Email From Gary Aden to Gary Aden
Email Dated 5/11/2001 

Peter Ragsdale, son of Benjamin and Martha, was born on the east side of
"Namosene"  Creek in Prince George County, Virginia, about 1736 as the
second of four children. The family moved to the Middle Fork of
BluestoneCreek in the loower part of Lunenberg County in 1754. To land
he inherited from his father, he added by patent 87 acres on Bluestone
Creek in 1772. War 4, page 332(Virginia State Library) should provide a
foundation for evidence to support an application admission to
membership in the DAUGHERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION  using his name as
the service member-ancestor. From September 1, 1776 to May 31, 1777,
Peter Ragsdale served as Sergeant in Captain Samuel Hopkins' Company,
6th Virginia Regiment, Colonel James Hendricks, Commander in the
Revolutionary War. He further proved his loyalty by joining with 190
other patriots in signing a petition in Mecklenburg County, Virginia,
May 14, 1777 addressed to the House of Delegates of Virginia urging the
expulsion of British citizens and merchants who refused to recognize the
new currency in circulation(66-09-36 Virginia State Library). Indeed the
Ragsdale family sustained casualties in the war. Peter and James(sons of
John and cousins of our Peter) were killed in the war. William, another
son of John's and a cousin of Peter's, served as a Lieutenant and also
was assigned as Aide-de-camp to General Washington during the war. He
moved to "194 acres north of the Saluda on waters of the Reedy River
along the Old Indian Line in the 96th District of South Carolina around
1786 and established with his brother-in-law, Mark Moore, a Methodist
preacher born in Bristol Parish, Prince George County in 1726, the
Lebanon Church. By the efforts of these two men, a school and a
"Methodist Preaching Stand" were established on the border line between
Laurens and Greenville Counties. This preaching stand was perhaps the
earliest Methodist place of worship in upper South Carolina. It is now
Lebanon M.E. Church- a thriving part of the South Carolina Conference.
Peter Ragsdale married before 1765 Sarah CHARLTON(1737 Virginia-1842
Laurens County, South Carolina). The couple had seven children, their
fourth being Elizabeth Ragsdale CAMP, wife of Abner Camp(See above).
Peter Ragsdale died September 16,1799 without a will while at the same
time apparently creating some oral understandings/misunderstandings with
some of his heirs prior to his death. As a result, Francis and
Elizabeth, both logical legatees, did not receive any payments from
disposition of certain farm sale proceeds. In 1815, Sarah, widow of
Peter Ragsdale, brought a "suit in equity" against her son, Edmond, her
fifth child who was nicknamed Squire Edmond. The lawsuit, on behalf of
her other children, named him as defendant in his role as administrator
of the estate. The cause of action claimed that the 194 acres originally
purchased by Peter in 1784 and where she had been residing ever since
with Edmond had not been divided among all the children. In  fact, the
property had been transferred out of the estate into Edmond's estate for
a consideration of $782.00 in 1806. The 1807 estate returns again showed
revenue disbursed to the same five legatees, but not Francis or
Elizabeth. The lawsuit was dropped.

Elizabeth and Abner raised their seven children, of which Martha Camp
ALLEN(6/271814 Walton County, Georgia-3/19/1906 Flatonia, Fayette
County, Texas), wife of Reverend  J.W.B. Allen (1819-1890), is my direct
ancestor and their sixth child. They lived in a large brick house near
Jug Tavern( Winder). Abner and his son-in-law were instumental in
founding and providing the land for the Bethlehem United Methodist
Church, Bethehem, Georgia in 1847 deemed to be the oldest Methodist
establishment in the state and honored as such by a historical marker
from the State of Georgia paralleling in most respects a similar
contribution by Peter Ragsdale in Lebanon, South Carolina some sixty
years earlier.

There is supposed to be a Ragsdale Bulletin, but my efforts to subscibe
to it have never been sucessful. Therefore, I have been unable to
acquire further information about family associations or  reunions.
Related Twigs: CAMP, CHARLTON, JONES, COOKNEY, HEATHCOTE
N.B. One recorder lists a birth year for John Ragsdale as 1571 and a
surname for his wife as Heathcote. He also lists a death year for
William Ragsdale as 1615 without any further detail, source or proof.
Historical Landmarks: South Carolina- I am unaware of any on site
recognition of the Lebranon M.E. Church.

Georgia: Historical Marker, Bethlehem United Methodist Church.
Recognizes donation of six acres of land by Reverend J.W.B. Allen for
the Church and its age and contribution to spiritual life.
DAR Ancestor: Peter RAGSDALE(1736-1799), Sergeant, Sixth Virginia
Regiment, Continental Army, 9/1/1776- 5/31/1777

Gary Carl Aden 5/11/01