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Edward Rainsford (bef. 1609 - bef. 1680)

Edward Rainsford aka Raynsford, Raynesford, Raynford [uncertain]
Born before in Staverton, Northamptonshire, Englandmap
Ancestors ancestors
Husband of — married about 1631 in Boston, Massachusetts Bay Colonymap [uncertain]
Husband of — married 15 Oct 1633 in Boston, Massachusetts Bay Colonymap
Descendants descendants
Died before at about age 70 in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts Bay Colonymap
Profile last modified | Created 21 Sep 2010
This page has been accessed 10,441 times.
The Puritan Great Migration.
Edward Rainsford migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See Great Migration Begins, by R. C. Anderson, Vol. 3, p. 1543)
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Magna Carta Project logo
Magna Carta Gateway Ancestor
Descendant of Magna Carta Surety Baron Geoffrey de Say (see text).
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Discuss: magna_carta

Contents

Biography

Parentage; Date and Place of Birth

Edward Raynsford, the son of Robert Raynesford and Mary Kirton, was probably born shortly before he was baptized at Staverton, Northamptonshire, England on 10 September 1609.[1][2][3]

His origins are proven by a letter from John Hull, writing from England, in March 1676, which referred to "Judge Rainsford, brother to him of Boston…."[4][5][6]

Apprenticeship to Owen Rowe

In 1626, at about the age of 17, Edward became bound as an apprentice to the prominent Puritan London merchant Owen Rowe for a term of 8 years:

Edrus Raynsford filius Robti Raynsford de Staverton in Com Northton Armiger poss Owen Rowe civi et haberds London pro termino octo Annor a festo Penticosti ult dat ix die[7][8]

Immigration and Settlement in Boston

Edward probably came to New England as part of the Winthrop Fleet of 1630[1] and was certainly at Charlestown in the summer of 1630, when his name was included among a list of members of the First Church of Boston.[1]

He apparently returned to England in 1634 or early 1635, for on 17 June 1635, at age 26 and traveling alone, he embarked on the Abigail out of London bound for New England.[9]

Occupation; Offices

After coming to New England, Edward was involved in handling Owen Rowe's affairs in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. In February 1635/6, Owen Rowe wrote from London to John Winthrop in the Colony asking him to "help forward that Mr. Ransford may be accomodated with lands for a farme to keep my cattele, that so my stock may be preserved."[10] It has been said that the land granted to Edward in response to this request may have been the island in Boston harbor that came to known as Rainsford Island;[11][4] however, no direct support for this assertion has been found. A letter by Edward to "his loving Master: Mr. Owen Rowe" in January 1637/8 requesting payment of 14 pounds to the assigns of John Winthrop[12] shows that Edward continued to represent Owen Rowe in the Colony until at least that date.

Edward took the oath of freeman at Boston on 17 April 1637.[1][2] He was chosen as Selectman at various times from 1662-1681 and was active in the First Church and, later, after a dispute with the First Church's pastor, in the formation of the Third, or Old South, Church.[1][2][4]

For most of his adult life, Edward's occupation was listed as a fisherman. However, when he wrote his will, he referred to himself as a merchant.[1][2]

First Marriage and Children

Edward married, first, a woman whose identity is unknown.[1][2] Some family trees show her name as Mary, perhaps based on the fact that her daughter was given that name, but there are no records that indicate what her first name was. Based on the date of birth of their children, Edward and this first wife were probably married about 1631. They had the following children, whose births were recorded at Boston:

  • Joshua (or Josiah), twin, born 1 June 1632; died 1 September 1632[2][13][14]
  • Mary, twin, born 1 June 1632; married (1) William Basset by 1652; (2) James Percival at Sandwich, Plymouth Colony, about June 1671; died at Saconesset, Plymouth Colony, 12 April 1694 .[2]

Edward's first wife died in June 1632,[1] probably due to complications resulting from the birth of her twins.[2][15]

Second Marriage and Children

Edward married his second wife, Elizabeth, sometime before 15 December 1633, when she was admitted to the First Church as his wife.[1][2] Elizabeth's last name is unknown.[1][2] Edward and Elizabeth had the following children, whose births were recorded at Boston:

