Ancestor search leads Texas woman to Rayne, newspaper

A Texas woman is looking for information on the Craig family and, what better place to look than in an area in which the Craigs made such a giant impact.
Robyn Dukehart, as part of a genealogical research project about her family, is searching for the Craigs of this area who may have information that could help further her search.
“This route of media is probably unorthodox for 2016, but after discovering that my great-aunt was Myrta Fair Craig and second-time great grandfather was James Louis Craig, turning to The Rayne Acadian-Tribune for help was key,” she said.
Through continued searches on ancestry.com, familysearch.org, findagrave.com and, of course, Google, Dukehart has discovered a number of Revolutionary War patriots in the Craig family line already confirmed with the Daughters and Sons of the American Revolution.
However, authoritative documentation from the 1700s is hard to find, she said.
“At this point, I have found six under my direct lineage of Craig, Blackwoods and Johnstons, as well as Confederate soldiers, in efforts to gain acceptance into the Daughters of the American Revolution and the United Daughters of the Confederacy,” she said.
Dukehart thus far has confirmed that she is the granddaughter of Barbara Smith Moceri of Jeanerette and great-granddaughter of Ruth Louise Craig Smith, who was brother to James Hugh Craig, who was husband to Myrta Fair Bradbury.
James Hugh Craig’s father James Louis “J.L.” Craig, was the owner of The Rayne Tribune from 1904-1922. James Louis Craig was the son of William B. Craig, a Confederate soldier.
“Going even further back to the 1600s - 1700s, I discovered the Craigs came from Scotland and helped to establish The New Hope Presbyterian Church under Royal Reign in what is now Chapel Hill, North Carolina,” Dukehart said.
That church is still active today.
“Many of the Craigs are buried there, including the Revolutionary War patriots,” she added. “I am hoping that any of the Craigs that are still living in the Rayne area would be willing to help connect me to family members who would or could help me further my search and possibly see that they, too, could gain acceptance into these historical societies.
“If you don’t know where you came from, how do you know where you are supposed to go. I think it is incredibly important to honor those who paved the path for freedom and pay tribute by recognizing their service, hardships, and lives.”
Dukehart said she hopes to locate Capt. David Craig’s Family Bible, which she believes holds more information about the Blackwood and Johnston family lines.
She said she also hopes to contact the Presbyterian Church in North Carolina.
“Unfortunately, traveling to Tennessee and North Carolina won’t be possible for many years, so I am hoping my continued efforts to reach out to family members can shed new light on the search I am performing,” she said.
Anyone with information on the Craigs of Rayne and this area, or with any of the historical information Dukehart is looking for, is asked to email raynenews@cox-internet.com and the information will be forwarded to Dukehart.