1. Rauley STONE [scrapbook] ¹ was born about 1801 in South Carolina. He died ² 27 Jan 1892 in Razburg, Jefferson Co., Alabama and was buried ¹ in Mud Creek Baptist Church Cemetery #2, Jefferson Co., Alabama.

  Rauley STONE was born about 1801 in South Carolina, and married Tabitha "Tabby" PARSONS in South Carolina sometime prior to 1827. Between 1831 and 1836 Rolly and Tabby, along with four children, made their way to Jefferson Co., Alabama, where at least three additional children would be born.
  In 1839, two different land patents for 40 acres each would be issued to Rauley (SESE S7 T19-S R6-W and NENW S18 T19-S R6-W see the map with the scrapbook link in multimedia edition). It is presumed they settled on this land and this is where they would raise their family.
  In July, 1845 Rauley and Tabitha became members of the Mud Creek Baptist Church (Jefferson Co, AL), where they were members until May 1858. Several of their children also joined the church, all when they were about 16 or 17 years old. The children, and the month when they joined the church are as follows: Amanda, Dec 1844; Lucinda, Feb 1845; Nancy, Mar 1845; William, Aug 1847; and Merritt, Sep 1852.
  In 1850 Rauley's occupation is noted as "farmer" and their land was valued at $300. Also living in the household in 1850, with their approximate age, were wife Tabby (52), and the following children: Nancy (22), Amanda (20), William (18), Merritt (14), Sarah (10) and Robert (8).
  In May 1858, Rauley and Tabitha end their membership at Mud Creek Baptist Church. It is hypothesized that their membership there ended due to a move further to the west, as it is noted that in 1861 a land patent for an additional 240 acres was granted to Rauley (N½SE S12 T19-S R7-W and S½NE S12 T19-S R7-W). It was common for the patent to be issued some time after settling the land, and perhaps they moved to this land in 1858. (This new land was an additional mile or so from Mud Creek Baptist Church, which was already a considerable distance from their first land settled ca. 1839).
   Shortly after this time, their son William and daughter Sarah depart from Jefferson Co. AL with their spouses (who were also siblings) to settle in Ashley Co., Arkansas.  
   In 1860 Rauley and Tabby still resided in Jefferson Co, Alabama, in the Freelands Precinct. Only one child is living with them, Robert age 19. Also in the household were Lewis and Robert Burton, ages 16 and 14 (circumstance and relationship unknown). Five slaves are attributed to them in 1860: female, age 38; male, age 11; male, age 6; male, age 5; and female, age 4 (1860 Slave Schedule, Woods Precinct, Jefferson Co., AL).
   The Civil War would take it's toll on Rauley and Tabby. Their youngest son, Robert STONE, enlisted in the Confederate Army in Sep 1862 and serve in the 18th Alabama Infantry, Company G.  Robert died in the war less than a year from his enlistment date, about July 1863.
   In 1870 Rauley and Tabby are living alone in the Mud Creek area (T19, R6) of Jefferson Co, Alabama. Only he and Tabby are in the household. His real estate is valued at $200 and his personal property at $250.
  From "The Bessemer Journal" newspaper of February 4, 1892, a note written in by a subscriber states:
"(Razburg) Old Uncle Stone, who is somewhere in the nineties, until five or six months ago, was exceedingly spry...But for the last few months his tottering and stooping form refers us to the fact that old age must terminate in death..."  Two weeks later, under the death notices from "The Bessemer Journal" of February 18, 1892, the following is stated: "(Razburg, February 14) Uncle R. Stone passed quietly on January 27th, and left a goodly posterity to mourn his departure." So even the first article published on 4 Feb 1892 was already after his death.
  A headstone, which is thought to be Rauley's, is found in Mud Creek Baptist Church Cemetery #2, Jefferson Co., Alabama. However, it states "R. STONE, Aged 80 years". It is thought that this is his headstone, in spite of the erroneous age.  It was likely placed at a later date or by someone who did not know his actual age at death.

Rauley married Tabitha PARSONS "Tabby" ¹, daughter of Isaiah PARSONS and Martha TRAVIS, in South Carolina. Tabby was born about 1800 in South Carolina. She died after 1870.

The PARSONS were some of the original settlers of Jefferson Co., Alabama. In the 1870 census of Township 19, Range 6 of Jefferson Co. Alabama (where Tabby and Rolly were living), there are numerous PARSONS, presumably all descendants of Tabby's grandfather, Joseph PARSONS.