son of George
Harrell ca 1810 and wife Elizabeth ca 1810, brother of Michel D Harrell ca
1843, also in household 1850 Cyntha Harrell ca 1829 cannot read ~ all born
NC
4. Mary Addlin Hannah Rayner 6 Nov 1842 - 18 Jun 1869
married 1868 Marcus B Evans ca 1839 -
5. Sarah Eliza Rayner 3 Oct 1845 - 26 May 1915
married 1886 William L (Billie) Mitchell 1832 - aft
1910
he had married 1st Mary Margaret
Alston ca 1833 - ca 1886
6. Araminta Manda Rayner 9 Mar 1848 - aft 1910
married 9 April 1884 Jacob Lenow ca 1814 SH Co
VA - 18 Feb 1892 Bertie Co NC
he had married 1st
in Southampton Co VA
18 June 1838
Narcissa Murfree ca 1812 Hertford Co - 1860/1880
the census shows him with a 2nd
wife L J on the 1880 census SH Co VA
7. William Reed Rayner 24 May 1853 - 1921 Bertie Co, NC
married 1876 Allie Frances Sessoms 1858 - 1944 Wake
Co, NC
CENSUS BERTIE CO NC 1850 #453
William Rayner 37 m farmer 525
Eliza 32 f
Marcus J 15 m in school
John A 13 m in school
Martha A 11 f in school
Mary A 10 f in school
Sarah E 6 f in school
Araminta 2 f
Joshua Rayner 35 m (brother)
Penelope Drew 50 f (mother-in-law)
Mary A Ward 40 f ( ?) (Idiot checked)
Agricul Schedule 1850 William Rayner
75 (550) ac 525 farm val 30 farm imp 2 horse 10 cows 1 ox 5 cattle 7 sheep
45 swine 187 val 16 wheat 500 corn 15 wool 40 pea 40 pot 400 sw pot 50
butter 4 hay 20 flax 3 flaxseed 10 honey 20 home man 127 slaughters
Will -- Bertie Co NC dated 17 March 1860--- May Ct 1861
I William Rayner of the County of Bertie and State of North Carolina being
of sound mind and memory but of feeble health do make and declare this my last will and
testament in manner & form followering that is to say
First I give and bequeat to my beloved sons
Marcus J Rayner, Jno A Rayner, and William Rayner the tract of land whereon I now live to be equally devided between them &
their airs forever subject to be rented out for two years for the benefit of my estate
Secondly I give and bequeath to my beloved daughters Martha A Rayner, Mary A Rayner, Sally Eliza Rayner, and Araminta M Rayner each one hundred fifty dollars to be paid by my Executors
within five years from the time of my decease.
Thirdly I give and bequeath to my beloved daughters Martha A Rayner and Mary A Rayner
each
one bed furniture
Fourthly It is my will and desire that all the residue of my estate of any species and
kind after taking out the demiza above named be equally devided between my children
Fifthly I do hereby constitute and appoint my beloved sons Marcus J Rayner and John A Rayner
my lawful executors & execute this my last will and
testament according to the true intent and meaning of the same
In witness thereof I the said William R
Rayner do hereby set my hand and seal this
the 17th day of March in the year of our lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty.
Wm Rayner
Wm J Freeman J M Outlaw
Proved May Ct 1861
Acct Sale of hire negroes & rents lands of the estate
of Wm Rayner decd
Dec 30th 1861 for the Ensuing year
George to M J Rayner 98.00
Blunt " John Rice 60.00
Joe " Jat Tayloe 48.00
Harriet " John W Perry 46.00
Bet " M J Rayner 37.00
Mariah " J C Clark 26.00
Sam & General " Thos Nickols 25.00
$337.00
To Keep
Winey & five children to M J Rayner 48.50
Cintha & three children " 19.00
Mary & three " " 17.75
$85.25
Land
House field to M J Rayner 15.00
Cotton ? field " 10.00
Large New Grown " 15.00
Wheat Patch " 2.00
Branson's North Carolina Business Directory of 1896 lists
Manufactory of Carriages - Powellsville, NC - Raynor Bros.
"Uncle Marc"
Marcus Joshua Rayner
1835 - 1906
|
his
parents
never married:
of Powellsville NC
This is my working hypothesis - the way I see it as of this moment!!

to see Uncle Marc's house click here.

