Connected Bloodlines

Deacon Edward RAYNSFORD

Male - 1680


Personal Information    |    Event Map    |    All    |    PDF

  • Name Edward RAYNSFORD 
    Prefix Deacon 
    Born
    • Baptism date
    Gender Male 
    Died 16 Aug 1680  Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Buried King’s Chapel Cemetery, Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Notes 
    • “EDWARD RAYNSFORD was baptized at Staverton, co. Northampton, England, 10 Sept. 1609 (Isham Longden MSS Northants Register 11, “St. John the Baptist, Staverton,” 14; Raynsford pedigree in Miscellanea Genealogica et Heraldica, 3rd series, 2 [1896-97]:159), and died at Boston, Mass. 16 Aug. 1680, aged seventy-one (Old South Church, 217), and was buried 17 Aug. 1680 (”Hobart Journal,” register 121 [1967]:206). The Diaries of John Hull record: “Aug. 16[1680] Elder Edward Rainsford died, being old & full of days” (3:247). His gravestone at King’s Chapel, Boston, reads “Here lyes the body of Mr. Edward Raynford Senior aged 71 years departed this life Anno Domini 16 82 [sic] (Bridgeman, Kings Chapel Cemetery, 37).
      The name of his first wife is unknown, but she died at Boston, 4 mo 1632 (Report of the Record Commissioners containing Boston Births, Baptisms, Marriages, and Deaths, 1630-1699 [Boston, 1883], 1:1, hereafter Boston VRs). He married second befoore 15 10 mo. 1633 (when she was admitted to the First Church as his wife) Elizabeth _____( Records of the first Church, 1630-1868, Publications of the Colonial Society of Massachusetts [Boston, 1961], 39:17), who died at Boston, “Mrs. Rainsford, the aged Mother,” 16 Nov. 1688 (Samuel Sewall, The Diary of Samuel Sewall, 1674-1729, ed. M. Halsey Thomas [New York, 1973], 1:176). Her gravestone at King’s Chapel reads: “Here lyeth buried the body of Elizabeth Raynsford aged 81 yearse deceased the 16 day of November 1688” (Bridgeman, Kings Chapel Cemetery, 38). Belle Preston’s Bassett-Preston Ancestors identifies her as “Elizabeth Dillie (or Dilloe)” without citation, perhaps a misreading or transcription error in reference to Elizabeth’s bequest of 20 shillings to “my Countryman Tillee.”
      Edward Raynsford, as third son, was left 100 pounds at age twenty one by the will of Robert Raynsford of Staverton, co. Northampton, 10 Oct. 1628, but there are no subsequent records found at Staverton for Edward. He is probably the man Charlees E. Banks, Planters of the Commonwealth, 80, indicates arrived at Massachusetts Bay Colony with the Winthrop Fleet in 1630, and Edward was certainly at Charlestown that summer when he entered his name in covenant with the First Church of Boston (Records of the First Church, 39:13). A merchant, aged twenty-six, he again arrived at Boston about 8 Oct. 1635 aboard the Abigail of London, apparently returning from a business or personal visit to England (Banks, Planters of the Commonwealth, 162), and his commercial endeavors are evidenced by the inventory of his estate which shows his part interest in four ships, the Sarah, the Swallow, the Mary, and one not named, and the family connections in Barbados.
      Edward took an oath as freeman at Boston, 17 April 1637 (A Volume of Records Relating to the Early Hisory of Boston, Containing Miscellaneous Papers, 29th Report of the Boston Records Commissioners [Boston, 1900], 29:138), and was among those disarmed there the same year because of their sympathies for the Rev. John Wheelwright and Anne Hutchinson when they were tried for heresy (Hamilton Andrews Hill, History of the Old South Church [Boston, 1890], 1:116-7. Robert F. Seybolt’s Town Officers of Colonial Boston (Cambridge, Mass., 1939) shows Edward was chosen Selectman, 10 March 1661/2, 9 March 1662/3, 14 March 1663/4, 13 March 1664/5, 12 March 1667/6, 11 March 1666/7, 16 March 1667/8, 15 March 1668/9, and Constable on 14 March 1680/1. He was active in the First Church, but on 12 Feb. 1669 he and fellow deacon and friend Jacob Elliot were dismissed from office for disagreement with the appointment of Mr. Davenport as pastor and for apparent agitation for the formatation of a new church. Both men signed the documents, 12 and 16 May 1669, for formation of the Third, or Old South, Church, where Edward Raynsford served as Ruling Elder (Old South Church, 217, 5). Among those swearing the oath of allegiance on 11 Nov. 1678 were Mr. Edward Raynsford, Jonathan Raynsford, David Raynsford and Jno. Raynsford. Solomon Raynsford swore to the same 21 April 1679 (Records of the Suffolk County Court, 1671-1680, Publications of the Colonial Society of Massachusetts [Boston, 1933], 30:963, 962, 967.
      On 4 Aug. 1676 Edward Raynsford and Elizabeth his wife “in Consideration of the naturall love goodwill & affection wch we have and beare to our loving sones John Raynsford, David Raynsford and Solomon” conveyed said sons “our peece or parcell oof Land Beach & flatts lyng and being at the Southerly end of the Towne of Boston afforesd being Butted and bounded on the Northerly End by the Highway: Southerly by the sea: and Westerly by the land flatts and Beach of Jacob Elliott.” Witnessed by Samjuel Haugh and John Hayward, Sr., acknowledged by Edward and Elizabeth on 10 6 mo. 1676 (Suffolk co. Deeds, 9:373-373a).
