Jonathan Ragan, Sr. ca (1743 – 1814)
AKA: Jonathan Riggan, Jonathan Reggan

Jonathan Ragan, Sr. was likely born in Isle of Wight County, Virginia before 23 Dec 1743 (103; 586, Page 13). He was likely a son of Joseph Ragan and his wife Mary (Pegram) Ragan.

Jonathan Ragan married Rebecca Shearin before 15 Oct 1761, probably in Granville County, North Carolina (103, 115, 465, 1223). Rebecca Shearin was a daughter of John Shearin, Sr. and his wife Lucretia (Rivers) Shearin. A daughter Polly Ragan and a son Nathaniel were born to Jonathan and Rebecca Ragan in about 1762 (582).

A son John Ragan was born to Jonathan Ragan, Sr. and Rebecca (Shearin) Ragan on 8 Jul 1766, probably in Bute County, North Carolina (465, 498). Jonathan Ragan was living in Bute County, North Carolina by 13 Feb 1768 when the Bute County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions appointed Jonathan Riggan to a petit jury (1209, Page 12). In about 1768, a daughter Ann Nancy Ragan was born to Jonathan and Rebecca Ragan in Bute County, North Carolina (586, Page 14).

On 1 Aug 1768, Jonathan Reggan acquired 278 acres of land in Bute County, North Carolina from Arthur Atkins (1077). Both Jonathan Ragan, Sr. and Arthur Atkins were of Bute County. Jonathan paid £45 Virginia money. The parcel was described as part of an Earl Granville grant of 556 acres to Alexandr Donnell, late of Northampton County, bought from him and proved and registered in Northampton County, adjacent John Lynch the eldest. Daniel Pegram, Henry Foote, William Colclough, and Thomas Harton witnessed the deed. The deed was registered in Bute County Court on 7 Jan 1769.

On 10 Aug 1769, Jonathan Riggin, was sworn as a juror before the Bute County, North Carolina Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions (1209, Page 55). In Bute County, on 16 Feb 1770, Jonathan Riggin was appointed as a petit juror in the case of Cade versus Bullock (1209, Page 70).

In 1770, Jonathan Riggan sold the 278 acres he acquired on 1 Aug 1768 to George Webb of Bute County, North Carolina for £45; one-half to be paid on 25 Dec 1770, and the remaining one-half to be paid on 25 Dec 1771 (1075). Daniel Pegram, Jr. and Fredrick Cook witnessed the deed. Jonathan Riggin acknowledged the deed in Bute County Court on 12 Feb 1771, and the deed was registered on 8 May 1771 (1209, Page 95). Jonathan Reagan appears on a 1771 Bute County, North Carolina tax list (1211), and on 12 Feb 1771, he acknowledge a deed to George Webb in Bute County court (1209). On 6 Jan 1775, the Committee of Safety appointed Jonathan Ragan as an Ensign in the Stone House District Militia of Bute County, North Carolina (1079).

Before the American Revolution in 1776, five additional children were born to Jonathan Ragan and his wife: Abigail in 1772, Winifred in 1773, Elizabeth in 1774, Jonathan Ragan, Jr. before 1775, and Asa in 1776 (103; 586, Page 14).

The Jonathan Ragan family likely migrated from Bute County, North Carolina to Anson County, North Carolina before 1776 when Jonathan Ragan signed a petition to divide Anson County (1080). During the American Revolutionary War, Jonathan Ragan served in the Georgia Line under Colonel Elijah Clarke (103, 455). He was paid 2 £ 10 for his service during the period 15 Sep – 15 Oct 1778 (608).

On 20 Sep 1779, Jonathan Riggan received a grant of 700 acres of land in Warren County, North Carolina on the east side of Little Creek the waters of Hub Quarles (1207). This land may have been located in Bute County, North Carolina prior to 11 Feb 1779.

Jonathan Ragan was living in Wilkes County, Georgia by 1 Nov 1782, when along with John Autrey and Jacob Autrey, he was appointed to appraise the Wilkes County Estate of Edward Hammett, deceased (533). William Hammett served as administrator. In Wilkes County, on 28 Feb 1783, Micajah Williamson, George Lumcans, Jonathan Ragan, and George Bagby were appointed as appraisers of the Estate of George Ozburn, deceased (173, 240). Danial and Susannah Coleman served as administrators. In Wilkes County, Georgia Court, on 10 Feb 1784, as appraisers, Jonathan Ragan, John Fling, and Walton Harris submitted an Inventory of the Estate of John Morgan, deceased (883).