  1. John, born 30 June 1634; married (1) Susannah Vergoose about 1660; married (2) Sarah ___; died in 1688.[2][13][16]
  2. Jonathan, born October 1636; marriedMary Sunderland at Boston, 29 November 1656; died 11 March 1671 in Barbados.[2][17][18]
  3. Ranis, born 4 June 1638; marriedJosiah Belcher at Boston, 3 March 1655; died at Boston, 2 October 1691 .[2][13][19]
  4. Nathan, born October 1641; married Mary Allen in Charlestown, 28 November 1665; died before 3 April 1676; no surviving issue.[2][17][20]
  5. David, born 29 August 1644; married (1) Abigail ____, married (2) Hannah Griggs; died at Boston, 28 November 1691.[2][17]
  6. Solomon, baptized 25 October 1646; married Priscilla Getchell about 1668 ; died about 16 January 1692/3.[2][17]
  7. Elizabeth, baptized 25 February 1648; married Capt. William Greenough about 1680; died 23 May 1688.[2][17]
  8. Hannah, baptized 1 January 1650; probably died young.[2][13]
  9. Ann / Anna, born 1 February 1651; married Samuel Hough, 18 September 1651; died before 11 April 1690.[2][13][21]
  10. Edward, baptized 15 October 1654; married Huldah Davis; died at Barbados in 1688 .[2][17]

Will, Death, Estate

Edward made his will on 3 August 1680. A full transcription of his will can be found at Last Will & Testament of Edward Raynsford. His will refers to wife Elizabeth Raynsford, sons Solomon, David, Edward and John Raynsford, deceased sons Jonathan and Nathan Raynsford, daughters Mary Parcyfull, Ranus Belchar, Elizabeth Greenaugh and Anna Hough, grandchildren Jonathan, Dorothy and Mary (children of son Jonathan Raynesford), and friends Edward Willis and John Hayward.

Edward died at Boston on 26 August 1680.[1] He was buried at King's Chapel, Boston, where his gravestone reads "Here lyes ye body of Mr Edward Raynford Senior aged 71 years departed this life Ann Domini 16 82[sic]."[1][22][23]

His estate was inventoried on 3 September 1680 and totalled the impressive sum of £1,638, including a house and land in Boston, land on Raynsford's Island and Long Island in Boston harbor, part interest in four ships, a warehouse containing fish and dry goods, and two young slaves.[1][2]

Sources

  1. 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 James A. Rasmussen, "Edward Raynsford of Boston: English Ancestry and American Descendants," The New England Historical and Genealogical Register 139 (Jul & Oct 1985): 225-238, 296-315, at 296-299. Link to page at amercianancestors.org.
  2. 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 2.20 Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England, 1620-1633 3 Volumes (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1995), 1543-1548. Link to pages at ancestry.com or Amerian Ancestors (subscription).
  3. Douglas Richardson, Royal Ancestry: A Study in Colonial and Medieval Families, 5 vols, Kimball G. Everingham, editor (Salt Lake City: the author, 2013), 4:463 RAYNSFORD 19.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 An Historical Catalogue of the Old South Church (Third Church) Boston (Boston, Old South Church, 1883), 217 Internet Archive.
  5. Rasmussen, "Edward Raynsford of Boston" 139: 226. Link to pages at americanancestors.org.
  6. John Hull, The Diaries of John Hull, Mint-master and Treasurer of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay (Boston: American Antiquarian Society, 1857), 247n, Internet Archive.
  7. Worshipful Company of Haberdashers - Register of apprentice bindings 1610-1630. p 223. Link to page at findmypast.com.
  8. Leslie Mahler, "The London Apprenticeship of Edward Rainsford of Boston, Massachusetts," The New England Historical and Genealogical Register 161(2007): 260 American Ancestors.
  9. John Camden Hotten, The Original Lists of Persons of Quality 1600-1700 (London: 1874; reprint, Baltimore 2007) 93 Internet Archive.
  10. Winthrop Papers, six volumes (Boston, Mass., The Massachusetts Historical Society, 1929-1993), Volume III, 1631-1637, p 226. Link to page at archive.org.
  11. M.F. Sweetser, King's Handbook of Boston Harbor(Cambridge, Mass., Moses King, 1882), p 179. Link to page at archive.org.
  12. Winthrop Papers, Vol 4, p 6. Link to page at americanancestors.org.
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 Rasmussen, "Edward Raynsford of Boston" 139: 299-301. Link to pages at americanancestors.org.
  14. "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FHTB-4LW : 11 March 2018), Joshua Rainsford, 01 Jun 1632; citing Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, 8; FHL microfilm 592,866.
  15. "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FHTB-4LQ : 11 March 2018), Mary Rainsford, 01 Jun 1632; citing Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, 8; FHL microfilm 592,866.
  16. "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FHTB-4LH : 11 March 2018), John Rainsford, 30 Jun 1634; citing Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, 8; FHL microfilm 592,866.
  17. 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 17.5 Rasmussen, "Edward Raynsford of Boston" 139: 304-310. Link to pages at americananestors.org.
  18. "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FHTB-4L8 : 11 March 2018), Jonathan Rainsford, Oct 1636; citing Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, 8; FHL microfilm 592,866.
  19. "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FHTB-4LX : 11 March 2018), Ranis Rainsford, 04 Jun 1638; citing Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, 8; FHL microfilm 592,866.
  20. "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FHTB-4LJ : 11 March 2018), Nathan Rainsford, Aug 1641; citing Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, 8; FHL microfilm 592,866.
  21. "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FHT1-WX1 : 11 March 2018), Anna Rainsford, 01 Feb 1651; citing Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, 31; FHL microfilm 592,866.
  22. "Edward Rainsford." Find A Grave: Memorial #25448804
  23. Thomas Bridgman, Memorials of the Dead in Boston; Containing Exact Transcripts of Inscriptions of the Sepulchral Monuments in the King's Chapel Burial Ground, in the City of Boston (Boston: Benjamin Mussey, 1853), 37. Link to page at archive.org.
See Also:
  • Douglas Richardson, Magna Carta Ancestry: A Study in Colonial and Medieval Families, Royal Ancestry series, 2nd edition, 4 vols., ed. Kimball G. Everingham, (Salt Lake City, Utah: the author, 2011), volume 3, page 427, #14. WorldCat: Find in a Library
  • Robert Charles Anderson, The Winthrop Fleet: Massachusetts Bay Company Immigrants to New England, 1629-1630, (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2012), 547-553.
  • William Camden, The Visitation of the County of Warwick in the Year 1619, John Fetherston, ed., Publications of the Harliean Society Volume 12 (London: the Society 1877), 48-50, Internet Archive.
  • "Pedigree of Raynsford", Miscellanea Genealogica et Heraldica, 3rd Series, Vol 2, Part 5 (March 1897): 158-164, 195-197, at 159, Internet Archive.

