The Augusta Cemetery Family Trees

John Rackley III
Birth 1695
Essex County, Virginia, USA
Death 1769 (aged 73–74)
Franklin County, North Carolina, USA
Burial Unknown
Memorial ID 58110142 · View Source

Memorial
Photos 0
Flowers 9

John Rackley 3rd died in Bute County , now Franklin County, NC

Family of Mary Parsons and John Rackley 3rd Children

M: John RACKLEY IV
M: Saul RACKLEY
F: Lucretia RACKLEY
F: Martha RACKLEY
F: Susannah RACKLEY
F: Mary RACKLEY
F: Slater RACKLEY
M: Parson RACKLEY
M: Robert Mills RACKLEY
F: Setevias RACKLEY

Tappahannock prospered when created in 1680, it had been made the seat of Rappahannock County, and in 1692 after the old county was divided to form Essex and Richmond Counties it became the seat of Essex. Though the town was formally named, Washington, stopping here in 1752, referred to it as 'Hobs Hole.' A century and a half ago ships went hence to the remotest parts of the world and the town was something of a social center. But its importance declined after the construction of railroads. It was shelled in December 1814 by the British navy, under orders of Admiral Cockburn.

General George Washington with a few other investors purchased and surveyed land off to create a timber company out of the swamp lands of North Carolina known as the Dismal Swamps. It is believed that the Rackleys acquired their timber skills and land survey skills early on with the Robert Mills family. It is documented that the land was not fertile for vast farming of corn or produce. John Rackley 3rd moved his family to the swamp lands of eastern North Carolina where his family hired Lumbee Indians to work the timber out of the swamps, canals, docks and levy,s were made to drain out the water,then precious walnut & cypress trees were harvested out of the swamps and shipped to England.Also noted that the Rackleys became fluent in Lumbee Indian language who they contracted to work for them.

DEEP CREEK, at the edge of the Dismal Swamp, was long a stagecoach stop and a vast shipping point for valuable lumber.

The Dismal Swamp is a wilderness in which, through the centuries, trees have fallen and, with other plants, formed a mass of organic material. Much valuable timber had been cut in the swamp. The mass material, reaching the peat stage, has raised the surface of the swamp at its center. Forest fires, burning to the depth of several feet, frequently continue for weeks. The swamp was described by Colonel William Byrd, one of the commissioners who in 1728 surveyed the boundary between Virginia and North Carolina. This waterway, connecting the southern branch of the Elizabeth River with the sounds of North Carolina, was built largely to afford transportation for lumber from the swamp. The Dismal Swamp Canal Company was organized to cut the canal in 1787, but the canal was not completed until 1828.It is well documented that the Rackley,s acquired vast acres of swamp lands in eastern North Carolina including the Black Swamp lands to where vast amounts of rare valuable timber was shipped out.

JOHN RACKLEY 8 March 1743 200 acres in Bertie County, joining below the Good going over on the East side of the Mill swamp, the Edge of the pocoson, the fork between the Long branch and the lick branch, and sd. mill creek swamp.

http://www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/by_map/main.php

Name: Kindrell L. Holt
Event Type: Marriage
Event Date: 02 Feb 1832
Event Place: Blount, Alabama, United States
Event Place (Original): Blount, Alabama
Sex: Male
Spouse's Name: Prudence Rutherford
Spouse's Sex: Female

GS Film Number: 1034797
Digital Folder Number: 007316661
Image Number: 00217
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: M03786-2
Record Number: 405

Citing this Record
"Alabama County Marriages, 1809-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKZ9-YWHV : 19 February 2021), Kindrell L. Holt and Prudence Rutherford, 02 Feb 1832; citing Blount, Alabama, United States, County Probate Courts, Alabama; FHL microfilm 1,034,797.