Jonathan Ragan, Sr. acquired substantial land holdings in Wilkes County, Georgia. On 10 Nov 1783, he was issued a warrant to survey 200 acres of land in Wilkes County, Georgia (212, 508), and on 15 Nov 1783, the District Surveyor, Sanders Walker, completed the survey of a 200 acre plat on Beaverdam Creek (511, 535). At Savannah on 2 Feb 1784, Colonel Elijah Clarke certified Revolutionary War service by Jonathan Ragan entitling him to a 250 acre land grant, free from taxes for 10 years (455); Jonathan Ragan, Sr. was granted 287 and 1/2 acres of land in Wilkes County, Georgia (50).

On 20 Mar 1784, Jonathan Ragan, Sr. was issued a warrant to survey 700 acres in Wilkes County, Georgia (510). The survey was signed on 25 Mar 1784 by Sanders Walker, District Surveyor (509). On 27 Apr 1784, an additional 100 acres of land on Beaverdam Creek in Wilkes County, Georgia were surveyed for Jonathan Ragan (536). The survey was executed on 7 Jul 1784 by Peter Smith, Assistant Surveyor.

On 25 Jan 1785, Jonathan Ragan witnessed a deed by Owen Lluker to William Walker for 900 acres on the Ogechee River in Wilkes County, Georgia (503). Balaam Bentley and Sanders Walker also witnessed this deed.

Jonathan Ragan’s first wife, Rebecca (Shearin) Ragan, died before 19 Oct 1787. He then married Ann (502), whose given name begins appearing on deeds for land transactions in Wilkes County by 19 Oct 1787. A son David Ragan was born to Jonathan and Ann Ragan in about 1787.

On 29 Oct 1787, Jonathan Ragan and wife Ann made a deed to Richard Melear for 125 acres of land on Beaverdam and Kettle Creeks in Wilkes County, Georgia (504). Jacob Early, Justice of the Peace, witnessed the deed. Also on 29 Oct 1787, Jonathan Ragan and wife Ann of Wilkes County made a deed to Samuel Crockett of Bedford County, Virginia for 200 acres of land on Beaverdam Creek and the Little River in Wilkes County, Georgia (505).

On 30 Jan 1788, Jonathan Ragan of Wilkes County, Georgia purchased an additional 287 and 1/2 acres of land on the Oconee River in Washington County, Georgia from Hezekiah Bussey and his wife Amey Bussey for £110 lawful money of Georgia (600). Hezekiah Bussey received this land as a grant for Revolutionary War service. Lott Warren, Mark Cook, and Thomas Busey witnessed the deed. The deed was recorded on 21 Feb 1788.

On 7 Mar 1788, Jonathan Ragan and wife Ann conveyed 700 acres of land on Long Creek in Wilkes County, Georgia to Abram Hill (258). Burwell Pope witnessed the deed. Presumably this was the same 700 acres surveyed for Jonathan Ragan on 25 Mar 1784 (509).

On 31 Oct 1791, Jonathan Ragan signed a Petition to Governor Edward Telfair complaining about appointments by a board of officers (884).

At the 1800 federal census of Oglethorpe County, Georgia, Jonathan Ragan, Sr. and his wife Ann were age 45 years or older (589). Two males and a female living in the household were 16 to 25 years old; two males were 10 to 15 years old, and two males were less than 10 years old. On 1 Mar 1813, Jonathan Ragan, Sr. was issued a warrant to survey a unoccupied tract in Oglethorpe County, Georgia (1239).

On 6 Apr 1813, Jonathan Ragan made a will in Oglethorpe County, Georgia (264). Jonathan’s will does not name his wife Ann; presumably she died before 6 Apr 1813. Jonathan Ragan, Sr. died in Oglethorpe County, Georgia before his will was filed during Mar 1814 in Oglethorpe County, Georgia.

