Recent information indicates that Raglands are not part of my ancestoral line, however, I am going to leave this information on line. My original info showed Thomas Tinsley II married Martha Raglan. This is apparently not so or not proven, therefore I have deleted the link to Thomas Tinsley II.

(The following data is from hand written notes, mostly unsigned and not dated, which were handed down. Some names were very difficult to read, I'm sorry, did the best I could. Help would be appreciated. Some of the notes are by Jennie Tinsley who was unmarried and spent considerable time researching the Tinsley and connected families. One note indicates much of the Ragland data was from notes by Dr. R. A. Brock and Parish Records.)(Additional data has been taken from various web sites, so use the data with care. Let me know if you have proof of an error.) The name comes from Rhaglan Castle, now in England but formerly on the border between England and Wales and means border in Welsh. I have been told that the family name was originally "Herbert" and they came from Normandy. For valor during the invasion of William the Conqueror they were given lands in Mammouth, with Ragland Castle.

Lauren Ragland provided the following notes: Robert ap Jevan was the only Ragland to live in the castle from ca 1416 to 1426. The name comes from his uncle William ap Thomas' castle "Raglan" where 8 year old Robert lived after the death of his father. H lived at the Raglan Castle until his marriage to Joan Clerke, heiress to Knoyles Place in Lantwit parish, Glamorgan. This branch of the Herbert (?) clan, the Ragland's lived in Glamorgan for the next 3 generations. The line, Jevan ap Thomas of Pethyr Manor, Rockfield Parish, Gwent Robert Ragland b1408 at Perthyre Manor, then of Ragland Castle age 8 until marriage, then resided at Knoyles Place, Llantwit Parish, Glamorgan. Lewis Ragland resided after 1500 at LLys-y-Fronydd, Lysworney, Glamorgan. Robert Ragland inherited Lly-y-Fronydd. Thomas Ragland inherited Lly-y-Fronydd. John Ragland inherited farm in St. Decuman's Parish in Somerset. Thomas Ragland, Sr., farm, St. Decuman's Parish and Stogumber Parish, Somerset. Thomas Ragland, Jr. born Stogumber Parish, inherited farm in St. Decuman's Parish. Evan Ragland born St. Decuman's Parish in 1656, in New Kent County, Virginia by 1680. The surname was taken by Robert ap Jevan from his home at Ragland Castle where he lived for approximatel 10 years. Anne also states that John Ragland's wife was Anne Buford, not Beaufort. Note:Lauren Ragland does not necessarily agree with the rest of the information on this page.

NEED HELP WITH THE RAGLANDS, SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO THE MARTHA RAGLANDS. NEED DATES !

Evan Ragland b.1656 St Deciuman's Parish, Somerset, England and d.5/30/1716 St. Peters Parish, New Kent Co., VA m. in 1680 Susanna Pettus b.1656 in New Kent Co., VA d.1717. Susanna was the daughter of Stephen Pettus. Evan and Susanna had 5 children:

