By Jared L. Olar
November 2019
Updated July 2023
My wife's Reaugh ancestors were a Scots-Irish family who came from Ulster in Ireland to Pennsylvania about the middle of the 1700s. The surname is pronounced "Ray," and thus some branches of this particular Pennsylvania family have come to spell the surname as "Ray," "Wray," and "Rea." We have been informed by my wife's cousin James Gordon (a fellow Reaugh descendant), however, that in some parts of Pennsylvania today the surname is pronounced quite phonetically as "Ree-aww." According to tradition, the family acquired its surname from having resided in the townland of Castlereagh (An Caisleán Riabhach) in County Down, Ireland, and the surname is even traditionally to have once been "Castlereagh." It may be wondered, however, whether that tradition rests upon anything more than the fact that -reagh forms the second element of Castlereagh. If the tradition is authentic, it would mean their surname means simply "resident of An Caisleán Riabhach." On the other hand, there are several variants of the name "Reagh," "Reaugh," and "Rea" in Scotland and Ireland. Some Rea families come from Scottish or Irish families named "MacCrea," while some Irish families from Counties Cork and Limerick are known as O'Rea. Reagh researcher Robert Elliott has found that in Ireland the surname "Reagh" (spelled, rarely, "Reaugh") is historically limited to County Cork and County Donegal, and has adduces reasons to believe that our Reaugh family very probably came to Pennsylvania from County Donegal. As for the meaning of the surname, with many of these families their surname probably derives from the Gaelic adjective riabhach, which can mean "swarthy" or "grey" or "grizzled" -- thus, the surname O'Rea would signify "son or descendant of the swarthy/grizzled man."
Reaugh researcher Robert Elliott has found that his Reagh ancestors from Donegal are not genetic matches with any early Rea family. In the hearth tax rolls of Ulster in the 1660s, there are nine entries in Donegal for men surnamed "Ray" (1), "Rae" (4), "Reaugh" (1), and "Reagh" (3) -- eight of them living in the Barony of Raphoe, while the "Ray" entry is of a man living in Inishowen West. The four men surnamed Reaugh and Reagh in these rolls are John Reaugh and Pattrick Reagh, both in Raymoghy, and Hugh and Matthew Reagh, both in Taughboyne. According to Elliott, this Matthew Reagh first appears on record in the 1642 muster rolls, in which his name is spelled "Mathew Wrey" and he is shown living in Raphoe, County Donegal. In an email to me dated 31 Jan. 2023, Elliott observes, "The name of Mathew runs through the family from the first one we see in Donegal." As for the one cited occurrence of the spelling "Reaugh," Elliott says this John Reaugh appears in a later document as John "Reagh." In that same email of 31 Jan. 2023, Elliott provides the following extended account of his Donegal Reagh ancestors and kin, who are likely to be the family from which our Reaughs descended:
"Reagh is such a rare name that if you see it anywhere, ever, then more than likely it is either the Donegal Ulster Presbyterians or the Cork Catholics. But the Cork family seemed to have dropped the Reagh part of the name quite a long time ago. If you search any Irish record you will find the Reagh family in County Donegal & only in one specific part. The North East of the County. In two locations. The Laggan Valley & the bottom of the Fanad Peninsula (these are my line). Raphoe . . . is the Laggan Valley." My Reagh family did not leave Donegal until 1923. Samuel Reagh to New York. At Magheradrumman in Donegal was a long line of Samuel's. Including my great-great-great-grandfather. A search of available records will show them there constantly over the years. By 1901 they are the only complete Reagh family in Ireland on the census. From the Laggan Valley family, Mathew Reagh, b. 1660-65, married twice. From the first marriage he had 4, possibly 5, boys. These boys emigrated to America 1720-30: VA, NY & PA. From the second family he had another seven children. One of these was these was Reverend Joseph Reagh, Presbyterian Minister who emigrated late in 1769. Joseph left a lot of family information for his line but left the odd note that allowed us to track others. The main detail was the locations in Donegal. When he talked of associated families. Wives, cousins, etc., they can all be found in very close proximity to the Reagh family. These families did not move. They could not move at that time. There was no where for them to go. Most land in Ireland was leased off a big landlord. You could not just get up & go 50 miles. There would most likely be nothing for you. The two Donegal Reagh farms I know of stayed in the same families for 200+ years. They were both less than 50 acres. The reason the Ulster Scots left was economic. You have 6-8 children. Where will they raise families? Ulster tradition was eldest son got everything. No need to write a will, there was no discussion. So younger siblings needed to leave. If they were very lucky the landlord would have them on a list for when a farm came free. But many waited a long time. Hence the pattern of older men marrying younger girls. They could not marry until either their father died or a farm came up. Same reason they left Scotland in the first place.
"When the Reverend Joseph settled in America, it seems either just before or after his death the family name became Rhea. There were no Rheas in Ireland. You will not find records in this name at any period. Same with Reaugh. You will find misspellings of Reagh. What the original spelling was we cannot tell. Y-DNA is R-M269, but there are not enough tested & no Reagh by name. There are Rheas of Tennessee tested though. As far as my own autosomal DNA goes, I match the Tennessee Rhea line, the Virginia Reagh line, the Donegal Magheradrumman Reagh line via Samuel Reagh who emigrated to NY, granddaughters, but more importantly I match the Nova Scotia Reagh lines who are the largest group by this name today."
The genealogy of our Reaugh ancestors was published by Benjamin J. Gunn in his book Descendants of Reuben Gunn, Bernard Sweeney, Samuel Reaugh, Rev. James Dunn (1891), from which the following account derives its list of the children of Private John Reaugh, as well as several other details of the Reaugh genealogy. However, the below account is based chiefly on the fruit of the research of my wife's cousin James Gordon, great-great-grandson of Oliver Perry Reaugh (1825-1876) of Murrayville, Illinois, for whose generosity and assistance we are very grateful. The content of Gordon's research has been augmented by the family records and photographs of another cousin, Charlotte Stansfield, provided to me by her daughter Diana Stephens, and further supplemented and illustrated by materials that I have obtained through my own research. I have also added comments and observations from Reagh researcher Robert Elliott.