Acknowledgements

Thank you to all who have contributed to this profile. Click the Changes tab to see those previous edits.

Magna Carta Project

This profile was re-reviewed for the Magna Carta Project by Greg Cooke in August 2023.
Edward Rainsford is listed in Magna Carta Ancestry as a Gateway Ancestor (vol. I, pages xxiii-xxix) in a Richardson-documented trail through his father to Magna Carta Surety Baron Geoffrey de Say (vol. III, pages 422-427 RAYNSFORD) that was badged by the Magna Carta Project in August 2023. This trail is set out in the Magna Carta Trails section of his father's profile.
Another Richardson-documented trail from Edward exists, through his mother, to surety baron Robert de Vere (vol. II, pages 501-504 KIRTON). This trail was identified in 2016, but was never developed on WikiTree. See it in the Magna Carta Trails section of his mother's profile.
See Base Camp for more information about identified Magna Carta trails and their status. See the project's glossary for project-specific terms, such as a "badged trail".




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DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships with Edward by comparing test results with other carriers of his Y-chromosome or his mother's mitochondrial DNA. However, there are no known yDNA or mtDNA test-takers in his direct paternal or maternal line. It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with Edward:

Have you taken a DNA test? If so, login to add it. If not, see our friends at Ancestry DNA.



Comments: 37

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The Basset site -

https://www.bassettbranches.org/tng/pedigree.php?personID=I00033&tree=1A lists first wife as "Mary". Could we use it with an uncertain?

posted by Richard Barton
Thanks for mentioning this. This appears to be just a tree on the web, with no sources specified, and not therefore a reliable source for pre-1700 profiles. I also see that this tree's entry for Mary's father William has a note saying "this tree is under revision": https://www.bassettbranches.org/tng/showtree.php?tree=1A.
posted by Michael Cayley
edited by Michael Cayley
I realize that this is a poooor source. Just was wondering if it would be useful.
posted by Richard Barton
Could you please add a reference or note regarding Rainsford Name Study - Thank you.