1. Catherine 'Katy' Ragland b.1681 in New Kent Co., VA.
2. Evan Ragland, Jr. 1683-1739 m. Unknown and had 4 children:
• Nathaniel Ragland 1707-1760 in St Peters Parish, New Kent Co., VA
• William Ragland 1709-1773
• John Ragland 1710
• Gideon Ragland b.3/26/1723 d.1795.
3. Thomas Ragland 1685-1719 m. ca.1711 Unknown and had 3 children:
• Isaac Ragland 1713-1796
• Jacob Ragland b.10/22/1715 d.xxxx
• Elizabeth Ragland b.3/28/1718 d.xxxx
4. Stephen Ragland 1688-1747 m. in 1713 Mary Hudson 1692-1760 and they had 5 children:
• Evan Ragland 1715-1778m Amy Merritt. Evan died in Granville Co., NC.
• George Ragland 1718-1771 died in Northampton Co., VA
• Frederick Ragland 1723-1758
• Stephen Ragland 1733-1751. Born in Bertie Co., NC died in Northampton Co., VA. Unmarried.
• Agnes Ragland 1735-1818 m. Ephriam Merritt b.xxxx d.1760. Married 2nd in 1761 Joseph Langston 1740-1812 in Granville Co., NC.
5. John (Rhaglan) Ragland b.ca.1690 d.1751. Born in St Paul's Parish, New Kent Co., VA m in 1715 Anne Buford (Bufort,Beaufort) b.ca.1690 d.1745 in New Kent Co., VA. Grants of land to the extent of 1600 acres are recorded in the Registers office, Richmond, VA in his name. The Ragland home in Virginia was called Rippon Hill. John and Anne had 13 children:
1. *John Ragland, Jr., married Ann Dudley, dau. of John Dudley and his wife Ursula Beverly, dau of Maj. Robert Beverly of Middlesex Co., and settled in Goochland Co. Issue:
• Martha Ragland ca.1737 m. xxxx Col. Thomas Tinsley b.ca.1680/90., probably NOT. (NEED HELP WITH THIS ??)
2. William Ragland b.1724m. Sarah Howard b.abt.1709.
3. Samuel Ragland b.1719 in Louisa Co., VA
4. James Ragland 1730-1763 m. Catherine Davis and had issue.
5. Evan Ragland 1728-1795.
6. Pettus Ragland 1733-1807 m. in Middlesex Co., VA. Elizabeth Davis b.ca.1735 and they had 13 children:
1. Jean Ragland b.4-12-1755 m. William Clrick (?).
2. John Ragland b.7-29-1756.
3. William Ragland b.9-17-1757.
4. Sarah Ragland b.2-5-1759 m. William Rice.
5. Elizabeth Ragland b.3-24-1760 m. B. Wright.
6. Pettus Ragland Jr. b.7-8-1761 moved to Halifax Co., VA.
7. Samuel Ragland b.4-12-1764 died young.
8. Martha Ragland b.9-17-1765.
9. Evan Ragland b.9-5-1767 m. Yearmaus (?) and moved to TN.
10. Ann Beaufort Ragland b.10-7-1768.
11. Nancy Ragland b.7-13-1770 m. Dr. Starke.
12. Catherine Ragland b.1778 m. John Bowe (?).
13. Fendall Ragland 1780-1833 m. Sarah Nelson, dau. of Edward Nelson and Amelia Nelson. Not sure of this but believe Edward and Amelia Nelson were cousins and descended from Edward Nelson b.1690 son of James Nelson of Essex Co., England. James Nelson emigated to VA in 1718 and in 1719 he married Mary Garland, dau. of Edward and Jane Garland of New Kent Co., VA. Fendall and Sarah had children, one of whom:
• John Shelton Ragland m. Helen Mar Haw. John and Helen had about 13 children, one of whom:
• Norma Cowling Ragland m. Thomas LeRoy Sharpe, Sr. Norma and Thomas had children, one of whom was:
• Anne Elizabeth Sharpe m. Mr. Clements. Mr. Clements and Anne had children, one of whom:
• Elizabeth Clements
7. Edward Ragland 1726-1789 born in Hanover Co., VA died in Halifax Co, VA., unmarried.
8. Martha Ragland 1735-1798 married Thomas Tinsley II of Hanover Co., VA.
9. Mary Ragland 1737-1788 m. Nataniel Bowe
10. Anne Ragland b.ca.1739 d.xxxx m. ca.1758 Absalom John Jones. Another source shows only John Jones. They had one child:
• Frances Jones
11. Frances Ragland b.1741 d.xxxx m. abt.1755 Jeremiah Pate b.12/15/1715 in Abingdon, Gloucester Co., VA.
12. Susanna Ragland b.ca.1743 in Hanover Co., VA. m. William Brewer
13. Sarah Ragland b. ca.1745 m. Edmund Brewer.

Ragland Coat of arms:
Shield. Gules, 3 lions rampant, argent (silver)
Crest. A portcullis, or. (gold) nailed oz. (blue) chains pendent, or (gold).
Motto: "Mutare vel tincere sperno" ? (I scorn to change or fear.)

Name spelling by Jennie almost always, Raglan but occassional Ragland which is used by Downing and in other notes I have.

There are two Martha Raglands (or are there ???) and a lot of Thomas Tinsleys. There is also some conflicting data in Jennie Gaines Tinsleys papers. The above account shows John and Anne Beaufort Ragland had 8 children. In another piece of data she shows John, Ann, Edward and David. Only John is in the 8 shown previously. The source is quoted as Va. History Mag. Vol. 5, page 200 and Saunders Early Settlers page 390.

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Original 4/17/98
Last updated 4/14/2007
Page by F. L. Preston