Eldest Daughter of Reverend Wiley T Jones and his wife Sara
Wife of Samuel Raley, Sr. 1817-1899
Mother of Eleven Children
Sarah Jane Jones was born April 23, 1822 most likely in Chesterfield, County, South Carolina. Her father was Reverend Wiley T Jones, a Baptist minister and her mother was Sara Unknown.
The 1830 census shows the family living in Chesterfield, South Carolina. Sarah would have been the oldest daughter with four other little sisters. These would have been Elizabeth Caroline, Mary Polly, Eliza Ann, and Lavinia Jones.[1]
[1] Ancestry.Com. Residence date: 1830 Residence place: Chesterfield, South Carolina, United States.
Imagine Sarah Jane Jones waking each day in the gentle light of dawn on her family’s homestead in Chesterfield County. In 1822, life for a young girl in such a rural setting was woven from the threads of nature, duty, and close-knit community bonds. As the daughter of a Baptist minister, her early mornings likely began with the soft murmur of prayer and the recitation of Bible verses—a practice that not only instilled deep religious values but also provided a nurturing rhythm to her day. With four younger sisters around, Sarah Jane would have learned early on the importance of responsibility: helping with household chores like fetching water from a nearby well, tending a small garden, or assisting in preparing simple meals. These tasks were as much about practical survival as they were opportunities for character building and learning the skills that defined her expected role in society.
In 1831, it appears the Wiley Jones family were members of the Bethel Church at Bethune in Chesterfield County. They were dismissed to join the church called Upper Fork of Lynches Creek. Sarah Jones, Jr. was listed as one of the members who were leaving the church. [1]
[1] Chesterfield Chronicle Spring 1998.
[1] Ancestry.Com. Residence date: 1830 Residence place: Chesterfield, South Carolina, United States.
Around 1837, Wiley Jones moved his family to Kershaw County, South Carolina where he became the first pastor of Mount Pisgah Baptist Church.[1] He also was allotted 453 acres of land by the Commissioner of Locations for Kershaw County.[2]
[1] Find A Grave at Wiley T. Jones (1798-1875) – Find a Grave Memorial accessed June 20, 2025.
[2] Online Records for South Carolina State Archives accessed June 20, 2025.
Transcription:
South Carolina Pursuant to a warrant from James B. McKain, Commissioner of Locations for Kershaw District, dated 15th day of July 1839, I have admeasured and laid out unto Reverend Wilie T. Jones a tract of land containing four hundred and fifty-three acres, surveyed for him on the 22nd of July 1839. The land is situated in Kershaw District on both sides of Big Buffalo Creek, bounded on the northeast by lands of the estate of John Massey, deceased; on the southeast by Charles McLeod and Burrel Catoe; on the southwest by said estate; and on the northwest by vacant land. The said land conforms to the representation in the attached plat. Certified 26th July 1839 Allen McCaskill Given under my hand
In 1841, Sarah Jane Jones was received by letter into the Mount Pisgah Baptist Church[1] near Jefferson, South Carolina. It was in Kershaw County.
[1] From Research of Leon Fay Hammond, Jr. at Wofford College, South Carolina
Sarah Jane Jones married Samuel Raley of Kershaw County December 18, 1843. She was 21 and he was 26. His father was William Raley and his mother was Morning Marie Lowery. The Raleys lived on the Buffalo Creek Plantation where they run a grist mill. It is 3.9 miles from Mount Pisgah Church to Raley’s Mill Pond.[1] Sarah’s sister, Elizabeth Caroline Jones married Abraham Raley, Samuel Raley’s brother in 1845. Samuel’s parents William Raley and his wife Morning Lowery Raley were members of Mount Pisgah Church. Sister Mary Polly Jones had married William Cato in 1843.
[1] Mt Pisgah Baptist Church to Wind In the Willows Nursery – Google Maps accessed May 25, 2025.
In the 1850 census, Sarah Jane Jones Raley and her farmer husband Samuel lived in Kershaw District.[1] The value of his real estate was $300. They family had three girls: Mary (10), Sarah (5) and Eliza (2). Sarah’s sister Elizabeth Caroline and her husband Abraham Raley lived next door with their children.
[1] Ancestry.Com. The National Archives in Washington, DC; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M432; Residence Date: 1850; Home in 1850: Kershaw, Kershaw, South Carolina; Roll: 854; Page: 105b.
The value of his Abraham’s real estate was $100. Also living nearby was Mary Polly Jones Cato and her husband William. The value of their real estate was $300.
Sarah Jane Jones Raley’s life in 1850 would have been shaped by the realities of rural life in Kershaw District, South Carolina. As a farmer’s wife, she likely managed household duties, cared for her children, and contributed to the family’s livelihood. The census records indicate that she and her husband, Samuel Raley, had three daughters at the time—Mary, Sarah, and Eliza—so much of her daily routine would have revolved around raising them.
