Notes for 6 RAIFORD ROYAL
Source: ROYAL FAMILY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Raiford Royal
By Jerome Tew
Raiford Royal born 26 Jan 1800 was a son of Young 1755-1818 and Edith Blackman Royal. We did an essay on him in NL #8. We now have better information on him and we are wiser. Raiford was a grandson of William Royal 1718-1794. Edith 1763-1845 was the daughter of Joseph Blackman.
Raiford is said to have left home young and upset at his father over a pair of shoes. If so, this is not indicated in the Will of his father Young Royal. It is clear from the Will, that William 1785 and Wilson 1788 had moved from NC (to GA and FL).
Young Royal Will
Tenthly: I give and bequeath unto my beloved son Raiford Royal (1800), all the lands that I now process, except the lands that I bequeathed to my son Rezon Royal, to belong to said Raiford Royal after his mother’s death. Also I give and bequeath unto my beloved son Raiford Royal, two Negro boys by the names of Simon and Jonas. Also one bed and furniture and all the plantation tools of every description, except the blacksmith tools. (1818)
http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/nc/sampson/wills/royal07.txt
In 1845 and near the death of his mother, Raiford returned to Sampson and was upset with Travis Butler that the Will of Young Royal had not been probated. That Will was not probated until 1894 and everyone in the Will was then dead. Travis had married a sister of Raiford and was getting full use of the land of Young Royal that was willed to Raiford Royal. Likely, Raiford never got anything from the estate of Young Royal.
Some postings list Raiford as born in Tarboro, Edgecombe Co. NC. I believe, rather, he was born in Sampson Co. NC, where his parents lived.
William Tom Royal and Linda Simpson contacted me recently in regards to the father of William Ransom Royal who was born in 1828 in Bibb Co. GA. Bibb is near Dooly Co. GA and no Royals lived in Bibb in 1830. Wm Ransom Royal’s father was born in NC per the 1880c of St. Clair AL and 1900c of Hamilton Co. TX.
1830 Census Dooly Co. GA
Alfred Royal 10001 20010 (wife was Lydia/Liddy)
John Royal 00101 10001
William Royal 00121001 20011001 (William Royal b 1786 - c1841, son of Young Royal)
Raiford Royal 21021--- 10001 1800-1864
As you can see, these census marks are not perfect...
I believe the Father of William Ransom Royal is on this list. All these men were born in NC. The place of birth for the father as NC, rules out Burke Co. GA Royals.
1840 Census Dooly Co. GA
Simon Royal 11001 102101
Redden Royal 00001 000011
Hardy Royal Sr. 0110001 021001
Raiford Royal 0120001 1010001
Hardy Royal Jr. 20101 11001
John C. Royal 010011 011001
Liddy Royal 12000 011101 (Lydia w. of Alfred)
Doing the Math, both Raiford and Alfred could be the father of William Ransom Royal. However, the 1850 US Census for Dooly list Lydia with a son named William and he was born in 1836. Therefore, Alfred Royal is NOT the father of William Ransom Royal born 1828.
Alfred and Lydia Stephens Royal
1. Susan Adeline Royal 1828-m: William J. Story
2. John B. Royal 1830- m: Jincey: son Alfred
3. Athey Caroline Royal 1834-
4. William C. Royal 1836-
5. Hardy D. Royal 1838-
John B. Royal lost a leg in the Civil War. John lived in Worth Co. GA in 1880 next to his cousin George W. Royal, listed below.
This then leaves Raiford Royal as the father of William Ransom Royal. Let’s do more math. The above 1830c shows Raiford with 3 males and one female...likely children. Raiford married first 1822 Nancy Odon.
1. Alexander Royal was listed in the estate of Raiford Royal in 1865 as an heir of $581.
Alexander Royal lived in Lee Co. GA in 1850 and had moved to Hamilton Co. FL by 1860. Alexander was born in Dooly in 1824. A son, William Raiford Royal, was killed in 1916 as a deputy sheriff in Jasper FL and the old Jail still stands.
2. William Ransom Royal born May 1825 and is not found in the US Census 1850-1870. He was in St. Clair Co. AL in 1880 and he was born in GA and his father was born in NC. There was then five children at home.