1. SAMUEL REAUGH, parentage and ancestry unknown, born 18 March 1736 probably in County Donegal, Ulster, Ireland, though his descendants had a tradition (probably only a speculation) that he was born in Castlereagh, County Down, Ulster, Ireland; died early April 1781 in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, buried in Oaklawn Cemetery, West Pennsborough Township, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. Samuel married circa 1755, it is said in County Antrim, Ulster (though it may rather have been in America) to ELEANOR QUEARY ("Elinor"), born circa 1735 (others say 1727 or 1729) in Ulster, Ireland, died 1790 in Pennsylvania, daughter of Thomas and Eleanor Queary. Samuel and Eleanor had three sons and two daughters. Reagh researcher Robert Elliott has suggested that Samuel may have been one of the half-brothers of Rev. Joseph Reagh, ancestor of the Rheas of Tennessee. In an email to me dated 4 Feb. 2023, Elliott observed:
"If [our Samuel Reaugh] is a possible connection he could come from any of the three lines that were in Donegal. Indeed from the John Reaugh as spelt on the Hearth Rolls. He could be from the Reverend Joseph's half-brothers. There are two lists depending on which tree you see: Mathew, Isaac, Archibald, William and Samuel, or some without Archibald. However, I DNA-match Archibald's family so I think he is OK. Archibald remained as Reagh, as did his sons. They lived in the same location as the Reverend Reagh and his family who are all given as Rhea on Virginia records. So you get Reagh & Rhea together. Unless you were familiar with them, you would not know they were the same family. Nothing is known of Isaac or Samuel -- so you can see why I am interested in your name of Reaugh. . . .Then in an email to me dated 6 Feb. 2023, Elliott notes that one of the members of the Dill family, Mathew Dill, emigrated from Donegal to Pennsylvania, where the town of Dillsburg is found, named after Mathew Dill -- and Dillsburg is not far from the Big Spring Presbyterian Church in Newville, Pennsylvania, of which Samuel and Eleanor (Queary) Reaugh were early members. This is further circumstantial evidence that Samuel Reaugh had come from County Donegal in the North of Ireland. Another suggestive clue is a 1786 tax roll for Fannett Township, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, in which we find a "Charles Querry" followed immediately by a "James Rea." It is likely that Charles and James were related rather closely to Samuel Reaugh and his wife Eleanor Queary -- and it is certainly significant that Fannett Township was named after Fanad (formerly spelled Fannet), the peninsula in North Donegal that was home to the Scots-Irish family of Reagh."From Joseph Reagh's notes about his half-brothers, we know they were in NY State, Pennsylvania, Virginia and possibly Delaware. Plus extended family in Nova Scotia. The New York line emigrated about 1725. The Nova Scotia line 1761. On both occasions other Donegal families went with them: Dill, Neely and Hunter. They would intermarry with these families in America. They were already cousins in Ireland."
Benjamin J. Gunn in his book Descendants of Reuben Gunn, Bernard Sweeney, Samuel Reaugh, Rev. James Dunn (1891), page 73, had this to say about Samuel Reaugh and his wife Eleanor/Ellen Queary:
"Samuel Reaugh and Ellen Queary were born in Ireland. They were married about the middle of the eighteenth century; but whether they were married in America or Ireland is not known. They were of the Protestant faith. The name of the mother is perpetuated by the various appellations, Ellen, 'Ella,' 'Eleanor,' 'Eleanora,' and 'Nellie.' Both the parents died in Pennsylvania. Their family consisted of five children: (1) John, b 1756, m 1775, (?) m Margaret Boyle 1782, (?) m Margaret Frazier 1808, d Aug. 9, 1822; (2) Jane, m William Roseberry; (3) Esther, m William Black; (4) Samuel, m Margaret Neal, m Rachel Denbo; (5) Matthew, b Feb. 28, 1777, d Feb. 22, 1833."
As we have noted, Samuel and Eleanor were Scots-Irish or Ulster Scots, Presbyterian colonists of Ireland whom earlier researchers have said were resident of County Antrim in Ulster -- though Robert Elliott's research points rather to County Donegal. There were Scots-Irish Rea families living in County Antrim, but they do not genetically match the Reaghs/Reaughs of Donegal. During the 1700s, many Scots-Irish who were unhappy with their lot in Ulster where opportunities were limited, and where they lived among the Catholic Irish and were ruled by the Anglicans, both of whom the Scottish Presbyterians detested, decided to seek new homes in North America. Many of them, such as Samuel and Eleanor Reaugh, settled in the area of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. Upon his arrival, Samuel first settled for a while in South Carolina, where he was a surveyor, but they soon moved north to Pennsylvania, settling near Newville, Pennsylvania, where Samuel acquired 200 acres of land to farm. As noted above, Samuel and Eleanor and their children were members of the Big Spring Presbyterian Church in Newville.
Samuel and his kinsman William Query were two of the witnesses who signed the will of Robert Brown of West Pennsborough, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, on 18 Aug. 1772.
