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Descendants of James Rainwater

Generation No. 1

1. JAMES⁵ RAINWATER (BENJAMIN⁴, JOHN RAINWATER³ JR., JOHN² RAINWATER, ROBERT¹) was born January 13, 1795 in SC, and died June 24, 1871 in Petersburg, Campbell Co., GA. He married (1) POLLY ANN MASON 1817 in Spartanburg, SC (Source: (1) "History of the Baptist Denomination in Georgia" by James P. Harrison & Co., 1881, Page 437, He was married in the fall of 1817 to Miss Polly Mason of Spartanburg district, South Carolina, and in the spring of 1859 to Mrs. Nancy Dobbs, near Villa Rica, Carroll county, Georgia. The first wife became the mother of twelve children, of whom four only are living. ., (2) "Georgia Pioneers" by M. H. Carter, Volume 5, Page 90, born January 13, 1795. Spartanburg District., SC, became an ordained minister. In the fall of 1817 he was married to Polly Mason, of Spartanburg Dist., SC. They became parents of 12 children. After the death of his first wife, he married secondly to Mrs. Nancy Dobbs, of Carroll Co., GA.), daughter of FRANCIS MASON and ELLENDER HAMMETT. She was born March 14, 1799 in SC, and died January 06, 1859 in Campbell Co., GA. He married (2) NANCY A CANDLER May 15, 1859 in Villa Rica, Carroll Co., GA. She was born Abt. 1811, and died Unknown.

Notes for JAMES RAINWATER:
1830 Census of Spartanburg, SC

1840 Census of Coweta Co., GA, page 328:
Rainwater, James
      1 male under 5 (son Benjamin, born in 1838)
      1 male 5-10
      2 males 15-20 (sons Z. Miles, born 1822, and Joseph, born in 1824)
      1 male 50-60 (Rev. James, born in 1795)
      2 females under 5 (daughter, Frances, born in 1836)
      1 female 5-10 (daughter, Christina, born in 1832)
      3 females 10-15 (daughters, Clariah born in 1826; Sarah born in 1827;
                  and Elizabeth born in 1829)
      1 female 20-30
      1 female 30-40 (his wife, Polly Mason Rainwater, born 1799).

1850 Census of Campbell Co., GA:
Rainwater, James, age 55, Missionary Baptist Minister of the Gospel, born in SC
Mary age 52, born in SC
Clary age 24, born in SC
Frances E (female), age 14, born in SC
Benjamin F., age 12, born in GA
Catherine, age 10, born in GA
      Martha, age 9, born in GA.
Note: Rev. James Rainwater was also one of the census recorders this year.

1855 Census of Campbell Co., GA with $5500 taxable

1860 Census of Campbell Co., GA, page 243, dwelling #449, family #413:
Rainwater, James, age 65, real estate valued at $5,000, personal property valued at $6,000
Nancy A age 49
Catherine E age 20
Dobbs, Sarah L., age 13
Dobbs, Zachariah, age 12.

1870 Census of Campbell Co., GA, Fairburn District:
Rainwater, James, age 75, farmer, born in SC, real estate valued at $6,000, personal property             valued at $1,000
Nancy, age 58, born in SC
Catherine, age 30
Golightly, Sarah, age 26
Guthrie, Edwin Guthrie, age 23, farm laborer.

