|
Jim Rader's Web site www.rader.org |
|
From:
JANETSKELTON0713@aol.com [mailto:JANETSKELTON0713@aol.com] The Confusion about The two George Rader’s of Greenbrier and Nicholas Counties George Rader/Sarah Craig has been lost to all that has descendent from this couple. At first glance of county records, it would appear that little information was recorded of George Rader. Researchers not personally related to our George have missed the subtle clues and inconsistency which fails to identify this line of Raders. The problem in identifying our George Rader lays in the fact that there was actually (3) separate George Raders who moved from the Shenandoah Valley to Greenbrier Co., VA around the same time between 1793 - 1786. One was George Rader, Sr. who was born around 1746 and died in 1815; he fought in the Revolutionary War and had a wife named Margaret. He died in 1815 and left a will in Greenbrier Co., VA which mentions a son George Rader. George Sr. had a brother, Anthony Rader, of Revolutionary fame who also moved to Greenbrier. The next George Rader of Greenbrier Co., VA was George Rader born 20 Jun 1774 and died in Bucks Garden, Nicholas Co., WV on 15 Apr 1864. He married Jane McCoy 10 Nov 1795 where their marriage was recorded in Greenbrier Co., VA. Their daughter, Miriam Rader married another one of our ancestors, James Atkinson of Kanawha Co., VA. He was the son of George Atkinson and Sarah McCaplin. We are descendent from their son John Atkinson and Nancy Samuels. James and Miriam Rader Atkinson had a son, George Wesley Atkinson who was born 29 Jun 1845 in Kanawha Co., VA and in 1897 was elected Governor of the state of West Virginia. George and Jane McCoy moved from Greenbrier Co., VA to Kanawha Co. VA In 1818, this section of Kanawha County later became Nicholas County between 1800 and 1810 and settled in Bucks Garden. George received land patents in Kanawha County for 280 acres in 1811.This George is also listed on the 1810 Kanawha Co., VA Census. He is also listed on the first Tax List of Nicholas Co., VA in 1818. Because this George Rader’s grandson, George Wesley Atkinson, was the Governor of West Virginia, you are able to find plenty of information related to this family. Any and all records of a George Rader found in both Nicholas and Greenbrier Counties is automatically and inaccurately implied to be this George Rader. All of the Rader’s genealogy places this George Rader as the son of George Rader and Margaret of Greenbrier Co., VA. This assumption maybe wrong. The last of the three George Raders of Greenbrier Co., VA was George Rader born about 1775 and died between 1850-1860 in Nicholas Co. WV. He married in Greenbrier Co., VA on 06 Jun 1795 to Sarah Craig, daughter of Robert and Nancy Agnes Craig. George and Sarah lived in Greenbrier Co., VA until about 1826 when George Rader Jr and Sarah sold 601 acres to Charles McClung, no location given; this was last time George Rader name was mentioned on the Land Index in Greenbrier County and in 1830 he appears on the Nicholas County Census. No where in any of the published Rader’s genealogies do the authors ever mention this George Rader and Sarah Craig along with their descendants - which numbers into the thousands. His very existences in Greenbrier and Nicholas Counties is nullified and ignored as if he never lived. Any record of him is implied to be the other George Rader previously mentioned - overshadowed because his grandson became Governor of WV. Now these published researchers are faced with the problem of his descendants – where to place and justify the presents these “other” Raders, who settled in Nicholas, Webster, Braxton, Wirt, Jackson and other counties in West Virginia. Their answer: randomly and haphazardly place them into other “known” Rader families. And forget the daughters of this couple because they are not even mentioned at all. The following is a documentary effort not only to establish the facts and to separate the confusion of these two George Raders found in the Greenbrier and Nicholas Co., WV are but also to establish their parents. Because the facts are taken both from documented and undocumented sources, there is no smoking gun or a flashing neon light that absolutely, positively proves one way or another the parents of both George Rader, but it does help to clarify and identify them as two separate and individual identities. The following