Shortly before his death, Samuel made his last will and testament on 23 March 1781 in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, appointing his widow Elinor and son John as executrix and executor of his estate. His will, which is difficult to read in part and has frequent misspellings, reads as follows:
In the Name of God amain. I Samuel Reaugh of the Township of West Pennsbourogh County of Cumberland and State of Pennsylvania yeoman being in a very Sick and Low Condition of Body but of Sound Mind and Memory Blifed be God, Calling to mind the brefty (?brevity?) of this Present Life and the Mortality thereof, I do Give up my soul to God that Giveth and my Body to be Bureid in a Decent Christ-Lik manner at the Dischresion of my Executor herein after mentioned Knowing I Shall Recev all at the Recruition [perhaps a poorly spelled "Resurrection," or more likely "Restitution" -- cf. Acts 3:21] of that Great Day Sc and as for my Worldly Goods that God hath Blefsed me with. first I will that all my Lawfull Debts be Paid by my Executors as soon as may be after my Decese and that the rest of my Estate be Devided both Real and Personal in the folowing manner, First I Give and Bequeth unto my well Beloved Wife Elonar all my Personal Estate viz: Horses Cows young Cattel Sheep Hogs and all my Houseal Goods and all Implemonts of farming Excepting as herein after Excepted also I Give and Bequeth unto my oldest Son John Reaugh the upper Part of my Planticon acrofs from the line along the Rie Field fence to a whitock (white oak) tree about five paches below the Pond acrofs to the rit side line in the Edge of the Pines the Rest or Resedue of Planticon I give the yuse of to bring up my younger children till they come to the years of twenty one and then to be Devided Equally to my two yonger Sons. I also Give and bequeth unto my soninlaw William Black the Sum of five Shillings, and I Give and Bequeth to my Daughter Jean ne Black yearlin Colt and one Red Cow With a White Back and a yearlin heffer, and I also alon my wife Eloner to Give my Daughter Elisebeth a horse and cow as She Sees fit and also my Daughter Mercy is also to have a hors and cow as my Said Wife Sees fit and I Do Constute (sic) and appoint my Well Beloved Wife Elonar and my son John Reaugh to be my Sole Executrix & Executor of this my Last Will and Testement and I Do Revock all and Evrey Bequests or Wills What So Ever and I Do Publish and Pronounce this my Last Will and testement In Witnefs Whereof I have here unto Set my Hand and Seal this twenty third Day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand Seven hundred and Eighty One.
Sealed Pronounced and Published and Signed In Presence of us
William Swansy Wilm Abercrombie his
Samuel Reaugh (seal)
mark
Samuel probably died in early April of 1781, as shown by the fact that Samuel's will was proved in Cumberland County Probate Court on 19 April 1781, at which time Elinor and John were appointed as executrix and executor. This is shown by the following memorial subjoined to the official copy of Samuel's last will and testament:
Be it remembered that on the 19th Day of April Anno Domini 1781 the Last Will and Testament of Samuel Reagh (sic) late of West Pennsborrough Township Deceased was Legally Proved or which the Foregoing record is a Free Copy and Letters Teftamentary Serued in Common Form to Elioner Reaugh Widow of the said Deceased and John Reaugh Executors therein Named on the said 19th Day of April 1781 - Inventory and account to be exhibited in the Time appointed by Law.
Witnefs my Hand Willm Lyon - Reg.
Probate records show that the inventory of Samuel's estate was completed and submitted on 19 May 1781, but I have not obtained a copy of the inventory.
The children of Samuel and Eleanor Reaugh were:
2. JOHN REAUGH, born 1756 (or 1747?) in County Antrim, Ulster, Ireland.
-- JANE REAUGH, born 1758 in County Antrim, Ulster, Ireland, married William Roseberry.
-- ESTHER REAUGH, born 1760 in County Antrim, Ulster, Ireland, married William Black (c.1735-1816).
-- SAMUEL REAUGH JR., born 1773 in Pennsylvania, died probably before 1850 in Kentucky, married twice.
-- MATTHEW REAUGH, War of 1812 veteran, born 28 Feb. 1777 in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, died 22 Feb. 1833 or 24 Jan. 1834 in Adams County, Illinois, married Mary Smith.
-- ELIZABETH REAUGH, lived in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, married Robert Fowler.
-- MARY REAUGH ("Mercy," "Polly"), lived in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, married William McNealans.
2. JOHN REAUGH, son of Samuel and Elinor Reaugh, born 1756 (others say 1747) in Ulster, Ireland (it is said in County Antrim), died 9 Aug. 1822 in Jefferson County, Kentucky. John came to America with his parents from Ulster circa 1760, and they settled temporarily in South Carolina, soon moving to Crawford County, Pennsylvania, before finally settling in the area of Newville, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. It was probably in that area that John married circa 1775 to his first wife ELLEN FUSARY, with whom he had a son named David. Ellen died a few years later, and John remarried in 1782 to MARGARET BOYLE, born circa 1759 in Chester County, Pennsylvania, died circa 1804 in Jefferson County, Kentucky, daughter of Charles and Elizabeth Boyle. John and Margaret had four daughters and five sons. About four years after Margaret's death, John remarried on 14 March 1808 in Henry County, Kentucky, to MARGARET R. FRAZIER ("Peggy"), by whom John had twin daughters and one son (a baby boy who died in infancy). (In Benjamin J. Gunn's Descendants of Reuben Gunn, Bernard Sweeney, Samuel Reaugh, Rev. James Dunn (1891), an account of John Reaugh and his wives and children is presented on pages 73-74, with his 13 children being listed on page 74.)
John fought during the Revolutionary War on the side of the newly-formed United States of America as a soldier in the forces of Pennsylvania, serving "under Washington" according to Benjamin J. Gunn's 1891 Descendants of Reuben Gunn, Bernard Sweeney, Samuel Reaugh, Rev. James Dunn. In various records, his surname sometimes appears as "Ray" and "Rea" as well as Reaugh. The lineage books of the Daughters of the American Revolution show Lineage No. 27451, which is that of Mrs. Eurithe Katherine La Barthe, who was a great-granddaughter of John Reaugh through John's daughter Nellie. The lineage book says, "John Reaugh, (1747-99), was a private in Capt. James Parr's company, First regiment Pennsylvania Line." The lineage books of the Sons of the American Revolution show another descendant of John's daughter Nellie, named Albert Ellis Nall, whose SAR application described John Reaugh's war service as, "Private, Fifth Class, in Captain James Irvin's Company, Fifth Company, Second Battalion, Cumberland County Militia, on pay rolls dated August 22, 1780, and September 10, 1781; and on a list of soldiers of Cumberland County who received depreciation pay for their services."
One must be careful to distinguish between our Private John Reaugh and another Pennsylvania Revolutionary War veteran named "Capt. John Ray" (or Rea) of Antrim Township, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, who served in 1777 in the 8th Company of the 1st Battalion, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania militia, and again in 1780 in the 2nd Company of the 6th Battalion, serving under Col. James Dunlap in 1777 (who was a Lieut. Col. in 1780). The DAR lineage books show the lineage of Mrs. Elizabeth Rea Simonds (No. 27895), descended from "John Rea, (1755-1829), served as lieutenant, 1777; was promoted captain the same year. In 1780 he commanded the Second company of Cumberland county militia under Lieut. Col. James Johnston. He died in Chambersburg, Penna." Thus, Capt. John Rea cannot be the same as our Private John Reaugh.
