BIOGRAPHY OF SENATOR THOMAS RAYSOR
"SENATOR THOMAS RAYSOR, "born 23 December 1797, was the son of Michael Raysor, Jr. and Eleanor Risher. A planter, he initially resided in St. Bartholomew Parish. Tax returns for 1824 recorded 1,121 acres and 12 slaves as his property. The 1830 federal census noted 33 slaves as part of his St. Bartholomew household. Sometime before 1841, he moved to Barnwell District. According to the 1850 census, his real estate in Barnwell was worth $6,000; slave schedules for that year recorded 147 slaves as belonging to him. Writing his will 23 September 1856, he mentioned a plantation (2,730 acres) and other property; an inventory taken 2 February 1858 included 48 slaves and valued his estate at over $20,000. Public office for Raysor began with his service
as clerk of the Court of General Sessions and Common
Pleas for Colleton District (1822-1833).
While in the Senate, he was a member of the committees on
engrossed bills (1833), internal improvements
(1833), and finance (1833). Locally, he served as
Married twice, Raysor first wed Hannah Stokes,
daughter of Peter Stokes and Elizabeth Lawford. Six
children were born to them: Elizabeth
Eleanor (m. John May), Thomas , Jr. (1827-1896), Rebecca
Caroline (M. William C. Moss), Peter Andrew,
Laura Anne (m. James Daniel Erwin), and James
William. His first wife died 21 February
1841. In May 1844 he married Mary Ayer, daughter of Lewis
Source: Biographical Directory of the South Carolina Senate, 1776-1985, Volume II, by N. Louis Bailey, Mary L. Morgan and Carolyn R. Taylor. The Thomas Raysor land was located in the Hunter's Chapel community. Thomas Raysor and his first wife, Hannah Stokes Raysor, are buried in the May- Peter Stokes-Raysor family cemetery in upper Colleton County. Scanned copies of Will of Senator Thomas Raysor and Slave
Inventory
can be found on this site:
This file was contributed for use by the Bamberg County SCGenWeb Project by: Pat Sabin
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