R/RFHA Newsletter, June 2000                                   P.15

The following bits of information concern a particular descendant of the Spotsylvania, VA family, descendants of the progenitor in North America of JAMES RAWLINS of England who came to America in either the last decade of the 1600's or the early decade of the 1700's. This particular descendant is THOMAS C. RAWLINGS, son of JOHN W. or H. RAWLINS, son of JAMES RAWLINS Jr., son of the original JAMES mentioned above.

THOMAS C. RAWLINS, spelled RAWLINGS in many instances, was the eldest son of JOHN W. or H. RAWLINS and his first wife, Nancy Holladay, dtr. of Benjamin Holladay. THOMAS was born April 1, 1747, in Spotsylvania Co., VA, and died in 1820 in Howard Co., Missouri. He came with his parents and siblings to Clark Co., KY. His brothers and sisters were: MARY, BENJAMIN HOLLADAY, LEVI, JOHN C., SUSANNAH, ROBERT and OWEN, all children of Nancy. It was in Clark Co. that Nancy, his mother died in 1800. We know that one son of JOHN Sr. was born in Kentucky, and that was OWEN. For some reason all these siblings remained with their father except LEVI who was sent or remained in Virginia with relatives.

JOHN md. a second time to a widow, Jane (Bush) Embree, and fathered one more son and 5 daughters - JAMES DAWSON, WILMA, ELVINA, JULIA, JANE and NANCY. Later the family moved on to Howard Co., Missouri

THOMAS married Esther (Bush) Landrow, a widow, in 1803 in Clark Co., Kentucky. They followed his father to Howard Co., MO, raised their family there, died and were buried there in the RAWLINS Cemetery located on the old farm. The children were: COMMODORE PERRY, JOHN, AMBROSE D., THOMAS JR., EMMA KATE/EMMICOTTE, MELVERIA, NANCY H., LUCY B. and MARY "MOLLY" who died young. (another source has said that MARY "MOLLY" married a Mr. Calvert.) One of our subscribers is a descendant of THOMAS thru his son COMMODORE PERRY who is her grandfather. The farm is still owned by a RAWLINGS and is located in Howard Co., MO, Township 49, Range 15, section 34.

THOMAS C. died 1845/46, and Esther died May 26, 1851. Other information states that COMMODORE PERRY md. Pauline Adams, he was born in 1824 and died in 1869. THOMAS Jr. was born ca 1829 and md. a Julia ?. EMMA KATE was born Dec. 2, 1812 and died M-arch 15, 1873. She md. John Calvert April 20, 1832. MARY "MOLLY" was born Dec. 17, 1817 and died Jan. 19, 1886. She married a Martin Calvert Dec. 17, 1836. (researchers should check on this information concerning MARY "MOLLY”)

********.

An update on this information discloses that: MELVIRA B. b. 1810 md. a Mr. Farris... NANCY H. md. Mr. Mullins....LUCY B. md. Mr Head.

COMMODORE PERRY was born in 1824 and died in 1869. He and his wife Pauline according to the 1860 census in Howard Co. had 4 children at that time...ANNA M., THOMAS, ALPHA and DUDLEY. A brother of his, OWEN, is also found in 1850 census, with wife FRANCES and children ANN J., MARTHA J., NICHOLAS B. and CELIA S.

********

Will of THOMAS C. RAWLINS, Howard Co., MO, from the Missouri State Archives, P.257.

I, THOMAS RAWLINGS Senior of the County of Howard and state of Missouri, being of sound mind and memory, cloth make, constitute and ordain this instrument of writing as my last will and testament in the manner and form following:

First it is my will that all my funeral expenses and all my just debts be fully paid. Second I give, devise and bequeath to my beloved wife Ester RAWLINGS all of my estate of any description whatsoever during her natural life or widowhood.

Third I give to my son COMMODORE P. RAWLINGS the West half of the Northeast quarter of Section 34 in Township 49, Range 15. Also the East half of the Northwest quarter of Section 34 in Township 49, Range 15, it being a part of the farm I now live on... at my wife's death.

(continued next page)