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The Graham family descends from the ancient Clan Graemme. As is true of many other families during the time of King James, the Grahams living on the border of England fled from Scotland to Ireland, and then on to the American Colonies. The Grahams, like many of the early settlers of the Valley of Virginia, were of Scotch-Irish descent and came from the counties of Donegal and Londonderry, in the northern part of Ireland. The term Scotch-Irish, does not necessarily mean a blending of blood between the Scotch and Irish nations, but implies the Scotch who emigrated from Scotland and settled in Ireland. During the years beginning shortly after the middle of the Seventeenth Century, there was a large emigration from Scotland and Ireland, having been brought about on account of religious persecution of the Scotch received at home. The Grahams were Presbyterians.
Christopher Graham was born around 1670 in either Scotland or Ireland and migrated to the American Colonies before 1700. He was a knight to Malcolm III, Canmore, King of Scotland. Custom states he was direct descendent of Earl of Montrose, who was beheaded.
Christopher Graham was born around 1670 in either Scotland or Ireland and migrated to the American Colonies before 1700. He was a knight to Malcolm III, Canmore, King of Scotland. Custom states he was direct descendent of Earl of Montrose, who was beheaded.
It is believed that Christopher Graham settled first in Paxton Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania where some of his children were born. The name of his wife has not been established beyond question, but some records show that her name was Margaret F. Risk (some say Florence). "A history of Highland County, Va. states that Christopher Graham and some of his sons settled in Highland County before1740." However, according to Carol McGinnis in Virginia Genealogy: Sources and Resources, Highland County was not formed until 1 May 1847; and white settlement did not start until 1745. Part of it was formed from Bath County, which, in turn was formed from Augusta County. (p. 183 and p. 163.)
Christopher Graham died in 1745 in Augusta County, Virginia. His son, Robert Graham, was appointed as administrator of his father's estate on February19, 1746. (Abstracts from the Records of Augusta County, Virginia, by Lyman Chalkley, pages 6 and 10, Vol. III).
Christopher Graham died in 1745 in Augusta County, Virginia. His son, Robert Graham, was appointed as administrator of his father's estate on February19, 1746. (Abstracts from the Records of Augusta County, Virginia, by Lyman Chalkley, pages 6 and 10, Vol. III).
The children of Christopher & Margaret Graham were:
i. John Graham(1700-1771) m. Elizabeth Elliott (1700-1779) in1722
ii. Robert Graham (1712-1763) m. Jean Hicklin in 1734
iii. William Graham (?-1748) m. Jane May in 1748
iv. Archibald Graham (?-1748) m. Margaret Shed in 1751
v. Jane Graham (?-?) m. Thomas Feamster, Jr
It is believed that the first of these children were born in Pennsylvania and perhaps married there. Jean Hicklin who in 1734 married Robert Graham, was the daughter of Thomas Hicklin, one of the pioneers and early settlers of the Calf Pasture River, VA section, then part of Augusta County, now in Highland County.
From the histories of Highland County, it appears that around 1740 or before John and Robert Graham with others of their family migrated from Pennsylvania to Virginia, settling in Calf Pasture section where they became large land owners. Their father, Christopher Graham, later settled in and later died in Calf Pasture.
Robert Graham (1712-1763)became Road Overseer and Surveyor in Augusta County, VA. He was the first Constable of Calf Pasture Valley in 1745. He fought in the French and Indian War under Capt. Preston from 1757-58.
John and Elizabeth Graham reared a family of five sons and five daughters on the banks of Calf Pasture and died there about the year 1771.The children were of John & Elizabeth Graham were:
I. Lancelot or Lanty Graham (1724-1780) m Elizabeth ?
II. Robert Graham (1725-1774) m Elizabeth Lockridge (1740-1832), daughter of James Lockridge and Isabella Kincaid on 24 June 1763.
III. John Graham(1726-1815) m Martha Patton (note: one of their daughters married into the Bratton family in the Hammack-Givens line of my family)
IV. James Graham (?)
V. Elizabeth Graham(1741-?) m Robert Armstrong
VI. Jane Graham (1742-?) m Andrew Lockridge (brother to Elizabeth) in 1761
VII. Anne Graham (?) m John Kincaid
VIII. Rebecca Graham (?) m John Bell in 1787
IX. Florence Graham (1744-?) m James Graham in 1748 (son of Uncle William & Jane Graham)
X. William Graham (?-1751) M Jane Walkup
Robert & Elizabeth remained in Augusta County, Virginia the rest of their married lives. I have only been able uncover 2 sons born to this couple: Jacob Graham (1741-1812) and James Graham (1745-1782).
To be continued...
11 comments:
I have been looking for the parents of Margaret/Jane Graham (1741) who married Alexander Stevenson. I am sure she is from this family.
Your information about James Graham & Sarah Farley never having children is not correct. They had 9 children: Robert Graham 1764 – 1834, Jesse Jasper Graham 1767 – 1807 (my 5th great grandfather), Mary Graham 1767 – 1839, Pricilla Graham 1769 – 1839, Molly Graham 1773 – 1839, Sarah Sally Graham
1773 – 1839, Jonathan Silas Graham 1778 – 1851, William Graham 1778 – 1830, and Deborah Graham 1780 – 1850.
My name is James Graham I live in Salisbury MD,I'm trying to find out about my family's history, anyone with any information that could help please feel free to contact me..
