

1795 - Letters of Admin to William Rainey on estate of Susanna Rainey dec'd

1798 - Richard Gunn to William Rainey, land on Pigeon Roost Creek joining Blumer White

1799 - Witness son-in-law, William Rainey will of James Abernathy (Rebecca Rainey) also Benajah Saxon

1800 - William Rainey and Rebecca, his wife of Meherrin Parrish, Brunswick, to John White, land on the Gun Branch of Pigeon Roost Creek

1800 - William Rainey and Rebecca, his wife of Meherrin Parrish, Brunswick, to Cuthbert Neal, land between Mosley's Road and Pigeon Roost Creek

From these few deed and court records, I could tell that there were two or more William Rainey’s in Brunswick, Virginia.

William Rainey Jr., son of William Rainey Sr. and Mary Morris lived in St. Andrews Parrish, Brunswick, Virginia on Lloyd’s Run. He looks to have married Rebecca Abernathy, the daughter of James Abernathy. Her sister, Martha, married Benajah Saxon (or Sexton). Both William Rainey Jr. and Benajah Saxon were the executors of the will of James Abernathy. In an 1816 VA Chancery Abernathy vs Cole is found Daniel Duggar, the uncle by marriage to William Rainey Jr. as a bondsman alongside William Rainey Jr. and Benajah Saxon.

Another William Rainey lived in Meherrin Parish, Brunswick, Virginia on Pigeon Roost Creek on land that joined Blumer White. This William Rainey married Rebecca White, the daughter of Blumer White. 

This is the William Rainey I need to know more about.

Yet another William Rainey Sr. lived in Sussex County, Virginia and his daughter, Elizabeth Edwards and granddaughter, Mary Richardson, lived in Brunswick County, Virginia. Of interest, William Morris and Frances Morris were witnesses on a deed to Elizabeth Edwards.