John and his family continued to live in Pennsylvania's old Cumberland County for several years after the end of the Revolutionary War. In 1794, however, John decided to leave Pennsylvania and join the new migration into Kentucky. This is indicated by a land sale deed of 23 May 1794 by which John and his second wife Margaret sold all their lands in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania (a new county formed from the original Cumberland County), to a certain Henry Miller of Franklin County, Pennsylvania, for the sum of 150 pounds. The text of that deed of sale was originally transcribed and published online in 2005 at Pennsylvania USGenWeb Archives by Nancy Lorz. The deed reads as follows:
This Indenture made the twenty third day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand Seven hundred and ninety four between John Reaugh of the Township of Shirley in the County of Huntingdon and State of Pennsylvania Farmer of the one part and Henery Miller of the other, County of Franklin and same State Farmer of the other part Witnesseth that the Said John Reaugh for and in Consideration of the Sum of one hundred and fifty pounds Current Money of Pennsylvania to him in hand paid at the time of the Execution hereof the recipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, have and by these presents Do grant bargan, alien, enfeoff, release and Confirm unto the Said Henery Miller his heirs and assigns all that Tract of Land Situate in the County of Huntingdon and Township of Shirley and State of Pennsylvania Beginning at a white oak on the south Side Auwheick Creek and Running up Said Creek South Twenty degrees West Seventy five perches to a thorn Thence due West forty one perches to a hickery, thence South thirty one Degrees West Twenty four perches to a hickery. Thence South Seven degrees West Twenty Six perches to a post Thence South Sixty Four Degrees East forty pearches to a white oak thence South twenty Eight degrees West fifteen perches to a post. Thence South Seventy Seven degrees East Twenty five perches to a black oak, thence North twenty Six degrees East Seventy perches and one half to a white oak, Thence Forty two degrees East Seventy Eight perches to a pine thence South twenty Eight degrees East twenty Seven perches to a Hickery thence _____ Eighty three Degrees West Sixty four perches to the place of beginning Containg Forty five acres and nineteen perches with allowance of six p?__ for roads [be the same more or Less] being part of a Tract of Land which was Surveyed in pursuance of a Location or Warrant Dated in the year of our Lord one thousand Seven hundred and Sixty nine, then Cumberland County now Huntingdon County aforesaid, and which by Divers Conveyances in the Law the Said John Reaugh have obtained the right to patent but Doth not Engage to patent to the Said Henery Miller Together with all and Singular the rights Liberties privelidges immunities hereditaments and appurtenances whatsoever to the Same belonging and the revertions Rents Issues and profets thereof and all the Estate, right, title and Intrest either at Law or in Equity of him the Said John Reaugh aforesaid of in to and out of the Same, to have and to have and to hold all and Singular the hereby granted premises with the appurtenances unto the Said Henery Miller his heirs and assigns to his and their own proper use benefit and behoof forever and the Said John Reaugh and his heirs all and Singular the hereby granted the hereby granted premises with the appurtenances unto the Said Henery Miller his heirs and assigns against himself and his heirs and against all persons Lawfully Claiming by through from or under him Shall and will Warrant and forever Defend. In Witness whereof the parties have to these presents Interchangeably Set their hands and Seals the Day and year first above Written
Sealed and Delivered in the presents of John Reaugh (Seal) Margaret Reaugh (Seal)
in the presents of
James Sommervile
Nicklaus Go_______
Huntingdon County SS. On the day of the Date of the above Written Indenture the above named John Reaugh and Margaret his wife Came personally before me the Subscriber one of the Justices of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid and acknowledged the Sd Indenture to be their act and Deed the Sd Margaret being of full Age and first privately and apart from John her husband by me Examined declared that She Executed the Same freely and Volentarily without any Coertion or Compultion of her Said Husband and desired the Same to be recorded as Such. Witness my hand and Seal the Same day and year first above written.
James Sommervile L.S.
I Do acknowledge to have rec'd. the full Consideration money within mentioned May ye 23rd 1794.
John Reaugh
Witness Present
James Sommervile
A true Copy from the original the 25th of August 1794, Andrew Henderson, Rec.
Having sold off their homestead and farm in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, John and Margaret and their children moved to Jefferson County, Kentucky, where John owned 245 acres of land on Cane Run on 18 Aug. 1800. The territory then was still wild and unbroken, and the native tribes living there often responded with hostility to the incursion of American settlers into an area that was part of what the British king had designated a vast Indian Reserve closed to further European settlement. Old Reaugh family traditions that are related at a genealogy weblog called The History of Our Dad tell of a harrowing encounter with American Indians (probably Shawnee) that John had in (presumably) Kentucky that resulted in John losing one of his eyes.
Once the Indians had John tied to burn him, but because of a rain, they left him tied through the night, while they went to a neighboring village to get some more Indians to witness the burning. Finding a knife which they had left near him, he succeeded in cutting himself loose, and being assisted by an old squaw, who had always been very cross with him, but who now provided him with a pony and some Indian dumplings, he endeavored to make his escape. After traveling for some distance, he met the Indians, who were returning to burn him. One of the band threw a tomahawk at the fugitive, but another, throwing up his arm at the same time, broke the force of the blow. The weapon struck him just above the eye and put it out, but it did not knock him off his pony. Thus, he succeeded in making good his escape.
That tradition is very close to an anecdote related of John's father-in-law Charles Boyle Sr. on pages 149-150 of History and Genealogy of the Pomeroy Family and Collateral Lines (1958), by Edwin Moore Pomeroy, published by William McLellan Pomeroy and John Nevin Pomeroy. This is what the Pomeroy Genealogy says:
Charles, Sr. was once captured by Indians and tied down to be burned later but with the aid of a friendly Indian, who obtained a horse for him, he managed to escape. In getting away he was discovered and a tomahawk thrown at him. It hit him and the injury resulted in his loss of eyesight.