Uncle Marc
On the death of his father, William Rayner (1812-1860) Marc Rayner became
the head of the household that included six younger siblings. The youngest
William Reed Rayner was just turning seven. His mother had died in 1856; but
her mother Penelope Drew (1799-1880) was also living with the family. Uncle
Marc never married. It was Uncle Marc who gave Raynor Moore his first pair
of long pants--a fine suit. (Before that he wore a dress.) Uncle Marc had a
general store (the one Uncle Percy later had) in Powellsville where he also
sold brandy that his family distilled.
Militia Records: 8th Reg Bertie County; 2d Brigade; 3rd Lt Rayner, Marcus
J 16/ Aug 61 Trap, Colerain; NR; 9th Reg Bertie County; 2d Brigade; 2d Lt
(Promoted) Rayner, Marcus J 16/Aug/61 Trap Dist.; Captain Rayner, Marcus J
11/Jan/63 Com No 5
Marcus Rayner was the head of the Populist Party in Bertie County in the
1890's.
CENSUS 1860 BERTIE CO NC COLERAIN
1099 1099
Thos Hoggard
John A Rayner 22 M
1100 1100
Marcus J Rayner 24 M 1300 16,606
Martha A 20 F
Mary A 17 F
Sarah E 14 F
Araminter M 12 F
William R 6 M
Penelope Drew 61 F
CENSUS 1870 BERTIE CO NC COLERAIN TWSP
41 Rayner Marcus J 34 M farmer 850 1000
Rayner John A 32 M farm laborer
Rayner Mary W 30 F keeping house
" Gustave B 8 M at home
" Johnnie F 6 F at home
" Percy L 3 M at home
" Morton L 1 M at home
Drew Penelope 71 F House keeping
Rayner Sarah E 24 F House keeping
Rayner Araminta 22 F Housekeeping
Rayner William R 17 M Farm laborer
Freeman Brown M 12 M Farm lavorer
Ward Mary A 60 F House keeping
US Census Bertie Co NC Colerain Twsp
1880 131/131 Rayner M J w m 44 farmer
" Arry w f 31 sister
Drew Penelopy w f 80 g mother
1900 4/4 Rayner, Marcus J head w m July 1835 64 s
Harrell, Martha A sister w f Oct 1839 60 wd 4/3
Lenow, Arrie M sister w f Mar 1848 52 wd 0/0
Bertie Co Wills M J Rayner dated 4 Jan 1901--proved Nov 1906
I M J Rayner being in sound mind and good judgment but considering the
uncertainty and shortness of life and the certainty of death do hereby make
indite and execute this my will and testament as followers viz.
1st I lend to my sisters Martha A Harrell and Arrie M Lenow the use of my
farm conjointly provided if either one shall become in possession of a Farm
of their own by purchase, gift, or marriage then while in possession of such
farm said legates is to have no interest in my farm
2nd My sisters Martha A Harrell and A M Lenow is to have provision enough
for one years support with a part of my stock.
3rd It is my will that my nieces Luta Harrell Trevathan, Lizzie Harrell
Smith and nephew Josiah Harrell have my lands Josiah Harrell to have the
farming part adjoining with the house inclusive, and he is to have his
choice 1 one of my horses all his stock of cattle and goats etc
4th The balance of my property of every kind to be divided equally
between Luta Harrell, Lizzie Harrell and Josiah Harrell when agreeable with
the parties
5th I appoint hereby Martha A Harrell and Arrie M Lenow my lawful
exectrisen to take charge of my entire estate as the lawful representatives
In testamony where off I hereunto set my hand and seal this 4th day of
Jany. 1901
M J Rayner (seal)
Wit: D V Sessoms W J Freeman proved 23 Nov 1906
The property of the said M J Rayner consisting of land, known as the
Charles Freeman tract about 170 acres in Colerain Township worth about $1000
and personal property consisting of horses, cattle, hogs, farming
implements, household & kitchen furniture & crops & peanuts is
worth about $300 so far as can be ascertained at the date of this
application.
great grandparents
John Alexander Rayner 1837 - 1901 |
his
parents
and 1860 Mary Winifred Rayner 1840 - 1925 |
her parents
of the old Rayner Place
Children of John Alexander Rayner and Mary Winifred Rayner:
1. Gustave Beaureguard Rayner 3 Aug 1861-1952
Baptist preacher &
Farmer - Texas
married 1886 1st Louanna Mitchell 1868-1912
married 1913 2nd Francis Elizabeth Hale 1888-1960
2. Johnnie Florentine Rayner 14 Dec 1863 - 21 Mar 1926
married 24 Oct 1886 Arthur Cotton Moore
1854 - 1926
Farmer
- Maple Lawn
3. Percy Lockhart Rayner 12 Oct 1866 - 1930
Gen.