William Ransom moved to Hamilton Co. TX about 1895 and is listed in TX in the 1900 US Census. He had been married 50 years to Mary E. Jenkins and she had had 13 children and 8 were still living. Daughter Mattie (Lucy) born 1858 in Upson Co. GA, therefore, William Ransom Royal and Wilson Royal lived near each other in Upson Co. GA and in Hamilton Co. TX.
3. Wilson Royal was living in Hamilton Co. TX in 1900 and next to Richard Royal 1861-AL, son of William Ransom Royal 1828-GA. Both lived near William (Ransom) Royal. Wilson was listed as born Feb 1827 in GA and his father was born in NC. Wilson married Elmira ___ in 1848 and she had had seven children and five were living. Wilson is also found in 1870 Upson Co. GA US Census. He is listed as Wilson Riles. At that time, they had six children at home. Likely his name was ___ Wilson Royal and went by Wilson. Son Thomas Royal 1854-GA was 16 in Upson and he was living in St. Clair Co. Al in 1900 & 1910, proving that Wilson and William Ransom Royal lived in Dooly Co. GA, Upson Co. GA, St. Clair Co. AL, and Hamilton Co. TX. Son Thomas Royal married 1880 in AL and all six children were born in Alabama. Wilson is not found in the 1880c but was then living in AL.
4. Lucy Ann Royal 12 Apr 1828-1859 and married Edward Joshua Houston. She had Stephen, William, Raiford, and Robert Houston. Lucy Ann died 1859. Her children got her share of the estate of Raiford Royal.
This, then, are the four children of Raiford Royal as listed in the 1830 US Census of Dooly Co. GA.
5. Joseph C. Royal 5 Jan 1833 m:1860 Sarah Eliza Wade 1842-. They had a daughter Missouri 1861- and Joseph died in the CSA Army 1 Jul 1862 in Atlanta GA.
Wife Nancy Odom Royal died 1840 and Raiford m: 2nd 1840 Ellen Jane Houston who was born 1820. Ellen Jane was most likely the daughter of Henry Houston.
6. Eliza Jane Royal born 1 Jan 1840 and she married 1860 Edward J. Houston as his 2nd wife. They lived in Early Co. GA in 1870 and in Miller Co. in 1880. Eliza Jane had nine children in 1880 and also got $581 from the estate of her father. She died 15 Dec 1907.
7. Peleg Royal was born 18 Mar 1843 and m: Sarah Ann Tuck and lived in Dooly. Peleg also drew $581.00 from the estate of Raiford Royal.
8. Joab Royal was born 23 Feb 1845 m: Nancy Lashley and lived in Dooly.
9. Mariah Royal was born 18 Sep 1846 and m: 1860 Council Wade. Council died in the war.
10. Hardy E. Royal was born 25 Dec 1847.
11. George W. Royal was born 7 Oct 1849. George married Phebe Stephens and lived in Worth Co. GA in 1880. George died 1881 in Warwick GA.
12. Mary Jane Royal was born 18 Mar 1851.
13. Josiah Royal was born 1 Feb 1853. Josiah married in 1880 Sarah E. and moved to Bienville Parish, Louisiana. They were still there in 1910. He then was listed as Joe.
14. Emma Royal was born 13 Apr 1855 and m: 1869 William Cox. They lived in Dooly in 1880.
15. Easter Royal was born 30 Nov 1856 and m: 1870 Robert Cox. Easter lived in Dooly in 1880 and Wilson and Reason Royal were borders. Reason was in school.
16. Ashley Royal was born 27 Oct 1857. Ashley married Anna and had 7 living children in 1900 and lived in Dooly.
17. Wilson Oscar Royal was born 17 Nov 1859 and married Elizabeth Mae Cox in 1887. He had five children in 1900 and lived in Worth Co. He died in Tifton GA in 1927.
18. Reason Royal was born 17 Nov 1861 and is listed in the 1900c for Dooly. Reason married 1889 Elizabeth Butler 1869- and he died in 1939 in Dooly.
Some of the property of Raiford Royal was sold for the Confederate Treasury and this is unclear in the estate records. His executor in the estate was Eleanor Jane Royal, his second wife. I think some of the estate papers are missing.
It is noted that this family used duplicate names, such as: Mary Jane and Eliza Jane, William Ransom and George William, and ____Wilson and Wilson Oscar Royal. I have a feeling that ____ Wilson was named Raiford Wilson, but I have no proof.