Raby Family
History:
Knox Co TN descendants of James, Sherwood, Samuel
This is summary of research by Donald Ernest Raby, a work in progress. deraby at att.net
According to 1830 Census, the first Rabys in Knox Co TN were Robert, James and Sherwood. In 1840 TN Census three new names are found: James, Squire, John.
In Rowan Co NC 1820 there was James Raby with five males and 1 female children. James was born in NC 1780. His wife name is Nancy; according to Squire Raby they were both dead in 1861. This matches in age and date and leads me to conclude that James is father of Robert, Sherwood, James, Squire and John.
ROBERT RABY
Robert married Lucinda Williamson in Stokes Co NC in 1822. Descendants of Robert lived in Hardin Valley and Solway area near Beaver Creek where some still live. His children married Cobb, Lee, Pitts, Howard, Bullen, and Ruffner.
Thanks to Bobbie Rather Raby, Flossie Raby, Lyman Raby, Gladys Raby Hunt and others for information on the “Solway” Rabys.
WILLIAM RABY
William Raby married Nancy Howard and they lived on Campbell Station Rd. William, this first born of Robert, joined the Union and died in camp at Cumberland Gap in 1862 of disease. His widow Nancy raised his six children on the farm located on Campbell St Rd. The descendants of Landon (Orlando) still reside in the Farragut/Concord area today.
Thanks to Grace Raby Coker and Geneva Raby for help with this Concord Branch of Raby.
SHERWOOD RABY
Sherwood married Sarah Strange 11-18-1828 in Knox Co. TN. Sara was also from Rowan Co NC, and probably came over the mountains together. The 1830 census shows Sherwood with wife and 1 female child under 5. There was possibly a son, named Sherwood (Sherrod) born 1832. It is unknown what happened to Sarah, assumed died. Sherwood marries widow Lucinda Hord in 1833. Sherrod is found in household of Robert in 1850 census, age 17. Robert had a daughter Frankey who is also 17 in 1850. Frances Raby married Samuel Lee 1850. Interviews with descendants offer no knowledge of twin of Frankey. There is some memory of Sherrod (Sherwood) Raby with descendants of Robert. From this it is concluded that Sherrod is son of Sherwood and Sara, Sara died and Sherrod is raised in household of Robert.
Sherrod married Sara Long 1853. After conscription by Confederates he escaped. After war he moved to Missouri where he died in Redbird 1891.
One family tradition is that he joined the Union and was captured in Neunan GA and escaped from Andersonville POW camp and returned home. No records have been found to support this.
More below on Sherwood and Lucinda.
ELIZABETH RABY
James and Nancy Raby had two daughters: Elizabeth and Nancy. Elizabeth married William Young in Stokes Co NC 1816. They migrated to TN with James. The Youngs moved to White Co TN before 1850 and her parents James and Nancy Raby, may have gone with them.
NANCY RABY
Daughter Nancy married James Hood in 1837. They settled in Roane Co. Squire Raby was bondsman for marriage of Nancy Raby and James Hood.
JAMES RABY, JR.
James Jr. married Margaret (Peggy) Williamson in Knox Co 1832 and settled in Roane, Loudon County, with living descendants there today. His descendants are living in Sweetwater, Loudon and Roane Co. Frances Raby married Maude Brown and settled in Oliver Springs area. Their son Sanie Daniel married Jessie Beatrice Gordon and their children and grandchildren live in Oliver Springs area today. This family is under study presently and will updated when fully researched. Thanks to Billie Snow, Archie Raby and Jessie June Raby Nelson and Pat McDonald and Sonny Harvey for their assistance.
More about James Raby Jr. and Peggy Williamson
From the Oakridger online newspaper
Story last updated at 11:39 a.m. on Monday, November 4, 2002
Archie E. Raby
Longtime Roane County Court magistrateArchie E. Raby, 76, of Oliver Springs, died Saturday, Nov. 2, 2002, at Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge.
A lifelong resident of Roane County, he was a local businessman and a member of Mount Pisgah Baptist Church. He served as a magistrate on the Roane County Court for 18 years.