Store -
Powellsville
married ca 1912 Ella Jones 1882 - 1961
4. Morton Lacy Rayner 1 Feb 1869 - 1927
Farmer- home place
married ca 1900 Hattie Parker 1879 -
1958
5. Beulah Elizabeth Rayner 3 June 1871 - 1937
married 1890 William Elisha Sessoms
1849 - 1923
Farmer
- Stoney Creek
6. James William Rayner 14 Feb 1874 - 1932
Railway
Agent - Powellsville
married 3 Sept 1902 Annie Ward Pruden
1876 - 1944
7. John Armstead Rayner 16 May 1875 - 1919
Farmer - Powellsville
married 1899 Betty Moore 1879 -
1919
8. Martha Penelope Rayner 22 Mar 1878 - 1967
married 1899 David L Myers 1868 - 1956
Mercantile and Jewelry Stores-Ahoskie
9. Fredric Lawrence Rayner 2 Feb 1882 - 11 July 1882
"Aunt Pat"
Martha Ann Penelope Rayner 1839 -
1916 | her
parents
and 1869 George B Harrell ca 1839 - bef
1900 | his
parents
of Powellsville NC
This is my working hypothesis - the way I see it as of this moment!!

Aunt Pat
Martha and George Harrell were married
in 1869.
George B Harrell served in the Civil War.
George B Harrell Imprisoned
at Point Lookout, MD. Co. L, 1st Reg NC Inf. & 11th Reg NC Troopers
His parents were George and Elizabeth Harrell of
Bertie Co.
Children of Martha Ann [Pat] Rayner and George B Harrell:
1. Luta I. Harrell 25 Jan 1870 - 1 Nov 1903
married
March 1899
Robert Dempsey Trevathan
24 July
1869 - 25 Mar 1957 Rocky Mt
son of William Carter
Trvathan 1830 - 1908 & Sarah Jane Price 1832 - 1910 Rocky Mt NC

Demps, Lenow and Luta
a. Joseph Lenow [Leno] Trevathan 10 Oct
1901 - 22 Dec 1997 GA
the Rayner family Bible said 8 Oct
married 1 Jan
1927 Lillian Daniels 23 Apr 1903 - 14 Sept 1978 Durham NC
Lillian and Leno Trevathan
i.
Jean Carolyn Trevathan 1929 -
married Woody Muse
1. James Stephen Muse
Leno and brother Robert ca 1910
2nd "driving" and 3rd Leno on his pony
Demps married
2nd 25 Oct 1906 Sarah Levicie [Vicie] Edwards 1874
- 1954
a. Laura Thorpe Trevathan
18 Feb 1908 - 22 Feb 1908 Rocky Mt NC
b. Robert Lee
Trevathan 18 Sept 1909 - 21 Jan 1975 Rocky Mt NC
married 1931 Mary Ella Harper 1909 Franklin NC -
i. Mary Alice Trevathan
married C Joseph Ezzell
1. Mary Jo Ezzell
2. Robin Leigh Ezzell
c. Phoebe Ricks Trevathan
16 April 1912 - 2000 Rocky Mt NC
d. William Joshua Trevathan
25 June 1914 - 22 Jan 1975 Rocky Mt NC
Pictured at Dempsey Trevathan's farm
Children feeding chickens
Leno in a peach tree with father Dempsey
horse, sulky and "driver"
Note: thanks go to Helen
and Chuck Trevathan
for sharing these pictures and family information
2. Eliza E. [Lizzie] Harrell 23 July 1872 - 31 May 1905
married Joseph Linwood Smith 12 Sept
1873 - 30 Jan 1936
a. Earl Smith
b. Pansy
[Pinkie] Smith 13 Sept 1900 - 7 Aug 1928 Roanoke, VA
buried in the Rayner family cemetery near Powellsville, NC
Her family also placed a stone for her in Bonaventure Cemetary
Savannah GA
married Ross
c. Marcus Linwood Smith 17
Aug 1895 - 5 Dec 1902
3. Martha A Harrell 30 Nov 1874 - 3 Nov 1879
4. Joseph Marcus Harrell 14 March 1878 - 1950
married Lula Wood Parker 10 Oct 1890 -
1961 Powellsville, NC
a. Ruth Harrell
b. Josie Harrell
c. George Arthur Harrell
"Aunt Mary"
Mary Addlin Hannah Rayner 1842 -
1869 | her
parents
and 1868 Marcus B Evans ca 1839 - aft 1880 |
his
parents
of Hertford Co NC
This is my working hypothesis - the way I see it as of this moment!!
