Timeline of Events in The Life of
Rev. Robert Granderson Rainey
1820-1900

from the research of Roger Strain

dateevent

Jun 28, 1820

Born in Rowan County, North Carolina

Nov 28, 1843

Married Terry Butler Madison County, TN.

Sep 1, 1844

Was converted at Cool Springs Church on Bear Creek Circuit. (This location is very close to Deanburg, TN) Madison County, TN.

Sep 21, 1844

RGR bought 100 acres of land from Wm H Stephen Madison County, TN.

Sep 21, 1844

RGR bought 100 acres of land from Thomas Brown Madison County, TN.

Sep 8, 1844

Joined the Methodist Church

Sep 21, 1844

Purchased 100 acres of land in Madison County, TN. (I believe this land to be close to Deanburg, TN) Madison County, TN.

1845

Licensed to exhort

1846

Mary Francis Rainey, RGR’s daughter is born

1848

Licensed to preach

1848

Robert R Rainey, RGR’s son is born

1849

John Leroy Rainey, RGR’s son is born

1850

1850 census. RGR and his family are in this census.
Madison County, TN.

 

R. G. Rainey & Terry Butler Rainey had three other children who were born after the 1850 census but we have been unable to locate any information on them. They were:
Carol Rainey; James Sheppard Rainey; Martha Vermello Rainey.

Dec, 1851

Admitted into the Memphis Conference at Paducah, Kentucky  (if he actually went to Paducah, KT that is 136 miles north of Deanburg, TN) appointed to the Charleston, Circuit in the State of Mississippi (Charleston, MS is 138 miles south-southwest of Deanburg, TN)
Charleston, Tallahatchie County, MS.

Nov 6, 1853

Rev. R. G. Rainey was set apart for Deacon of the said Methodist Episcopal Church South. Have a copy of the document.
Grenada, Grenada County, MS

1854

I was returned to this work at the close of this year (sounds like he took a break) appointed the Oxford Circuit were I labored for two years. (Oxford, MS is about 91 miles south-southwest of Deanburg, TN) Lafayette County, MS.

Nov 18, 1855

Rev. R. G. Rainey was set apart as an Elder in the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Have a copy of the document.

Dec. 18, 1855

Rev. R. G. Rainey married Ezekiel Haltom & Rebecca Moore. Madison County, TN.

1856

Purdy circuit (Purdy is 31 miles, about 20 miles as the crow flies, from Deanburg, TN)
Purdy, McNairy County, TN.

Mar 12, 1856

Terry Butler, Rev. R. G. Rainey’s wife, died. She is buried in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Deanburg Community, Madison County, TN along with her father & mother, Daniel & Elizabeth (Liz) S Haltom Butler. Also buried there are R. G. Rainey’s second wife, Mary Y Walsh’s father & Mother, Jonathan & Winneyford Kirby Walsh.
Madison County, TN.

Nov 20, 1856

(Corinth, MS. is 48 miles east-northeast of Deanburg, TN.) RGR wrote a letter to Mary Walsh, his future wife, from here on this day. We have copy of letter. Corinth, Alcorn County, MS.

Dec 9, 1856

(Corinth, MS. is 48 miles east-northeast of Deanburg, TN.) RGR wrote a letter to Mary Walsh, his future wife, from here on this day. We have copy of letter. Corinth, Alcorn County, MS.

Jan 1,1857

Married Mary Y Walsh near Purdy, TN
Madison County, TN.

1857

Corinth Circuit (I believe the Cornish Circuit was the area around Cornish, MS. which is 48 miles east-northeast of Deanburg, TN.)
Corinth Alcorn County, MS.

Dec 2, 1857

Charles Kirby Rainey, RGR’s son is born

1858

Pinson Circuit (Pinson, TN is 8 miles northeast of Deanburg, TN) Pinson, Madison County, TN.

Oct. 27, 1858

Rev. R G Rainey married Jarvis Starkey & Nancy Butler. Nancy Butler is sister of Rev. R G Rainey’s first wife, Terry Butler.
Madison County, TN.

1859

Montezuma Circuit (Montezuma, TN is 9 miles east of Deanburg, TN.) Montezuma, Chester County, TN.

Jan. 10, 1859

Rev. R G Rainey married (?). Adams to Frances C. Butler. This may also be a sister of R G Granderson’s first wife, Terry Butler
Madison County, TN.

Feb 15, 1859

Rev. R. G. Rainey married John W. Johnson & Martha Williams. Madison County, TN.

Mar. 1, 1859

Rev. R G Rainey married Nelson C. Jordan & Martha D. Steward

Mar. 18, 1858

Madison County, TN. Rev R. G. Rainey married Robert G. Wyatt & Elizabeth J. Matthews.
Madison County, TN.

1860

Have been unable to locate RGR in any family members in 1860 census.

