William Rackley (abt. 1755 - aft. 1816)

Born about 1755 in Granville, North Carolina

Ancestors

Descendants

Died after 1816 after about age 61 in Pendleton, South Carolina, United States [uncertain]

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Biography

William Rackley was born about 1755 in Granville County, North Carolina, to Mills Rackley and his wife Rebecca. That he was a son of Mills Rackley is proved by a deed in which is mentioned a “corner agreed on and marked by William Rackley and Mills his father.”^[1]

He moved to Union District, South Carolina, prior to 1795 when he witnessed a deed of his father.^[2] He later purchased land on Shoal Creek in Pendleton District, South Carolina, from John and Jacob Vance. On 18 January 1816, he sold 100 acres of this land to his son William Rackley, Jr.^[3] On the same day, he sold an additional 100 acres to his son Jesse Rackley.^[4]

He died after 1816, probably in Pendleton District, South Carolina.

Children

William Rackley did not leave any estate papers, as it seems he had distributed his lands before his death. However, his heirs can be inferred from a legal action taken to sell the land of his childless daughter Sarah. On 24 April 1845 Reden Rackley petitioned the Ordinary of Pickens District, South Carolina, stating that “Sarah Ayres or Sarah Barrett died seized & possessed of Fifty Acres of Land more or less on Carpenters Creek adjoining land belonging to James Burdine & others. The above named Sarah Ayres was married to Arthur Barrett in her first husbands lifetime & was afterward known as Sarah Barrett. As I understand her husband is dead & Arthur Barrett is also dead, your petitioner sheweth that his Father was a Brother to the said Sarah & he request to have the Land sold or divided as may be most advantageous to the heirs of the said Sarah Ayres or Sarah Barrett.”^[5]

The court determined that the land was worth less than $1000, and that the best was forward was to sell the land. To facilitate the selling of the land, Reden Rackley sued her heirs. They were described as “Thomas Rackley, Wm Rackleys Heirs, Abner Rackley, Jesse Rackley, Winny Rackley, & Elizabeth Rackley.” Because “the 4 last named Heirs are without the limits of the state,” it was ordered that they have three months to respond “or their consent to the same will be taken as confessed.” Thomas Rackley and the heirs of William Rackley were residents of Pickens District, South Carolina, and they were also notified to attend court in October 1845 if they objected to the sale.^[6] It seems that none of the heirs objected, and the land was sold by the ordinary on 16 March 1846 to James Burdine for $60.00.^[7]

Therefore, the proven children of William Rackley are:

• Abner Rackley
• Elizabeth Rackley
• Jesse Rackely
• Sarah Rackley
• Thomas Rackley
• Winny Rackley

Sources

1. ↑ “Union County, South Carolina, Conveyance Books, 1778-1921,” images, FamilySearch, Mills and Rebekah Rackley to John Putman, 13 January 1805, (accessed 21 October 2021); citing Union County, South Carolina, Deed Book H, page 330. Witnesses: Hiram Putman, Ann Prewitt, and Jean Putman.
2. ↑ “Union County, South Carolina, Conveyance Books, 1778-1921,” images, FamilySearch, John Little to Mills Rackley, 5 November 1795, (accessed 21 October 2021); citing Union County, South Carolina, Deed Book D, page 304. Witnesses Charity Little and William Rackley.
3. ↑ “Anderson County, South Carolina, Conveyance Books, 1789-1901,” images, FamilySearch, William Rackley to William Rackley, Jr., 18 January 1816, (accessed 21 October 2021); citing Pendleton District, South Carolina, Deed Book O, page 417. The deed was witnessed by Thomas and Elizabeth Rackley.
4. ↑ “Anderson County, South Carolina, Conveyance Books, 1789-1901,” images, FamilySearch, William Rackley, Sr., to Jesse Rackley, 18 January 1816, (accessed 21 October 2021); citing Pendleton District, South Carolina, Deed Book R, page 277. The deed was witnessed by Thomas Rackley and Francis Matterson.
5. ↑ “Pickens County, South Carolina, Court Records,” images, FamilySearch, Petition of Reden Rackley, 24 April 1845, (accessed 22 October 2021); citing Pickens County, South Carolina, Sales of Real Estate, 1829-1860, page 62.
6. ↑ “Pickens County, South Carolina, Court Records,” images, FamilySearch, Reden Rackley v. The heirs of Sarah Ayers or Barrett, 30 June 1845, (accessed 22 October 2021); citing Pickens County, South Carolina, Sales of Real Estate, 1829-1860, page 64.
7. ↑ “Pickens County, South Carolina, Deeds, 1828-1866,” images, FamilySearch, William D. Steele, Ordinary, to Jams Burdine, 16 March 1846, (accessed 22 October 2021); citing Pickens County, South Carolina, Deed Book E1, page 394. The deed referred to her as “Sarah Ayres (Alias Barrett).”

• "United States Census, 1810," database with images, FamilySearch, Household of William Rackley, Pendleton District, South Carolina, (accessed 21 October 2021); NARA microfilm publication M252, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).