I'm looking for the Raines families from western NC & upstate SC

Question

I am Gary Raines from Hickory, North Carolina. My father(Arthur Raines b.1921 d 2001) came to NC around 1945 from upstate South Carolina where he was born and his father(Crawford Raines b. 1898 d 1971 wife Ida Raines b 1898 d ?) was born. I am told that Crawford Raines's father was a Will Raines who walked away from the family but never really left the area (Travelers Rest SC). I am told that Will Raines is buried somewhere near Greenville SC. That is as far as I can trace my Father's side back to. I have been told by my Father that we are part Cherokee and all the photos I have show that. Can anyone share any info?

Answer 1

I have found  John Rains, Sr., Jr., and descendents from Randolph, N. C..  Captain Rains fought in the Revolutionary War and descendent Aeschel (sp.?) Hammer registered with the Sons of the American Revolution.  I do have documents on Ancestry.com.  My public tree is Rains family, Betty Rains Cochrane or bjcochrane, I can't remember how I wrote it.

 

We are not Cherokee although that was the thought in our family also.  One of the family members wrote a small history of the family, but I have misplaced it.  I am always glad to share as I cannot find my 2nd great grandfather Rains/es  who was the father of Wm. Henry Harrison Rains, born 14Dec1854.  Hope this helps.

Comments

I am a direct decendant of Capt John Rains. He is my 5th Great Grandfather on my maternal line.

It is thought by some researchers that his wife Letisha  Raines may be of the Rappahannock tribe, part of the Powhatan Indian Nation.

I've also found Letitia/Letisha Rains/Raines here on Wikitree.

http://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Rappahannock-1

Answer 2

A NC/SC Bryant family scrapbook I have has a William "Will" J. Raines b. Nov. 17, 1872 and died Oct. 11, 1966. He married a Violet Chapman who was born Nov. 9, 1884 and died June 17, 1950. That would make her only 14 when your Crawford was born, but I guess that's possible. Both Will and Violet are buried in the Oak Grove Church Cemetery in Quebec, NC--which isn't too far from Traveler's Rest. Will's father was Henry Clay Raines (b. May 20, 1845; d. Nov. 3, 1924) and his mother was Lydia Bryant (b. Nov. 17, 1844; d. 1950). Will's siblings were Ethbert (b. 1870), Edward (b. 1874 d. 1938), Ernest (b. 1880), Maybelle (b. 1883) and Pauline (b. 1887). Will's paternal grandfather is listed as Robert Raines, but no dates are given. Other information in this scrapbook states that Ethbert Raines' wife, Sally Owen Raines, was a first cousin to Vivian Owen Crawford--just wondering if this might indicate a connection between the Crawfords and the Raines, and perhaps a clue as to the source of your grandfather's name. If this Will Raines matches information you have, I'll be glad to look more closely through my information and share with you. I'm new to Wikitree and am just getting started adding all of my information.

Oh, and I have been told by my grandmother that she has Cherokee blood in her, but not sure if that is from the Bryant branch of the family tree.