HENRY RAZOR FAMILY Ch. I Pg. 1

Henry Razor progenitor of the Razor family originating in Fleming, Bath and Rowan counties in Kentucky, was born 11 July 1771 in Shepherdstown, Pennsylvania. He married Elizabeth (Betsy) Gaunts, date unknown, in Pennsylvania. She was born 13 June 1775.
The exact time of Henry and Betsy arriving in Kentucky is not known but records show that their son, Samuel, was born in 1796 in Nicholas County, Kentucky. The census of 1800 lists a Henry Razor in Nicholas County, Kentucky, Jacob and Peter in Jefferson County, John in Mercer County and Paul in Shelby County Kentucky. It is possible they were related, but so far we have not found any records of proof.
Henry built his home, a log house, near Bluebank in what was then called Fleming County on the Licking river. He and Betsy raised their family here. She died sometime in the 1840's at this location and was buried in Old Slaty Point Cemetery on their land with other family members and settlers. Her stone is in broken pieces due to this area becoming overgrown with bush and trees. Henry died 7 February 1869 at the age of 98. He was buried in New Slaty Point Cemetery. His monument is still standing and the engraving is readable.
Court records indicate that Henry owned a large area of land. It has been told that the state would give a person a deed or grant for all the unclaimed land that they could walk around and mark or blaze boundary in one day. If this is the case, it is probably how Henry obtained most of his land. There is a record in Fleming county stating that Henry bought 735 acres of land from Jasper Boyde, also a record that he received a Kentucky Land Grant in 1849 for an additional 200 acres.
After the death of his wife, Elizabeth, Henry evidently divided most of his land among his children. The 1850 Rowan County census shows Samuel Razor owning 555 acres. Jackson Razor, Third son of Henry and Betsy, died in 1840. Records have not been found showing how he and the other heirs shared his estate.
It is possibly the 735 acres that Henry bought from Jasper Boyd was part of the land inherited by Wilmington B. H. Razor, and the 200-acre land grant was given to William Razor, later owned by W. W. Razor.
The 1830 Fleming County census lists Henry as having slaves, but does not list any in the 1840 census. It shows George W. Razor owning slaves in 1850. When the slaves were given their freedom, they took the name of Razor as their surname.
The children of Henry and Betsy were Samuel, George W., Mary Charlotte, Prudence, Jackson, Wilmington B. H., and William T.

State of Kentucky Lewis County Sct on the 30th day of June in the year 1835 personally appeared in open court before me Judge of the Lewis Circuit Court now sitting James Logan a resident of Lewis County and State of Kentucky aged sixty seven years, who being duly sworn according to Law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832-
That he entered the service of the United States in the month of March 1792 in the State of Pennsylvania (where this declarant was raised and there resided) in the Six Month Levy to guard the frontiers. He was enlisted for six months and served out the whole of the time under the command of Maj. Abram Kilpatrick, Capt. Robert Stephenson, and Sargeant Robert Mayfield. We were rendevoued at Washington (then called Cat Fish). we were then marched to Fort Pitt where we were stationed for a few days we were sent to the Mouth of Big Yellow Creek where we remained until the month of June. We were then marched to what was then called Camp Coe (?) Station eighteen miles above Pittsburg on the Allegheny River, where we remained until the six months had expired. Our principle employment was in guarding the frontier. He served in the capacity of common soldier six entire months at the expiration of which he received a written discharge signed by Captain Robert Stephenson. We were discharged at Fort Pitt about the second day of September. That he removed to Kentucky some five years there after and left his discharge at his Fathers in the State of Pennsylvania where he has diligent search made for it, but never has been able to find it. He first moved to the County of Harrison County where he lived twelve years. Since which time he has been residing in the County of Lewis where he now lives. He has at his Mothers in Hanover County Pennsylvania a record of his age and was sixty seven years old on the 11th of September last. He knows of no individual now living by where he can prove his services except Henry Rasor who served in the same Company who is now ready to testify to the same and is the same whos name will be found to the certificate hereto annexed. He has no written or documentary evidence of his service. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the Pension Role of the agency of any State whatever. Sworen to an Subscribed the day and year aforesaid.

his
James X Logan
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I Henry Rasor residing in the County of Fleming and State of Kentucky, hereby certify that I am well acquainted with James Logan who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration and that I believe him to be sixty seven years old and I have a personal knowledge of his services as set forth by him. I served in the same company as a common soldier with him under the same officers. Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.

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Henry X Rasor
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Ch. I Pg. 4
HENRY RAZOR

We William B. Parker & George Penland residing in Lewis County, State of Kentucky hereby certify that we are well acquainted with James Logan who has subscribed and Sworn to the above declaration, the we believe him to be sixty seven years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and the we concur in that opinion. Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.

Wm. B. Parker
George Penland

And the said Court do hereby declared their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after puting the interogatories prescribed by the War Department. That the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and Served as he States, and the Court further certifies, That no Clergyman resides with in a concurrent (?) distance of the applicant and the court further certifies that it appears to them that Henry Rasor residing in Fleming County KY and the said William B. Parker and George Penland who have signed the preceding certificates, are credible persons and that their statements are entitled to credit. All of which is ordered to be certified "________ A copy (unclear) Joseph Robb Clear Lewis Co. Court Stated of Kentucky Lewis Circuit Court.

Joseph Robb Clerk

DANIEL RAZOR(REESOR) left Germany in a colony in 1700 and came over to America and settled close to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, having seven children.

The Indian of that time being numerous, a portion of the braver children left for Knte. (Kentucky), where the Indians were pushed back. The eldest, Michael, moved to Kentucky and settled on Spencer county. He married a woman from Pennsylvania in 1748 and they had nine children. Those listed were: Josiah, James, William, Fredrick, Daniel, Hannah and Sarah.

The above information came from the Kentucky Historical Society, Frankfort, Kentucky. (22 June 1982)

Records of Razor emigrants show a Daniell Razour, age 15 and Hannah Maria Rayzor age 3, arrived aboard the ship Billender Thistle of Pennsylvania from Rotterdam. George Houston was commander. The date of arrival was 3 November 1738. (this could be the above Danial Razor)

On the ship Mary and Sarah, from Amsterdam, last from Portmouth with Captain Thomas Brodrick on 26 October 1754, List 230A, George Adam Reiser, List 230B, Gorg Adam Rayser, and List 230C, Gorg Adam Rauser. This was probably the same man on each list. It also lists the arrival day as Saturday.

This information was found in the Genealogy Department of Anderson Public Library, Anderson, Indiana. (1982)

Note:
Thanks for the research contributed by:
John C. and Marge Razor

Note:
Thanks for the research contributed cocerning the Prudence RAZOR GEORGE family by:
Barbara & Willard Lennie Snow George

Their Sources of Information:

Personal memoirs of my great grandfather, William Henry George in my poss.
1800 Tax list of Nicholas Co., Ky.
1830, 1840 & 1850 Census of Fleming Co., Ky.
1860 Census of Rowan Co., KY.
Article, "Battling the Razor Skeletons", copy in my poss.
Tombstone inscriptions at New Slaty Point Cemetery.
Marriages, Bath Co. Ky p. 94 (Sutro Library)
Letter from Ruby Razor, dated 10 June 1997 in which she states she is a descendant of this Henry and says that she does know the Razor family came to PA from Southern Germany where there are still Reser's living.
Henry served 6 months in the Indian War enlisting from Pennsylvania in a regiment called the "Leveys".
Known as "Old Daddy Razor" as he lived to be 98 years of age.
During the Civil War he lived at the homestead of his son, W. B. H. Razor.

Ch. I Pg. 6
HENRY RAZOR

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