1860

Rock Spring Circuit History if the Rock Springs Methodist church is located at this website. This about 25 miles northeast of Deanburg, TN
Rock Spring, Henderson County, TN.

Sep 13, 1860

Sarah Endora (Sallie)) Rainey, RGR’s daughter is born.

1861

Charleston Circuit in Mississippi Charleston, MS Charleston, MS is 138 miles south-southwest of Deanburg, TN) Charleston, Tallahatchie County, MS.

Sep 24, 1861

RGR wrote a letter to Mary Walsh Rainey, his wife, from here on this day. We have copy of letter. Charleston, Tallahatchie County, MS.

Jan 1, 1862

RGR wrote a letter to Mary Walsh Rainey, his wife, from here on this day. We have copy of letter. Oakland, Yalobusha County, MS.

May 6, 1863

McNairy County, TN; S.R. Stribling and Mary Cates applied 6 May 1863, second bondsman
J.P. Baldridge. Solemnized 6 May 1863 by R.G. Rainey, M.G McNairy County, TN

1861-1864

Civil War - Had no regular work for three years arrested twice by Federal soldiers while endeavoring to keep my work on the circuit

1864-1877

Memphis Conference inclusive

May 15, 1866

Rev R. G. Rainey married T. H. Brey to Miss Margaret Hunter Madison County, TN.

Aug 22, 1866

Rev. R. G. Rainey married John T. Buchannan & Eliza Jane York Madison County, TN.

Apr 25, 1867

William Walsh Rainey. RGR’s son is born.

Jan 15, 1868

Rev. R. G. Rainey’s daughter, Mary Francis Rainey & Harris Simmons is married by the court clerk. Madison County, TN.

Dec 24, 1867

R. G. Rainey and J. L. Rainey    witnessed a deed in which William Butler for love and affection for his son, John P Butler, conveyed to him 100 acres of land in Madison County, TN
Madison County, TN.

Aug 17, 1869

Lucy Morgan Rainey born

1870

Have been unable to locate RGR or family members in any 1870 census.

Jul 31, 1874

Frederick Mayo (Fred) Rainey, RGR’s son is born.

 

RGR and Mary Walsh Rainey may have had another child by the name of Millie Rainey but we have not been able to locate any information on her.

1852-1877

Labored in the Memphis Conference inclusive

Jan 17, 1877

RGR sold 100 acres of his land to Jackson G Butler whop was brother of his first wife, Terry Butler.
Madison County, TN.

 

Have not located a deed of sale for R. G. Rainey’s second 100 acres of land. Have searched Madison County, TN deed records 1821-1899.

1878-1880

Paris Circuit
Paris, Lamar County, TX.

1880

Lamar County, TX census

1881-1882

Woodland Circuit (Woodland, TX is 20 miles northeast of Paris, TX)
Woodland, Lamar County, TX.

July 21, 1891

Charles Kirby Rainey, RGR’s son is married to Narcissus Jarvis Starkey. Narcissus Jarvis Starkey’s mother, Nancy C Butler and RGR’s first wife were sisters.

1883

Supernumerary

Oct 20, 1883

Rev R. G. Rainey was allowed to withdraw his membership from the Medon Lodge No 166. Signed by J. M. Reams. Have a copy of the handwritten document.
Madison County, TN.

1884

Rosalie Circuit (Rosalie, TX is 27 miles southeast of Paris, TX) Rosalie, Red River, County, TX.

1885-1900

Was given Supernumerary relation in the Northeast Texas Conference which he retained until his death

1896

An organizational meeting was held. The Rev. R. G. Rainey and 8 charter members held services at West Paris School at 17th South West and Austin Streets. Roster of Pastors shows Rev R. G. Rainey is shown as the first pastor.
 1. Rev. R. G. Rainey.........................1896
 2. Rev. Sebe Crutchfield..........1896-1897
Paris, Lamar County, TX

1897

A church building was constructed at 1625 Bonham Street and was named "The Paris Methodist-Episcopal Church South"
Paris, Lamar County, TX

Apr 24, 1900

Rev R. G. Rainey died. He is buried in Odd Fellow Cemetery. Paris, Lamar County, TX

Aug 28, 1934

Mary Y Walsh Rainey died. She is buried beside her husband, Rev R. G. Rainey in Odd Fellow Cemetery. Paris, Lamar County, TX

Robert Granderson Rainey spent thirty-two years in the regular Ministerial work and compelled to retire by reasons of age and disability.

*As I believe Robert Granderson’s property was very close to Deanburg, TN I used this as a starting point to understand how far from his home his travels as a circuit rider may have took him.

With the possibility of RGR’s mother remarrying and relocating to the area around Water Valley, MS, Water Valley, MS is 109 miles east southeast of Deanburg, IN. He worked several churches in that area.