Mary Addlin Hannah Rayner 6 Nov 1842 - 18 Jun 1869.
Marcus B Evans appears to be the son of Lemuel Evans of Hertford
Co and his wife Sarah Porter - both born about 1805. Marcus B Evans had
married again by 1880 Martha. - but they seem not to have had children.
His brother Judson B Evans named his son for Marcus.
Child of Mary Addlin
Hannah Rayner and Marcus B Evans:
1. Beulah May Evans 21 Jan 1869 - 23 July 1869
1850 Census Hertford Co NC - southern
dist #87
Lemuel Evans 45 m 850 NC
Sarah Evans 45 f
Turner L Evans 20 m laborer
Celia Evans 18 f
Quinton D Evans 16 m student
Sally J Evans 13 f
Marcus B Evans 11 m
Frusa A Evans 9 f
Judson Evans 7 m
Casanda Evans 4 f
Rebecca E Evans 2 f
1860 Census Hertford
Co NC 779-841
Lemuel Evans 58 m farmer 2500 10280 Hertford Co NC - deaf
Sarah Evans 58
f Bertie Co
Jane Evans 21
f Hertford Co
M B Evans 21
m "
Frusey A Evans 18 f
"
Kasanda Evans 13 f
"
J D Evans
16 m "
Rebecca Evans 12
f "
M F
Evans
8 f "
1870 Census Hertford
Co NC
Lemuel Evans 66 m w farmer 900 500 NC
Sarah
66 f w housewife
Judson B 24 m w
laborer on farm
Mary
T 15
f w housekeeper
Casanda 17 f
w at home
M. B Evans 31 m w
farmer 600 150 NC
Frusey A " 25 f w
housekeeper
1880 Census Hertford
Co NC
M B Evans w m 41 works on farm
Martha " w f 41 wife keeping
house [NC VA Eng]
Margaret Fletcher w f 7 neice [VA VA NC]
J B Evans w m 37 works on farm
Casanda " w f 30 sister
Sally " w f 75 mother
"Aunt Sallie"
Sarah Eliza Rayner
1845 - 1915
| her
parents
& 1886 William L Mitchell
1832 - aft 1910 | his
parents
& ca 1856 Mary Margaret Alston ca 1833 - ca 1885 |
her parents
of Powellsville NC
This is my working hypothesis - the way I see it as of this moment!!
Sarah Eliza Rayner was born 3 October 1845 the fifth child and third daughter
of William Rayner & Eliza C Drew. She is listed on the 1850 Census as Sarah
E 6. In 1860 she is Sarah E 14;1870 Sarah E Rayner 24. She
married c1886 a local widower Billie Mitchell and they lived in
Powellsville. They had no children. She died 26 May 1915
Sarah Eliza and William L
Mitchell had no issue.
Mrs. Sarah E Mitchell of Coleraine is listed as a teacher
in the 1890 & 1896 Directories
step - children of Sarah Eliza
Children of William L Mitchell and Mary Margaret Alston:
step - children of Sarah Eliza
Children of William L Mitchell and Mary Margaret Alston:
Margaret was
the dau of James Alston and wife Elizabeth of Hertford Co [1850 census next
to W D Pruden]
USCensus 1850 Hertford Co SoDist
124 James Alston 48 m cooper 500 NC
Elizabeth
" 31 f
Margaret
" 18 f
James "
10 m
Kiddy
" 9 f
Catherine
" 6 f
Eliza
" 5 f
"Aunt Arrie"
Araminta Manda Rayner 1848 - aft 1910 |
her
parents
and 1884 Jacob Lenow ca 1814 - 1892 |
his
parents
of Powellsville NC
This is my working hypothesis - the way I see it as of this moment!!
Aunt Arrie
Jacob Lenow was
married to A M Rayner April 9, 1884. Rayner family Bible
Jacob Lenow departed
this life Feb 18, 1892. Rayner
Family Bible
Jacob Lenow was a
coach maker from Southampton Co VA. The census seems to indicate that he had
no children by any of his 3 wives.
Arrie and Jacob Lenow had no issue.
