Rachael was the third of eight children born to John Payne (d. 1780), a Blacksmith, and his wife Elizabeth Thompson of Kershaw County, South Carolina. Rachael was married a total of five times and was left significant wealth consisting of land and slaves most notably from her first husband, Samuel Belton, Sr whom she married about 1780 and who died in 1793. It is likely that the last two of Samuel's children, Charlotte and John Belton, were Rachael's children as well, but neither of them would outlive their mother. Son John Belton willed his worldly possessions back to Rachael when he died in 1808. Rachael's other husbands were: Dr. Archibald Watson, Alexander Stewart, George Miller, and finally David Greenhill Leigh, a widower whom she married at Flat Rock on June 25, 1841. It is interesting that her other husbands were several years her senior, but the last one was her junior by fifteen years. Nevertheless, she outlived David as well, by a little over a year. Rachael was a gifted money manager who, after her second marriage, negotiated nuptial contracts with her husbands to be, therefore her wealth was "her own" and she left a detailed will which was recorded in 1846 which mentioned family members by first and last name and how she was related to them. This will, from Kershaw County Will Book A, page 137 has been instrumental in helping to piece together the descendants of John Payne, the Blacksmith (abt 1730-1780) of Kershaw, South Carolina.
Rachael was the third of eight children born to John Payne (d. 1780), a Blacksmith, and his wife Elizabeth Thompson of Kershaw County, South Carolina. Rachael was married a total of five times and was left significant wealth consisting of land and slaves most notably from her first husband, Samuel Belton, Sr whom she married about 1780 and who died in 1793. It is likely that the last two of Samuel's children, Charlotte and John Belton, were Rachael's children as well, but neither of them would outlive their mother. Son John Belton willed his worldly possessions back to Rachael when he died in 1808. Rachael's other husbands were: Dr. Archibald Watson, Alexander Stewart, George Miller, and finally David Greenhill Leigh, a widower whom she married at Flat Rock on June 25, 1841. It is interesting that her other husbands were several years her senior, but the last one was her junior by fifteen years. Nevertheless, she outlived David as well, by a little over a year. Rachael was a gifted money manager who, after her second marriage, negotiated nuptial contracts with her husbands to be, therefore her wealth was "her own" and she left a detailed will which was recorded in 1846 which mentioned family members by first and last name and how she was related to them. This will, from Kershaw County Will Book A, page 137 has been instrumental in helping to piece together the descendants of John Payne, the Blacksmith (abt 1730-1780) of Kershaw, South Carolina.
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