Captain Francis Raynes

     Captain Francis Raynes was born circa 1620 in Maine.^1,3 He married Elinor Moor before 1647.² Captain Francis Raynes died on 15 October 1706.
     England was the starting point of the West Virginia branch of the Raynes family. Francis Raynes was the first by the name of Raynes to set foot on American soil, in about the year 1646. He helped to found the city of York, Maine (formerly Massachusetts). It is believed that he was the younger son of William Raynes of Leigh-Upon-Mendip in Somersetshire, England. The Church of St. Giles in that area has a lot of Raynes headstones in it's cemetary. Francis married Eleanor Moor in approximately 1650.
The first Raynes to venture toward Ohio and West Virginia was Nathaniel L. Raynes. It is rumored that he left the Maine area to escape the heavy taxation of the area. He settled in Belmont county, Ohio, with his wife, Hester Workman and family. He died in Belmont county in 1841. His son, William Lewis Raynes, along with Hester, then migrated to the 18-mile Creek area of West Virginia, near Buffalo, and along the Kanawha River. William met his wife there, Mary Ann Harmison, and had a large family. The New Bethel Church and Cemetary, that was on his land, can still be found at 18-Mile Creek.

There are still many descendents of William and Mary Ann in the Buffalo, Eleanor, Nitro, St. Albans and Charleston areas of West Virginia.
"Francis Raynes had 20 pounds in money, and, being a minor, his father gave his marriage and tuition to Mr. Sir Henry Caristable... during his minorite." He became a joint heir of his brother Robert in 1622.
From B. L. Noyes "Collection of Deer Isle Families" Series 2, Vol 30: "Francis Raynes, according to the Raynes history of the family, was born in England in 1625. The year of his coming to America we do not know but it is said that he came in the care of a guardian, so was probable under age. He m. Elinor Moore and, according to Williamson's "History of Maine", was a resident of York, ME in 1652-3. The Appendix of Vol 1 of his history has the following:

"Francis Raynes, an inhabitant of York, noticed for his intelligence and for his fellowship to Gorges was appointed in 1664, one of Archdales Justices. Nevertheless on re-assumption of the government by Massachussetts in 1668, he was chosen an Associate and subsequently took an active part in political affairs".

Francis Raynes, d. in 1706, aged 81 years, the year of Elinor's death we do not know.⁴

" (an unknown value).⁵ He left a will on 21 August 1693; In Sargent's "Maine Wills", 1640-1760, is the Will of Francis Raynes, dated August 21, 1693, Probate Office 1/125, which is the only clue we have to his children, reading as follows:

"In the name of God, I do bequeath my soul to the Lord who gave it and to Jesus Christ my Redeemer by whom I hope to be saved. As for my Estate, I dispose as followeth. I give unto my wife my farm I live in, one half so long as she liveth, the other half I give to my son Nathaniel Raynes with her to manage it with her. I giv eunto my wife Elinor Raynes all my household goods and leave it to her dispose. Likewise I further give my farm after their death unto Francis Raynes the son of Nathanial Raynes. I give unto John Raynes the half farm I bought of Mr. Shapliegh paying the annual so long as it is due, further I give unto Nathan Raynes the son of Nathaniel Raynes a tract of land I bought of Thomas Crocket of thirty acres lying give unto Francis Hodsdon the son of Joseph Hodsdon the plantation which his father lived in at the head of Brave Boat Harbor, with four acres of meadow and upland which is laid out to it. For my Daus I leave with my Executor to pay what I shal give unto grandchildren, all my sheep I guve unto Francis Raynes. My couws in John Woodmans hands with all the increase I give unto my daughter Woodmans children to be divided between them. I give unto Joseph Diamonds children ten Shillings apiece. I give unto my daughter Woodman twenty Shillings, I give unto Samuel Mathews wife twenty Shillings. I give unto Elizabeth Hodsdon my grand child ten Pounds to be paid when she is of age, besides her ten Shillings formerly given. I give unto John Woodman twenty Shillings. I give unto Samuel Mathews twenty Shillings. I give unto David Mendum the four Pounds John Woodman oweth me for a horse, to be paid to him when he is of age. I give unto Elinor Raynes twenty Shillings. I give unto Nathaniel Raynes twenty Shillings. What I have here given I desire my executor to pay out of my Estate. I do Hereby ordain and Constitute my wife Elinor Raynes, and my son Nathaniel Raynes my Executors Jointly one with the other for to perform this my last Will and Testament fully as they will answer it another day. I ffrancis Raynes being in perfect health and memory to make this my last Will and Testament of the Estate I have in this life, and do give my Executors the full power of it, to perform what is above mentioned after my decease.

Whitness: Nathaniel Raynes, John Woodman, ffrancis Raynes, Jr.

My own hand,
ffrancis Raynes."⁴