Gildie, Thank you for the info on the two Zebulons, which can be as confusing as the two James (blacksmith and preacher). The Blacksmith was my ggggrandfather, so I have a fair amount of info on his Zebulon, although I haven't found anything on his middle name. The info you have on this Zebulon is accurate. As far as Ben is concerned, Benjamin F. was dead in 1857 at age 19 or 20 and single at that time. Since this was 5 years prior to the date of 10 Jan 1863, I think it's reasonable that the Preacher would not mention his youngest son in his will. The issue seems to be Zebulon Miles's date of death. Since the Georgia State Pen records that ZM entered through their gates on 19 Feb 1864, I come to two possible conclusions: 1. As far as James the Preacher was concerned when he wrote his will on 10 Jan 1863, his son, Z.M. was dead. Z.M. was convicted of killing the Preacher's youngest son, and there is a time period of 6 years between the death of Benjamin and Z.M. entering the state prison, and I haven't seen any documentation on where Z.M. was during this time. I'm sure "life in prison" was not a popular sentence for murder at that time, and I wouldn't be surprised if there was no communication between Z.M. and his family after his conviction. I do believe that Z.M was deceased prior to his father's death. Could it be that James the Preacher wrote his will in 1865 instead of 1863? 2. The date of the prison record is wrong. I tend to believe this is a less likely scenario. Sentences were handed out in terms of time, so one would think that keeping accurate records of when convicts came into the prison, what their sentences were, and when they left prison was fairly important. In either case, Z.M. probably received a death sentence which was carried out in the Georgia State Prison. Documentation does show that Ben F. was murdered, Zebulon Miles was arrested for the crime, and sent to the Georgia State Prison. I haven't tried to look for possible trial transcripts, but that would probably be an interesting dig, and would possibly shed some light on this Rainwater family tragedy. Dan Bruce At 12:26 PM 4/5/99 -0600, grm wrote: >Hi Dan, >Rev James' will dated 10 Jan 1863-proved 15 Dec 1871 clearly states >his son Zebulon Miles was deceased. (Ga Will Book B-pg 58-FHC# >0499880) and leaves a bequest for his widow and 5 children.He does >not mention his son Benjamin F. at all.Another researcher who is a >descendant of James the blacksmith states that the Zebulon who md >Rhoda Eskew was named Zebulon Joseph R-not Zebulon Miles.He >moved to Ark via Decatur Co.,Tn.He was bn 25 Feb 1823 inSpartanburg, >SC. He died 20 Jan 1889 in Ark.( I made a mistake, Kay, in the message >I just sent you about his middle name being Miles) >Glidie >---------- >> From: Dan Bruce <dwbrucejr@mindspring.com> >> To: RAINWATER-L@rootsweb.com >> Subject: Re: [RAINWATER-L] Zebulon Miles Rainwater >> Date: Monday, April 05, 1999 10:38 AM >> >> MCar1310@aol.com indicates in a response to the attached note that >Zebulon >> Miles died about 1857, which other documentation seems to contradict, and >> MCar1310 does mention some of the other documentation in the response. >> >> Documentation I have read shows that Benjamin F., youngest son of the >> Preacher, was killed on 12/8/1857. The Preacher's oldest son, Zebulon >> Miles, was accused of murdering Benjamin F. in an executive order dated >> 1/14/1858 and Zebulon Miles Rainwater, convict#1975, entered the Georgia >> State Prison on 2/19/1864 for murder. James(the Preacher) Rainwater died >> around 6/22/1871, and although I don't recall if he indicates in his will >> that Zebulon Miles was deceased, he clearly omits Zebulon Miles and >refers >> to Lilla Ann as parent to Zebulon Miles's children. My records have >always >> kept Zebulon Miles's date of death open. >> >> Dan Bruce >> >> At 08:16 AM 4/5/99 -0700, kay ohana wrote: >> >I was reading in this book several weeks ago and copied the statement as >> >thus: >> > >> >>From The Georgia Black Book, The Rev. Silas Emmett Lucas, Jr.: >> >Governor�s Proclamation Book 1854-1869; In Campbell Co. GA on 8 December >> >last Zebulon Miles Rainwater was murdered by Benj. F. Rainwater, Issued >> >14 January 1858. >> > >> >Then on 19 Feb. 1864 Zebulon Rainwater from Campbell County was >> >incarcerated. (Note: Don�t know what for. Was this Zebulon Junior by any >> >chance?) >> > >> >One of us is mixed up or we read difference parts of the book. Here it >> >appears that Benj murdered Zebulon Miles on Dec 8, 1857. I went back to >> >the FHC to reread this portion of the book, and it is missing from the >> >library! Since Zebulon Miles nor Benj. F. are of my direct line I am not >> >going to research it further, however, someone should try to find the >> >original documents for clarification. Sometimes published histories do >> >not always get the facts straight. >> > >> >Kay from rainy and cold Northern CA. >> > >> > >> >==== RAINWATER Mailing List ==== >> >To return to the list after being away on vacation, etc. just send >> >the one-word message SUBSCRIBE to: >> >rainwater-L-request@rootsweb.com. It's all automatic. >> > >> > >> Dan >> >> >> ==== RAINWATER Mailing List ==== >> Tell friends and cousins about our RAINWATER family. >> To get on the list, send one-word message SUBSCRIBE to: >> rainwater-L-request@rootsweb.com It's all automatic. > Dan