are documents found on these George Raders. George Rader Sr. along with his wife Margaret and their family moved to Greenbrier Co., VA about 1793. This is evidence by multiple sources: (Tax List, Land Deeds) “At different times between 1793 and 1796 George, his brother Anthony and nephew Michael Rader moved to Greenbrier Co., VA, and the family giving the name of Rader Valley. They lived near what is now White Sulphur Springs” History of Rockingham Co., VA by John W. Wayland. This is not entirely true; White Sulphur Springs is located east of Lewisburg in the southeastern portion of Greenbrier County and east of the Greenbrier River. Rader Valley is more centrally located in the county and lays northwest of Lewisburg and sits along a small mountain ridge – called Bushy Ridge and Sinking Creek. This is the area where Anthony Rader settled. George Rader settled further north in an area known as the “Big Levels” – named for the flatter lands west of the Greenbrier River. This area is in the vicinity of the towns of Williamsburg and Frankfort. This fact can be found in the following land deeds. 1 March 1799; Robert Craig and wife of Augusta Co., VA 595 acres for $40.00 to Wm. Craig of Greenbrier in Great Levels adjoining George Reader, Frederick Wolfenbarger. (Robert Craig and wife were in-laws of George Rader who married their daughter Sarah Craig) 25 September 1805; Michael Bright and wife Sarah Bright 100 acres for $10 to George Reader Jr. near Gilboa Meeting House (Gilboa Meeting house is located near the town of Frankfort in Greenbrier) As their children begin to reach the age of majority and begin to raise their own families, George Rader Sr. appropriates part of his land to his sons. 22 April 1801; George Rader Sr. and wife Margaret Rader 280 acres for 5 shillings to Alexander Rader adjoining George Rader Sr., Adam Rader. 28 April 1801; George Rader Sr. and wife Margaret Rader 334 acres for 5 shillings to Adam Rader Jr. adjoining George Rader, Alexander Rader, John Stuart, Francis Ludington. George Rader Sr wrote his will which was dated October 20, 1803 and never updated or made any amendments in the twelve years when it was probated in court in October 1815. (Leaving the majority of his estate to his son George Rader) Have actual copy of his will. The Land Deeds of Greenbrier County not only shows the neighbors of George Rader Sr. but also helps to establish and substantiate the identity of George Rader – the son who was mention in his will. The “highlighted” names were either sons or son-in-laws or other relatives of George Rader Sr. – showing the close proximity of their property in Greenbrier County. 6 September 1793; Patrick Lockhart and wife Mary Lockhart of Botetourt Co., VA 350 acres for $250 to George Raider in Big Levels adjoining land Raider purchased from Robert Armstrong, Robert Craig and Wm Renick. 1 March 1799; Robert Craig and wife of Augusta Co., VA 595 acres for $40.00 to Wm. Craig of Greenbrier in Great Levels adjoining George Reader, Frederick Wolfenbarger April 28, 1810: Alexander Raider and wife Elizabeth Rader 579 acres for $1.00 to Robert Craig adjoining George Raider, Adam Raider Robert Craig mentioned in deeds dated 1793 and 1799 was the father of Sarah Craig who married George Rader, and William Craig was her brother. Robert Craig mentioned in deed dated 1810 was the son of Robert Craig Sr. and brother of Sarah Craig. Alexander Raider, son of George Rader, moved to Kentucky after selling his land. This small monetary amount paid for a parcel of land was really a “gift”. This “gift of land” is usually transacted between close family members or friends such as from a father to his son or daughter as a wedding gift. Frederick Wolfenbarger was the father of John Wolfenbarger and Joseph Wolfenbarger who each married sisters of Sarah Craig. A marriage record found in Greenbrier County dated 05 Oct 1803 for Phillip Wolfenbarger and Ingabo Rader, but it does not establish the parents of Ingabo Rader who must have been over 21 years of age because no parental permission was recorded. Phillip is also believed to be the son of Frederick Wolfenbarger. The evidences of those living close to George Rader Sr. are also found in the Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia. Dated: 1812 Luddington vs. Stuart--O. S. 332; N. S. 120--Bill By Francis Luddington of Greenbrier, that on 4 August, 1787. Patrick Lockhart obtained 2 patents, one "A" for 400 acres and one "B" for 449 acres.