Living near her sister Elizabeth Caroline and her husband Abraham Raley, Sarah would have had a strong family network. The proximity of their homes suggests a close-knit community where neighbors and relatives supported one another. The family’s financial situation, with Samuel’s real estate valued at $300, indicates they were modest landowners, likely working hard to sustain their farm and household.
Daily life would have included cooking, sewing, tending to livestock, and possibly helping with the grist mill that the Raleys operated on Buffalo Creek Plantation. Social gatherings, church services, and seasonal events would have provided moments of respite from the demands of farm life.
In 1858, the Samuel Raley family left rural Kershaw County and moved to Andalusia in Covington County, Alabama.[1]
[1] Covington County, Alabama – Wikipedia accessed June 20, 2025.
A family migrating from rural Kershaw County, South Carolina, to Andalusia, Alabama, in 1851 would have faced a long and challenging journey.[1] Travel options were limited, and most families relied on wagons, horseback, or walking to make the trip. Here’s how their migration might have unfolded:
[1] From Microsoft Copilot
Route & Travel
- They would likely follow established migration trails, such as the Federal Road, which connected the southeastern states.
- The journey would involve crossing rivers, forests, and rough terrain, making travel slow and difficult.
- Families often traveled in groups for safety, joining other settlers moving westward.
Supplies & Preparation
- They would need food, water, tools, and livestock to sustain themselves during the journey.
- Essential supplies included flour, dried meats, seeds for planting, and medical remedies.
- Wagons would be packed with household goods, farming equipment, and personal belongings.
Challenges Along the Way
- Weather could be unpredictable, with storms or extreme heat slowing progress.
- Diseases like dysentery and cholera were common threats.
- Encounters with wildlife and the need to hunt or trade for food were part of daily survival.
Arrival in Andalusia
- Once in Andalusia, they would need to clear land, build homes, and establish farms.
- The town was still developing, so they would rely on local trade, community support, and self-sufficiency.
- Churches and small businesses would have been central to social life.
Migration in the mid-19th century was a test of endurance and resourcefulness
Samuel Raley served in the 4th Alabama Reserves as a Private from August 8, 1864 to June 22, 1865. He would have been around age 47. As such he probably was involved in local militia activities, defending the area from union raids.[1]
By 1870, the Samuel Raley family was complete.[2] They were still in Covington, Alabama where they had been since 1851. The two oldest girls were married.
Samuel and Sarah Jane Jones Raley’s oldest daughter, Mary Elizabeth Raley married Ezekial Patterson around 1866 or 1867.
The second daughter of Samuel and Sarah Jane Jones Raley, Sarah Ann Raley married Aaron Pierson Brown around 1866.
There were now nine children left in living in the Samuel Raley home: Eliza (20), Rebecca (18), Nancy (16), Elizabeth (14), Samuel (12), Charity (11), Burl (8), Charley (6), and William (4).
[1] Page 1 – US, Civil War Service Index (CMSR) – Confederate – Alabama, 1861-1865 – Fold3.
[2] Ancestry.Com. Year: 1870; Census Place: Township 5 Range 16, Covington, Alabama; Roll: M593_11; Page: 481A; Image: 386; Family History Library Film: 545510.
The economy would have been recovering from the war, with many families working to rebuild their farms and communities. The county seat, Andalusia, had been established in 1844 after repeated flooding forced the relocation from Montezuma. Small towns and settlements dotted the landscape, with people living in close-knit communities.
Daily life would have involved hard work—tending crops, raising livestock, and maintaining homes. Education was limited, often provided through small local schools or homeschooling. Social life revolved around church gatherings, community events, and family connections.
For the Samuel Raley family, with nine children at home, life would have been busy and full of responsibilities. Older children including the girls since they were the oldest likely helped with farming and household chores, while younger ones played and learned from their siblings. The family would have been deeply connected to their neighbors and local community, sharing resources and supporting one another.
In 1875, Sarah Jane Jones Raley most likely heard about the death of her father, Reverend Wiley T Jones who died in Lancaster County, South Carolina [1]
[1] Newspapers.com – The Daily Phoenix – 12 Jun 1875 – Page 2.
- 80 acres tilled ground
- 80 acres woodland/forest
- 40 acres unimproved land
- Farm value $500
- $5 farming implements/machinery
- $144 value livestock
- $346 farm goods produced
- 2 horses
- 4 working oxen
- 6 milch cows
- 5 other
- 6 calves dropped
- 4 sold living
- 1 slaughtered
- 100 lbs. butter made
- 15 swine on hand
- 24 poultry
- 37 other
- 200 dozen eggs produced
- 15 acres Indian corn
- 160 bushels corn produced
- 8 acres oats
- 40 bushels oats produced
- 8 acres cotton
- 3 bales cotton
- ¼ acres cane
- 25 gallons molasses
- 10 bushels cow peas
- 1 acre sweet potatoes
- 50 bushels sweet potatoes
- 11 apple trees
- 30 peach trees
Samuel Raley died on June 16, 1899 at the age of 82 at Heath in Covington County, Alabama.[1] He is buried at Bethany Baptist Church in Andalusia, Covington County.