Charles Boyle's misadventure would have taken place in western Pennsylvania, whereas John's would probably have taken place in Kentucky. However, these stories are so close that Charles' brush with death at the hands of hostile Indians must have been mistakenly attributed to his son-in-law John. When we compare the same account as written in Benjamin J. Gunn's Descendants of Reuben Gunn, Bernard Sweeney, Samuel Reaugh, Rev. James Dunn (1891), page 73, it is clear that Gunn was the original source for this story. Gunn attributes the story to Charles Boyle Sr., but because he tells the story within the section on John Reaugh, the writer of The History of Our Dad (or his source) evidently misunderstood and thought it was a story about John rather than John's father-in-law.
John Reaugh is enumerated in the 1810 U.S. Census for Jefferson County as the head of a household consisting of two white males aged 10-16 (Samuel and John Jr.), one white male aged 16-26 (Charles), one white male older than 45 (John Sr.), two white females under the age of 10 (Arsenia and Paulina), one white female aged 26-45, and one slave. It is probable that John sold or freed his slave not longer after, because he does not mention or bequeath the ownership of any slaves in his will -- though by then he may have already given him or her to one of his children.
John made his will on 10 March 1822 at Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky, and died six months later, on 9 Aug. 1822. His will was proved in court at Louisville on 9 Sept. 1822 and again on 9 Dec. 1822. John's will reads as follows:
In the name of God Amen
I John Reaugh of Jefferson County and State of Kentucky being old and weak in body but thanks to God of sound mind calling to mind my mortality, knowing that it is appointed unto an once to die, do make and ordain this my last will and testament. And first of all commend my soul to God who gave it, trusting in the merits of the ever blessed Saviour for admittance into eternal rest, my body to be committed to the earth at the discretion of my Executors herein after appointed, nothing doubting but I shall receive it immortal at the resurrection. And as touching such worldly goods as it hath pleased God to bless me with. I demise and bequeath in manner following.
I will that my just debts be all payd.
Item I lend unto my beloved wife Margaret Reaugh during her natural life for her use and benefit, that part of my tract of land which I have reserved for myself and whereon I now live. And after her death to be sold and the money arising therefrom to be equally divided among my daughters Viz. Nelly Jonson, Hanna Black, Sarah Hains, the daughter of Elizabeth Haines my Grand daughter, Paulina Susannah Dyer Reaugh and Aseneth Catharine Langham Reaugh to them or their legal representatives forever.
Item. I give unto my son Charles Reaugh fifty acres of land on which he now lives to be bouned (sic) by the courses and distances which was first laid off by him my said Son Charles
Item I lend unto my son John Reaugh for his uses fifty acres of land on which he now lives, to be bounded by the courses and distances which was run for him by my son Charles Reaugh until the youngest child which he now has becomes of lawful age or shall intermarry and then the said fifty acres of land to be equally divided among his three children which he my said son John Reaugh now has. Should his said youngest child die before she arrives of age or before she shall marry then when she would have been eighteen years of age the said land to be given up to the other two or their legal representatives forever.
Item. I give to my son son (sic) Samuel Reaugh fifty acres of land on which he now lives, to begin at my son Charles corner in the field at a Stake running thence Westwardly to my stile house, thence a South course so as not to injure that part which I have given to my wife till it strikes my line between myself and Tobias Butler to him and his heirs forever.
Item. I give unto my beloved wife for her use and for the raising of my two daughters who are still in their nonage, all my personal property, nothing doubting but my wife will appropriate it to their equal benefit
Item. Whereas I did some years ago give a peice (sic) of land containing one acre and some poles for the purposes of a place of Public Worship, on which a house of worship is now standing and forasmuch as I have af yet made no legal conveyance for said land to the Society, My will is that my Executor Isaac Spraggin make said conveyance, being clearly understood that the land is for the benefit of any orderly worshipping Society of Christians. And lastly I constitue (sic), ordain and appoint my friends Isaac Spraggin, George Smith and my beloved wife the Executors and Executrix of this my last will and testament hereby revoking all others by me heretofore made
Signed and Sealed in Interlined before Signed
presence of John Reaugh (seal)
Matthew Reaugh this 10th day of March 1822
Attest Will Rosberry
Z Carpenter
The children of John Reaugh by his three wives were:
-- DAVID REAUGH, born 1776 in Pennsylvania, died April 1836 in Vincennes, Indiana, married Mary Teaverbaugh.
-- ELEANOR REAUGH ("Nell"), born 16 Dec. 1783 in Pennsylvania, died 7 May 1828, married Bryan Johnson.
-- ELIZABETH SARAH REAUGH, born 10 Nov. 1785 in Pennsylvania, died 10 March 1811 in Kentucky or Illinois, married Richard Haines (Haynes).
-- HANNAH HARRIET REAUGH, born 1788 in Pennsylvania, died 1832, married Samuel Black.
-- SAMUEL REAUGH, died in infancy.
-- CHARLES REAUGH, born 13 Aug. 1793 in Pennsylvania or Kentucky, died 31 Dec. 1846 in Morgan County, Illinois, married Elizabeth Dunn.
-- JOHN D. REAUGH, born 1795 in Pennsylvania or Kentucky, died 25 Sept. 1835 in Morgan County, Illinois, married Genet Carmichel.
3. SAMUEL QUEARY REAUGH, born 15 Dec. 1798 in Henry County, Kentucky.
-- MOSES REAUGH, died in infancy.
-- ESTHER REAUGH, died in infancy.
-- ARSENIA CATHERINE LANGHAM REAUGH ("Aseneth"), born 16 Sept. 1809 in Kentucky, died 2 July 1865, married twice.
-- PAULINA SUSANNAH DYER REAUGH, born 16 Sept. 1809 in Kentucky, married John Myers.
-- ANDREW REAUGH, born 8 Jan. 1811, died two weeks later.