… After 1793 Lockhart contracted with George Reider (Rader) to sell him "B." …After the sale to Reider, Lockhart sold "A" to John Stuart, 5 June, 1795, who ejected Nicely…. Philip Wolfenberger deposes, he lived near the land from 1789.. ... John Phifer deposes, he was a citizen of Greenbrier and lived near the land for several years prior to 1793….Josiah Shanklin was also a surveyor….In 1793 George Reader moved from Shenandoah to Greenbrier ….John Craig deposes, he was raised in Greenbrier. He was born September, 1782…. George Rader deposes, his father moved to Greenbrier in 1793..... Adam Rader deposes, has known the land since 1794, and mentions his father as being in Greenbrier…..Alexander Rader deposes, in Bourbon County, KY. 20 August, 1813. Son of George Rader (signed in German Räder). Phillip Wolfenbarger married in Greenbrier 05 Oct 1803 to Ingabo Rader; John Phifer married Catherine Rader, daughter of George Rader. Josiah Shanklin was father of James Shanklin who married Elizabeth Phifer, daughter of John and Catherine Rader Phifer. John Craig was a brother of Sarah Craig, wife of George Rader Jr. George, Adam and Alexander Rader were sons of George Rader Sr. The following were court and probates records in Greenbrier Co., WV - that were dated after the death of George Rader Sr. By then, George and Jane McCoy had already moved from Greenbrier before 1810 and was living in Nicholas Co., so these references to George Rader is the George Rader who married Sarah Craig and was living in Greenbrier Co. until 1826 Greenbrier County October 1817 “On application of Geo. Raider, John Williams, Jesse Bright and Robert Craige are appointed to view the alteration in the road beginning at the mouth of the lane on this side of Frankford and to intersect the Great Road between that and Robert Craige.” Robert Craige was the brother of Sarah Craig; and John Williams was the father of Elizabeth Williams who married George and Sarah Craig Rader’s son Robert Rader 08 Sep 1817 in Greenbrier Co., VA. Marriage Bond of this couple also contains a permission slip for Robert Rader because he was not 21 years of age; his father was George Rader. The refers to the town of Frankford also establishes the fact that this was the land previously owned by George Rader Sr. who settled in the “Great Levels” and that his son, George Rader who now occupies this land, is not the George Rader of Nicholas County who supposedly sold this land in 1807; and if indeed he had sold this land, then why would he be appointed by Greenbrier county to oversee road alterations when he was living in Nicholas County? Feb 1822: Estate of George Nicholas, Sales;. Administrators: Michael Bright, Andrew Morrison. To Jessie Bright, Clements Correll, M. Coulter, John Deem, Simon Dunn, John Handley, John Harford, Philip Hinkle, Samuel Humphreys, Fountain Levisay, George Levisay, Andrew Morrison Sr., Andrew Morrison Jr., George Rader, John Rader, Robert Rader, Wm. Renick, Joseph Walkup, Wm. Williams, George Yeager, James Yeatts. (All George, John and Robert were all sons of George and Sarah Craig) 20 November 1820: Estate of John Pinnell; Appraisal by George Reader, Adam Reader. John Pinnell was a brother of Frances Fanny Pinnell; she married Robert Craig who was the brother of Sarah Craig Rader. This is a far stretch of the imagination to imply that the recorded transactions and interactions between George Rader and Robert Craig’s family of Greenbrier County from 1793 until 1826 can be contributed to the George Rader/ Jane McCoy who moved from Greenbrier County prior to 1810. There is also documented proof that the George Rader Sr and Robert Craig Sr were neighbors beginning from 1793 and that a George Rader married Robert Craig’s daughter in 1795; these records also show the continued relationship and interactions of the Rader and Craig family over the next 30 years. Looking only at the will of George Rader Sr. you see only that it mentions "son George." There is no other information in his will that identifies this George as the one who marriage Jane McCoy or the George Rader who married Sarah Craig. But only after a complete and thorough examination and assessment of other records from Greenbrier does the identity of George Rader Jr. becomes apparent. Thanks Janet
I don't suffer from insanity... |