Tofterå / Slettemoen genealogy


Edward Bradshaw was born in 1604 in Cheshire, England. He died on 21 OCT 1671 in Cheshire, England. He married Susannah Blease.

Susannah Blease [Parents] was born in 1613 in Cheshire, England. She died in 1651 in Cheshire, England. She married Edward Bradshaw.

They had the following children:

  F i Katherine Bradshaw

Christopher Blease was born before 1593. He died in Cheshire, England.

He had the following children:

  F i Susannah Blease

Gideon Wright died in JUN 1685.

He had the following children:

  F i Elisabeth Wright

John Adams [Parents] was born about 1705 in Maryland. He died on 3 SEP 1744 in Augusta Co, VA. He married Margaret Donnell in 1724.

Margaret Donnell was born in 1685 in Maryland. She died on 1 FEB 1770 in Linville Creek, Augusta, Virginia. She married John Adams in 1724.

They had the following children:

  F i Catherine Donnell Adams

Francis Adams [Parents] was born about 1680 in Charles, Maryland. He died on 26 JUN 1766 in Charles, Maryland. He married Mary Godfrey in 1704 in Charles, Maryland.

Mary Godfrey [Parents] was born in 1682 in Charles, Maryland. She died in 1778 in Charles, Maryland. She married Francis Adams in 1704 in Charles, Maryland.

They had the following children:

  M i John Adams

Francis Adams was born in 1643 in England. He died in 1698 in Charles, Maryland. He married Grace Thomas on 10 FEB 1669 in Charles, Maryland.

Grace Thomas was born in 1658 in Charles, Maryland. She died on 7 JUN 1699 in Charles, Maryland. She married Francis Adams on 10 FEB 1669 in Charles, Maryland.

They had the following children:

  M i Francis Adams

George Godfrey was born about 1650.

He had the following children:

  F i Mary Godfrey

Timothy Ragan [Parents] was born about 1714 in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland. He died before 1790 in Baltimore, Maryland. He married Rachael Rezin Nelson about 1739 in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland.

Timothy Ragan,Jr., son of Timothy Ragan,Sr. and his wife Mary Lary, was married to Rachael Nelson, daughter of Robert Nelson and Eleanor Hanks from Anne Arundel County, Maryland.His wife, Rachael Nelson Ragan were found in Frederick County, Virginia circa 1756/1757. It is very obvious to this writer that Timothy Ragan,Jr. and his wife Rachael Nelson had lived there too. But, at the same time, they still had retained their 50 acres of land known as "Chews Vineyard" in Anne Arundel County, Maryland till 1765.

The clue is for Timothy Ragan/Reagan,Jr. and his wife, Rachael Nelson to be listed in Frederick County, Virginia. It is from one Frederick County, Virginia fee book. This official document from Frederick County, Virginia fee book entitled List of Frederick County, Virginia Clerk Fees Belonging to James Wood, Anno Dom.1757

*Tobacco Payments
*REAGAN, Rach.----------------------------------140 lbs*

It appears to this writer that this Frederick County, Virginia fee book is a publiccounty record. There were several fee books which was written by Colonel James Woods, clerk of Frederick County, Virginia ccourt for the years, 1744, 1753, 1757, 1761, 1762.It was required by the laws of Virginia for the clerk of court to keep the fee book with the assessment fee. These 1744, 1753, 1757, 1761, and 1762 fee books are the only ones that it had been transcribed in the past.

There was a "Heads of Households in 1757" list by James Woods, clerk of Frederick County, Virginia court. This list contained the names of both male and female heads of households at that time. And it was followed by the assessment fee (tobacco). The 1757 list along with the fees was assessed in the pounds of tobacco, the medium of exchange, as required by the laws of Virginia.

So, this "Rach. Reagan" was Rachael Nelson Ragan/Reagan, wife of Timothy Ragan/Reagan,Jr.This is still a pivotal clue to explain why Timothy Ragan/Reagan,Jr. and his wife Rachael Nelson were found to have lived in Frederick County, Virginia there. Later, the older children of Timothy Ragan,Jr. and his wife Rachael Nelson were living in then Augusta County, Virginia and now Rockingham County, Virginia circa 1765 - the year that Timothy Ragan,Jr. have disposed of 50 acres of land known as "Chew's Vineyard" in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.

There was another clue to lend the support that Timothy Ragan,Jr. and his wife Rachael Nelson were living in Frederick County, Virginia too. As we gleaned from Shenandoah Valley Pioneers and Their Descendants by Thomas Kemp Cartmell, it appears that, on 10 Sep 1773, the County Court of Frederick County, Virginia "ordered that Daniel Morgan carry Timothy Ragan, a felon who broke the jail at Anne Arundel County, Maryland, and deliver him to the Sheriff of said county, and bring in his account of expenses, at laying of the County levy." In October of that year, Daniel Morgan was paid 6 Pounds 28 Shillings for that service.This writer wonders what did he commit there in order to be classified as felon! Alas! We will never know what it was about.

