The Risinger Family of Newberry County, SC (US)
Riesinger Main Page

Many thanks to Dana Risinger for her research - and for sharing. Her research is focused on the Risingers in South Carolina and much of her research is posted at www.palmettoroots.org (choose SC, then Newberry County)

Risinger Deeds from Newberry County, SC - in date order.

Dana's research goes back to Johann Georg Reissinger who came from Germany with his family to South Carolina in 1752 onboard the Snow Rowand. Most of these passengers were from Württemberg, Germany. However, it is believed that John George Reissinger wmay have been from Walderbach, Bayern, Germany. A researcher in Germany found 3 possible matches for a John George Reissinger born around 1720 in the Regensburg Library. All 3 were born in Walderbach.

The following is Dana's (working) summary of the Descendents of Johann George Risinger.

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The Descendants of (and in search of)
John George Risinger
(c.1720/?)
Germany To Lexington County, South Carolina

PREFACE
The following are my thoughts on the descendants of John George Reissinger.  In his petition for land (below), he sailed from Germany and arrived in South Carolina with his wife, son Tomfit, and daughters Mary and Margaret.

THE SNOW ROWAND, November 27, 1752
It is agreed by all SC Risinger researchers that Johann Georg Reissinger was the immigrant Risinger.  Below is his petition for land taken from "Petitions For Land From South Carolina Council Journals" by Brent Holcombe located at the SC Archives.  This is the ONLY Risinger that arrived in SC from Germany.

Page 39:  The petition of John George Reissinger humbly setting forth that the petitioner came to Rotterdam on the encouragement given to foreign protestants, and shipt himself on board the Snow Rowand, Capt. Alexander Fran, bound to this place, and has payed for his passage to Mr. John McCALL and desired to settle with his family in this province, that the petitioner has a wife and three children viz Tomfit 10 years, Margaret 8 and Mary 8 years and never had any land granted to him, prays to lay out 250 acres of land free of charges and that he may have his most gracious majesty's bounty.  Charles Towne, the 27th day of November 1752.  John Geo: Reissinger.  The prayer thereof was granted.

Who was Thomas Vitus RISINGER (aka Tomfit, Fite and Thomas Feith as seen on the internet).  It is a fact that there was a Feith Reissinger at the time and living in the same area as Thomas AND John George.  Both Thomas and John George are listed in land deeds involving Feight.  This proves that Thomas and Feight were two different people (in contrary to popular belief), but both definitely related to John George.  These deeds and his Revolutionary War service record are the ONLY pieces of information on Feight that has been found to date.  Some of the deeds involving this Thomas Risinger, Feight Risinger and John George Risinger of Newberry are cited below. Following the deeds and land transactions are the descendants of David and Catherine Risinger.

Thomas Risinger is believed to be the son of Fite.  According to census records and the will of Thomas Risinger (which did NOT include David because I think he had already been given his share of the land at the time), his family were:
         m. Elizabeth ? (1760 NC/?)
          m. c. 1775
A.      ch:     David Risinger (descendants)    
B.                Barbara Risinger (c.1800/1857)(was not married at the age of 50 according to the                       1850 Lexington County census.  Elizabeth is listed as 93 years old.  Both of them                       were living with Thomas Risinger's daughter, Rebecca, who was married to Lewis Crout.)
C.                Rebecca Risinger (9-15-1808, Lexington Co., SC/1874 Lexington Co., SC)
                   m. Lewis CROUT (1-6-1811/aft. 1850 Lexington Co., SC) (both buried at an unknown gravesite on Red Star Road, off of Old Lexington Road, which is located at the intersection of Hwy. 378 and Cedar Grove Road, Leesville, Lexington Co., SC.)

MY SPECULATION ON THE CHILDREN OF JOHN GEORGE RISINGER:
I think the Tomfit listed on the Snow Rowand passenger list (cited above) as the son of John George Risinger is actually Thomas Vitus "Fite" Risinger (translation confirmed from researchers in Germany).  I also believe that Thomas Risinger is a son of Fite Risinger, due to the fact that Fite, age 10 in 1752 would have been old enough to have a child in 1760, which is around the time that I believe Thomas was born).  I believe that Jacob Mariah Risinger is a son of Fite (see #10 below) and not John George Risinger (contrary to popular belief), as Jacob Mariah was born 1768, a 20 year difference from his sibling before him (if he were John George's son).  I believe that David Risinger is a son of Thomas Risinger.  David's headstone says he was born in 1762, but I believe that to be an error.  I believe that he was born in 1782 and not 1762.  If he was born in 1762, then he was 47 years old when he married Catherine (29 years older than she was) and that is unlikely.  If David was born in 1762, then he would have been listed in the 1790 and 1800 census as a head of household, which he is not.  David doesn't show up as a head of household until the 1810 census.   He was living with his father Thomas before that.  Fite had a large family according to his Revolutionary War records.  IN A NUTSHELL:

