85Matilda Rabun
Key Facts
Snapshot:housewife
Parents:170Renson Rabun
171Elizabeth Martin
Born:probably circa 1830, although estimates vary
Georgia
Last known record: 1880 census
militia district 1203 (map), Johnson County, Georgia
Buried:unknown

85Matilda Rabun was born in Georgia1-4 probably circa 1830,1,2 although estimates range from 18253 to 1840.4 Her maiden name is known from the death certificate of her son 42Andrew Copeland,5 and from there one can identify her parents as 170Renson Rabun and 171Elizabeth Martin, as explained in the problem sections below.

She married 84James Copeland on 7 October 1845 in Warren County, Georgia.6 For more information about their marriage, their lives together, etc., see his profile since that information won't be repeated here.

Problem: Resolved
Who is 85Matilda's father?

The will of 170Renson Rabun leaves a large portion of his estate to his wife Delainy and daughter Nancy, but directs that the remaining portion be divided equally among his other children (whose names are unfortunately not indicated), as shown in the snippet copied below.7

An annual return record proves that the size of these equal portions was $14.10: On 19 August 1869 in Lafayette County, Florida, Mary Hobbs signed to acknowledge that she had "Recd of William R. Rabun Administrator on the Estate of Renson Rabun Fourteen Dollars and ten cents which has been Reported to be my Share in the Estate of my Father the above named deceased of Warren County Georgia." 8

Several other people also received $14.10 from the estate, including 84James Copeland (85Matilda's husband).9

Therefore, one can conclude that 84James was receiving his wife's $14.10 share in 170Renson Rabun's estate, and that that share proves that 85Matilda is 170Renson's daughter.

Problem: Resolved
Who is 85Matilda's mother?

170Renson Rabun and 171Elizabeth Martin were issued a marriage bond in 1810.10 Later records prove that they remained married for several decades,11 including the period when 85Matilda was born, so one can conclude that 85Matilda's mother is 171Elizabeth Martin.

In 1880 85Matilda was living in Johnson County, Georgia,4 but I have found no later records pertaining to her, and I don't know where she's buried.

Sources Cited:

1: 1850 U.S. Federal Census (Population Schedule). Warren County, Georgia. Page 384[?], dwelling 997, family 997, James H. Coplin household. NARA microfilm publication M432, roll 86. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-XCM2-NN?cc=1401638&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AMZYD-RJJ >.

2: 1860 U.S. Federal Census (Population Schedule). Johnson County, Georgia. Page 469, dwelling 159, family 159, James Copling household. NARA microfilm publication M653, roll 128. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YBT-7SX?i=24&cc=1473181&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AMZML-3KS >.

3: 1870 U.S. Federal Census (Population Schedule). Militia district 1201, Johnson County, Georgia. Page 172, dwelling 406, family [blank], James Coblin household. NARA microfilm publication M593, roll 160. Ancestry.com. Although I used Ancestry.com, the image also available on FamilySearch: <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6F93-Z24?i=14&cc=1438024&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AMC3Z-4G1 >.

4: 1880 U.S. Federal Census (Population Schedule). Johnson County, Georgia. Enumeration district 61, page 8, dwelling 75, family 75, James Coopplin household. NARA microfilm publication T9, roll 154. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYYY-5ND?i=7&cc=1417683&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AM8GZ-3Z2 >.

5: Treutlen County, Georgia certificate 22856 for Andrew J. Copeland, who died 14 August 1930, certificate number 22856. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3GX-DXCS-SB?i=833&cc=1385727&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AJJ9K-B9X>, accessed 1 January 2020.

6: Warren County, Georgia. Marriage book for the years 1833-1848, page 245, marriage of James Copeland and Matilda Rabun. Familysearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-8BZ3-8CH?i=169&cc=1927197&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AKXJK-DW6>, accessed 3 January 2020.

7: Warren County, Georgia. Wills book for years 1852-1937, page 171. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G935-JF1M?i=114&cc=1999178&cat=214481>, accessed 12 January 2020.

8: Warren County, Georgia. Annual returns for years 1869-1876, page 74. Copied from Georgia Archives microfilm 104/43 on 28 January 2012.

9: ibid., page 35.

10: Wake County, North Carolina. Marriage bonds volumes P-S (1770-1868), n.p., for the marriage of Wren Rabourn and Betsy Martin. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-994X-JLYX?i=822&cc=1726957>, accessed 12 January 2020.

11: 1850 U.S. Federal Census (Population Schedule). Warren County, Georgia. Page 384[?], dwelling 1002, family 1002, Renson Raiborn household. NARA microfilm publication M432, roll 86. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-XCM2-NN?cc=1401638&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AMZYD-RJJ >.