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74. Major Hancock 1 was born on 8 Feb 1772 in Goochland County, VA. He died in 1849 in Hall County, GA. He married Mary Page on 14 Apr 1794. [Parents]
75. Mary Page 1 was born on 21 Jan 1771 in Goochland County, VA. She died about 1830 in Spartanburgh, SC. [Parents]
96. James Rainwater [image] 1 was born on 13 Jan 1795 in Spartanburg Dist., SC. He died on 22 Jun 1871 in Campbell Co., GA. He married Mary "Polly" Mason in 1817 in Spartanburg Dist., SC.
Of all the 19th century Rainwaters, the Baptist minister known to genealogists as "James the Preacher" is among the most well known.
According to a biography of him published in the 1881 "History of the Baptist Denomination in Georgia", James Rainwater was born on 13 January 1795 in South Carolina. The identity of his parents is a subject of enormous debate and research, but no conclusion satisfactory to all researchers has ever been reached. In 1817, he married Mary Mason, nicknamed "Polly" in the habit of the day. Together they had a large family of at least eleven children. These are: Emily, ca 1817; Zebulon Miles, ca 1823; Joseph E., 1824; Christiana, ca 1825; Elizabeth, ca 1825; Clara, ca 1826; Sarah, ca 1826, Frances E., ca 1836; Benjamin F., ca 1838; Catherine E., ca 1840; and Martha, 1841. The gaps between some of the children suggest that there may have been others who did not survive to adulthood. Mary Mason died on 8 Jan 1859 in Campbell Co., GA, and James married his 2nd wife, Nancy Candler Dobbs, on 15 May 1859. According to one source1, Nancy was the aunt of Asa Candler, one of the principal founders of the Coca-Cola Company.
Rev. James Rainwater had a busy career in the Baptist church. He was called to preach on 12 Mar 1825 by the Baptist Church at Philadelphia, SC, and was ordained on 6 Jan 1826, by a group of presbyters that included Rev. Miles Rainwater, his first cousin. James was the pastor of Philadelphia Baptist until Nov 1835, at which time he removed to Macedonia Baptist Church in Coweta Co., GA. Sometime prior to 1850, he moved to Campbell Co., GA, but continued to preach at Macedonia until 1857. He led congregations in Ramah, Providence and Bethlehem Baptist Churches in Campbell Co., as well as Antioch Baptist in Meriweather Co.
In 1850, James Rainwater was a census enumerator for Campbell Co., GA. The county contained two James Rainwater, the second known as James the Blacksmith, whose family relationship to the Preacher is not known. In June 1852, Rev. James Rainwater was a delegate from Campbell Co. to the State Temperance Convention in Newnan, and served again in March 1853 as a delegate to the Anti-Liquor Traffic Convention.
James Rainwater died on 22 June 1871 in Campbell Co., GA. His will <../wills.html> names his second wife and surviving children.
This original photograph is owned by Erin Leongomez <mailto:[email protected]>, who also contributed the transcription of Rev. James Rainwater's will. Additional biographical data was contributed by Glidie Rainwater Mobley <[email protected]>.
1A History of Coweta Co., GA, The Newnan-Coweta Historical Society, 1988The Will of James Rainwater the Preacher, 1795-1871, Campbell Co., GA Campbell Co., GA Georgia Will Book "B" , pages 58-62
State of Georgia, Campbell County. In the name of God, Amen. I, James Rainwater, of said county being of sound and disposing mind and memory but sensibly impressed with the uncertainty of life and being desirous of making some disposition of what property God hath blessed me with do make, ordain, and publish this to be my last will and testament, hereby revoking all others heretofore made by me.
Item First. I give and bequeath to my beloved wife, Nancy A. Rainwater, one hundred and seventy acres of land to wit the west half of the lot of land on which my house where I now reside stands and to include said houses; and seventy five acres of land immediately west and adjoining to said one hundred acres. This I give and bequeath to her for and during her natural life or widowhood.
Item Second. I also give and bequeath to my said wife, Nancy A. Rainwater, the following household furniture: one folding table, one cupboard, one bedstead and one half dozen chairs, with such cooking utensils as may be necessary; also one cow and calf and farming implements for one horse, and also necessary table furniture. The bequests in this second item are given under the same restrictions as in the first item.
