| Notes |
- Notes of Kellie Sue Sapp King:
"Many people I had talked with believed the name Rainwater was of an Indian origin. Not only is that untrue but the name is of Germanic origion. The Reinwalters descend from the Germanic surname Runnfeldt. As the German Runnfeldt family grew and aquired more lands the surname changed upon those locations. The Rainwaters hail from Mainz, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany in the Palatine Province. The origional family surname, for this branch of the family, was (Rein-walter) Reinwalter.
Two brothers, John and William began the family immigration to America, though it was not an easy trip. The left Mainz, Germany in the 1600's, as did so many other Germans, in hopes of fleeing form the opression and tyranny of The Holy Roman Empire. So from Mainz to the Netherlands they fled with thousands of other Germans of the Palantinates, from there they immigrated to England, being in or around Deberyshire. From England they fianlly make the last leg of the voayge to America and settle in the Virginias and Carolinas and over time spread out even further through the United States.
It is said the from England when they finally begin the journey to thier new home, now along with other German refuges and Swiss travelers, under the leadership of Baron Von Graffenried. The only problem with this last part is that Christoph von Graffenried,Baron of Bernburg made that trip in question in 1710 and landed in the land granted him at the junction of the Trent and Neuse Rivers, which he then named New Bern. His second and only other recorded trip was a year later to England and back to New Burn. All evidence we currently have does not support the family settling directly in New Bern, North Carolina but does support the timeline presented before regarding the mass immigration that led our family from Mainz, Germany to Sevier County, Tennessse. The names Rainwater, Reinwalter nor any similiar name are found on ship records.
John and William decided to Anglicize thier Surname to Rainwater and they were the Rainwaters from that time on.
Now as to the exact ancestor of Robert Reinwalter and misconceptions regarding this individiual. There are many and most of them all stem from one post in the Rainwater mailing list and the Ancestry.com, Rainwater Surname section.
Notes of Martha Bankson Lyle: "I am seeking the orgins of the surname Rainwater. In the late 1600's and early 1700's, I have ancestor's who were licensed Indian Traders whose Indian names were Rainwater. How far back has anyone traced the Rainwater name, and where? The first Rainwater I have was in south VA/north NC, who was a Chickasaw Trader, his English name was Jacob Colson."
First the origins of the Surname Rainwater.
Many people I had talked with believed the name Rainwater was of an Indian origin. Not only is that untrue but the name is of German origion. The Reinwalters descend from the Germanic surname Runnfeldt. As the German Runnfeldt family grew and aquired more lands the surname changed upon those locations. The Rainwaters hail from Mainz, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany in the Palatine Province. The origional family surname, for this branch of the family, was (Rein-walter) Reinwalter. Our ancestors John and William decided to Anglicize thier Surname to Rainwater and they were the Rainwaters from that time on.
Second "liscensed Indian Traders"
Our ancesotors, in particular this man being referred as as "licensed indian traders" and making the assumption that due to that they were in fact Native American. A Liscensed Indian Trader, should not be presumed to be an Indian. It could be a refrence to a resident either of the British colonie or a British citizen, some sort of Anglo who was deisginated to trade with the natives. This man has also been referred to as a fur trader elsewhere and again the assumption that he was a Indian who traded furs with the "white men". There is no proof anywhere as to this mans occupation. If indeed he was a fur trader there is no evidence stating who he traded the furs to. The odds are just as likley that he was of Anglo descent who traded with the British as there is that he was a native trading with the locals. fam
That this native american man who was a liscensed indian fur trader was a full blooded Cherokee. This logic is not sound, if in fact he were of a native tribe, and di not carry a hostorically documnted German name he still would have been of Chickasaw blood not Cherokee.
All of this comes from three property records and an article in a regional history refer to Jacob and Abraham Colson (Collson), alias Reignwater, as "licensed indian traders". There are three seperate property records and an article in a regional history document called The Rainwater Reasercher, Volume 1, Issue 1, September 1994, Page 19 listed under "Bits and Pieces to Ponder". The Author of this herself basicaly says this information was sent to her and she had never seen it or heard of it before and that all Rainwater descendants need to share possible leads. She even says "What does this mean???" So obviousally this was not listed unser a section ro heading called "Totaly documented facts".
Third "Indian names were Rainwater"
If this man was an indian of any sort, especially a cherokee it would have show up after his desdents name in the Census records. Even people who were of mixed or partial inidian ancestry were asked about it and it was dentoed and this is not present in the direct descendancy of this individual. There are many examples of this in the Tennessee Census records and those of surronding states.
Fourth he "was a Chickasaw Trader"
See argument number two and look at the below refrences as well.
Fifth "his English name was Jacob Colson"
Though it is a small semantic Reignwater, Rainwater and Reignwalter are not an indication of the same exact indiviadual. Look at the Ancestors of the Sevier County Kings who went by Kynge. All through out Tennesse there are Clabo's, Claboughs, Dixons, Dicksons, Reagans and Regans. So, for example, Eliza Do Little Clabo is not nesecarilly the same person as Eliza Do Little Clabough. So Reignwater to Colson is a large jump. I clearly do not see the connection or the birth of Robert Reinwalter in the information
Jacob Colson, born 1668, Isle Of Wight County, Virginia married Mary Burton Davis on Jan 14th, 1692 in Henrico County, Virginia. They had
John Colson. Born ABT. 1694 . Died ABT. 1730 Bertie Precinct, North Carolina.
William Colson. Born ABT. 1693. Died ABT. 1736 Bertie Precinct, North Carolina.
Abraham Colson. Born ABT. 1695 Isle of Wight, Virginia. Died BEF. 7 Sep 1750 Craven County, South Carolina.
Sarah Colson. Born ABT. 1696 .
Joseph Colson. Born ABT. 1698 . Died BEF. 7 Apr 1737 Brunswick County, Virginia.
Sixth and Last the "alias Reignwater"
In dictionary terms an Alias is an assumed or false name. That is not the same as a pet name, knick name or shortened name. If this Jacob Colson were given a name by the indians it would have been a great honour but that in no way changes the fact that the surname of this family is not Rainwater, it is Colson, and it is not our family. It also would show that if he were given a name he was Anlgo or he would have already had a native name. Even if it were the other way around Jacob Colson seems an odd name for an native Chickasaw to go by. Also to me an alias is can be more like "Louis, I need to tell you something, I am really Superman." not "Lois, I need to tell you something, I am really The Incredible Hulk.". "
Sources:
Becky A. Bartley
Geneaolgy of the Rainwater Family, Donald S. Webber.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christoph_von_Graffenried
"James Logan Colbert of the Chickasaws: The Man and the Myth" by Richard A. Colbert, The North Carolina Genealogical Society Journal, Vol XX, No. 2, May 1994, pgs 82-95.
Martha Bankson Lyle, Bankson Relatives.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Born:
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1665 - Abt 1719 (54 years)
