Looking for info on Benjamen and Charles Raley, born 1818, 1816 in Clay Co. Most grateful for any leads,
Thanks,
Debbie

I'm researching a Harriet Railey born abt 1826 in Clay Co., GA. She married M. D. (M.??) Heidelberg 25 Apr 1853 in Randolph Co., GA. I would like to have the names of Harriet's parents & birthdates/death dates. Also, if anyone knows what the M.?? stands for the initials of her husband. Also, M. D.'s parents names/birth/death dates. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Elaine

I THINK the 'M' stands for Middleton. I am trying to find more on Harriet, too, as she is the mother of my grt.gnd.ft. his name being Middleton L. Heidelberg. Have you looked at the query in Randolph Co. on Heidelberg

I know I'm a little late joining this discussion, and you probably have your answers by now. But, here is what I have. The "M" in Heidelberg's name may be for "Mack" or "Mac." The 1840 Randolph County, Georgia census has a "Mc" Heidelberg and the 1850 census has "Mac." There is a document on the Randolph County GenWeb site that "Mack" Heidelberg signed. The web address for that document is: http://www.rootsweb.com/~garandol/miscrecs/courtordinary.htm...

The marriage license for Harriett Raley and M. D. Heidelberg is also on the Randolph County GenWeb site.

Do you have any more information about Harriett Raley? I am trying to determine whether she may have been my gggf's sister. My gggf was Benjamin M. Raley who lived in Randolph County in 1840. He signed the same document that Mack Heidelberg signed.

The name of Mack and Harriett's son, Middleton Lumpkin, leads me to wonder if there is a connection between Benjamin and Harriett Raley. Ben had a brother named Wilson Lumpkin Raley.

I would appreciate any information anyone can provide.

No, have not found answers. Trail rather cold since the query. Have the two documents you mention. Think Harriet was married before M. D. as two of the 6 children on 1860 GA Census are older than the marriage date. Other Heidelbergs have the middle name of Lumpkin, too. Wonder if M. D.'s mother was a Lumpkin? Interested in any information you might find on Harriet

OR---Middleton L Heidelberg was married before Harriet

The 1850 Randolph County, GA census has a "Matilda" Raley with young children living in the home of Mac Heidelberg. Perhpas Matilda and Harriett are the same person. My speculation is that Mac's first wife died, then he married Matilda (Harriett) Raley. No proof-just guessing.

You may be correct on Harriet and Matilda being one and same. 1880 TX census has her as Harriette M. Still lists M. D. as husb. age 63 which rules out Mac as being her husband since he was 63 on 1850. Did you notice the Hidleburgh, 1850, next home is Railey and a Lunkin Railey, age 18 listed? Wonder if Louisa (1850) could be Matilda's mother?

Today, I received a copy of a pension application for my gggf Benjamin M. Raley. The question about Harriett Raley is answered! In one of the affidavits in the pension app, Ben says, "All my brothers are dead. I hear our sister named Harriett Matilda Heidelburg living (sic) in Limestone County, Texas. I have not seen her in over thirty years."

I would love to make contact with Harriett's descendants. I want to invite you to our Raley reunion to be held in Florida on July 7, 2007.

Thanks for clearing up Harriet's full name, but we still need to find her parents. Does the papers on Benjamin not mention them?