John Ragan (8 Jul 1766 – 30 Apr 1830)

John Ragan, a son of Jonathan Ragan, Sr. and his wife Rebecca (Shearin) Ragan, was born on 8 Jul 1766, likely in Bute County, North Carolina (465, 498, 499). John Ragan was one of 10 children born to Jonathan and Rebecca Ragan. At John Ragan’s birth, his father was about 22 years old. By 1 Nov 1782, the Jonathan Ragan, Sr. family was living in Wilkes County, Georgia (533).

During the Revolutionary War, John Ragan served with the rank of Private in the Georgia Continental Line under Elijah Clark (499). Following the war, he settled in Wilkes County, Georgia. On 2 Feb 1784, John Ragan was issued a warrant to survey land in Georgia as a bounty grant for his Revolutionary War service (194, 886). Subsequently, in 1784 John received a patent for 287 and 1/2 acres of land in Washington County, Georgia (1045). Washington County was created from parts of Wilkes County on 27 Feb 1784.

On 25 Jan 1785, John Ragan witnessed a deed made in Wilkes County, Georgia by Owen Fluker to convey land to William Walker (172). On 1 Apr 1789, John surveyed a plat of 425 acres of land in Wilkes County, Georgia (456). The survey responded to a warrant issued on 1 Oct 1788. John Ragan also signed the plat as District Surveyor. The survey plat indicates that the land was adjacent to other land held by a Ragan family member, likely referring to the 287 and 1/2 acres in Washington County that John Ragan received as a bounty grant in 1784. The survey plat is recorded in the earliest Greene County, Georgia plat book.

On 21 Dec 1789, John Ragan and Susannah Faucette Battle married in Greene County, Georgia (436). At their marriage, John Ragan was 23 years old, and Susannah Battle was age 15 years. Born in Nansemond County, Virginia on 7 Apr 1773, Susannah Faucette Battle was a daughter of Jesse Battle and Susanna (Faucette) Battle. On 12 Mar 1792, twin children were born to John and Susannah Ragan (1047, Page 242). Apparently, these first two children died young.

On 10 Jun 1791, John Ragan was appointed to the rank of Captain in Alexander’s Battalion of the Wilkes County Militia (886). A son, Simon Ragan, was born to John and Susannah Ragan on 15 Jul 1792 (1047, Page 242).

On 31 Oct 1792, John Grayham of Wilkes County, Georgia made a deed to John Ragan of Greene County, Georgia for 287 and 1/2 acres of land in Greene County on the waters of Island Creek, bounded on the east by Jones land; on the south by Gouldsborough; and on the west and north by land held by John Ragan (601). John Ragan paid John Grayham £50 for the land. R. Worsham, Justice of the Peace, and A. Comer witnessed the deed. The deed was recorded on 14 Jan 1794.

On 13 Dec 1792, John Ragan was appointed Justice of the Peace in Greene County, Georgia (886). On 22 Mar 1794 and again on 26 Nov 1795, he was appointed as a surveyor in Hancock County, Georgia (878).

A daughter, Serene Ragan, was born to John and Susannah Ragan in Hancock County, Georgia on 30 Oct 1794 (373), and a son, Elam Sharron Ragan was born in Hancock County on 7 Feb 1797 (1047, Page 242).

During 1797, John Ragan was granted 67 and 3/4 acres of land in Hancock County, Georgia (507), and on 12 Apr 1799, he was appointed Justice of the Peace for Hancock County (886). A third son, Jesse Battle Ragan was born to John and Susannah Ragan in Hancock County on 4 Sep 1799 (1003; 1047, Page 242).

On 7 Aug 1804, as district surveyor, John Ragan submitted a survey plat for District 1 of Baldwin County, Georgia (429). On 18 Jul 1807, again as district surveyor, John Ragan submitted a survey plat for District 11 of Wilkinson County, Georgia (430).

Between Mar 1802 and May 1812, five additional children were born to John and Susannah Ragan: John Ashburn Ragan on 4 Mar 1802 (1047, Page 242), Lazarus Battle Ragan on 27 Feb 1807 (465), Isaac Ragan on 16 Dec 1809 (1047, Page 242), and Susanna Ragan on 12 Apr 1812 (1047, Page 242).