3. SAMUEL QUEARY REAUGH, son of John and Margaret Reaugh, born 15 Dec. 1798 in Henry County, Kentucky, died 1 Dec. 1845 in Morgan County, Illinois, buried in Anderson/Sooy Cemetery, rural Murrayville, Illinois. There is a degree of uncertainty regarding Samuel's middle name. In several records it is given as "Queary," "Query," or "Querry," but in other records it is given as "Quincy." Most likely "Quincy" is an error and "Queary" is correct, because "Queary" was the maiden name of his paternal grandmother Eleanor. On 19 Sept. 1819 in Shelby County, Kentucky, Samuel married PHEBE TAYLOR ("Phoebe"), born 24 Nov. 1800 [1799?] in Kentucky, died 21 March 1881 in Morgan County, Illinois, buried in Anderson/Sooy Cemetery, rural Murrayville, Illinois, daughter of Henry and Frances Taylor. Samuel and Phebe had six sons and four daughters. (In Benjamin J. Gunn's Descendants of Reuben Gunn, Bernard Sweeney, Samuel Reaugh, Rev. James Dunn (1891), Samuel and his wife Phebe Taylor are recorded on pages 74 and 86, with their 10 children being listed on page 86.)
In Benjamin J. Gunn's 1891 Descendants of Reuben Gunn, Bernard Sweeney, Samuel Reaugh, Rev. James Dunn reports that, "It might be interesting to note that the three brothers -- Charles, John, and Samuel Q. -- were of the same size and weight, often wearing one another's clothes, while the three made a profession of religion and united with the Presbyterian church the same afternoon."
This marriage record of Shelby County, Kentucky, dated 4 Sept. 1819, shows that Henry Taylor gave written consent for the marriage of his daughter Phebe to Samuel Q. Reaugh. The record was signed by Samuel Q. Reaugh and Allen Taylor. Significantly, Samuel and Phebe gave their first two sons the middle names of Henry and Allen.
Samuel was born and raised in Kentucky, and there he married and had several children. In 1829, Samuel moved with his wife and children to Illinois, buying land for a farm in the general area of Murrayville in Morgan County. "Illinois Land Purchase Records 1813-1909" show that on 6 Feb. 1833, Samuel bought 40 acres of land for $50 (at a price of $1.25 per acre) in Section 11, Township 13N, Range 10W, Meridian 3. He bought another 40 acres of land for $50 (again, at $1.25 per acre) on 5 March 1834 in Section 10, Township 13N, Range 10W, Meridian 3 -- in that land purchase record, his name is given as "Samuel Quincy Reagh." Samuel obtained federal Letters Patent for his land purchases on 22 April 1835 and 18 Sept. 1835 (both signed by President Andrew Jackson) and again on 1 Jan. 1840 (signed by President Martin Van Buren). The Letters Patent of 22 April 1835 describes his land purchase as "the North East quarter of the South East quarter of section Ten in Township Thirteen, North of Range Ten, West, in the district of lands subject to sale Edwardsville Illinois, containing Forty Acres," and gives his name as "Samuel Quirey Reaugh." (No doubt "Quirey" was misread by other clerks and copyists as "Quincy," whereas it actually represents the name "Queary" or "Querry.") Again, in the Letters Patent of 1 Jan. 1840, Samuel's land purchase is described as "the South West quarter of the North East quarter of Section Seven, in Township thirteen North, of Range ten West of the third principle Meridian, in the District of lands subject to sale at Edwardsville, Illinois, containing forty acres," and his name is given as "Samuel Querry Reaugh, of Morgan County Illinois."
Samuel and his family were enumerated in the 1840 U.S. Census of Morgan County, Illinois, which lists "Samuel Ray" (sic), engaged in agriculture, the head of a household of 11 free white persons, consisting of one free white male aged 40-49 (Samuel), one free white female aged 30-39 (Phebe, who was 39 when the registrar visited), one free white male aged 20-29 (William), one free white male aged 15-19 (John), one free white female aged 15-19 (Mariah), two free white males aged 10-14 (Oliver and George), one free white female aged 5-9 (Mary), one free white male aged 5-9 (David), one free white male under the age of 5 (Charles), and one free white female under the age of 5 (Margaret). Samuel and Phebe had also had a daughter, Martha, who died at the age of 2 in 1835.
A couple of years later, Samuel was elected to the office of county coroner, as indicated in Charles M. Eames' book, Historic Morgan and Classic Jacksonville (1885), page 97, which says "Samuel Reaugh" served as Morgan County Coroner from 1842 to 1844. Samuel is also known to have served as a Justice of the Peace, and it is said that none of his rulings were ever appealed. Samuel was not counted in any further U.S. Censuses after 1840, because he died in Dec. 1845 at the age of 46, just 14 days before his 47th birthday. His widow Phebe and children, however, appear in the 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880 censuses for Morgan County.
About a week before his death, on 24 Nov. 1845, Samuel made his last will and testament, which was signed and witnessed by Samuel's brother Charles Reaugh and Samuel's friend Thomas A. Spillman. Samuel appointed his widow Phebe and their second son, John Allen Reaugh, as his executors. Here is the complete text of Samuel's will:
I Samuel Q Reaugh of the County of Morgan in the State of Illinois do Make and publish my last Will and testament in Manner and form following that is to say
First it is My Will that my funeral Expenses and all my Just debts be fully paid.
Second in relation to the goods and property which God in his providence his (sic - has) Kindly bestowed on me and in the disposition of which I fell (sic - feel) bound to regard his gracious will I give devise and bequeath to My beloved wife, Phebe Reaugh the plantation On which we now reside, Situate in the County of Morgan and State of Illinois aforesaid, and being the East half of the North West quarter of Section eleven in Township thirteen North and Range ten West of the third principal Meridian and containing about Eighty acres during her Natural life, and all tho live Stock horses Cattel Sheep hogs etc by me now owned and kept thereon also the household furniture and other Items not particularly named and otherwise disposed of in this will during her Natural life as aforesaid the Executors having a discretionary power to Make a general Sale or not as they may Judge to be best,
Third, I hereby give devise and bequeath to My son William Henry Reaugh, a Certain tract of land for which I paid five hundred dollars Situate in the County of Morgan and State of Illinois aforesaid and discribed as follows viz The West half of North East quarter of Section Two in Township thirteen North and Range Ten West of the Third principal Meridian The design of this bequest is Such that if in the final division Said Land Should appear to exceed in value his equitable proportion Said William is required to refund So much to the Estate as the rule of Equity may demand.
