Betsey Ann Rainford

Betsey Ann Franklin was named for her grandmother, and was the first daughter of Ann Paulus and Jason Franklin. Her mother died when she was 8 years old and had two younger sisters and a brother. Her father remarried and she and her siblings were raised by Jason's second wife, Mary Elizabeth "Polly" Rainford. Betsey was a minor and required her father's permission to marry Robert Rainford, the youngest brother of Polly. She was probably no more than 15 years and Robert was 20. The couple stayed in the Franklin house for a few years and Betsey "helped keeping house", according to the 1870 census.[1]

In 1873, county land records show a plot of land adjoining Franklin land, owned by R Rainford. [2]

They had three children:

Willis Robert Rainford born 1870 Sarah Elizabeth "Essie" Rainford born 1873 Lillian Cora Rainford born 1878 They moved to Lake Village, Indiana about 1878. Cora was born in Illinois and by the 1880 census, Robert is farming there and she's a mother of children 10, 7 and 2 years old. [3] His father and Robert's many half-siblings moved to Lake Village at that time and may have urged them to come. It did not last long, however and the couple returned to Wesley Township. Robert was listed as a taxpayer in the 1884 tax rolls.

Betsey died at about age 34 in 1889 when her daughters were school-aged. By 1900 Robert was boarding out with his son Willis at 117 North Chicago in Joliet.

There's no death certificate and family lore said there wasn't a headstone. Many years later, before Robert died he had buried his daughter and then raised Cora's children so he bought a plot next to his daughter. Robert's obituary on March 21, 1926 said "...His wife preceded him in death 37 years ago. [6]

Find A Grave: Memorial # 191425034* Reference: Ancestry Genealogy - SmartCopy: Sep 25 2019, 21:28:55 UTC

↑ United States Census, 1870, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6WB-2C9 : 12 April 2016), Betsy Rainford in household of Robert Rainford, Illinois, United States; citing p. 23, family 172, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 545,791. ↑ U.S., Indexed County Land Ownership Maps, 1860-1918 Owner's NameB RainfordStateIllinoisCountyWillTownWesley; ReedYear1873 ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MH91-K2R : 14 August 2017), Betsy Raniford in household of Robert Raniford, Lake, Newton, Indiana, United States; citing enumeration district ED 128, sheet 219C, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0301; FHL microfilm 1,254,301. ↑ Souvenir of Settlement and Progresscomplete history of Will County and business district of Joliet, Illinois in business directory, Historical guide page 457, Tax-Payers of Wesley Township, Robert Rainford. ↑ U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 Illinois Joliet 1900 Joliet, Illinois, City Directory, page 518 ↑ Robert Rainford Obituary, Joliet Sunday Herald-News, March 21, 1926, accessed Joliet Library, 2014. Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 16 July 2018), memorial page for Betsey Ann Franklin Rainford (1855–1899), Find A Grave: Memorial #191425034 ; Maintained by Robin Rainford (contributor 46867163) Burial Details Unknown, who reports a Illinois near Wilmington, Will about 1899. Letter for Marriage License Application, April 6, 1870, Wilmington, Will, Illinois. Detail: Filed Letter in Illinois Repository with application for marriage license issued to Betsey Ann Franklin and Robert Rainford Date: Wilmington, April 6, 1870 Notes: Betsey Franklin was about 15 years old, so this letter may have been required in lieu of an Affidavit of Age. However, her father Jason Franklin was widowed and married Robert Rainford's sister, Mary Elizabeth Rainford, on October 17, 1863 in Will County, State of Illinois. Actual text: "Wilmington April 6, 1870 John C Williams Esq, Clark County Court, Please send to James L Young Esq of Wilmington a Marriage License to unite in matrimony Betsey Ann Franklin my daughter with Mr Robert Rainford, both of this county, the consent of the Parents of both parties being freely given. Yours Respectfully Jason Franklin " (Postscript) "I am acquainted with the parties and think it is all right James L. Young" acquired copy from Illinois Repository. "Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : modified 30 January 2018, 23:58), entry for Betsey Ann Franklin(PID https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/4:1:LJPW-57R); contributed by various users. [edit]