Source: Donald B. Reagan, 2013, Genealogy.com - The Ragan/Reagan families in the western frontier of Virginia.

FAMILY OF TIMOTHY RAGAN,JR. AND RACHAEL NELSON:
[All born in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.]
1. JEREMIAH RAGAN, b ca. 1740, d ca. 1833 Washington County, TN
m 01 Oct 1765, Augusta County, Virginia to Abigail Harrison
2. RICHARD BAZEL RAGAN, b ca. 1742, d 16 May 1827 Rockingham County, VA
m ca. 1765, Augusta County, Virginia to Cecilia Creppy
3. JONATHAN RAGAN, b ca. 1744, d bef. 06 Sep 1813 Oglethorpe County, GA
m ca. 1760, ?Augusta County, Virginia? to Anne ?_____?
4. DARBY DANIEL RAGAN, b ca. 1747, d aft. 1812 ?Greene County, TN?
m ca. 1765, Frederick County, Virginia to Elizabeth ?Wright?
5. TIMOTHY RAGAN,III, b ca. 1750, d bef. 1830 Sevier County, TN
m ca. 1776, Prince George's County, Maryland to Elizabeth Trigg
6. Son ? or Dau ? RAGAN, b ca. 1753, d bef. 1790, m ?
7. Son ? or Dau ? RAGAN b ca. 1756, d bef. 1790, m ?

8. ROBERT [NELSON] RAGAN, b 19 Jun 1758, d ca. Mar 1800 Mercer County, KY
m 27 Jan 1786, Caroline County, Virginia to Sarah Samuel
9. MARY RAGAN, b ca. 1762, d ca. 1798 Greene County, TN
m ca. 1782, Rockingham County, Virginia to Isaiah Harrison

Rachael Rezin Nelson [Parents] was born in 1725 in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland. She died in 1768 in Baltimore, Maryland. She married Timothy Ragan about 1739 in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland.

They had the following children:

  F i Mary Ragan

Timothy Ragan was born about 1678. He died before 14 MAR 1744 in Elk Ridge, Westminister Parish, Anne Arundel Co., Maryland. He married Mary Lary on 24 NOV 1703 in Westminister Parish, Anne Arundel Co., Maryland.

The Valley of Virginia or the Shenandoah Valley, which was stretched from Winchester, the county seat of Frederick County, Virginia to Roanoke, the county seat of Botetourt County, Virginia, is bordered by the Blue Ridge mountains to the East and the Allegheny mountains to the West. This Valley of Virginia does also includes the eastern panhandle of West Virginia. It was the first gateway for the pioneer settlers to settle it.

During the eighteenth century, the Valley of Virginia, or the Shenandoah Valley, was considered as the true, yet first ÒbackcountryÓ frontier in the colony of Virginia. Colonial Virginia governors and its public officials had encouraged the settlers from other locations in British Colonies to settle and live there as the true buffer against French and Indian claims in the mountains of northwestern and western Virginia. Almost all pioneer settlers came from the Province of Pennsylvania and Maryland. They had crossed over the Potomac River into the lower Valley of Virginia.Later, they migrated to the upper Valley of Virginia.

From ANCESTRY'S RED BOOK, American State, County & Town Sources, Revised Edition by Ancestry Incorporated, this map above clearly shows the area in yellow with the county seat underlined which it is still the center of this writers almost 50 years of Ragan/Reagan family and historical research.

From page 43 of A HISTORY OF ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, VIRGINIA by John Walter Wayland, it stated that "the majority of these settlers had come up the Valley from Maryland and Pennsylvania, but a few had come across the Blue Ridge from East Virginia.Ó Again, on page 238 of the same publication, it stated that Òmost of these came up the Valley from Pennsylvania and Maryland prior to 1800."

As appeared from this writers almost 50 years of Ragan/Reagan family and historical research on the first Timothy Ragan/Reagan, his children and his grandchildren, several Ragan/Reagan families from Anne Arundel County, Maryland were now considered as the one of "backcountry" pioneer settlers during 1750's, and 1760's. They had settled first in the watershed of Opequon Creek, branch of the Shenandoah River in "Old" Frederick County, Virginia. [Frederick County, Virginia was created in 1738 from the parent county, Orange County, but it was not organized till 1745.

Source: Donald B. Reagan, 2013, Genealogy.com - The Ragan/Reagan families in the western frontier of Virginia.

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Having reached at legal age (21 years), Timothy Ragan,Sr. was one of three witnesses to the will of Richard Moss which was written on Thursday, 15 Jul 1700 in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. He was living in the area of Magothy River there.

He was married 24 Nov 1703 in Westminister Parish, Anne Arundel County, Maryland to Mary Lary. Mary was born circa 1686 probably in Ireland or Anne Arundel County, Maryland. No data had been attempted on her parents.

