Background of the English Raynor Family: Gerald V.S. Raynor
We know that the RAYNORs are of English descent because they immigrated from Suffolk in the East Anglia part of England. Knowing that England had been involved in wars with several countries, I looked into the history of the occupation and colonization of this part of England.
I became fascinated by the 1600 year transition from Celtic Druid inhabitants through a succession of occupations by Romans, Saxons, Angles, Vikings, Danes and Normans. This was followed by centuries of constant internal strife between Royalty, Church, Parliament, local politicians and peasants up until the RAYNOR removal to America in 1634. I would like to quickly touch on some of the events that occurred during this time.
East Anglia is on the Southeast coast England. Only 30-40 miles south are Holland and France across the English Channel. To the east, 350 miles or so across the North Sea, are Germany and Denmark, all within easy sailing distance. For centuries Briton, (early name for England) was a plum to be plucked by pirates and invaders. The first mention in recorded history was about 1000 BC. The great sea-faring Phoenicians who became the traders of the whole Mediterranean World, and beyond, supplied the needed raw materials and moved to market the completed tradable goods. They came to Cornwall for tin, needed by the bronze age craftsman. In August 55 BC, Julius Caesar visited Briton. The Romans had conquered Gaul and reached the Straits of Dover. He was impressed by the native inhabitants, apparently Celts, who much earlier had settled there. He spoke of their well-developed lifestyle and highly involved Druid religion. Trading was established but not until 43 AD was a Roman settlement attempted when Emperor Claudius decided to add Briton to his empire. The ensuing invasion went well. London became the headquarters and southern Briton was quickly subdued. However, the Picts and Scots up north held out as did the Celts in Wales. The final battle in 62 AD near Wales is supposed to have cost the lives of 70,000 Romans and 80,000 Britons. The Scots were a problem for centuries and walls were built across upper Briton to aid in keeping them out. A study of the ebb and flow of piracy and invasion, destruction and rebuilding, and the constant turmoil of local politics, religious ideas and royalty in-fighting makes one wonder if there was ever time to get on with a peaceful life. The Romans brought their highly developed culture with them. They introduced laws, a court system, built highways, forts for large garrisons, large buildings and a strong mercantile system. They put down the Druid religious system and destroyed as much of the Celtic culture as possible. Eventually Christian missionaries arrived and gained a foothold. By 300 AD, many congregations had been established. Also, since the Roman Empire included many races, no doubt new blood lines were introduced by the arrival of troops, traders and officials. About this time, Saxon pirates began their attacks on coastal villages and commercial installations. Internal dissension increased and with the fall of Rome it became impossible for the Romans to hold the territory. By the time the last Roman left, in 418 AD, the Saxons and Angles from Teutonic north Germany were pretty much in control. They destroyed as far as possible, everything Roman, and the Christians fled to Scotland. The country was divided into seven (7) kingdoms which fought among themselves and it was near 600 AD before Christian missionaries once again returned. They established the Roman Church which became very powerful. The name of the country became England after the dominant Angles. Warfare with Scots, Welsh and Irish at times disturbed the peace and local royalty squabbled among themselves. About 800 AD, a new problem arose with the Vikings from Norway and Denmark, also descendants of Teutonic Germans. These Vikings had become world-wide pirates, pillaging all coasts even down in the Mediterranean area. They not only attacked coastal installations but would go far inland up the rivers in their longboats to plunder castles and villages. One of the most famous of the Danes was Ragner Ludbrov, who with his sons, ravaged the English coast. Winston Churchill writing in his "Birth of Britain" mentions Ragner's escapades. In 867 AD, a Ragner's son Ivae, organized a powerful army and attacked Eastern England with a great deal of success. A final battle in 870 AD, during an attack on Wales ,went well at first, but the Welsh rallied and won. They are reported to have captured the "Magic Banner" of the Danes, supposed to have been made by three daughters of "Ragner the Sea King". Another author, Farley Mowat, researching the ancient sagas of the great Norseman and their journey to Greenland, Iceland and Newfoundland also mentions a "Great King Ragner".
The Danish Vikings continued their forays against the English countryside until, in 1013 AD, they combined the crowns of the two countries in Denmark. Fighting continued and it was not until 1066 AD that William the Conqueror and his Norman's, who were of Danish descent, once and for all ruled England. The time between Julius Caesar's visit to Briton and the Norman conquest was over a thousand years. As a comparison, we might consider that it has been only 350 years since our Raynor ancestors arrived in America. Addendum: I do not intend to infer that we Raynors are descendants of that old pirate Ragner, but in Long Islands' Newsday, Sunday travel section, July 24, 1994, there is a 2 page spread in color, with pictures of a large island off the coast of South Carolina with lots of golf courses, wild life and wealthy people. Its called KIAWAH ISLAND. The author states that, "A pirate named Raynor owned the Island in 1692.”