Fourth, to My Son John Allen Reaugh I hereby give and bequeath One hundred Dollars More than to any of the rest of My Children.
Fifth I hereby require and ordain that in the final division of My property Equal distribution be Made to All My Children Not Named and provided for above Viz Maria Katharine Reaugh, Oliver Perry Reaugh, George Washington Reaugh, Mary Ellen Reaugh, David King Reaugh, Charles Reaugh, Margaret Frances Reaugh, and I further Ordain that the portions herein bequeathed to My daughters above named be Secured to their heirs respectively
And lastly I hereby Constitute and appoint my Said wife Phebe Reaugh and My Said Son John Allen Reaugh to be the Executors for this My last Will and Testament revoking and anulling all former wills by Me Made and ratifying and Confirming this and no other to be My last will and Testament
In testimony Whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and seal this twenty fourth day of November A D One thousand eight hundred and forty five
Samuel Q Reaugh (Seal)
Signed published and declared by the above named Samuel Q Reaugh as and for his last Will and Testament in prefense of us who at his request have Signed as Witnefses to the Same --
Charles Reaugh
Thomas A Spillman
Samuel's will was proved 14 Dec. 1845 in Morgan County Court of Probate, and Phebe and John were duly appointed by the court as executors of Samuel's estate.
Renowned Texas landscape painter Frank Reaugh, shown here in a photograph taken circa 1890, was a grandson of Samuel Q. Reaugh and a first cousin of my wife's great-great-grandmother Clara (Sooy) Mutch.
Among the descendants of Samuel Q. Reaugh, the most notable by far is his grandson, the renowned Texas landscape painter CHARLES FRANKLIN REAUGH (1860-1945), better known simply as "Frank Reaugh," only child of George Washington Reaugh and Clarinda Morton (Spillman) Reaugh. Frank's father George had left Morgan County, Illinois, and joined the California Gold Rush of 1849, then moved with his family near Terrell, Texas, in 1876, finally settling in Dallas in 1890. Frank remained in Texas for the rest of his life, never marrying and having no children, and giving away all his possessions before he died. Frank is buried with his parents in Oakland Cemetery near Terrell, Texas.
The children of Samuel and Phebe were:
-- WILLIAM HENRY REAUGH, born 8 July 1820 in Kentucky, died 15 July 1868 in Morgan County, Illinois, married twice.
-- JOHN ALLEN REAUGH, born 19 Dec. 1821 in Kentucky, died 4 June 1875 in Morgan County, Illinois, married Permelia Lindsay.
-- MARIAH KATHERINE REAUGH, born 25 July 1823 in Kentucky, died 29 Sept. 1858 in Morgan County, Illinois, married David Sooy.
-- OLIVER PERRY REAUGH, born 5 June 1825 in Henry County, Kentucky, died 1 Aug. 1876 in Murrayville, Morgan County, Illinois, married Julia Ann Anderson.
-- GEORGE WASHINGTON REAUGH, born 25 Jan. 1827 or 9 Aug. 1828, died 24 Oct. 1907 in Dallas, Texas, married Clarinda Morton Spillman.
-- MARY ELLEN REAUGH, born 25 Jan. 1827 or 9 Aug. 1828, died 24 Oct. 1919 in Morgan County, Illinois, married Silas G. Slaughter.
-- DAVID KING REAUGH, born 10 Oct. 1830, died 19 Feb. 1848 in Morgan County, Illinois.
-- MARTHA J. REAUGH, born 3 May 1833, died 20 Aug. 1835 in Morgan County, Illinois.
-- CHARLES REAUGH, born 3 March 1835, died 28 Dec. 1854 in Morgan County, Illinois.
4. MARGARET FRANCES REAUGH, born 4 May 1837 in Morgan County, Illinois.
4. MARGARET FRANCES REAUGH, daughter of Samuel Queary and Phebe Reaugh, born 4 May 1837 in Morgan County, Illinois, died 21 Aug. 1923 in Murrayville, Morgan County, Illinois. On 12 March 1855 in Murrayville, Illinois, Margaret married HAMILTON SOOY, son of Samuel and Susannah Sooy, born 11 Sept. 1830 in Burlington County, New Jersey, died 31 March 1899 in Murrayville, Morgan County, Illinois, buried April 1899 in Anderson-Sooy Cemetery in rural Murrayville, Morgan County, Illinois, later reinterred in Murrayville Cemetery. Hamilton and Margaret had five sons and four daughters. Hamilton's older brother David Sooy married Margaret's older sister Mariah Katherine Reaugh. (In Benjamin J. Gunn's Descendants of Reuben Gunn, Bernard Sweeney, Samuel Reaugh, Rev. James Dunn (1891), Margaret and her husband Hamilton Sooy are recorded on pages 86 and 88, with their nine children being listed on page 88.)
At left is a photograph of Margaret Frances Reaugh taken earlier in her life, and at right is a photograph of her from later in her life. The younger photograph was published on Ancestry.com by "99lucie." The older photograph comes from the collecton of Charlotte Stansfield, kindly provided to me by Charlotte's daughter (and Margaret's descendant) Diana Stephens.
In June 1863, Margaret's husband Hamilton registered for the Union Army draft -- his draft registration shows "Sooy Hamilton," age 33, born in New Jersey, a married farmer of Wrights in Morgan County.