Before 1816, the John Ragan family migrated to Marion County, Mississippi where they were enumerated by the Mississippi Territorial Census (1024). The 1818 Mississippi Territorial Census enumerates the John Ragan household in Lawrence County, Mississippi (428). On 4 Nov 1819, John Ragan created the original plat for the town of Mount Carmel in Covington County, Mississippi in parts of Sections 22 and 23 in Township 8 North of Range 18 West, comprising 74 lots (525, 526, 527, 1020).

The 7 Aug 1820 federal census of Lawrence County, Mississippi enumerates the household of John Ragan, age 45 years or older (145). A female between 26 and 44 years old was presumably Susannah Ragan. A male, 16–18 years old; two males, 16–26 years old; a female, 10–15 years old; and a male, 10–15 years old were also living in the household. The John Ragan family was enumerated in 1823 and 1824 by the Mississippi state census of Lawrence County (611).

On 1 Sep 1824, John Ragan acquired 80 acres of land in Section 23 in Township 8 North of Range 18 West in Covington County, Mississippi (506). This land was likely adjacent to the town of Mount Carmel. About one year later on 1 Oct 1825, he acquired four additional parcels of in Township 8 North of Range 18 West:

    •    Two parcels of 79 and 90/100 acres in Section 12 (566, 570);
    •    159 and 65/100 acres in Section 13 (564); and
    •    79 and 93/100 acres in Section 22 (565).

The land in Section 22 was likely also adjacent to the town of Mount Carmel.

John Ragan died on 30 Apr 1830 in Covington County, Mississippi (465, 498). He was buried in Mount Carmel Cemetery (498).

John Ragan Census Summary

1816 Mississippi Territorial Census (1024)
John Ragan Household
Marion County, Mississippi
John Ragan, a: > 20
+ Female, a: > 20 (Susannah Faucette Battle)
Male, a: < 21 (Jesse Battle Ragan)
Male, a: < 21 (John Ashburn Ragan)
Male, a: < 21 (Lazarus Battle Ragan)
Male, a: < 21 (Isaac Ragan)
Female, a: < 21 (Rebecca Ragan)
Female, a: < 21 (Susanna Ragan)

1820 U.S. Federal Census (145)
John Ragan Household
Lawrence County, Mississippi
John Ragan, a: > 44
+ Female, a: 26–44 (Susannah Faucette Battle)
Male, a: 16–25 (John Ashburn Ragan)
Male, a: 16–25 (Jesse Battle Ragan)
Male, a: 16–18 (Lazarus Battle Ragan)
Female, a: 10–15 (Rebecca Ragan)
Male, a: 10–15 (Isaac Ragan)

John Ragan Family Cemetery
Old Ragan Plantation
Section 2 in Township 4 North of Range 3 West
Hinds County, Mississippi

Susannah Faucette (Battle) Ragan, widow of John Ragan and wife of William Fairchild, Sr. Borrn 7 Apr 1773, Georgia. Died Feb 1846.

Lazarus Battle Ragan, son of John Ragan and Susannah Faucette (Battle) Ragan. Born 27 Feb 1807, Greene County, Georgia. Died 12 Feb 1897.

Minerva (McAfee) Ragan, wife of Lazarus Battle Ragan. Born 14 Apr 1812. Died 7 Jun 1879.

Margaret Evalena (Ragan) Herring, daughter of Lazarus Battle Ragan and Minerva (McAfee) Ragan. Wife of Samuel Lycurgus. Born 24 Mar 1845. Died 4 Jun 1869.

Eugene McAfee Ragan. Born 9 Jan 1886. Died Oct 1950.

James M. Ragan, son of W. L. and Fannie. Born 13 Jun 1884. Died 16 Jun 1884.

Theodocia Raybourn. Born 1872. Died 1943.

Notes

In the John Ragan Family Cemetery near Raymond, Mississippi (and not far from the Selman Family Cemetery), is buried Susannah Faucette (Battle) Ragan Fairchild a widow of John Ragan and wife of William Fairchild, Sr. She was born in Georgia on 7 Apr 1773, and died in Feb 1846.

Founded in the 1830s, the Battle Springs Christian Church was located near the cemetery, and the area was known as Battle Springs. Oakley, Mississippi is now the nearest town. The Fairchild antebellum home is located across Oakley Road from the Ragan Cemetery.
                                                                                                    
John Ragan Family Cemetery Information and Gravestone Transcriptions. Mary Collins Landin. Utica, Hinds County, Mississippi. “Tidbits & Treasures Website”. (Minor revisions for clarity.)
URL: http://msgw.org/hinds/bitsandpieces.html