East Anglia is on the Southeast coast England. Only 30-40 miles south are Holland and France across the English Channel. To the east, 350 miles or so across the North Sea, are Germany and Denmark, all within easy sailing distance. For centuries Briton, (early name for England) was a plum to be plucked by pirates and invaders. The first mention in recorded history was about 1000 BC. The great sea-faring Phoenicians who became the traders of the whole Mediterranean World, and beyond, supplied the needed raw materials and moved to market the completed tradable goods. They came to Cornwall for tin, needed by the bronze age craftsman. In August 55 BC, Julius Caesar visited Briton. The Romans had conquered Gaul and reached the Straits of Dover. He was impressed by the native inhabitants, apparently Celts, who much earlier had settled there. He spoke of their well-developed lifestyle and highly involved Druid religion. Trading was established but not until 43 AD was a Roman settlement attempted when Emperor Claudius decided to add Briton to his empire. The ensuing invasion went well. London became the headquarters and southern Briton was quickly subdued. However, the Picts and Scots up north held out as did the Celts in Wales. The final battle in 62 AD near Wales is supposed to have cost the lives of 70,000 Romans and 80,000 Britons. The Scots were a problem for centuries and walls were built across upper Briton to aid in keeping them out. A study of the ebb and flow of piracy and invasion, destruction and rebuilding, and the constant turmoil of local politics, religious ideas and royalty in-fighting makes one wonder if there was ever time to get on with a peaceful life. The Romans brought their highly developed culture with them. They introduced laws, a court system, built highways, forts for large garrisons, large buildings and a strong mercantile system. They put down the Druid religious system and destroyed as much of the Celtic culture as possible. Eventually Christian missionaries arrived and gained a foothold. By 300 AD, many congregations had been established. Also, since the Roman Empire included many races, no doubt new blood lines were introduced by the arrival of troops, traders and officials. About this time, Saxon pirates began their attacks on coastal villages and commercial installations. Internal dissension increased and with the fall of Rome it became impossible for the Romans to hold the territory. By the time the last Roman left, in 418 AD, the Saxons and Angles from Teutonic north Germany were pretty much in control. They destroyed as far as possible, everything Roman, and the Christians fled to Scotland. The country was divided into seven (7) kingdoms which fought among themselves and it was near 600 AD before Christian missionaries once again returned. They established the Roman Church which became very powerful. The name of the country became England after the dominant Angles. Warfare with Scots, Welsh and Irish at times disturbed the peace and local royalty squabbled among themselves. About 800 AD, a new problem arose with the Vikings from Norway and Denmark, also descendants of Teutonic Germans. These Vikings had become world-wide pirates, pillaging all coasts even down in the Mediterranean area. They not only attacked coastal installations but would go far inland up the rivers in their longboats to plunder castles and villages. One of the most famous of the Danes was Ragner Ludbrov, who with his sons, ravaged the English coast. Winston Churchill writing in his "Birth of Britain" mentions Ragner's escapades. In 867 AD, a Ragner's son Ivae, organized a powerful army and attacked Eastern England with a great deal of success. A final battle in 870 AD, during an attack on Wales ,went well at first, but the Welsh rallied and won. They are reported to have captured the "Magic Banner" of the Danes, supposed to have been made by three daughters of "Ragner the Sea King". Another author, Farley Mowat, researching the ancient sagas of the great Norseman and their journey to Greenland, Iceland and Newfoundland also mentions a "Great King Ragner".
The Danish Vikings continued their forays against the English countryside until, in 1013 AD, they combined the crowns of the two countries in Denmark. Fighting continued and it was not until 1066 AD that William the Conqueror and his Norman's, who were of Danish descent, once and for all ruled England. The time between Julius Caesar's visit to Briton and the Norman conquest was over a thousand years. As a comparison, we might consider that it has been only 350 years since our Raynor ancestors arrived in America. Addendum: I do not intend to infer that we Raynors are descendants of that old pirate Ragner, but in Long Islands' Newsday, Sunday travel section, July 24, 1994, there is a 2 page spread in color, with pictures of a large island off the coast of South Carolina with lots of golf courses, wild life and wealthy people. Its called KIAWAH ISLAND. The author states that, "A pirate named Raynor owned the Island in 1692.”
.jpg "Map of Great Britian and East Anglia")