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:Rainsford_Name_Study

posted by Patricia (Howard) Gray
I've added the Rainsfor ONS sticker, which adds the category. Will that work?
posted by Bobbie (Madison) Hall
Sorry. I dislike ONS stickers and, as a major contributor to this profile, have exercised my right to remove it. The category for the Rainsford ONS was already added. I also don't think it would be appropriate to add a reference to the ONS project in the text. Every project can fit in at least one ONS project.
posted by Chase Ashley
edited by Chase Ashley
Thanks Bobbie. ONS Stickers are an invite to worldwide Rainsfords to join the Rainsfords Project - this comes up in the Rainsfords geneologists page and the Rainsfords (and variants) Index.
posted by Patricia (Howard) Gray
edited by Patricia (Howard) Gray
I will be developing this profile to conform to MCS standards. Please advise if you have any additional information to add.
posted by Gregory Cooke
Nice job. The profile looks very clean.
posted by Richard Barton
I have connected up the profile for daughter Elizabeth who married William Greenough
posted by Michael Cayley
According to United Ancestries (Utah-1986) Edward Rainsford was CHR May 5, 1609. & d.Aug 16 1680 in Boston, MA. "Mary" d. June, 1632. She isn't in my line so have not further infor. Thank you all for all the sources, though for Edward.
posted by Joyce (Wolfe) Reinig
Thanks, but what's "United Ancestries"? Does it give its sources for the info? (If so, please share them :D)
posted by Liz (Noland) Shifflett
The death dates for Edward and Mary agree with what is, with reliable sourcing, already on their profiles.

The baptism date conflicts with what is said in reliable sources that have been looked at. So we would very definitely need see if United Ancestries has a really good source for it.

Like you, Liz, I do not know what United Ancestries is. The date and the Utah location makes me wonder if it is an assembly of the, by no means always accurate, information in the Mormon databases. If so, I would discount it as unreliable.

posted by Michael Cayley
edited by Michael Cayley
Hi PGM! Edward Raynsford has Richardson-documented Magna Carta trails from both his mother and father. Would you mind if we made an exception for this PGM/MCP co-managed profile and added the Magna Carta Trails to this profile, rather than his parents profiles? We'd appreciate it! Thanks, Traci
posted by Traci Thiessen
Traci - What does it mean to add the trails to the profile? Can you give an example of a profile that has an MC trail added to it?
posted by Chase Ashley
Chase - Jillaine and Anne are aware of this arrangement. Usually MCP adds a full list of profiles in the trail between Gateway and surety baron on the Gateway's profile. We put this list in the "Magna Carta Trails" section, under the "Magna Carta Project" section, under Acknowledgements, at the bottom of the profile. For Gateways that are co-managed by PGM, we add these trail(s) to the MCP section of the Gateway's parent's profile, as some of the trails are extensive and take up a lot of space on the page.

Anyway, the Magna Carta Trail sections are linked to every profile in the trail. If you click on the "Magna Carta Trails" links in the MCP section above, you'll see the full trail on the profiles of each of Edward's parents. Here's an example of a trail on a Gateway profile: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Beresford-18 or take a look at Base Camp https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:Magna_Carta_Team_Base_Camp for a list of Gateways that have trails on WikiTree.

Does that make sense? Usually we don't add trails to PGM profiles, but in this case, as there are trails from both parents, it would be useful to keep the trails together, on the Gateway's profile.

posted by Traci Thiessen
edited by Traci Thiessen
Thank you for asking the question, Chase. As a PGM Co-Leader, I didn't know the answer either, and I was not aware of this arrangement between PGM and Magna Carta. (Tracy, Anne B. has stepped down from leadership in PGM).

Traci, I do appreciate that you don't add those extended lists to PGM/MCP co-managed profiles, but rather to the parental profile.

Jillaine, would you agree that this profile could be an exception to the usual agreement?

I concur with this exception because both parents are confirmed trails.
posted by Jillaine Smith
Actually.... I want to see what a dual thread will look like. Might still make more sense to have the two threads separate-- 9ne on the mother's profile; the other on the father's....
posted by Jillaine Smith
I note that most Gateway Ancestors probably have dozens of lines back to Surety Barons. Richardson only documents a small number. For example, according to Ancestor Listmaker, Edward Rainsford has 29 different lines back to 12 different Surety Barons. Also, not surprisingly, Edward was (according to Ancestor Listmaker) also descended from 13 different Companions of the Conqueror, 8 kings of England, and 5 kings of Scotland. All those lines seem interesting as well.

