Dear Raynor Cousins, On January 17, 1903, Captain Alanson RAYNOR was interviewed by a Freeport, Long Island (formerly Raynor South then Raynortown) newspaper regarding his recollections of "Raynortown" in the mid to late 1800s. I thought that since it is the first day of the new millennium, you might find interesting, his description (at the end of the article) regarding how New Years were celebrated in the mid 1800s: ============================== "I allus like ter talk ‘bout Raynor South," said Captain Alanson, in his quaint way, "and tell what I know. "My great-great-grandfather settled here in Freeport during the sixteenth century. He located on Main street, at the head of Freeport Creek, near the homestead where I was born. My great-grandfather was named Thomas, my grandfather Benjamin and my father, Daniel Raynor. My father was born in 1791. My mother was a daughter of General Daniel BEDELL. BEDELL street is named in her honor and RAYNOR street in honor of my father." "The RAYNORS were closely settled in the neck leading to the meadows within a short distance of my home. My father kept the homestead for public patronage, and talk about sport! Raynor South was full of it in them days. Main street from the old Freeport house to the head of Bedell street, near where my brother, Mott, lives, was used for running races. My grandfather kept a number of running horses and put them in the races. He was fond of such sport and fox hunting. I guess I am a chip of the old block, although I have been a boatman nearly all my days. New Year's day was the day for a big time, though, in Raynor South. Every resident got a salute fired over his roof top to herald the new year, and it was impossible to sleep after midnight of the old year. Horse racing was a feature of the days sport. The fun was continued until late at night." ================================ The above newspaper article was donated to the Raynor Family Association Web Site by Gerald Van Sise Raynor. If anyone has anything more to offer regarding this particular Raynor family, I would greatly appreciate your sharing it with me. I will be putting this article on the RAYNOR Family Web Site, as well as some others provide by Gerald Raynor which were written at the same time. Best wishes for the New Year. When everyone gets settled into a normal routine, we should introduce ourselves and let the other members of the list know what information we are seeking, as well as what we might have to offer others. Karima Designer & Maintainer of: THE RAYNOR FAMILY WEB SITE http://userweb.springnet1.com/quest/Raynor.htm List Administrator of: RAYNOR Surname Discussion List (RAYNOR-L) http://userweb.springnet1.com/quest/RaynorListWelcome.htm