Jonathan Ragan, Sr. Census Summary

1800 Georgia Territorial Census (589)
Jonathan Ragan, Sr. Household
Captain McElroy’s District
GMD 230, Woodstock District
Oglethorpe County, Georgia
Jonathn Ragan, a: > 44
+ Female, a: > 44 (Ann)
Male, a: 16–25 (Abigail Ragan)
Male, a: 16–25 (Asa Ragan)
Female, a: 16–25 (Elizabeth Ragan)
Male, a: 10–15 (David Ragan)
Male, a: 10–15 (Jeremiah Ragan)
Male, a: 0–9 (Marcus B. Ragan)
Male, a: 0–9 (Jehu Ragan)

Will of Jonathan Ragan, Sr. (264)
Oglethorpe County, Georgia, USA
Will Book B, Pages 96-97
6 Apr 1813

“In the name of God amen --- I, Jonathan Ragan of the State of Georgia & County of Oglethorpe, being of sound & deposing mind & memory and knowing that I must shortly depart this life, do make & ordain this my last Last will & Testament, in manner & form following, (Viz)

“Item 1st. I give to my daughter Polley Phillips five dollars, also I lend her my negro girl Creasey, now in her possession during her natural life & at her death I give the aforesaid negro girl & her increase to my two grand daughters, say, Nancy D. & Cynthia Phillips to them & their heirs for ever.

“Item 2d. I give to my son Nathaniel Ragan Ten dollars.

“Item 3d. I give to my son John Ragan one feather bed & furniture.

“Item 4th. I give to my daughter Nancy Callaway one negro girl Zenah now in her possession also Ten dollars which she is to receive at my death

“Item 5th. I give to my daughter Rebecca Callaway one negro boy Will, now in her possession also Ten dollars which she is to receive at my death

“Item 6th. I give to my daughter Winney Callaway one negro girl Hanna now in her possession also Ten dollars which she is to receive at my death

“Item 7th. I give to my daughter Abi Haynes two negroes now in her possession named Patience and Cealea to her & her heirs for ever

“Item 8th. I give to my daughter Elizabeth Lumpkin one negro girl Chany now in her possession also Ten dollars which she is to receive at my death

“Item 9th. I give to my son Asa Ragan seven hundred & fifty dollars which he has received as a part of coto of my estate

“Item 10th. I give to my son Jonathan Ragan six hundred dollars which he has received as part of his coto of my estate

“Item 11th. I give to my son David Ragan two hundred dollars which he has received in a negro boy as a part of his coto of my estate

“Iten 12th. I give to my son Jehu Ragan my negro man Jack which is to be appraised to him at my death as a part of coto of my estate

“Item 13th. I give to my six youngest sons namely, Asa, Jonathan, David, Jeremiah, Marcus B. & John Ragan, all the balance of my personal Estate, including my nineteen negroes Tobe, Cupit, Hal, Luis, Lotte, Melle, Jordan, Delpha, Mosses, Mary, Silvah, Rhoda, Jared, Sinah, Judah, Hartwell, Sopha, Greenvill, Vinah & their increases, together my stock, household furniture & plantation tools --- all of the last named property to be sold & after paying all demands against the estate, be so divided as to form an equal division between my six last named children including the several sums before mentioned that they have received & are to receive to them & their heirs forever

“Item 14th. I give to my two sons Marcus B. & John Ragan all that Tract of Land whereon I now live (containing five hundred & fourteen acres) to be enjoyed in union or sold & the amount of the sale equally divided between them as they & my executors may think proper also the crop at my death --- to them & theirs heirs for ever.

Item 15th. Lastly I do make ordain & appoint Jonathan Ragan & Thomas Rhodes my true and lawful executors to execute this my last will and testament made. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed my seal April the 6th 1813 ---”

Test his
Jas Rhodes ) Jonathan X Ragan (Seal)
Wm. Adams ) mark
Richd. Rhodes )

Probate of the Will of Jonathan Ragan

“You, Richard Rhodes & William Adams, do solemnly swear that you saw the within named Jonathan Ragan dec. sign seal publish & declare the within instrument of writing to be his last will & testament & at the time of his so doing he was of sound mind & memory to the best of your knowledge & belief
So help you God ---”

Wm. Adams
Richd Rhodes Senr
Jas. Rhodes by interrogatories

“Sworn to & subscribed in open Court by two of the witness & the other by Interrogatories & ordered to be recorded March Term 1814---Mat Rainey, C.C.O.”