Timeline of Events in The Life of
Rev. Robert Granderson Rainey
1820-1900
from the research of Roger Strain
| date | event |
|---|---|
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. |
|
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: |
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) |
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. |
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) |
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. |
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 |
1857 |
Corinth Circuit (I believe the Cornish Circuit was the area around Cornish, MS. which is 48 miles east-northeast of Deanburg, TN.) |
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. |
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 |
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. |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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. |
|
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 |
1880 |
Lamar County, TX census |
1881-1882 |
Woodland Circuit (Woodland, TX is 20 miles northeast of Paris, 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. |
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. |
1897 |
A church building was constructed at 1625 Bonham Street and was named "The Paris Methodist-Episcopal Church South" |
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.