John George Reissinger (c. 1725 Germany/?) and Rachel ?
- 1. Thomas Vitus "Fite" Reissinger (c. 1742 Germany/?) -- m. Susannah ?
- - 2a. Thomas Rissinger (c. 1760 SC/?) --- m. Elizabeth ?
- - - 2a1. David Rissinger (1782 SC/1848 SC) -- m. Catherine Schwartz/Black (1791 SC/1898 SC)
- - - 2a2. Rebecca Risinger --- m. Lewis CROUT
- - - 2a3. Barbara Risinger -- m. Matthias SHEALY (his 2nd marriage)
- - 2b. Jacob Mariah Risinger (1768 SC/1825 AL) - m. Anna Mary Reitlehoover

- 2. Margaret Reissinger (c. 1745 Germany/?)

- 3. Mary Reissinger (c. 1745 Germany/?) --- m. Michael ALEWINE (also came to SC aboard the same Snow Rowand voyage that John George and family were on)

THE GERMAN ORIGINS OF JOHN GEORGE REISSINGER:
LAND DEEDS
Dan Futch and Kathy Elkins have done EXTENSIVE research in the land deeds of the Risingers.  ALL of the information that Dan has provided me regarding the Risingers is transcribed below.  The majority of this information was obtained by him and Kathy at the SC Archives:

1.         Deed of Andrew CROOKS, May 31, 1775:  300 acres in Colleton County, SE of Broad River and Enoree River.  Bounded SW by Mathias WICKER and John HOGGS, NE by John GREEN, E and NE by FITE RISINGER, NW by FITE RISINGER, SE by POTEET and vacant land.  Survey certified September 30, 1774, granted December 8, 1774.  Quit rent in 2 years.  John ELLISON, DS.  (Margin note:  "Irish").  (13-495:2)

2.         Deed of Alexander DICKEY, June 9, 1775:  100 acres in fork between Broad and Saludy Rivers on waters of Enoree on Kellys Creek.  Bounded NE by Christian GINBERS and John BOYD, NW by FITE RISINGER, SE vacant land, SW by Joseph FISH and John DICKEY, S by Daniel HORSEY.  Survey certified September 30, 1774, granted December 8, 1774.  Quit rent in 2 years.  John ELLISON, DS.  (Margin note:  "Irish") (13-503:1)

3.         There was a Thomas HAMITER that was a witness for a deed from Feith Risinger to Thomas Risinger dated June 7 and June 8, 1775. 

4.         Q-4, 260-264:  Lease & release, 3 & 4 January 1774, John George Ressinger of Ninety Six District, planter, to Fight Ressinger of same, planter, for 100 pounds SC money, 125 acres originally granted to said John George Ressinger March 8, 1775, it being half part of said 250 acres in the fork between Broad and Saludy River adj. Ulrick SLEYS, estate of Hermond GEIGER deceased.  John George Ressinger (LS), Rachel Ressinger (LS), Wit. John BUCHANAN, William HUTCHINSON, Giles TINLEY.  Proved in Ninety Six District by the oath of John BUCKANAN February 8, 1774 before Michael DICKERT, J.P.  Recorded April 3, 1775. 

5.         Pre-Revolutionary Land Plats:
            Feith Resinger - Craven Co. - 46 acres - March 20, 1773
            Feith Resinger - Craven Co. - 30 acres - March 26, 1773
            Feith Resinger - Craven Co. - 11 acres - March 26, 1773
            John George Resinger - Broad River - 250 acres - November 22, 1753
            Mary Resinger (John George's daughter) - Craven Co. - 100 acres - May 8, 1773

Abstracts of Pre-Revolutionary Plats:

            A.        Precepts on the November 29, 1752 to John George Resinger for 250 acres in the fork of the Broad River and the Saluda River and is bounded by vacant land, Ulrick SLEYS, Estate of Herman GEIGER deceased, John PEARSON DS.

            B.         Vol. 20-70, precept on the February 3, 1773 to Feith Resinger for 46 acres in Craven County on the SW side of the Broad River and adjacent to Joseph FISHER, Jacob LITSEY, John O'NEAL.  Pat CUNNINGHAM, DS.

