AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL NOTES
OF
MARGARET RANAGER ADAMS
Vicki Ranager (a descendent through John Wesley) reports that John Ranager was supposedly a ship builder:
"and built a small ship in which he and some of his relatives used to come to America (I'm not sure if there were any 'family members' - I heard the term 'relatives'). He entered America at Mobile, AL. (I believe he probably arrived in America cir. 1821.) He went inland to Greene County, MS, and married Mary in 1822 (I have also seen Wayne County - the lines were moved and George County was added). She was the daughter of John Thomas Clark...I found John and Mary on the Wayne County 1830 census with 4 children (she must have been pregnant with John Wesley and went to Mobile to have him and didn't live long after). After she died John left the 5 children with Mary's mother and she raised them. John later married Louisa Dismukes in 1834 in MS, but soon returned to Mobile where he and Louisa had 5 or 6 children, with only about 2 living to adulthood. Louisa died Oct 20, 1859 and John died Nov 20, 1859 (one month later) in Whistler, Mobile Co., AL. Supposedly he is buried in Mobile in an unmarked grave - I am still checking this out. I also have information on Mary Clark's brothers and sisters (there were 10 of them). The following note is what I had to start my search on this line and there was a lot of info to help me make several connections and contacts to get the info I have.
"Margaret dictated an account of her family history to a son-in-law at a family reunion on her 86th Birthday, October 6, 1909. The following statement is in her own words:
Dear children and friends, as this may be our last family reunion, and as the Lord has blessed me to so live and see this day, which is my 86th birthday, and as I desire you my children to hold in memory the record of our family, I herewith give you my past life.
My Father, which is your grandfather, name is John Ranager, born in Germany in the year about 1794. My mother, which is your grandmother was Mary Clark, born in South Carolina in the year 1802. Father and mother married in the state of Mississippi, Greene County, in the year 1822. I and three brothers and one sister named, I, Margaret, Andrew Jackson, Arrenar Catherine, George Washington, and John Wesley Ranager were born to them. I, Andrew Jackson, Arrenar Catherine, and George Washington were born in Mississippi. John Wesley was born in Mobile, Alabama. I was born in the year 1823 and had the loving care of my mother up to my 6th year and he who has to do all things well separated me from my dear mother by death and we children had to be taken care of by my grandmother Elizabeth Clark in the state of Alabama, Mobile County, where I was raised and grew up to the age of 18 years and married at the home of grandmother Clark to your father and grandfather Lewin Adams in the year 1841. We remained in the state of Alabama until 4 children were born to us namely Pollie, John, Sallie, and Arrenar Catherine. After which we moved to the state of Mississippi, Greene County, where 2 children were born, Susie and Marthey. After which we moved to Jones County, Mississippi, where 3 children were born, namely Charolette, Nancy, and Millie, which was the time of the trouble between the states and caused me many heartaches and hardships and after the war trouble was over, I and your father and 9 children moved to the state of Texas in the year 1865 in Polk County, where one more child was born, namely Georgia, making 10 children. From where we moved to this the old homestead in San Jacinto County, which once was a part of Walker County. You can see that I once had part in settling of the pioneer days of 3 states, namely Mississippi, Alabama, and Texas. And the most heart rendering times I have had in life was when the good Master separated me from my loving companion, Lewin Adams, your father and grandfather, in the year 1899, February 17. Ever since I have been waiting the Master's call, living in the faith of my Redeemer and in the hopes of meeting my loved ones gone before me. Above all things I wish to thank the giver of all good gifts that I have lived to see my children into the 4th generation. My greatest desire and prayer is that all of the children prepare to meet me in heaven that we can make one happy family reunion. That we shall sing our Redeemer's praise. I herewith make a statement of our family by blood and marriage.
This I respectfully submit to your care and keeping, and I herewith thank each one of you, my children, for your hearty handshaking and meeting with me on my 86th birthday. Your union has been sweet, your company has been dear, your word delightful to my ear. So could I stay with friends so kind, I know would cheer my drooping mind, if you on earth no more I see, in heaven, look for there I'll be. But with our blessed holy Lord, we'll shout and sing with one accord. Bye Bye, let us pray.
Buried Pine Valley Cemetery, San Jacinto County, near Coldspring, TX"
SOURCE: Vicki RanagerBack to top
Return to Biographical page
Page updated: Sunday, 06-Apr-2003 15:13:06 MDT
|