Item Third. I also give and bequeath to my said wife all my right, title and interest in two negroes to wit, Morgan and Alsie, and also one bed and furniture with one years provisions; these I give to her and her heirs forever.
Item Fourth. Having heretofore given my daughter, Emily Golightly, one thousand dollars in money and provisions, I hereby confirm the same to her and her heirs forever and I also now give and bequeath to her an equal proportion of my estate with the rest of my children after they have received money and property to the amount of one thousand dollars.
Item Fifth. Having heretofore given my son, Z. Miles Rainwater, deceased, one thousand dollars in money and provisions, I hereby confirm the same. I also now bequeath to his wife, Lilly Ann, and their five children an equal proportion of my estate with the rest of my children after they have received money and property to the amount of one thousand dollars.
Item Sixth. Having heretofore given my son, Joseph Rainwater, one thousand dollars in money, I hereby confirm the same to him and his heirs forever. I also now give and bequeath to him an equal proportion of my estate after the rest of my children shall have received money and property to the amount of one thousand dollars.
Item Seventh. Having heretofore given my daughter, Clary Sanders, four hundred dollars in money and property I hereby confirm the same to her and her heirs forever. I also now give and bequeath to her six hundred dollars and an equal proportion of my estate after the rest of my children shall have received one thousand dollars in property or money.
Item Eighth. Having heretofore given my daughter, Sarah Moseley, four hundred dollars in money, I hereby confirm the same to her and her heirs forever. I also now give and bequeath to her six hundred dollars and an equal proportion of my estate with the rest of my children after they have received money and property to the amount of one thousand dollars.
Item Ninth. Having heretofore given to my daughter, Christina Sanders, three hundred dollars I hereby confirm the same to her and her heirs forever. I now give and bequeath to her and her heirs seven hundred dollars and an equal proportion of my estate after the rest of my children shall receive money or property to the amount of one thousand dollars.
Item Tenth. Having heretofore given to my daughter, Frances Miller, and her three children two hundred dollars, I hereby confirm the same to her and her heirs forever. I also now give and bequeath to her and her heirs eight hundred dollars and an equal proportion of my estate with the rest of my children after they shall have received in money or property the sum of one thousand dollars.
Item Eleventh. I give and bequeath to my daughter, Catharine E. Rainwater, one thousand dollars and an equal proportion of my estate after the rest of my children have received money or property to the amount of one thousand dollars.
Item Twelfth. Having heretofore given my daughter, Martha Segar, one thousand dollars I hereby confirm the same to her and her heirs forever. I now give and bequeath to her an equal proportion of my estate after the rest of my children shall receive money or property to the amount of one thousand dollars.
Item Thirteenth. I do hereby nominate and appoint my son, Joseph Rainwater, and my sons in law, Jessie Moseley, G. H. Sanders, and Pierce Sewell my executors to this last will and testament contained in this and foregoing items.
In testimoney whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this the 10th day of January 1865. Signed, sealed, and acknowledged and published in our presence and we have witnessed the same at the request of James Rainwater and have signed and witnessed the same in his presence. Interlined (?) before signed.
James Rainwater, Test. [Witnesses] G. T. Camp, Abraham Miller, Wiley Steed
Transcribed and contributed by Erin Leongomez <mailto:[email protected]>
97. Mary "Polly" Mason 1 was born about 1798 in Spartanburg Dist., SC. She died on 8 Jan 1859 in Campbell Co., GA.
100. Thompson McGuire 1 was born 2, 3 in 1760/1770 in SC or Cumberland County, VA. He died 4 in 1840/1850 in Campbell County, GA. He married Frances Tyner in 1795. [Parents]
101. Frances Tyner 1, 2 was born 3, 4 in 1780 in Wilkes County, GA. She died 5, 6 in 1840 in Campbellton, Campbell County, GA or Elbert Co., GA. [Parents]
If you have additional information on this family, please contact me.
112. Charles Willingham was born in 1795. He married Elizabeth. [Parents]
Charles is noted in the military records, Harris County, showing enlistment for a period of July 6, 1828 - July 8, 1930, with the Franklin Blues, Hall's Rifle Company #695.
113. Elizabeth was born in 1802.
120. Shem Cooke , Jr. was born in 1772 in Virginia. He died in 1862. He married Temperance Blackwell. [Parents]
121. Temperance Blackwell was born in 1773. She died in 1863. [Parents]