Mr. Raby is survived by his wife, Bonnie Armes Raby of Oliver Springs; three daughters, Leota Wallick and her husband, Terry, of Oliver Springs, Aladene Blythe and her husband, Lyle, of Paso Robles, Calif., and Malinda Yager and her husband, Ken, of Harriman; a son, Hoyt Raby and his wife, Donna, of Oliver Springs; two brothers, Lester Raby and Gordon Raby and his wife, Carol, all of Oliver Springs; a sister, Jessie June nelson and her husband, Floyd, of Oliver Springs; his grandchildren, Garan Wallick, Kellen, Alison and Trevor Blythe, Bonnie-Marie and Will Yager and Brad, Jesse, Archie, Caleb and Hannah Raby; and a sister-in-law, Juanita Raby of Oak Ridge.
Mr. Raby was Paw Arch to his nephew, Keith Raby, and his nieces, Kristi Everett and Danita White. His family said he was loved and honored by several other nieces and nephews and a great many friends.
Mr. Raby was preceded in death by his parents, Sanie Daniel Raby and Jessie Beatrice Gordon Raby, and by four siblings, Curtis Raby, Owana Kay Raby, Ray Raby and Ted Raby.
The funeral was held Sunday, Nov. 3, at Mount Pisgah Baptist Church, with pastors Garvan Walls and Keith Price and minister Brad Raby officiating. The grandchildren served as pallbearers.
A graveside service was to be held at 11 this morning, Nov. 4, at New Fairview Baptist Church Cemetery.
JOHN RABY
John married Joanna Nave in Knox Co TN 1837. They moved to Missouri in middle 1850s.
SQUIRE RABY
Squire married Nancy Mourfield in Knox Co TN 1836. They moved to Mecklenburg Co KY in middle 1850s. John and Squire probably migrated together. John and Squire were bondsmen for each other.
About the same time Sherwood, wife Lucinda, Samuel and Mary Jane with husband Bartley Jones travel to Overton Co TN where they are in 1860 census. One tradition in family of Squire was that three Raby brothers crossed Cumberland Gap and went different directions, never to meet again. I have contacted descendants of all children of James and Nancy Raby. There is a lot more work to do as time proceeds. My family is the focus of current study.
The following information is from public records and confirmed by family sources
Sherwood Raby b.1800? NC married Lucinda Hord July 25,1833 in Knox Co.
Lucinda Hord, widow of Thomas J. Hord who died 1831. Maiden name most likely Luttrell (Lucinda Luttrell married Thomas Hord in Fauquier VA in 1825). She is listed born in VA. 1802. d. 5-15-1888 Hord link in Overton Co. TN?? She owned one acre and house on Kingston Pike in Loveville until 1887. She also reacquired 200 acres in 1867 for $49 tax bill that were lost by her son James Hord in 1852. (Chancery court & Property Deeds)
Her 1888 death date is found on Bible page in Raby family. Burial is unknown.
Hord Children: Thomas Hord 1825, James Hord 1828, Sarah Hord Roberts1830 (Hiram).
Children: Mary Jane Raby (1835) and Samuel A. Raby (1841)
MARY JANE RABY
Mary Jane married Bartley Rufus Jones, two daughters Sarah and Lucinda Jane.
Mary Jane died before Civil War. Bartley Jones was in Union Calvary. After the war Bartley married Martha Letsinger and they had several more children.
Sarah Jones married Charles B. Russell and is buried in Scarborough Cem. Lucinda Jane Jones married Henry Overstreet and lived in Morgan Co.
SAMUEL RABY SR.
Samuel A. Raby, Sr. b. 2-15-1841 Loveville, Knox Co TN d. 12-29-1915 Buried in New Hope Cem. by E. Gate of Y-12, Scarborough back of Oak Ridge.
Lived in Knox Co 1865-1880; Morgan Co 1880-1884; Anderson Co 1884-1915.
Samuel joined Union in Campbell Station and was enrolled 10 Feb 1862 in Flat Lick KY. Discharged as Cpl. Co. D, 3rd TN Inf. 1862-65 (Ambulance driver).
Contracted measles in camp in April 1862 and had permanent damage to eyes.
Received pension beginning in 1885 of $2/ month with increases to $18 before death in 1915 of Acute Bronchitis. Was nearly blind by age 42 when first applied for pension. Pension application fee cost $25.
