Thomas Rackley (abt. 1790 - bef. 1869)

Born about 1790 in Franklin, North Carolina, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth (Unknown) Rackley — married about 1815 in Pendleton, South Carolina, United States

Died before 1869 before about age 79 in Pickens, South Carolina, United States

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Biography

Thomas Rackley was born about 1790 in Franklin County, North Carolina, to William Rackley and his unknown wife. That he was a son of William Rackley is proved by his being included amongst the heirs of William Rackley’s childless daughter Sarah.^[1]

About 1815, he married Elizabeth, probably in Pendleton District, South Carolina. They appeared on the 1820 census of Pickens District, South Carolina, with two males under ten.^[2]

By 1830, he had moved his young family to Buncombe County, North Carolina, where they were enumerated on the U. S. Census with two females under five, one female between five and ten, and two males between ten and fifteen.^[3] In 1840, the Thomas Rackley family was back in Pickens District, South Carolina, where the children in the household consisted of one female between five and ten, one female between ten and fifteen, two females between fifteen and twenty, and two males between twenty and thirty.^[4]

In 1850, both Thomas Rackley and his wife Elizabeth were reported to have been sixty years old. The appeared on the census in Pickens District, South Carolina, with their two unmarried daughters Delilah, aged twenty-two, and Catherine, aged eighteen.^[5] By 1860, all of the children had left home, and Thomas and Elizabeth Rackely were still living in Pickens District, South Carolina.^[6] He died in Pickens County, South Carolina, in the 1860s.

Research Notes

There is currently no evidence tying Thomas Rackley of Pickens District, South Carolina, to the family of Allen Ratley of the Cherokee Nation. Researchers should be aware that there is a great deal of misinformation about this family online, especially on FindAGrave, and proceed with caution.

Sources

1. ↑ “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.
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1820," database with images, FamilySearch, Household of Thomas Rackley, Pendleton District, South Carolina, (accessed 22 October 2021); citing NARA microfilm publication M33, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1830," database with images, FamilySearch, Household of Thomas Rackley, Buncombe County, North Carolina, (accessed 22 October 2021); citing NARA microfilm publication M19, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1840," database with images, FamilySearch, Household of Thomas Rackley, Pendleton District, South Carolina, (accessed 22 October 2021); citing NARA microfilm publication M704, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch, Household of Thos. Rackley, Pendleton District, South Carolina, (accessed 22 October 2021); citing NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1860," database with images, FamilySearch, Household of Thomas Rackley, Pendleton District, South Carolina, (accessed 22 October 2021); citing NARA microfilm publication M653 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).