            C.        Vol. 20-73, Wt. on the 3rd of February 1773 to Feith Risinger for 11 acres in Craven Co. on the Island of the Broad River and is bounded by Joseph FISHER.  Pat CUNNINGHAM, DS.

            D.        Vol. 20-74, Wt. on the 3rd of February 1773 to Feith Resinger for 30 acres on waters of Broad River and on the S side of Enoree River and bounded by John O'Neal, Jacob LETCEY, John GREEN.  Pat CUNNINGHAM, DS.

Newberry County, SC Pre-Revolutionary Land Plats:

            A.        Vol. 20-72, Wt. on the 2nd of March 1773 to Mary Risinger for 100 acres in Craven Co. on waters of Broad River and is bounded by Lewis SHILHORSE, vacant land.  Pat CUNNINGHAM, DS.

            Pre-Revolutionary Land Grants:
            Mary Resinger - Craven Co. - 100 acres - May 25, 1774
            Seith Resinger - Craven Co. - 11 acres - May 25, 1774
            Seith Resinger - Craven Co. - 30 acres - May 25, 1774
            John George Resinger - Saluda River - 250 acres 0 March 8, 1756

Post-Revolutionary Land Plats:

            A.        Cert. to Jacob Risinner for 150 acres surveyed on the 13th of May 1790 in Orangeburg District, on waters of Saluda River and on a branch of Hollow Creek and is bounded by Robert ALLEN, vacant land, Joseph WILLIAMS, W. WRIGHT DS.  Granted January 26, 1791.

            B.         Cert. to James DOUGHARTY for 28 acres surveyed on the 14th of August 1792 in 96 District and is adjacent to Jacob SLIGH, Martin SOUTER, Adam SETZLER, Jacob RISINGER, James DOUGHARTY, DS.

6.         NEWBERRY COUNTY:  Deeds
            A.        Jacob Risinger, planter, sells to John LAKE 65 acres being a part of 250 acres granted to George Risinger on November 22, 1759 and is bounded by Nimrod MORRES, Thomas LAKE - which is land granted to Johanes SITZELER.  Wit. David LAKE, John A. SUMMER, Jr., John A. HOUSEAL.  Signed on May 8, 1802 by Jacob Risinger and Anna Mary Risinger, his wife.  His wife signed her dower rights on June 5, 1802 with her mark.  John HAMPTON, QU.

            B.         John McCOOL sells to Jacob Risinger 250 acres on the N side of Broad River and is part of three tracts (1) originally granted to Joseph WRIGHT and was surveyed for Reese PRICE on May 30th 1758.  The land was for 200 acres.  (2) 30 acres granted to Joseph WRIGHT on August 5th 1787.  (3) 20 acres conveyed to Gabriel McCOOL from James PATTY on the 25th and 26th of March 1795 and then to John McCOOL.  Wit. James TURNER, W.S MILLS.  Signed on June 27, 1807.  Isaac MILLS, J.Q.  Susannah McCOOL signed her dower rights on June 27, 1807.

            C.        Jacob Risinger sells the above 250 acres to Jonathan FOUTS.  250 acres on January 17, 1811.  Wit. George RICKARD, Adam METS.  Mary Risinger signed her dower rights on January 26, 1811.  William SUMMERS, J.Q.

            D.        Thomas JOHNSTON, son of Hugh JOHNSTON sells to Jacob Risinger 135 acres on waters of Bush Branch of Saluda River being part of two tracts granted to Hugh JOHNSTON (1) 150 acres on October 22, 1768 and (2) 142 acres on December 4, 1786.  Wit. Adam METTS, William H. ?, Michael (Rikard or Kinard).  Signed December 23, 1807.  Mary JOHNSTON, wife of Thomas Johnston, signed her dower rights on January 11, 1808/  William SUMMER, J.Q.

7.         The Revolutionary Index:
            Amy Risener - 6437 A
            Thomas Risener - 6438

8.         LEXINGTON CO., SC:
            A.        Thomas Risinger planter sells to Henry OXNER - 100 acres on Horse Creek, water of Saluda River and is bounded by Mayson EZZAND, vacant land.  the land was originally granted to Barbara HUMEL on bounty October 14th 1774 and became the property of Christopher KERNLINE by Barbara HUMEL being married to him and the land was conveyed to Thomas RISSINGER on March 22, 1802.  Wit. Charles ASKINS, Michael KELLER.  Signed August 1802.  Jeremiah WILLIAMS, Q.U.  Elizabeth Rissinger signed her dower rights on August 30, 1806.