Timothy Ragan,Sr. bought from Christopher Miller on 14 Nov 1705, one hundred (100) acres of land known as "Souldiers Fortune" which was surveyed for Richard Snowdon,Jr. on 08 Dec 1701, in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. This land was located on "North Branch of Patuxant River in a place called ye fork."

The 1706 tax roll of Baltimore County, Maryland showed Timothy Ragan,Sr. and his family as living in area of "the Upper Part of North Side of Patapsco Hundred."

Then Timothy Ragan,Sr. was listed on 1707 rent rolls for Anne Arundel and Baltimore Counties, Maryland. He was charged four Shillings for one hundred acres of land known as "Souldiers Fortune.Ó This land was located on Ôthe North Branch of Patuxent River near Ivey Hill."

He was the one of three witnesses to the will of Nicholas Dorsey which was written on 15 Sep 1717 in St. Paul's Parish, Baltimore County, Maryland.

There is a clause written in Caleb Dorsey's deed on 24 Mar 1721 to John Beale. It mentioned "50 acres part thereof whereon Timothy Ragan now lives." This deed showed that Timothy Ragan,Sr. and his family was still living in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.

There is a Bill of Sale document between Timothy Ragan,Sr. of Baltimore County, Maryland and Daniel Hearne of Prince GeorgeÕs County, Maryland for two (2) heifers on 10 Nov 1723. Then Daniel Hearne of Anne Arundel County, Maryland later executed the same Bill of Sale on 10 Jan 1728 for two (2) heifers back to John Ragan and Timothy Ragan,Jr. that he purchased from Timothy Ragan,Sr. previously. On the same document, these two Bill of Sale have had been approved by Provincial Court and were recorded in Archives of Maryland, Volume 697, page 310-311. This Bill of Sale document provided the crucial evidence to prove the relationships between Timothy Ragan,Sr. and his two sons, John Ragan and Timothy Ragan, Jr. Also, here we find real signatory mark for him on this Bill of Sale. It is unique signature mark, "V".

We find that there is a clause written again in Caleb Dorsey's deed on 26 Mar 1732 to John Beale. It stated "50 acres part there of whereon Timothy Ragan now lives." It showed again that he and his family still lives there in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.

On 06 Jan 1739/40, there have had been a capital crime, "breaking and entering", by Negro slave Abraham, property of Henry Dorsey against Mary Ragan, wife of Timothy Ragan in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. This Negro slave, Abraham, was convicted by the County Court of Anne Arundel County, Maryland in Mar 1739/1740. The death warrant was issued on 20 Mar 1739/40 for Negro slave, Abraham; and was hanged on Wednesday, 26 Mar 1740 at the court house in Annapolis, Anne Arundel County, Maryland. This is very unusual crime that have had been committed against her in our Ragan/Reagan family history.

From 14 Mar 1744 deed from Basil Dorsey, son and heir of Caleb Dorsey, late, in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, it stated that he "expressed his intentions to give to Timothy Regan where Mary Regan, mother of Timothy then lived." Timothy Ragan who purchased "Chew Vineyard," fifty (50) acress of land in Elk Ridge community in Anne Arundel County, Maryland was Timothy Ragan,Jr.

Timothy Ragan,Sr. must have died before 14 Mar 1744 in Elk Ridge community, Westminister Parish, Anne Arundel County, Maryland. It is the belief of this writer that he was buried in unmarked grave beside his wife in the environs of Elk Ridge, Westminister Parish, Anne Arundel County, Maryland.

Mary Lary Ragan, wife of Timothy Ragan,Sr. remained a widow until her death circa Jan 1764. She left a last will and testament which was written on Sunday, 10 Dec 1752 and was probated on Monday, 23 Jan 1764 in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.

Mary Lary Ragan, widow of Timothy Ragan,Sr. must have had died before 23 Jan 1764 in Elk Ridge community, Westminister Parish, Anne Arundel County, Maryland. It is the belief of this writer that she was buried in unmarked grave beside her husband in the environs of Elk Ridge, Westminister Parish, Anne Arundel County, Maryland.

Source: Donald B. Reagan, genealogy.com: ANCESTRY of TIMOTHY RAGAN/REAGAN, REVOLUTIONARY WAR SOLDIER

Mary Lary was born about 1686. She died in JAN 1764 in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland. She married Timothy Ragan on 24 NOV 1703 in Westminister Parish, Anne Arundel Co., Maryland.

Mary Lary was born in Ireland or Anne Arundel Co., Maryland.

They had the following children:

  M i Timothy Ragan

Robert Nelson was born in 1703 in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland. He died in 1724 in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland. He married Eleanor Hanks in 1724 in Maryland.

Eleanor Hanks [Parents] was born on 10 JUL 1709 in Maryland. She died in 1733 in Maryland. She married Robert Nelson in 1724 in Maryland.

They had the following children:

  F i Rachael Rezin Nelson

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