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My name is Kevin-Alan: of the Brown/Ragins Clan.  I am an American Soveriegn,  and I am one of six children "Created" by the Grace and Power of the Heavenly  Father through Freddie Thomas Brown (Thomasville, Georgia) and Miriam Sarah  Ragins (Ragins-Brown/Taylor)(Sumter, South Carolina).

I reserve all Rights under the Uniform Commercial Codes, UCC 1-207, 1-308.

This is a website and historical electronic database created on May 24, 2007  executed becuase of an email I received from my daughter Briana-Alyssa: Brown  to assist her in the development of a class project on her family history.  She  asked a question on "Ethnicity"  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnicity).  In  order to provide her with a proper answer, I began to study the difference  between "Ethnicity" and "Race".  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race)

I have created this site to provide the entire family with an electronic  historical image of our beginnings, and a formal electronic record on our  history.  This site will be updated as often as possible with the best level of integrity possible.

As best I can tell at this point, the Brown Clan hails from Thomasville,  Georgia, and the Ragins Tribe seems to generate in Sumter, South Carolina.   There is much to learn, with extensive hours of research required.  My father,  Freddie Thomas Brown, Sr. does not appear to be descended through the  Brown/Taylor tree.

My Grandmother Lillian Keith-Ragins, was the daughter of Elizabeth Taylor  ("Auntie Nat") and Charlie Keith.  My GrandFather Alonzo Raings was the son of  Samuel Ragins and Julia Mitchell.  And, he was the BEST!!!!

More to follow...

AS of June 6, 2007  "A Brief Description"  THE TAYLORS.......................

PATRIARCH - The Father and ruler of a family or tribe.

The ruler and Father of the Taylor Clan, Essex Taylor, Sr., was a giant of a  man and during the late 1800's was considered one of the most influential  negroes in South Carolina.  It is believed he was a free man.

Although handicapped by a lack of formal education, his inborn or innate  intellectual ability, and his driving ambition to create a better life for  himself and his family, resulted in gigantic achievements.  His properties  included vast tracks of land as well as sawmills, a gin house, and a general  store.

Little is known about his early life.  His mother was Betty Sanders, and she  lived on his estate until her death.

Because he could neither read or write, Essex was determined that his children,  grandchildren,a nd those of his employees would have an opportunity for  education.  With this goal in mind, he built a schoolhouse and hired a  teacher.  He was later rewared for his efforts when his youngest child taught  him to write his name.

MATRIARCH - The mother and co-ruler of a family or tribe.  "HELP MEET"

The mother and co-ruler of the Taylor Family was Sarah Delaine (Delany?)  Taylor.  Thanks to the "Delaine Family Research Committee" (looking to make  contact with this group) we have some legendary information about the roots of  Sarah Delaine Taylor.  Her roots extend to Algeria or Morocco where the  Delaines belonged to a tribe that attempted to overthrow the ruling  government.  As rebels they were forced to flee the country.  They eventually  settled in Alabama where they mingled with and married Indians and Blacks.

Sarah's grandfather, Charles "The Rabbit" Delaine migrated from Alabama to  Statesburg, South Carolina and brought with him his son, Charles "The Hoss"  Delaine.  Although "Rabbit" was a free man, "Hoss" was considered a slave  because his mother was a Mohawk Indian slave.  Together, father and son  traveled throughout South Carolina working in the carpentry and millwright  trades.  "Hoss" was married several times and Sarah was a child of his frist  marriage.

Sarah remembered little about her mother, however she often recalled stories  her mother told of life as a slave on the plantation and how she escaped the  Yankees by hiding under a tub.

These individuals are our source and the stock from which we the ("Taylors")  developed.  Our heritage is indeed rich.

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Much research is requried to verify connection to the "DELANY" Tribe.  Spelling  here is what is commonly found on the internet.  "DELANY"

I believe Essex Taylor was married to Sarah Delaine or "Delany". Essex's Mother  is believed to have been Betty Sanders, and it is also believed that she  created him with a white English man...

Sarah Louise "Sadie" Delany (September 19, 1889 - January 25, 1999) and Annie  Elizabeth "Bessie" Delany (September 3, 1891- September 25, 1995) were very  famous American authors and civil rights pioneers.

Sadie, the older of the two, were the first African American woman ever to be  allowed to teach Domestic Science in the state of New York. Her sister Bessie  was the second black woman to be granted a dentistry license in New York state.  While these two positions awarded the sisters freedom from persecution in the  workplace, it wasn't until the early 1990s, when both were over 100 years old,  that they gained fame.

In 1992, the two sisters published a book called Having Our Say: The Delany  Sisters' First 100 Years, (with Amy Hill Hearth), which dealt with the trials  and tribulations the sisters had faced during their century of life. The book  was highly successful on the best seller charts, and even spawned a Broadway  play. In 1999 the movie Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years was  released on television. It was directed by Lynne Littman with Diahann Carroll  as Sadie and Ruby Dee as Bessie.

In 1994 with The Delany Sisters' Book of Everyday Wisdom was published as a  follow up to Having Our Say. After Bessie's death in 1995 at age 104, Sadie  wrote another book called On My Own At 107: Reflections on Life Without Bessie,  dealing with the loss of her sister. Sadie died at the age of 109 in 1999.

The sisters were included in the Guinness Book of World Records in 1993 as the  world's oldest authors.