First Wife: Anne Elizabeth Willey Larick married: 1-8-1867 b.10-2-1837 d. 8-12-1889 buried in Davis Cemetery, Coalfield in Morgan Co, TN.
[Three Children with Joesph Larick--- Mary “Mollie” Larick 1857, Charles W. Larick 1859, George W. Larick 1862,
Five Raby children--James Edward b. 11-12-1867 d.3-7-1923, Luther M. b.12-9-1869, Mary Belle Raby Butler 11-15-1871, Samuel M. 12-29-1873,Annie Elizabeth Raby Holloway 4-12-1876
See below
Second Wife: Mary E." Bettie" Bearden married: 4-23-1890 by Samuel Greear M.G b.11-28-1848 d. 1-8-1926 no children
Bettie had a son, Simon Bearden who lived in Houston, Texas.
SAMUEL M. RABY, son of Samuel Sr. and Ann Elizabeth
Samuel M. Raby b. 12-29-1873 d. 3-15-1934 New Hope Cem.
First wife: Bertha Jane Walters b. 7-20-1873 d. 9-23-1910 New Hope Cemetery. Married: 8-6-1893 by Isaac T. Whaley, M.G
Second wife: Malinda (Linda) Brock m.12 Nov 1912 no children (married Sam Hackworth after 1934 when Nora Walters Hackworth and Sam Raby died)
Children of Samuel and Bertha Jane:
Frederick Samuel Raby b. 6-8-1894 d. 8-27-1922 WWI New Gray
Volena Raby (W. Robert) James b. 8-28-1898 d. 1980
Virgil King Raby ----------b.1-11-1900 d. 4-21-1995 LH
Charles A. Raby ---------- b. 1-24-1903 d. 6-14-1912 NH
Franklin Roy Raby ----- b. 8-1-1907 d. 10-11-1989 LH
Sam, Bertha and Charles are buried in New Hope Baptist Cemetery NH near Y-12 Oak Ridge Tennessee. They lived in Robertsville and Scarbrough, Anderson County. Property taken by US Government for Atomic Energy Commission Reservation, Oak Ridge TN. (1942)
Bertha Jane Walters is daughter of Hiram King Walters and Elizabeth Jane Light. Siblings: Arminda Cella, Calvin Cassell, Bertha, Emma Odell, Nancy Mary Mattie, Henry Martin, Arthur Joseph, Sarah Lauza, Elizabeth Maude.
Hiram K. Walters lived in Floyd Co VA until moving to Scarborough TN in 1888. Bertha was third of nine children. Her mother died in 1884, probably at birth of twins Lauza and Maude. Hiram Walters married Maggie Yarnell and they had nine more children. Hiram moved to Canada.
In July 2000 I visited the State Archives in Raleigh NC and searched for two days the links to early Rabys in America. I have many notes to sort and retrace, but no positive connection before James Raby born 1780 and living in Fork of Yadkin in Rowan Co NC 1820 has been established. On return trip, I stopped in Franklin NC and visited Albert Raby with whom I had corresponded. His earliest ancestor is Frederick Raby Sr. found in Burke Co NC 1800. I believe it is possible that James and Frederick Sr. were brothers of first cousins, but this is not documented. Hopefully further research can be completed to find the connections. Before 1790s most Rabys are found in Coastal counties of Eastern NC. Bertie, Gates, Tyrell, Hertford. There are many Rabys in Nansemond (Suffolk ) Co VA just across the state line from Gates and Bertie Co NC.
Earliest reference to Raby is a Robert Raby found in 1635 among 14 colonists transported from England by Robert Bennett. Bennett received 700 acres on Nansemond River. Three Rabys, Adam, Blake, and Luke were in the Revolution as privates with two of them listed as deserters.
I am very grateful for the support and encouragement I have received in this project. Thanks to all the family, both known and newly discovered. I am happy that we can make the connection and discover our ancestors together. Most of all I appreciate your sharing your memories, Bibles, photographs and Love.
I am continuing to seek contact with any researchers and sources to expand this history of Raby in America. I am also seeking corrections and modifications of the current work. Please contact me for further information:
Donald Ernest Raby, deraby@att.net
2906 Curtis Ln.
Knoxville TN 37918