Campbell County, GA Will Book B, Pages 58-62, dated January 10, 1865, probated Oct 2, 1871:
State of Georgia, Campbell County. In the name of God, Amen. I, James Rainwater, of said county being of sound and disposing mind and memory but sensibly impressed with the uncertainty of life and being desirous of making some disposition of what property God hath blessed me with do make, ordain, and publish this to be my last will and testament, hereby revoking all others heretofore made by me.
Item First. I give and bequeath to my beloved wife, Nancy A. Rainwater, one hundred and seventy acres of land to wit the west half of the lot of land on which my house where I now reside stands and to include said houses; and seventy five acres of land immediately west and adjoining to said one hundred acres. This I give and bequeath to her for and during her natural life or widowhood.
Item Second. I also give and bequeath to my said wife, Nancy A. Rainwater, the following household furniture: one folding table, one cupboard, one bedstead and one half dozen chairs, with such cooking utensils as may be necessary; also one cow and calf and farming implements for one horse, and also necessary table furniture. The bequests in this second item are given under the same restrictions as in the first item.
Item Third. I also give and bequeath to my said wife all my right, title and interest in two negroes to wit, Morgan and Alsie, and also one bed and furniture with one years provisions; these I give to her and her heirs forever.
Item Fourth. Having heretofore given my daughter, Emily Golightly, one thousand dollars in money and provisions, I hereby confirm the same to her and her heirs forever and I also now give and bequeath to her an equal proportion of my estate with the rest of my children after they have received money and property to the amount of one thousand dollars.
Item Fifth. Having heretofore given my son, Z. Miles Rainwater, deceased, one thousand dollars in money and provisions, I hereby confirm the same. I also now bequeath to his wife, Lilly Ann, and their five children an equal proportion of my estate with the rest of my children after they have received money and property to the amount of one thousand dollars.
Item Sixth. Having heretofore given my son, Joseph Rainwater, one thousand dollars in money, I hereby confirm the same to him and his heirs forever. I also now give and bequeath to him an equal proportion of my estate after the rest of my children shall have received money and property to the amount of one thousand dollars.
Item Seventh. Having heretofore given my daughter, Clary Sanders, four hundered dollars in money and property, I hereby confirm the same to her and her heirs forever. I also now give and bequeath to her six hundred dollars and an equal proportion of my estate after the rest of my children shall have received one thousand dollars in property or money.
Item Eighth. Having heretofore given my daughter, Sarah Moseley, Four hundred dollars in money, I herby confirm the same to her and her heirs forever. I also now give and bequeath to her six hundred dollars and an equal propertion of my estate with the rest of my children after they have received money and property to the amount of one thousand dollars.
Item Ninth. Having heretofore given to my daughter, Christina Sanders, three hundred dollars, I hereby confirm the same to her and her heirs forever. I now give and bequeath to her and her heirs seven hundred dollars and an equal proportion of my estaet after the rest of my children shall receive money or property to the amount of one thousand dollars.
Item Tenth. Having heretofore given to my daughter, Frances Miller and her three chidlren two hundred dollars, I hereby confirm the same to her and her heirs forever. I also now give and bequeath to her and her heirs eight hundred dollars and an equal proportion of my estate with the rest of my children after they shall have received in money or property the sum of one thousand dollars.
Item Eleventh. I give and bequeath to my daughter, Catherine E. Rainwte,r one thousand dollars and an equal proportion of my estate after the rest of my children have received money or property to the amount of one thousand dollars.
Item Twelfth. Having heretofore given my daughter, Martha Segar, one thousand dollars, I hereby confirm the same to her and her heirs forever. I now give and bequeath to her an equal proportion of my estate after the rest of my children shall receive money or property to the amount of one thousand dollars.
Item Thirteenth. I do hereby nominate and appoint my son, Joseph Rainwater, and my sons-in-law, Jesse Moseley, G. H. Sanders, and Pierce Sewell, my executors to this last will and testament contained in this and foregoing items.
In testimoney whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 18th day of January, 1865.
Signed sealed and acknoweldged and published in our presence and we have witnessed the same at teh request of James Rainwater and have signed and witnessed the same in his presence. Interlined before signed.
                                                James Rainwater
Test:
G. T. Camp
Abraham Miller
Wiley Steed
Note: Abraham Miller was the father-in-law to James Rainwater's daughter, Frances Rainwater Miller. Frances' husband, Ephraim Miller, had died before 1865 and she would die before her father, Reverend Rainwater.

"Palmetto, A Town and Its People"
Ramah Baptist Church. The Reverend James Rainwater was the first pastor and served for twenty-six years. He and his family are buried in the church cemetery. Submitted by Mannie Clifford Reeves, Jr.

"History of the Baptist Denomination in Georgia" by James P. Harrison & Co., 1881, page 436,
"This venerable father in Israel has left behind him the memory of a life stretching through seventy-six years, marked throughout by a pure morality, and hallowed for more than half a century by simple yet strong faith in Christ. In him were fulfilled those words of Scripture: 'The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.'
"The days of the years of his pilgrimage" began in Spartanburg district, South Carolina, January 13th, 1795. No record of his early youth survives; but in the year 1820 he made a profession of faith in Christ and connected himself with the Philadelphia Baptist church in his native district. Five years later that church granted him authority to preach, and we quote the document of licensure in full, for the sake of a notable peculiarity of phrase, which may or may not have been partially current at that time:
"State of Carolina, Spartanburg District.
We, the Baptist Church of Christ at Philadelphia, believing that a dispensation of the Gospel has been committed to the charge of our beloved brother, James Rainwater, therefore tolerate him to preach the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, in any part of the world where God, in his providence, may call him.
Done in church conference this 12th day of March, 1825, and signed by order of the church.
Moses H. Smith C.C.
"This action was followed by his ordination, January 6th, 1826, the presbytery consisting fo Revs. Thomas Bomar, Gabriel Phillips, T. P. Hernden, Miles Rainwater and Nathan Langston. He became pastor of the Philadelphia church, and held that position until November, 1835, when he removed to Georgia and settled in Coweta county. After a residence there of ten or twelve years, he transferred his home to Campbell county, where the rest of his life was passed in simplicity of spirit and in useful toil. He served Macedonia church, Coweta county, twenty-two years, and Antioch, Meriwether county, twenty-five years;
Page 437, "besides ministering for anumber of years to Ramah, Providence, Enon and Bethlehem churches, Campbell county; Carrollton and Pleasant Groves churches, Carroll county, and still others. Deprived in a large degree of the advantages of early education, he was possessed of a vigorous well-balanced mind, which, united with his deep piety and untiring energy, made him a power among the churches of his day. Endowed with a sound constitution and a full, strong voice, his love for the name and the cause of Christ led him to undergo physical labors that would have shattered the health of ordinary men. He feared not to attack error and sin in any of their Protean forms; and he discharged of this usually unwelcome task with such earnestness of purpose and meekness of manner as to secure the respect and confidence of all classes. This was exemplififed by his bold advocacy of temperance, when its friends were few and its enemies numerous and powerful, and by the success which crowned that advocacy But that which is first in importance was always first in his affection: he found his chief delight in "preaching Jesus and the resurrection" and few men have been more effective in winning souls to the Redeemer. Mr. Rainwater continued the charge of his churches until a few years before his death, when the infirmities of old age compelled him to relinquish them.

