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William Raiford ROYAL

Male 1869 - 1916  (47 years)


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  • Name William Raiford ROYAL 
    Born 1869  Florida Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Died 15 Apr 1916  Hamilton County, Florida Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I14615  Bob-Millie Family Tree
    Last Modified 12 Oct 2022 

    Father CSA Alexander ROYAL
              b. 25 Mar 1825, Dooly County, Georgia Find all individuals with events at this location
              d. 08 Dec 1900, Hamilton County, Florida Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 75 years) 
    Relationship natural 
    Mother Mary G BARROW
              b. 1835, Georgia Find all individuals with events at this location
              d. Aft 1880, Hamilton County, Florida Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age > 46 years) 
    Relationship natural 
    Married 17 Jan 1852  Irwin County, Georgia Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F532  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Vina SAPP
              d. Polk County, Florida Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Married 1895  Hamilton County, Florida Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
     1. William Raiford ROYAL
              b. Hamilton County, Florida Find all individuals with events at this location  [natural]
     2. Ollie Catherine ROYAL
              b. Hamilton County, Florida Find all individuals with events at this location  [natural]
     3. Verdie ROYAL
              b. Hamilton County, Florida Find all individuals with events at this location  [natural]
     4. Ruby Francis ROYAL
              b. 16 Feb 1906, Hamilton County, Florida Find all individuals with events at this location
              d. 27 Feb 1999, Lake Wales, Polk County, Florida Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 93 years)  [natural]
     5. Dennis Wilson ROYAL
              b. Hamilton County, Florida Find all individuals with events at this location  [natural]
     6. Ovella ROYAL
              b. Hamilton County, Florida Find all individuals with events at this location  [natural]
    Last Modified 12 Oct 2022 
    Family ID F6248  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsMarried - 1895 - Hamilton County, Florida Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDied - 15 Apr 1916 - Hamilton County, Florida Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • Notes 
    • NOTE 1./

      WilliamRaiford Royal ,or Rafe as he was known, was born in 1869 in Florida to Alexander and Mary Royal. He married Vina Sapp, and inheirited the 360 acres of pine land from his father. Raiford joined the Hamilton County Sheriff's Department and lived in the housing part of the jail with his wife and children, with Vina doing the cooking, not only for her own family, but also any prisoners which might be housed in the jail. On April 15, 1916, Raiford went to arrest Walter Durham, and was murdered with his own gun by the prisnor. The jail where Raiford worked and lived, had it's own hanging tower, but City Fathers chose not to use it when Walter was hung for the death of Deputy Royal, instead, building a scaffolding on the front lawn, where 2ooo people turned out to watch, including the family of the murdered deputy.
      Walter Durham was the last person East of the Mississippi to be legally hung by execution. The noose which was used is on display in a museum in the Florida State Capital, Tallahassee.