Pvt Robert Mills Rackley
Birth 1729
Lee County, Virginia, USA
Death unknown
Burke County, Georgia, USA
Burial Unknown
Memorial ID 51449307

Pvt. Robert Mills Rackley
Sometimes recorded as Ratley Ratliff
B. abt (1729-1731) Robert the son of John Rackley the 3rd and Mary Parsons. Robert Mills Rackley married Rebecca ? Robert fought in the French / Indian Wars, a war veteran of North Carolina. Robert Mills Rackley bought 280 acres from his brother Parson in Franklin Co. NC. He took the Oath of Allegiance 1778 to the State of North Caroline. Robert Mills Rackley traveled in the "Colonial Charter States" surveying the land and made his way into Union District SC, the area of Spartanburg, SC then onto Pendleton District South Carolina , where appeared on the Federal census, most likely after his work was complete Robert would move on to the next job. Robert left the area of South Carolina and traveled into the Franklin District of Georgia and last known as moving towards Burke County, Georgia where other Rackley relatives resided.

Robert Mills Rackley & Rebecca had only 4 known children together.
1. Levena Rackley
Find A Grave Memorial # 51509243
2. William Rackley
Find A Grave Memorial # 51203528
3. Jeremiah Rackley sr
Find A Grave Memorial # 51479103
4. Martha Holt Rackley or Ratliff
Find A Grave Memorial # 52113932

Notes:
(A) Family surname is recorded in History as Rackley Ratley Ratliff Radcliff Ratcliff

(B) Robert Mills Rackley was 2nd cousin to Robert Mills the Famous Architect / Map Maker of Charleston, SC
Find A Grave # 7004685

(C) Parson Rackley brother of Robert Mills Rackley acquired a Military land grant in Savannah, TN Revolutionary war soldier

(D) Jeremiah Rackley Military Revolutionary war soldier.

The earliest record that I've found for Mills Rackley is the 1800 Union Co., SC census showing only one male over age 45 and one female over age 45.

Union County, South Carolina Deed Abstracts
John Putman of Union District, SC for $40 to Mills Rackley, 20 acres part of 100 acres granted to John Little and conveyed by him to said Putman 13 dec 1795 on Haynsworth Branch, waters of Sugar Creek, dated 10 Sept 1800. John Putman (Seal),wit: Peter Brookes, Rebuen Rackley. Proved in Union District by the oath of Reuben Rackley 30 June 1801 before Thomas Blasingame,JP. Recorded 1 July 1801.

Union County, SC Deed Abstracts
Jan 13,1805 , Mills Rackley and Rebecca his wife of the State of Georgia to John Putman of Union District,for $100,tract on waters of Sugar creek called Hainsworth, part of tract granted to John Little 7 Aug 1786 adj. said Smith, Robert Palmer, to a line agreed on and marked by William Rackley and Mills his father. Mills Rackley (mark) (seal), Rebecca Rackley (X)(Seal) wit: Hiram Putman, Aron Prevett Putman 15 March 1805 before Thomas Blasingame,JP. Recorded 2 Sept 1805.

Later records show that "Mills Rackley of Henry Dist., Franklin Co., GA" had drawn a "tract of land containing Two Hundred Two & an half acres situated lying & being in the County of Baldwin but being divided it is now called Randolph" in the 1807 GA land lottery.

In 1801-1802 Mills made his way into Franklin County,GA to survey the land.

On 21 June 1808 Mills Rackley of Franklin Co., GA sold this 202 1/2 acres to James Stigler of Franklin Co., GA. This sale was witnessed by Charles Sisson and John Collins, J.P. "Signed" Mills Rackley (P, his mark). The sale was recorded 5 Oct 1808. [Copy of deed.]

( Early Deeds of Franklin District )

Robert Mills Rackley b. 1730 in Lee County VA, with wife Rebecca b 1735 in Ga.They were married 1753 in Union Co., SC.

Grandparents of Robert Mills Rackley
John Rackley 2nd and Jane Mills Rackley

Resources:
Virginia Colonial records
North Carolina Colonial records
South Carolina State records
Franklin District,Georgia & SC records
Military war records of NC