"Coweta County Chronicles" by Mary G. Jones and Lily Reynolds, 1928, Page 313,
"In the 'Herald' of April 5 (1895) in a tribute to Reverend James Rainwater it is stated that he rode 40 miles to his appointments, frequently reaching the place by the preaching hour on Saturday, though he had to start on his ride at 2 o'clock A.M. to do so. He would plow five days a week and preach Saturdays and Sundays, being pastor to four churches.

More About JAMES RAINWATER:
Burial: 1871, Ramah Baptist Church Cemetery in Palmetto, GA.

More About POLLY ANN MASON:
Burial: Unknown, Ramah Baptist Church Cemetery in Palmetto, GA.

More About JAMES RAINWATER and POLLY MASON:
Marriage: 1817, Spartanburg, SC (Source: (1) "History of the Baptist Denomination in Georgia" by James P. Harrison & Co., 1881, Page 437, He was married in the fall of 1817 to Miss Polly Mason of Spartanburg district, South Carolina, and in the spring of 1859 to Mrs. Nancy Dobbs, near Villa Rica, Carroll county, Georgia. The first wife became the mother of twelve children, of whom four only are living. ., (2) "Georgia Pioneers" by M. H. Carter, Volume 5, Page 90, born January 13, 1795. Spartanburg District., SC, became an ordained minister. In the fall of 1817 he was married to Polly Mason, of Spartanburg Dist., SC. They became parents of 12 children. After the death of his first wife, he married secondly to Mrs. Nancy Dobbs, of Carroll Co., GA.)

More About NANCY A CANDLER:
Notes (Facts Pg): Nancy's children from a previous marriage include: Sarah L. born in 1847 and Zachariah born in 1848. Sarah L. Dobbs married Romulus Cook in Campbell Co., GA

More About JAMES RAINWATER and NANCY CANDLER:
Marriage: May 15, 1859, Villa Rica, Carroll Co., GA
Marriage license: Carroll Co., GA Marriage Book "C1", p. 436 and Book "C2", p. 18

Children of JAMES RAINWATER and POLLY MASON are:

2.	i.	EMILY⁶ RAINWATER, b. 1819, SC; d. Aft. 1880.
3.	ii.	ZEBULON MILES RAINWATER, b. November 16, 1822, SC; d. December 08, 1857, Campbell Co., GA.
4.	iii.	JOSEPH RAINWATER, b. June 11, 1824, Spartanburg, SC; d. February 01, 1873, Wood Co., TX.
	iv.	CLARIAH RAINWATER, b. 1826, SC; d. Aft. 1874; m. EBENEZER P SANDERS, July 29, 1850, Campbell Co., GA; d. Aft. 1874.

More About EBENEZER SANDERS and CLARIAH RAINWATER:
Marriage: July 29, 1850, Campbell Co., GA
Marriage license: July 29, 1850, Campbell Co., GA Marriage Book "B". They were married by A. A. Steed, Minister of the Gospel.

5.	v.	SARAH RAINWATER, b. October 11, 1827, SC; d. August 15, 1887, TX.
6.	vi.	ELIZABETH RAINWATER, b. June 16, 1829, SC; d. April 09, 1871, Campbell Co., GA.
7.	vii.	CHRISTINA RAINWATER, b. April 27, 1832, SC; d. October 28, 1867, Campbell Co., GA.
8.	viii.	FRANCES E RAINWATER, b. 1836, SC; d. Bet. 1865 - 1870, GA.
	ix.	BENJAMIN F RAINWATER, b. 1838, GA; d. Unknown.
	x.	MARTHA RAINWATER, b. 1841; d. Aft. 1865; m. JOHN A SEGAR, November 17, 1859, Campbell Co., GA; d. Unknown.

More About JOHN SEGAR and MARTHA RAINWATER:
Marriage: November 17, 1859, Campbell Co., GA
Marriage license: November 17, 1859, Campbell Co., GA Marriage Book "B", page 383. They were married by S. Harvey, Minister of the Gospel.

9.	xi.		CATHERINE ELIZA RAINWATER, b. June 30, 1848, Campbell Co., GA; d. December 17, 1877, Campbell Co., GA.
	xii.		UNKNOWN RAINWATER, d. Unknown.

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