            B.         Thomas Risinger of Lexington District aged and his wife - Elizabeth Risinger is aged, to my daughter Rebecca Risinger who supports us ½ of my plantation originally granted to Joseph WILLIAMS and by him on September 10, 1799 conveyed to Stephen WILLIAMS and then conveyed to me, Thomas Risinger, on August 29, 1806 - 100 acres on waters of Saluda River on a branch called Caney Branch.  One half of the above 100 acres is 50 acres.  Wit. David CROUT, Agariah CROUT, B. FORT.  Elizabeth Risinger, his wife, signed her dower rights on May 19, 1837.

            C.        Thomas Risinger of Lexington District, aged and his wife Elizabeth Risinger aged - to my daughter Barbara Risinger who supports us, ½ of my plantation stated as above.  

            D.        David Risinger sells to Daniel OXNER 23 acres for $115.00 on the south side of Hollow Creek waters of Big Saluda River and bounded by said Oxner, said Risinger, Thomas Risinger.  Wit. Henry OXNER, Thomas Risinger, Jr.  Signed January 19, 1841.  Isaac VANSANT, J.P.  Catherine Risinger, wife of David Risinger, signed her dower rights on September 26, 1853.  Joel KEISLER, Jr., Magistrate.

            E.         David Risinger of Lexington District to his son Thomas Risinger 100 acres being part of two tracts of land originally conveyed from Andrew SON and William ROBERT to myself being on Cut Log Creek waters of Big Hollow Creek and bounded by Andrew SON, Nathaniel WILLIAMSON, Henry A. SMITH and said Risinger.  Wit. Uriah CROUT, Henry OXNER.  Robert MOORE, Magistrate.  Signed January 16, 1846.

            F.         David Risinger of Lexington District whose wife Catherine Risinger is living, to his sons Noah Risinger, Westley Risinger, David Risinger, 300 acres where I live being part of five tracts of land on Caney Branch waters of Big Hollow Creek and is bounded by Henry OXNER, Barbara Risinger, Adam Risinger, Andrew SON, Thomas Risinger, H.A. SMITH and Daniel DERRICK.  Wit. Uriah CROUT, Henry OXNER, William E. SAWYER.  Signed January 26, 1848.  Robert MOORE, Magistrate.

            G.        Mathias SHEALY, Lewis CROUT, Rebecca (Risinger) CROUT, Catherine CAUGHMAN, Celia (Risinger) OXNER, Noah Risinger, Wesley Risinger, David Risinger, Mary Risinger, Thomas Risinger - to Adam Risinger land on Caney Branch for $385.00 waters of Big Hollow Creek of Big Saluda River and was originally granted to ??????? being 48 acres and adjacent to Uriah CROUT, David CROUT, Adam Risinger.  Wit. Lewis SHEALEY, Amos SHEALEY.  Signed March 25, 1857.  Abraham JONES, Magistrate, Edgefield District.

9.         Feight Reisinger came from Germany and settled in the Dutch Fork, Ninety Six District.  He received a grant of one hundred fifty acres on Second Creek about the year 1760.  He and his wife, Susannah, conveyed this land in 1768 to William DAWKINS.

10.       Thomas Rissinger witnessed the will of George Michael Reitlehover recorded September 28, 1800 in Newberry County.  Jacob Mariah Risinger is listed in this will, as he was the husband of Anna Mary Reitlehover, George's daughter.  This means that Thomas could have been Jacob's brother and signed for him since their father was deceased.

11.       List of Colonial Soldiers:
            George Risinger, #6 (which means he served in the Cherokee War under Col. John Chevillette whose men were mainly from Berkeley County (1759-1760).  George Reitlehover mentioned above fought in the same war, same company.)

12.       October 5th, 1784.  Release (preceded by Lease), Thomas Resinger planter of the District of Ninety Six to William LILES, planter of the aforesaid place, consideration L35 (35 pounds), 57 acres in Craven County, originally granted to Fight Resinger May 25th 1774 and transferred by him unto Thomas Resinger by lease and release June 7th 1775 (more fully described by plats refered to, record citation duly recorded in Secretaries Office in Book GGG page 89 and 55).  Signed:  Thomas Resinger.  Witnesses:  Michael DICKERT, Jr., Michael DICKERT.  Proved by Michael DICKERT before George RUFF, J.P.  September 5th 1789.  Recorded January 21st 1790.  W. MALONE, Clerk of Court.