      Edward Raynsford Senior, merchant, made his will at Boston, 3 Aug. 1680, and it was presented 28 Aug. 1680 (original now missing from file, recorded Suffolk Co. Misc. Docket, 6:330). After a religious preamble he directed that dear wife Elizabeth should have the use, benefit and improvement of his estate until her death, and additionally £100 to her own use. She was to have authority to dispose part of the estate to any of his children who might be “in necessity for their present releife,” the portion thus advanced to be deducted from that due after his wife’s death. To daughter Mary Parcyfull he forgave a £10 debt owed by her husband, and left her £10 to be paid in goods. £50 apiece at age twenty one was left to grandchildren Jonathan, Dorothy, and Mary, children of son Jonathan Raynsford, deceased, the granddaughters to forfeit their legacy if they “do not Carry themselves dutifully to their grandmother and their Aunt Gording’s advice in disposeing of themselves in marriage.” Son Solomon to have land formerly laid out to him for a house lot. Son David to have land previously laid out to him. Son Edward to have house formerly “that was my son Nathan Raynsfords,” and to pay £350 New England money ffor it. After wife Elizabeth’s death, estate remaining to “be equally divided amongst my Children hereafter named. Viz. John Raynsford, David Raynsford, Solomon Raynsford, Edward Raynsford, and Reanus Belchar, Elizabeth Greenough & Anna Hough.” Should any child predecease wife Elizabeth, that share to go to their children, or if they die without issue to be equally divided by all grandchildren of children “that have bene borne to me by my now wife.” Wife Elizabeth was nominated sole executrix, with “my Loving friends Mr. Edward Willis and Mr . John Hayward” as overseers. Witnessed by Jacob Eliot and Wm. Davis, who made oath on the same in court 28 Aug. 1680. Edward Raynsford’s inventory was taken by Jacob Eliot and Theophilus Frarey, 32 Sept. 1680 and sworn by the widow Elizabeth, 30 Nov. 1680, at £1638-07-11. This included one-sixteenth ownership of the ship Sarah, Thomas Tuck, commander, one-fourth ownership of the ketch Swallow, Benjamin Pickman, commander, one-fourth ownership of the ketch Mary, John Gardner, commander, and three-sixteenths ownership of an unnamed ship commanded by Jeremiah Cushen. In addition land on Long Island and Ransford Island in Boston Harbor are listed, as are the “house & land belonging to Nathan Ransford, dec’d,” at £300, Edward’s own dwelling house and lands valued at £260, and one Negro boy named Nate and one Negro girl named Nance (Suffolk Co. Probate, rec. vol. 9:20).
      Elizabeth Raynsford made her will as Edward’s widow at Boston on 13 Nov. 1688 and it was presented 14 Feb. 1688/9 (Suffolk Co. Probate #1675, rec. vol. 10:454-5). She left 40 shillings apiece to grandchilden Atherton Haugh, Nathan, son of Solomon Raynsford, and Newman Greenow, to daughter Belsher ten pounds formerly loaned her, to Susannah Raynsford daughter of son John deceased, five pounds, to grandchild Edward son of David Raynsford, the silver cup bought of said David, to “my Countryman Tillee” 20 shillings, to husband’s daughter Mary Persevere 40 shillings, a legacy from her husband of 100 pounds together with 40 pounds of her own money “in my son Greenow’s hands” to be equally divided between “my own children now living and bore of my body,” sons David and Solomon to be executors. She signed by mark, witnessed by Moses Payne, Elizabeth Barnew and John Cole, and the two men swore the same in Court 14 Feb. 1688/9.
      On 5 Nov. 1690 the first of two Agreements of Arbitration by the heirs of Edward and Elizabeth Raynsford was recorded. On that date David Raynsford, housewright, and Solomon Raynsford, joiner, “exrs. of will of our honored father Elder Edward RRaynsford late of Boston, deceased, merchant, who was admr. of the estate of his son Nathan Raynsford late of Boston, deceased,” joined William Greenough for his children by Elizabeth his wife, deceased; Raynous Belcher, relict of Josiah Belcheer deceased, “both daughters of sd. Elder Edward Raynsford”; John Marian Junr for the children of John Raynsford, deceased, “son of sd. Elder Edward Raynsford”; Solomon Raynsford, executor, for children of Anna Haugh, deceased “another daughter.er.” They agreed that the house and land formerly belonging to Nathan Raynsford should go to Huldah, “widow of Edward Raynsford Jr. deceased.” This agreement apparently sealed an earlier deed by the same partied dated 1 Oct. 1690 and containinning a release by John Raynsford, son of John Raynsford, deceased, for John Marion to act on his behalf. On 1 Nov. 1691 the same parties deeded land to Richard Middlecot, John Raynsford including a release that he acted “in behalf of my Brethren & sisters.” The second Finding of Arbitration was dated 19 Jan. 1692 and determined that (1) three gold rings in custody of Solomon Raynsford from his mother’s estate were to be equally divided among the children of David Raynsford, Solomon Raynsford, and Eranus Belcher, deceased; (2) Solomon’s debt of £9-10-08 to his father’s estate was to be equally divided and distributed to the children of John, David and Solomon Raynsford, the children of Eranis Belcher and Elizabeth Gooden; (3) 40 shillings which Solomon had of his mother to deliver to his sister Perifull were to be so delivered (Suffolk, Co. Deeds, 15:88, 154, 156: 16:26).”«s77»
    Person ID I8429  Lowell&Block
    Last Modified 2 May 2015 