I don't think a large amount of real estate on a profile should be devoted to detailing the person's notable ancestry, since most with connections back to nobility have lots of notable ancestors. How about having just a short reference to the ancestry and a link to a freespace page that discusses it in full?

posted by Chase Ashley
edited by Chase Ashley
Chase, as stated on our project page, the MC Project's goal is to have ONE badged trail between each Gateway and surety baron. The trail documented in Richardson's "Magna Carta Ancestry" has been added to most Gateway profiles, along with whichever trails have been already developed by our members. However, we don't want to discourage people from exploring other trails.

As many many trails were developed in 2014/5, many need re-review to being them up to current project standards. Listing the profiles in each trail serves many purposes: (1) it allows us to set out the trail on one profile and link to it on all the other profiles in the trail, rather than have these lists on multiple profiles; (2) administratively, it helps the MC Project track which profiles need development or review, (3) on you Ancestor Listmaker app (which is awesome, btw!!!) it can easily be seen that as some Gateways have multiple trails to one surety baron, so we want to show which trails have been developed by the project.

As stated before, the MC Project does not normally set out these trails on PGM managed profiles, we put the trails on the parent's profile. This is one exeption in the dozens of Gateway profiles co-managed by the 2 projects.

posted by Traci Thiessen
Jillaine, The trails are already set up with one trail on the mother's profile and one on the father's . You can click the links in the MC project section to see those trails.
posted by Traci Thiessen
edited by Traci Thiessen
Solomon Rainsford, son of Edward and Elizabeth, has a wiki profile Rainsford-30. Could you connect him? Samuel Seawall in his diary mentions Solomon Rainsford, (brother of Anna), supported Samuel Haugh (son of Anna and Samuel Haugh) to ask Samuel Seawall to be his guardian when Samuel Haugh was 14. Seawall accepted.
Thanks for spotting this. I have linked Solomon's profile to his mother's as well.
posted by Michael Cayley
Hello, Could you please add Raynsford-44 as a child of Edward? This is for Anna Raynsford who married Samuel Haugh. Anna is listed as a child of Edward and Elizabeth above: " Ann / Anna, b. February 1, 1651, m. September 18, 1651 Samuel Hough, d. before April 11, 1690" See sources at Raynsford-44
Thank you for creating Anna's profile. I have added the link. It would be good if you were able to develop Anna's bio further - you probably have that in mind.

I have also added her as a child of Edward's second wife.

posted by Michael Cayley
edited by Michael Cayley
Sounds like a good compromise to me. Sometimes it is difficult to determine the Last Name at Birth, due to inconsistent spellings common in this period of history.
posted by Lamar Ross Ph.D
Seems good to me, Liz.
posted by Michael Cayley
sounds like... Keep Rainsford-3, move Raynsford to OLN & add Raynford ... right?
posted by Liz (Noland) Shifflett
His tomb has Raynford with no 's': image on Ancestry. Edward Rainsford (surname spelt thus), 26, left London for New England on 17 June 1635: Britain, Registers Of Licences To Pass Beyond The Seas 1573-1677, National Archives E 157/20 folio 116, image on FindMyPast. (Not inconsistent with his having first emigrated earlier; Rasmussen’s article - reference 1 in the bio - mentions his arriving again at Boston later that year.) I agree there seems no evidence to say which spelling is right for LNAB, and the other spelling should go in other last names not CLN.
posted by Michael Cayley
I slightly favor Raynsford over Rainsford, but I note that (1) his father's 1628 will actually used both spellings and (2) although the NEHGR article that cites his baptismal record uses the Y spelling, I don't think we know what the actual parish register said.

I think Raynsford and Rainsford were both accepted as spellings for his name, both at the time of his birth and at the time of his death. But I see no point in saying that Rainsford was LNAB and Raynsford was CLN. Better to make them consistent and put the other spelling in Other Last Names.

posted by Chase Ashley
This profile is protected, but it appears the LNAB is not correct. Profile text seems to support Raynsford as the spelling he was born with.

Any objection to my changing the LNAB to Raynsford?

posted by Liz (Noland) Shifflett
This is the citation for his father's will, in which he is named as a legatee: The National Archives; Kew, England; Prerogative Court of Canterbury and Related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers; Class: PROB 11; Piece: 155.

Ancestry.com. England & Wales, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013.

posted by K. Stromsted
Rainsford-32 and Rainsford-3 appear to represent the same person because: they have the same name, were born the same year, died the same month in the same state.
Rainsford-21 and Rainsford-3 appear to represent the same person because: they were born the same year, died the same month/location, have the same name and Elizabeth (Unknown) is listed by Richardson as wife, plus (Unknown) (Unknown) listed as other wife.

Rejected matches › Edward Ransford (bef.1749-)