"The Falling Picture: A falling picture is one of the more common
portents of death. A Bertie County, North Carolina, story illustrates how a
person may be so marked for death. Shortly after the Civil War Arie Rayner
Lenow and her family were living in the old Etheridge house upon the west
bank of the Chowan River near Colerain. The Etheridge family had moved
elsewhere leaving the house furnished, including the family portraits
hanging on the walls. One night a violent storm swept over the countryside.
Lightning flashed continuously and thunder jarred the house. Midway the
storm the grandfather clock began striking while the hands were on neither
the hour nor half-hour. Amidst the bonging Mr. Etheridge's picture quavered
and then fell shattering to 'the floor, splattering the glass. Next morning,
the news came, and it was not unexpected. Mr. Etheridge had died during the
night and at the exact time his picture had fallen."
"The Phantom Coach: John Alexander Rayner, had two sisters,
Pat and Sally, who lived at the old Rayner homeplace in Bertie County between
Powellsville and Cremo. A third sister (Arie), who had married the
widower Lenow lived in a small house down the road apiece". Before the War
Lenow had lived in Rocky Mount with his first wife. He was rich then, and now he
delighted in telling the Rayners about his fine coach and many servants.
Such stories were about the only riches both families had brought out of the
war.
Having advanced in years, one Sunday afternoon Lenow became very sick and
he was expected to die at any time. Meanwhile Aunt Pat was sitting on the
front porch of the Rayner home. Suddenly she sees this elegant coach coming
down the road, a beautiful coach with a red capped coachman and two fashionably
dressed black men standing behind, and drawn by fine black horses, stepping high.
The coach carried only one passenger, a woman; it comes on down the road and
goes around the corner towards where the Lenows lived. Then, just about five
minutes afterwards, word comes to the Rayner home that Lenow had just
died.
Aunt Pat was much perturbed. She could find no other person who had seen
the coach although she inquired up and down the road several miles. Then she
was convinced: Lenow's first wife whom he seemed to have loved so dearly was
waiting for him. When he died "she came and got him" - as
told by Eunice to James Moore
Jacob Lenow married 18 June 1838
Narcissa Murfree in Southampton Co VA
1840 Census Nottoway, SH Co
VA Jacob and wife both in their 20's
1850 Census Nottoway Parish SH
Co VA
Jacob Lenow 34 m coach maker
Narcissa Lenow 32
1860 Census SH Co VA east side
of Nottoway River
J Lenow 44 m
coachmaker 12000 9000 Southampton VA
N Lenow 41
f
Hertford Co NC
didn't find him in 1870
1880 Census Southampton Co VA
Franklin
Jacob Lenow 68 w m
L J
" 40 w f
wife
"Uncle Will"
William Reed Rayner 1853 - 1921
| his
parents
and Allie Frances Sessoms 1858 - 1944 |
her parents
of Bertie Co NC
This is my working hypothesis - the way I see it as of this moment!!
"Wm.
R Raynor a school teacher for many years, a noted songster, and
Justice of the Peace, and an officer of the law and a surveyor"
Allie Frances Sessoms was
the daughter of Assad S Sessoms and his 2nd wife Nancy E/F Perry, a daughter
of John. [see Old Perry School
House ]
Children of William Reed Rayner and Mary Frances Sessoms:
1. William Oscar Raynor Nov 1878 - bef 1930
married Mana White 1883 -
lived & buried at Buzzard Cross Roads
a. Garner Rayner 1905 -1979
married Ola Clee Jernigan 1905 -1974
b. Vernon White Raynor 19 Jan
1913 - 7 Sept 1975
married Lucille Mitchell (McKeel) 8 July 1907 - 31 March 1974
c. Merrill Oscar Raynor
died 22 May 1915
d. Merrill Oscar Raynor
1916 -
married Virgie Barnes
2. Hezekiah Owens Raynor 28 June 1883 - 28 Aug 1957
Merchant,
Farmer - General Store - Mail Carrier RFD 1930
married Annie Laurie Harrell 29 Aug 1886 - 17 Dec 1971
a. Owens Raynor
23 Oct 1915 - 13 July 1917
b. William Reed Raynor
ca 1918 -
married 1941 Sarah Moore Bryant
3. Thomas Assayd Raynor June 1889 - 1918
married 1918 Fannie Boyette 16 Jan 1885
- 29 Dec 1968
(she married 2nd George Underwood of Murfreesboro)
4. Kenneth Tyson Raynor 9 Sept 1890 - 12 Nov 1977
Principle of Ahoskie High School, taught
math at Duke U. & Wake Forest U.
married Beulah Lassiter from Rich Square
English teacher at Wake Forest College