    Father Robert RAYNSFORD,   b. Bef 7 Feb 1566, Epping, Essex, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 15 Apr 1629, Staverton, Northhampton, England Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age > 63 years) 
    Mother Mary KIRTON,   b. Abt 1566, Epping, Essex, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Aft 20 Apr 1634, Staverton, Northhampton, England Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 68 years) 
    Married 14 Dec 1602  Croydon, London, England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F2980  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 ? ?,   d. Jun 1632, Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Married 1622 
    Children 
     1. Joshua or Josiah RAYNSFORD,   b. 1 Jun 1632, Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Sep 1632, Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 0 years)
     2. Mary RAYNSFORD,   b. 1 Apr 1632, Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 12 Apr 1694, Falmouth, Barnstable, Massachusetts, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 62 years)
    Family ID F2978  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 2 Elizabeth ?,   d. 16 Nov 1688, Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Married Bef 15 Oct 1633  Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
     1. John RAYNSFORD
     2. Jonathan RAYNSFORD
     3. Ranis RAYNSFORD
     4. Nathan RAYNSFORD
     5. David RAYNSFORD
     6. Solomon RAYNSFORD
     7. Elizabeth RAYNSFORD
     8. Hannah RAYNSFORD
     9. Ann RAYNSFORD
     10. Edward RAYNSFORD
    Family ID F4064  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsMarried - Bef 15 Oct 1633 - Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDied - 16 Aug 1680 - Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBuried - - King’s Chapel Cemetery, Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth