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Contents

Biography

Parentage; Date and Place of Birth

Edward Raynsford, the son of Robert Raynesford and Mary Kirton, was baptized at Staverton, Northamptonshire, England on 10 September 1609.[1][2] He was probably born shortly before his date of baptism in or near Staverton.

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[3]

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.[4]

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."[5] 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;[6] 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[7] 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]

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 his first wife were probably married about 1631. Edward and his first wife had the following children, whose births were recorded at Boston:

  • Joshua (or Josiah), twin, born 1 June 1632, died 1 September 1632 at Boston[2][8][9]
  • Mary, twin, born 1 June 1632 , married 1st by 1652 William Basset, married 2d about June 1671 James Percival at Sandwich, Plymouth Colony, died 12 April 1694 at Saconesset, Plymouth Colony

Edward's first wife died in June 1632,[1] probably as a result of giving birth to twins.[2][10]

Second Marriage and Children

Edward married his second wife, Elizabeth, sometime before 15 December 1633, when she was admitted to 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 1st abt 1660 Susannah Vergoose, married 2d Sarah ___, died in 1688[2][8][11]
  2. Jonathan, born October 1636, married 29 November 1656 Mary Sunderland at Boston, died 11 March 1671 in Barbados[2][12][13]
  3. Ranis, born 4 June 1638, married 3 March1655 Josiah Belcher at Boston, died 2 October 1691 at Boston[2][8][14]
  4. Nathan, born October 1641, married 28 November 1665 Mary Allen in Charlestown, died before 3 April 1676[2][12][15]
  5. David, born 29 August 1644, married 1st Abigail ____, married 2d Hannah Griggs, died 28 November 1691 at Boston[2][12]
  6. Solomon, baptized 25 October 1646, married about 1668 Priscilla Getchell, died about 16 January 1692/3[2][12]
  7. Elizabeth, baptized 25 February 1648, married abt 1680 Capt. William Greenough, died 23 May 1688[2][12]
  8. Hannah, baptized 1 January 1650, probably died young[2][8]
  9. Ann / Anna, born 1 February 1651, married 18 September 1651 Samuel Hough, died before 11 April 1690[2][8][16]
  10. Edward, baptized 15 October 1654, married Huldah Davis, died 1688 in Barbados[2][12]

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][17][18]

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 1.13 Rasmussen, James A. "Edward Raynsford of Boston: English Ancestry and American Descendents." The New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Vol. 139 (1985), p. 296. 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 Anderson, Robert Charles. The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England, 1620-1633, Volume III P-W. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1995. pp 1543-1548. Link to pages at ancestry.com or Amerian Ancestors (subscription).
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Worshipful Company of Haberdashers - Register of apprentice bindings 1610-1630. p 223. Link to page at findmypast.com.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 John Camden Hotten, The Original Lists of Persons of Quality 1600-1700 (London: 1874; reprint, Baltimore 2007) 93 Internet Archive.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Winthrop Papers, six volumes (Boston, Mass., The Massachusetts Historical Society, 1929-1993), Volume III, 1631-1637, p 226. Link to page at archive.org.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 M.F. Sweetser, King's Handbook of Boston Harbor(Cambridge, Mass., Moses King, 1882), p 179. Link to page at archive.org.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Winthrop Papers, Vol 4, p 6. Link to page at americanancestors.org.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 Rasmussen, "Edward Raynsford of Boston" 139: 299-301. Link to pages at americanancestors.org.
  9. ↑ "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.
  10. ↑ "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.
  11. ↑ "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.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 12.6 Rasmussen, "Edward Raynsford of Boston" 139: 304-310. Link to pages at americananestors.org.
  13. ↑ "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.
  14. ↑ "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.
  15. ↑ "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.
  16. ↑ "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.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 "Edward Rainsford." Find A Grave: Memorial #25448804
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 , 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:
  • Anderson, Robert Charles, The Winthrop Fleet: Massachusetts Bay Company Immigrants to New England 1629-1630. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2012. 547-553.
  • Richardson, Douglas. Magna Carta Ancestry: A Study in Colonial and Medieval Families], 2nd edition, 4 volumes, Kimball G. Everingham, editor. Salt Lake City, Utah: the author, 2011. Volume 3, page 427, RAYNSFORD 14. WorldCat: Find in a Library
  • Richardson, Douglas. Royal Ancestry: A Study in Colonial and Medieval Families. 5 vols, Kimball G. Everingham, editor Salt Lake City: the author, 2013. Volume 4, pages 460-461 RAYNSFORD 18. WorldCat: Find in a Library .
  • Leonard & Vincent, Visitations of Warwick 1619, (HSP 12) (1877), 48-50
  • Misc Gen of Heraldica 3rd, 1898, 158-164
  • Gary Boyd Roberts, "The New England Ancestry of H.R.H. The Princess of Wales," New England Historic and Genealogical Register, 136 (1982): 85-103 at 102-103

The second royal descent, compiled by H. J. Young from F. N. MacNamara, Memorials of the Danvers Family (of Dauntsey & Culworth) (London, 1895), William F. Carter, The Quatremains of Oxfordshire (Oxford, 1936), volume 8 of the Moriarty manuscript collection, and a few other sources, is from Hugh Capet, King of France, d. 996, through counts of Hainault, Roucy, Montdidier, and Clermont, and the Clare, Wake, Duston, Grey of Rotherfield, Breton, Quatremain, Bruley, Danvers, Langston and Giffard families. These kinships are explored in 'The Mowbray Connection,' 7: 162-166, 174, 175.

  • Samuel Barfield, Thatchem, Berks, and its Manors (Oxford, 1901), edited by James Parker (for further particulars on Alice Danver's ancestry)

Acknowledgements

Magna Carta Project

... ... ... 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 has not yet been developed by the Magna Carta Project. 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 indentified in 2016, but was never developed on WikiTree. See it in the Magna Carta Trails section of his mother's profile.
  • Needs Re-review: This profile needs re-review against the project's checklist to bring it up to current project standards. ~ Thiessen-117 18:05, 15 September 2020 (UTC)
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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