The 1878 History of Morgan County, Illinois, pages 597-598, presents the following biographical sketch of Hamilton Sooy's life, submitted to the book's editor by Hamilton himself (emphasis added):
SOOY, Hamilton, farmer and stock raiser, Sec. 16, P.O. Murrayville. Son of Samuel and Susan Sooy, natives of New Jersey; emigrated to Warren County, Ohio, in 1832; here the family stayed until 1840, then moved and settled on Sec. 2, Morgan County, Hamilton did not accompany his father and David, but followed them two years later; during their residence in Warren County, the wife and mother died, aged 36; and subsequently, the father’s demise occurred fifteen days after his settling on Sec. 2; was buried in the Anderson graveyard; aged 66; Hamilton Sooy was born Sept. 11, 1830, in New Jersey, and endured the vicissitudes and privations that was the pioneer’s reward in the days gone by; having joined his father and brother David, in 1842, turned his whole attention to building up the ancient landmarks of the early civilization -- a rude log cabin; Mr. S. says he very distinctly remembers when the country averaged only about two houses to the section of land, and that prairie fires were a plague to the frontiersman; that to help put out the prairie flames was a herculean task, as they were terrible in their fiery flight. The education of little Hamilton commenced at the age of six years; his first teacher was Miss Ruth Anne Gauze; the next term of six months was under the rod of one of the sterner sex; at the age of seventeen years, gave up the school room to give his whole attention to enhancing the new home in the West; on March 12, 1855, married Miss Margaret Frances Reaugh, daughter of Samuel Q. and Phoebe Reaugh, by the Rev. Mr. Newell, of “Unity” Presbyterian Church; the children born to this marriage are: Charles Granville, Dec. 31, 1855; Martha A., Feb. 25, 1857; Mary S., March 14, 1859 died March 26, 1862; Clara I., born March 20, 1861; W. Thomas, May 21, 1863; John D., Aug. 28, 1865; George O., Aug. 6, 1867; Clarinda E., Aug. 16, 1870; Samuel F., March 23, 1873; Martha A., married John W. Fanning; for many years served the people as road supervisor, and school director; subsequently, in 1872, was elected on the Board of Road Commissioners, and served honorably until succeeded by his successor; in 1871, identified himself with Unity Presbyterian Church; his wife has belonged to same church since her early girlhood; owns one hundred and sixteen acres of land, and is universally respected.
This detail from an 1894 township atlas of Morgan County, Illinois, shows the farm of Hamilton Sooy and his son-in-law John William Fanning a few miles east-southeast of Murrayville.
Hamilton's obituary was printed in the Jacksonville Daily Illinois Courier, 5 April 1899, page 3, as follows:
Hamilton Sooy was born in the state of New Jersey, Sept. 11, 1830, and died at his home in Murrayville March 31, 1899. Mr. Sooy moved to Morgan county in 1842; was married March 12, 1854, of which union nine children were born -- five sons and four daughters. One daughter dying in infancy and another, Mrs. William Much, several years since. The remaining seven children with their mother are left. All were present at his death. The funeral was held in the Baptist church by Rev. P. T. Gay. Interment at the Sooy cemetery.
The funeral of Mr. Sooy was largely attended on Sunday forenoon, showing the high esteem which was held by all who knew him. Mr. Sooy was a constant chirstian (sic), a kind and indulgent father and husband, an honest and upright citizen. The family of the deceased wish to thank all those who administered unto them in the sickness and death of the husband and father.
On the same Jacksonville newspaper page as the obituary, under the "Murrayville" heading, it is also noted that "C. G. Sooy, of Nelson, Neb., was called here by the serious illness of his father," and "Several from your city attended the funeral of Hamilton Sooy on Sunday."
Shown here is the home in Murrayville, Illinois, where Margaret (Reaugh) Sooy lived after the death of her husband Hamilton. This photograph comes from the collection of Charlotte Stansfield, and was provided to me by her daughter Diana Stephens, a descendant of Margaret.
The gravestone of Hamilton Sooy and his wife Margaret originally stood in the Anderson-Sooy Cemetery four miles northeast of Murrayville, Illinois, but as that burying ground later fell into decrepitude their family a good while later had their remains reinterred in Murrayville Cemetery, also moving their monument from the old cemetery to their new resting place. This photograph was taken by the author on a visit to Murrayville Cemetery in 2010.
The children of Margaret and Hamilton were:
-- CHARLES GRANVILLE SOOY, born 31 Dec. 1855 in Murrayville, Morgan County, Illinois, died 17 Feb. 1936 in Roca, Lancaster, Nebraska, married Mary Jane Vertrees.
-- MARTHA ANN SOOY, born 25 Feb. 1857 in Morgan County, Illinois, died 15 June 1911 in Murrayville, Morgan County, Illinois, married John William Fanning.
-- MARY S. SOOY, born 14 March 1859 in Morgan County, Illinois, died 26 March 1861 in Morgan County, Illinois.
-- CLARA I. SOOY, born 20 March 1861 in Morgan County, Illinois.
-- WILLIAM THOMAS SOOY, born 21 May 1863 in Murrayville, Morgan County, Illinois, died 25 July 1940 in Moultrie County, Illinois, married Rhenlina E. ("Rena") Henry Bunch.
-- JOHN DAVID SOOY, born 28 Aug. 1865 in Murrayville, Morgan County, Illinois, died 31 Dec. 1936, married Margaret Belle McLamar.
-- GEORGE OLIVER SOOY, born 6 Aug. 1867 in Murrayville, Morgan, Illinois, died 8 Aug. 1941 in Morgan County, Illinois, married twice.
-- CLARINDA ELLEN SOOY ("Ella"), born 16 Aug. 1870 in Morgan County, Illinois, died 25 Sept. 1951 in Murrayville, Morgan County, Illinois, married Elijah Monroe Jennings.
-- SAMUEL FRANKLIN SOOY, born 23 March 1873 in Morgan County, Illinois, died 1958 in Morgan County, Illinois, married Arvella Frances Haynes.
Reaugh Genealogy Resources:
Ireland Ray Name Definiton Ray-Rhea-Rea-Wray DNA Project, but no male descendant of our Reaugh family has yet joined the project. "The History of Our Dad", Chapter 12: Roots: Ireland and the Revolutionary War, including Reaugh genealogical traditions. Samuel Reaugh, Eleanor Queary, genealogical queries. Mutch family in Illinois (Margaret, William, Alexander), initial genealogical query on Mutch, Sooy, and Reaugh families, answered by James Gordon. Rounded Up in Glory: Frank Reaugh, Texas Renaissance Man, by Michael Grauer, page 21, an account of Frank Reaugh's Scots-Irish ancestry.