13.       September 29th, 1786.  Release (preceded by Lease).  Thomas Resinger planter of the County of Newberry, to William LILES, planter of the aforesaid place, 100 acres in Craven County on the waters of Broad River, bounded SW by land of Rudolph BUSHARD, NE by land of John O'NEAL, all other sides by vacant land and is the same tract originally granted to Jacob LITSEY May 25th 1774 and transferred by him unto Thomas Resinger by lease and release bearing date (blank) 1775 (more fully described by plat refered to, record citation duly recorded in Secretaries Office in book GGG, page 4).  Consideration L25 sterling.  Signed:  Thomas Resinger, Elizabeth Resinger (by mark).  Witnesses:  Michael DICKERT, Jr., Michael DICKERT.  Proved by Michael DICKERT before George RUFF, J.P. September 5th 1789.

14.       Audited Accounts - Revolutionary War

State of South Carolina - Ninety-Six District
Before me, Michael DICKERT, one of the Justices assigned to keep the peace for the aforesaid, personally appeared George Reissinger, and declared on his oath, Witnesseth, that on or about the tenth day of August last ???? two of his horses ??????????, he was informed by E--- ADAMS and entered in to the service of the last expedition to East Florada (sic) and for the command of ??????, and that they were gone from his one hundred days for which he never received any payment as yet.  This deponent further saith on his oath that there was also a certain white horse of his property taken about a fue (sic) days before the above two, or after, and not returned as yet, and never received any payment as yet.

Signed George Reissenger (old German script)
Sworn to before me this 2 day of January 1779, signed Michael DICKERT, J.P.

Also personally appeared Adam YOUNG and declared on his oath being duly sworn, and saith that he, himself, John VON TRIES and William RUSSELL, was duly sworn and chosen to appraise the above mentioned white horse, the property of George Reissinger, for the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds currency of the state aforesaid, and further this deponent saith not.

Signed Adam YOUNG
Signed Johannes VON TRIES
Signed William (his mark) RUSSELL
Sworn to before me this 2nd day of January 1779, signed Michael DICKERT, J.P.

15.       REVOLUTIONARY WAR - Feight Risinger
            From South Carolina Royalists, Loyalists In The Southern Campaign of The Revolutionary War, Vol. 1 by June Clark.  Baltimore Genealogical Publishing 1981.

            MUSTER - Captain Faight Risinger's Company, SC Royalists, Savannah, GA - December 1, 1779

            Number            Rank                Name                                       Remarks

            1                      Captain            Faight Risinger
            13                    Private              Thomas Risinger

            Abstract, Petition of Captain Faight Risinger, Charlestown, SC - January 3, 1782
            Captain Risinger accompanied the Loyalists who went into Florida early in the war and was appointed a captain of the South Carolina Royalists.  When they returned to South Carolina, he went with his company.  After the reduction of South Carolina by His Majesty's forces, he resigned his commission to turn his attention to his large family.  Afterwards, he served as an express rider for Colonel Daniel CLARY's Regiment, Dutch Fork Militia, Ninety Six District.  He was never paid for this service and requested payment.  Signed:  Faight Risinger, Captain.

Captain Faight Risinger, Dutch Fork Militia, Ninety Six District, was paid as a refugee in Charlestown, SC on February 9, 1782 for 67 days service, December 24, 1781 to February 28, 1782, by order of General LESLY.

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THE DESCENDANTS OF
DAVID AND CATHERINE RISINGER      

DAVID RISINGER, son of Thomas Risinger and Elizabeth ? (grandson of Fite Risinger and Susannah ? and gr-grandson of John George Reissinger and Rachel ?). He was born May 12, 1782 in SC (probably in Newberry County) and died February 19, 1848, Lexington Co., SC. Veteran of the War of 1812 (transcribed application available). Buried in David Risinger family cemetery off Caney Branch Road near Walter Shealy Road, Leesville, Lexington Co., S.C.  He married CATHERINE BLACK (Schwartz) (dau. of Johann Adam Schwartz aka John Adam Black and granddaughter of Johannes Schwarz from Germany and Rosena Kraud (Crout) also of Germany.).  She was born October 13, 1791 in SC and died March 01, 1898 in Lexington County, SC. Burial: Risinger Cemetery, off Caney Branch Road near Walter Shealy Road, Leesville, Lexington Co., SC.   They married in April of 1809 in SC.