Are you familiar with Abraham Hardin 1789-1881? He lived in SC and was a friend of Lyman Draper, the man that wrote about the Battle of King's Mountain and it was Hardin that supplied much of the information to Lyman Draper. Hardin states much of the information he knew about the battle of Kings Mountain was obtained from his grandmother Jennet Glenn nee Sharp. Jennet was the daughter of John and Margaretha MCCnely Sharp who were both killed by Indians in Augusta Co, Va in 1749. Jennet's brother William Sharp (1742-1827) and his wife Mary Francis Meek are my 4th great grandparents. Mary's parents John and Ann (Wilson?) Meek were killed by Indians at Calfpasture, Augusta County, Virginia in 1761. Their orphaned children including Mary were "bound out" by Augusta County court on 16 Feb 1762.
The interesting bit for you is that Jennet was taken to North Carolina, probably by the Hammack family, and there she was married to William Glenn at the Hammack family home. I believe that their home was in Patterson Springs, Rutherford County, NC but I can't be sure. William Glenn fought at the Battle of Brier Creek and was captured there in 1779 and died onboard a British prison ship.
My Craig,Sharp and Meek families were all at Beverly Manor, Va and all were apparently recruited by William Beverly's agent who specifically recruited Scotch Irish Presbyterians. I know that the Craigs came from the Ulster Plantation in Ireland but were pure Scots who had settled there about 2 generations earlier. The Meeks are also a Scottish family but I haven't been able to track them beyond their arrival at Calfpasture where they bought land in 1755.
Along with Christopher Graham's line arriving along the Susquehanna River in PA about 1720, was the James Graham (m. Anne Hanson) line, among others. Some speculation that James was either a brother or son of Christopher. Do you have any information?
Along with Christopher Graham's line arriving along the Susquehanna River in PA about 1720, was the James Graham (m. Anne Hanson) line, among others. Some speculation that James was either a brother or son of Christopher. Do you have any information?
Hello Michael Graham. I too am a Michael Graham. I have information about the James Graham line (arrived 1720 in Pennsylvania.) My email is: mmoserid@yahoo.com Send me an email if you would like information.
I can track this Graham line from 1720 to myself (300 years) Through: James(1); James Jr. (2); Thomas (3); James (4); James Jr. (5); Samuel D. (6); Benjamin F. (7); Ralph Benjamin (8), Charles Percy (9); and myself (10).
Hello researchers:
James Graham in Bedford County, Virginia was the son of Robert Graham, the son of Christopher. He was married to Sarah COCKS/COX and not Sarah Farley as often quoted. During her second marriage (at the age 43) her name was added to the County Marriage Book next to another woman who was marrying with her mother's (FARLEY's) permission. These two entries were overlapped and appear to connect to Sarah Cox Graham. A 43-year old widow DID NOT need permission from her mother to marry.
Sarah and her husband actually had 10 children. In the September 2, 1782, Court order demanding the Church provide the orphaned children be assigned guardians only listed nine (9). Later court orders correct this to add the unnamed son-William. This court order also notes the nine children by their nicknames, and the follow-on orders provides their given names.
I am convinced the September 2, 1782, Court order was a result of their father being killed 13-days earlier at the August 19, 1782, Battle of Blue Licks (now Kentucky, but then part of Virginia). He was alive earlier that year when he paid his taxes. Many have recorded that he died in Bedford County, but I am sure this notation was made because of this Court order. The Court had jurisdiction over the welfare of his children, who lived there, and the responsibility of appointing guardians would not happen where he died, but where the children lived.
In the long list of men killed at this massacre, the Blue Licks memorial shows his name as "Little James." There is a second JAMES GRAHAM at this Battle. This was little James Graham's first (older) first cousin, the son of John Graham Sr. from Calf Pasture.This James Graham was captured by the Indians at the massacre, but later released by the British. This James Graham's son, the historically significant Kentucky man: Dr. Christopher Columbus Graham, was born on October 10, 1787, at his Uncle Edward Worthington's Station in Lincoln County (this birth year...not 1784 as generally recorded, was provided by Dr. Graham to an interviewer and friend in 1872, and published in a book that same year.)
For those following; Little James son, Jesse Isaac Graham (not Jasper...a nickname) married Margaret Wray (daughter of Moses and Elizabeth (Morris) Wray from and in Bedford County. The had 12 children. Jesse and Margaret (Wray) Graham; and several of the Wray siblings moved to Kentucky to settle near their cousin: Dr. Christopher Columbus Graham and his family. Dr. Graham was a close friend and associate of many early historical Kentucky figures including: Daniel Boone, President and Mrs. Lincoln, James Harrod, etc. AND General James Buntin Ray. He was recorded to have been continuously at GEN Ray's bedside for several days before his death.
General Ray's was born in Virginia, moved to North Carolina as an infant with his mother and two small brothers when his father died. Almost nothing is recorded to tie him to his RAY roots in Virginia, but I believe he was connected to the WRAY family. His mother Mary Buntin-Ray remarried to COL Hugh McGary, and in 1775 McGary moved his family to Kentucky with Daniel Boone and his wife. GEN RAY's wife was the daughter of LT Isham Talbott who had moved to Kentucky from Bedford County. Prior to moving, Isham Talbott provided the marriage bond for Ezekiel Morris and his wife in Bedford County. Ezekiel Morris was the brother of Elizabeth (Morris) Wray, thus the uncle of Margaret WRAY Graham whom moved to Kentucky.
I am searching for an ancestor that is likely to be named George Graham. According to family lore, George Graham got into some legal trouble (not sure of the crime(s) involved) then changed his name to Jason Tate. Jason Tate (if correct name) would be my 2x great grandfather. This is where we have lost track of the family history. He may have lived in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and/or Kentucky.
Do you have an approximate time frame?
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