[1] Find a Grave at Samuel Raley (1817-1899) – Find a Grave Memorial accessed June 20, 2025.
Death of Mr. Samuel Raley
Died at his residence five miles above Andalusia, on Friday the 16th day of June, in his 83rd year. On Sunday last, the writer was called upon to perform the funeral service over the remains of Mr. Samuel Raley at Bethany Church where the old brother had been a faithful and consistent member for forty years. His daily walk proved to the world that he was a true child of God and ever zealous for the cause he loved so well. A large concourse of people the last sad rites of laying his remains to rest. He leaves a wife 77 years old who with her husband, has been a cross-bearing soldier for the master from early life. In addition to his wife, deceased left four sons and seven daughters, forty-two grand children and twenty-four great-grand children for whom I bespeak the prayers of Christian people that they may meet him “in the sweet bye and bye.” Bro Raley was one of our oldest and most respected citizens and for many years belonged to the Baptist church. He had been sick for several weeks, though suffering little pain. On the day of his death he went to the table and ate dinner, after which he laid down in the bed, and in a little while his spirit winged its way to his heavenly home, leaving him with a beautiful smile on his face.
Respectfully, LM Thomason
After the death of Samuel, Sarah lived eleven years in widowhood. In 1900, she received a pension from the State of Alabama for confederate widows. She testified she had 40 acres of land household and kitchen furniture worth $25 for a net worth of $85.[1] She and her daughter Charity and her mentally disabled son William were still living at the homestead near Andalusia in Covington County, Alabama.[1] Sarah died February 23, 1910, living 88 years.[2]
[1] Ancestry.com. Year: 1900; Census Place: Andalusia, Covington, Alabama; Roll: 12; Page: 20B; Enumeration District: 0034; FHL microfilm: 1240011.
[2] Find A Grave at Sarah Jones Raley (1822-1910) – Find a Grave Memorial accessed June 20, 2025.
[1] Ancestry.Com. Alabama Department of Archives and History; Montgomery, Alabama; Confederate Pension Applications, 1880-1940; Collection #: Microfilm in the Research Room; Roll Description: Radney, J. M. – Randles.
Mrs. Sarah Raley
Farewell how oft the sound of sadness
Like thorns of sorrow pierced the heart
And Hushed the harp tones of its gladness
And tear the bleeding cords apart
Farewell and if by Distance parted
We see each other’s face no more
Ah! may we with the faithful hearted
Meet beyond this parting shore.
Sister Sarah Raley, widow of Samuel Raley, deceased, departed this life February 23, 1910, in her 88th year, leaving about ninety children and grand and great grand children to mourn her death. Her remains were laid to rest by the side of her husband in the cemetery at the Baptist church of Bethany, near Heath, Ala. I hope that the bereaved family will cheerfully submit to the will of the Lord, as their loss was her eternal gain. Knowing that her angelic spirit has been escorted to that eternal mansion prepared for her by her Savior in whom she trusted to meet those loved ones gone before. She has been a consistent member of the Baptist church for many years. Her pious walk through life won for her the love and affection of all who knew her. The bereaved ones have the sympathy of many friends. The funeral services conducted by the writer.
Bethany Church, near Heath, Alabama was the home church of the Raleys. Bethany Baptist Church in Andalusia, Alabama, has a rich history spanning over 160 years. It has been a cornerstone of faith in the community, dedicated to glorifying God through belief in Jesus, discipleship, and kingdom-building. The church continues to thrive, offering Bible study, worship services, and ministries for all ages. If you’re looking for more details, you can visit their official website.
The eleven children of Sarah Jane Jones Raley and Samuel Raley are:
- Mary Elizabeth Raley 1843-1914 married Ezekial Patterson 1847-1918
- Sarah Ann Raley 1847-1933 married Aaron Pearson Brown 1840-1921
- Eliza Ann Raley 1849-1910 married George Washington Kilpatrick, Sr.[1] 1854-1920
- Rebecca Jane Raley 1851-1934 married Charles H Kilpatrick 1851-1931
- Nancy Raley 1853-1939 married Edward Sutton 1851-1936
- Rev Samuel Wiley Raley 1857-1937 married Arilla Alline Davidson 1858-1945
- Charity Raley 1859-1932
- Elizabeth Frances Raley 1861-1936 married Lewis Calvin Patterson 1855-1934
- Jonathan Burl 1862-1933 married Allie Francis Kilpatrick 1872-1956[2]
- Charles Henry Raley 1864-1908 married Sarah Cordelia Thomasson 1867-1924
- William Franklin Raley 1867-1927
[1] George and Charles Kilpatrick were brothers.
[2] Allie was the daughter of Andrew Jackson Kilpatrick, brother of George and Charles Kilpatrick.
Martha's Family Connections 