The sisters were the aunts of science fiction author Samuel R. Delany, the son  of their youngest brother Sam (1906-63). Their father Henry Beard Delany (1856- 1928) was, in the full description they liked to use, "the first elected Negro  bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church."
  
 http://web.co.wake.nc.us/lee/ncbios/ncbios_d-f/delany_hb/19280416bdtb.htm http://web.co.wake.nc.us/lee/ncbios/ncbios_d-f/delany_hb/19280416bdtb.pdf (http://www.pseudopodium.org/repress/KLeslieSteiner-SamuelRDelany.html)

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sadie_and_Bessie_Delany"

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June 7, 2007  Information provided by: Freddie Kennedy son of Viola, daughter  of Samuel Ragins, II...

The follow information has not been confirmed, however Freddie Kennedy did  extensive research for over three years to provide this understanding only to  have his documents and research stolen:

Angelica Singleton married the son (Abraham)  of the 8th President of the United States of  America (1836), Martin Van Buren.  (Timeframe 1837 - 1841) She was termed  the "Mistress of The White House".  Much more information required on Angelica  Singleton...  Believed to be our Ancestor...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angelica_Singleton_Van_Buren

Eighth President 1837-1841 
 Born: On December 5, 1782 in Columbia, New York 
 Died: July 24, 1862 in New York 
 Married to Hannah Hoes Van Buren

Samuel Ragins, Jr.'s birth father was John Laurence Manning (who married a  Richardson), and John Manning was the Govenor of South Carolina from 1852 -  1854, and a member of the U.S. Senate.

http://www.scencyclopedia.org/sce/entries/manning-richard-irvine/

https://www.geni.com/people/John-L-Manning-65th-Governor-of-South-Carolina/6000000008733587046

Alternate spelling: John Laurence Manning
 Born: January 29, 1816 at "Hickory Hill Plantation" in Clarendon County, SC Died: October 1889 in Camden, South Carolina
 Buried: Trinity Episcopal churchyard in Columbia, SC
 Religion: Episcopalian
 Political Party: Democrat

***Married a Richardson***

John Laurence Manning "FATHERED" Samuel Ragins, Jr. with Alice Richardson (as a  teen)and lived on the John Peter Richardson Planation.  Alice later married  Samuel Ragins, Sr.

According to the 1860 United States Slave Census Schedule John Manning owned 670 enslaved African-Americans, making him the 6th largest American slave owner at the time.[4] 
He is interred in the churchyard at Trinity Episcopal Church in Columbia, South Carolina. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Lawrence_Manning

http://www.scencyclopedia.org/sce/entries/manning-john-laurence/

SC Governors ? Richard Irvine Manning I, 1824-1826

Born: May 1, 1789 near Sumter, South Carolina
 Died: May 1, 1836 in Philadelphia, PA
 Buried: Trinity Episcopal churchyard in Columbia, SC
 Religion: Episcopalian
 Political Party: Democratic-Republican

*** Married a Richardson***

SC Governors ? Richard Irvine Manning III, 1915-1919 

Born: August 15, 1859 in Sumter County, South Carolina
 Died: September 11, 1931 in Columbia, South Carolina
 Buried: Trinity Episcopal churchyard in Columbia, SC
 Religion: Episcopalian
 Political Party: Democrat

http://www.sciway.net/hist/governors/gov_alpha.html#m

The Mannings did not like to have slaves on their plantations, however both  John Lawrence and Richard Irvine married into the Richardson Family who brought  slaves into their relm.

Family Names that require much research:  (Ragins/Taylor Ancestory)

Manning
 Richardson
 Brown
 Singleton
 James
 Sanders

Three Richardsons serve in the South Carolina Governor House, as did three  Mannings: (Don't Have Complete Connections Yet) except what is noted...

Richard Irvine Manning I, 1824-1826
 John Laurence Manning, 1852-1854  ***Note*** Born @ Hickory Hill Planation???? Richard Irvine Manning III, 1915-1919

James Burchill Richardson, 1802-1804
 John Peter Richardson, 1840-1842  ***Note*** Born @ Hickory Hill Plantation???? John Peter Richardson, Jr., 1886-1890

The first know connection to the Manning & Richardson Families are:

1. Johnnie Ragin, son of Samuel Ragin married a Manning, and 

2. Samuel Ragin, Johnnie's Father who married Alice Richardson?  

** NOTE** Is this a double connection?????? (*** "Hickory Hill Plantation" ***) ***NOTE*** Is this the connection to the Presidency and Governorship????

Does the Delany connection lead us to Africa and what specific section/location?

There are multiple Samuel Ragin (s), and I am aggressively trying to correctly  name and connect each.  Please contact me with any corrections required.

**********************  TALK TO THE ELDERS  *********************

AS of June 8, 2007  Coming As Soon As Possible  "Your rich history is required"

"A Brief Description"  THE BROWN FAMILY.......................

"A Brief Description"  THE RAGIN (S) FAMILY.......................

"A Brief Description"  THE MITCHELL FAMILY.......................

"A Brief Description"  THE ROACH FAMILY.......................

"A Brief Description"  THE MANNING FAMILY.......................

"A Brief Description"  THE RICHARDSON FAMILY.......................

Coming soon...

The Brown connection appears to begin with the union of Henry Brown and  Elizabeth Taylor.