Re: Richard Rail born 2 Feb. 1776
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In reply to:
Richard Rail born 2 Feb. 1776
Donna Hill 5/28/06
Here are some thoughts and suggestions about Richard Rail. It is partly speculative, but might provide some leads to pursue. I have researched Richard to some extent while trying to uncover information about the Nickens.
Richard Rail was a possible son of a Leah Nickens Rail. She was named as Leah Rail in her father’s 1774 Currituck County, NC will (will of Richard Nickens), and taxed as Leah Rail in a 1779 Currituck County tax list. Her husband is unknown and there seems to be no record of a Rail family nearby.Leah was likely deceased by 1794 when her nephew Prescott Nickens sold land that was to go to him after the death of Leah and her sister Margaret.
Leah’s sister Rachel married Absalom Hall. Around 1800 Rachel and Absalom Hall and Richard Rail were living near each other in Sumner County, Tennessee (Sumner County Tax Lists). In 1809 Richard Rail was still in Sumner County and three Nickens recently arrived from North Carolina were living near him (1809 Sumner County Tax List), including the Prescott mentioned above.
Richard Rail moved on to settle in Maury County and the Nickens moved on to Wilson County. However, Richard continued to have contact with the Nickens.In 1826 one of Richard Rail’s daughters married a Nickens from Wilson County. In 1832 Richard Rail testified for a petition for another Wilson County Nickens family. He stated he knew the father and was also acquainted with the grandmother. Although he did not claim a family relationship, if he was indeed the son of Leah, the father would have been his cousin and the grandmother would have been his aunt.
It is possible that Richard Rail deliberately distanced himself from his extended family and did not acknowledge the relationships because the Halls and Nickens were identified as free people of color.In the 1832 petition that Richard provided testimony for, one Nickens family was trying to get acknowledged as white, claiming they were of Portuguese descent. Although the petition was denied, the Halls and Nickens were eventually accepted as white. However, there is in fact at least some African ancestry through the Nickens male line, as shown by DNA testing.It may be that Richard did not want to acknowledge that his mother was a Nickens. Also, since Leah was apparently widowed quite young (or perhaps not actually married), Richard may not have known anything about his father. He was born in 1776 according to tombstone, and Leah was on a tax list by herself in 1779.
Also, since Richard Rail was on Sumner County tax lists in 1800, 1801 and 1809, that is probably where he met and married his wife and would be a good place to start looking for her family.
Happy hunting!
Jan