Abraham Rakestraw, oldest son of Thomas and Mary Lippincott Rakestraw, was
born near Morrestown, New Jersey, March 24,1799. He was only six years old when
his parents, together with his grandparents-Abraham and Mary Morris
Rakestraw-moved from New Jersey to a farm in Pennsylvania, near Londonderry Meeting
House, Chester County.
Early in the 1830's Thomas and Mary Rakestraw bought at Sheriff's sale
a farm near Green Tree, Lancaster County. From here, on June 12, 1834,
Abraham married Lydia Bushong, daughter of Henry and Sarah Gilbert Bushong. They in
turn bought a farm in West Fallowfield Township, Chester County, not far from
the village of Steelville. Here their seven children were born. Many years
later two of their children-Eliza Rakestraw Whitson and Henry Rakestraw were
members of this Club.
We quote from his daughter Eliza Rakestraw Whiteson's recollections of
her father. "Father was the oldest of the children, and Uncle William the
youngest and the love between them was as the love of David and Jonathan. They
both had a love for books and a longing for learning. so father quietly,
patiently, perseveringly using every open avenue added little by little to his
practical education.
"It was as a Bible scholar that he was most unusual. He could repeat
whole chapters from memory and numberless quotations giving chapter and verse.
"Father was an earnest apostle of the Public Schools and spent both
time and money in striving to improve them. He rarely rode past a school house
without stopping for a little visit and hearing a class read.
"He was a poet by nature and this sketch closes with lines written in
1833 after a severe drought had been broken by the welcome rain.
"Though a birthright member of the Society of Friends, and a regular
attender of their meetings, he felt at home in other churches and were occasion
suited, attended their services and joined in their form of worship"
The Rakestraw family were many miles out of the direct path of the
Underground Railroad and could not take a part in its activities, but they were
no less in sympathy with the cause and used free calico, free sugar and free
molasses until the Emancipation Act made them all free.
Abraham Rakestraw died December 9, 1874, at his home on the farm at
Andrews Bridge, Lancaster County which he had purchased some years before. So
great was the esteem of his friends and neighbors, that ninety-nine carriages
followed his bier to its last resting place in Homeville burying ground.
The following lines were written by Abraham Rakestraw after a long
spell of dry weather had been succeeded by frequent warm and gentle showers.
Come let us join with on accord
And raise our voices high
To praise the goodness of the Lord
Who rules the earth and sky.
It was at his supreme command
The watery clouds on high
Poured out their treasures on the land
When it was parched and dry.
And since the earth has been imbued
And softened by the showers
The fields and gardens seem renewed
And promise grateful stores.
The farmers hopes are now renewed
And brightened up again
While he surveys with gratitude
His grass and waving grain.
Then let us not forget to love
That Power Supremely good
Who sends us blessings from above
And fills the earth with food. Abraham Rakestraw
Birth: Mar. 24, 1799
Moorestown
Burlington County
New Jersey, USA
Death: Dec. 9, 1874
Lancaster County
Pennsylvania, USA
Abraham Rakestraw, husband to Lydia Bushong, son of Thomas Rakestraw and Mary Lippincott.
Abraham Rakestraw, oldest son of Thomas and Mary Lippincott Rakestraw, was born near Morrestown, New Jersey, March 24,1799. He was only six years old when
his parents, together with his grandparents-Abraham and Mary Morris Rakestraw-moved from New Jersey to a farm in Pennsylvania, near Londonderry Meeting House, Chester County. Early in the 1830's Thomas and Mary Rakestraw bought at Sheriff's sale a farm near Green Tree, Lancaster County. From here, on June 12, 1834, Abraham married Lydia Bushong, daughter of Henry and Sarah Gilbert Bushong. They in turn bought a farm in West Fallowfield Township, Chester County, not far from the village of Steelville. Here their seven children were born. Many years later two of their children-Eliza Rakestraw Whitson and Henry Rakestraw were members of this Club. We quote from his daughter Eliza Rakestraw Whiteson's recollections of her father. "Father was the oldest of the children, and Uncle William the youngest and the love between them was as the love of David and Jonathan. They both had a love for books and a longing for learning. so father quietly, patiently, perseveringly using every open avenue added little by little to his practical education. "It was as a Bible scholar that he was most unusual. He could repeat whole chapters from memory and numberless quotations giving chapter and verse. "Father was an earnest apostle of the Public Schools and spent both time and money in striving to improve them. He rarely rode past a school house without stopping for a little visit and hearing a class read. "He was a poet by nature and this sketch closes with lines written in 1833 after a severe drought had been broken by the welcome rain. "Though a birthright member of the Society of Friends, and a regular attender of their meetings, he felt at home in other churches and were occasion suited, attended their services and joined in their form of worship" The Rakestraw family were many miles out of the direct path of the Underground Railroad and could not take a part in its activities, but they were no less in sympathy with the cause and used free calico, free sugar and free molasses until the Emancipation Act made them all free. Abraham Rakestraw died December 9, 1874, at his home on the farm at Andrews Bridge, Lancaster County which he had purchased some years before. So great was the esteem of his friends and neighbors, that ninety-nine carriages followed his bier to its last resting place in Homeville burying ground.
The following lines were written by Abraham Rakestraw after a long spell of dry weather had been succeeded by frequent warm and gentle showers.
Come let us join with on accord
And raise our voices high
To praise the goodness of the Lord
Who rules the earth and sky.
It was at his supreme command
The watery clouds on high
Poured out their treasures on the land
When it was parched and dry.
And since the earth has been imbued
And softened by the showers
The fields and gardens seem renewed
And promise grateful stores.
The farmers hopes are now renewed
And brightened up again
While he surveys with gratitude
His grass and waving grain.
Then let us not forget to love
That Power Supremely good
Who sends us blessings from above
And fills the earth with food.
Family links:
Parents:
Thomas Rakestraw (1774 - 1842)
Mary Lippincott Rakestraw (1776 - 1853)
Spouse:
Lydia Bushong Rakestraw (1807 - 1885)*
*Calculated relationship
Burial:
Homeville Friends Burying Ground
Homeville
Chester County
Pennsylvania, USA
Created by: Rick Bushong
Record added: Feb 17, 2015
Find A Grave Memorial# 142738758. Abraham Rakestraw had person sources.
2