John Grant (c1729-1773) and Mary --- of Dobbs and Wayne Co., NC

Contents: Children | Researcher List | Register Report | Download as a Word doc

Revision History:

· 27 May 2008 – Reformatted by Marty Grant.

The author (Marty Grant) is not related to John Grant as far as can be determined.

John Grant was born before ca 1729. I don't know if he was born in NC, or if he came here while young or as an adult. He may be connected to the Onslow Co, NC Grant families who were in that county by 1730, or else he may have came down from VA or MD or somewhere. John Grant purchased land in 1746-1750 in what is now Wayne Co, NC (then still part of Johnston).

John's wife was named Mary ---. I don't know her maiden name.

There was more than one John Grant in the same general area in the mid to late 1700's so there is room for confusion among them. There were at least three men of this name in old Dobbs County. Keep that in mind since it is often nearly impossible to tell which record applies to which man.

John Grant (c1729-1773) wife Mary. (This page)
John Grant "Jr" (c1757-aft 1796), son of above. Wife Rachel.
John Grant (c1756-1780/90) wife Mary.

John Grant was a neighbor of Elisha Uzzell in 1757. I'm reasonably sure that this John Grant was the same one listed on the 1769 Dobbs Co, NC tax list.

A John Grant, probably this one, was murdered in 1773 in Dobbs Co, NC by James Wilson. The records show John's wife to be named Mary, and mention a son John Grant Jr.

A John Grant (not the same one who died in 1773) was still in Wayne / Dobbs Co, NC until the 1786 Wayne Co, NC Tax list. On that list, he wasn't charged with a poll tax, which is easily explained if he were no longer in the county, but still owned land there, or if he was exempted for old age. No way to know which John was referred to in that record, though I'd guess it was John Jr, son of John and Mary.

I have a strong feeling that John Grant (d 1773) and Mary are the parents of William Grant (bef 1748), Michael Grant (bef 1755) and Elisha Grant (c1754/55), who were all listed next to Elisha Uzzell on the 1790 census in Wayne Co, NC. They were definitely the parents of John Grant (c1757) who was gone from Wayne Co, NC by 1786, but still owned land until 1796 when he and his wife Rachel sold it to Richard Kethley. They all lived in what is now New Hope Township of Wayne Co, NC, north of the Neuse River on land near Walnut Creek and Walnut Pocosin..

Here are all the records I've found (so far) on John Grant of old Dobbs Co, NC (now Wayne Co, NC).

John Jones sold land (or other property) to John Grant circa 1746-1750. (Dobbs Co, NC Deed Book 1 page 110 1746-1750)

John Grant sold land (or other property) to Robert Hines circa 1754-1755. (Dobbs Co, NC Deed Book 3 page 6 1754-1755)

Robert Hines sold land (or other property) to John Grant circa 1754-1755. This same land was later sold by John Grant to William Grant, whom I believe to be his son. (Dobbs Co, NC Deed Book 3 page 65 or 69 1754-1755)

On 5 Dec 1757 John Grant was listed as a neighboring land owner to Elisha Uzzell (remember that name, it will come up again later) when Elisha received a Patent for 150 acres on the east side of Walnut creek adjoining John Grant and Piney Woods (a creek, or swamp, not a person). (Colony of North Carolina Land Patents 1735-1764 Book 2 page 173).

Dobbs County was formed in 1758 from the eastern part of Johnston County. Dobbs (at that time) included all of modern Wayne, Lenoir and Greene Counties.

The 1769 Tax List for Dobbs County shows John Grant listed with 1 taxable. Unfortunately, this tax list didn't give additional information such as land acreage or what district the people lived in.

John Grant sold land to William Grant circa 1769-1771. This record is from the Dobbs County Deed Index (which is all that remains, no deeds from this period survived a Court house fire). However, when William Grant sold this land in 1795, it clearly stated it was the same land that Robert Hines had sold to John Grant. I think this is good (but not 100% sure) evidence that John Grant was the father of William Grant. Their ages certainly support them being father and son. (Dobbs Co, NC Deed Book 8 page 135 1769-1771)

On 20 Nov 1771, a John Grant was listed on a Dobbs Co, NC Militia Muster Roll. I don't know if this is the same John Grant, but I think it probably is. (Dobbs Co, NC Militia Muster Roll)

On 6 Aug 1773 John Grant was murdered by James Wilson in Dobbs County. The records indicated that John's wife Mary and their son John Grant Jr were witnesses. This proves the name of John's wife, and at least one son. Elisha Uzzell is mentioned as a witness.

The trial transcript is online at: http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/nc/dobbs/court/grant01.txt. (Thanks to Thomas R. Davis for pointing out this link with me.)

Any records for John Grant found after 1773 are for his son John Grant (c1757-aft 1796) or for John Grant (c1756-1780/90) who appeared in the Lenoir County part of old Dobbs County about the same time.

John Grant, son of John (d 1773) lived on Walnut Creek, or in that area, but moved away in the 1790's. Since John Grant (son of John and Mary) first appeared on the public records in 1778, I put his birth at ca 1757 or before. His 1773 mention as a Witness in his father's murder can't be considered his first record as an adult, since we have no idea how old he was at that time. However, he received a land grant in 1778, so he may have been at least 21 by then.

Children of John Grant and Mary ---. John Grant (c1729-1773) and his wife Mary were the parents of several children, or so I believe. The only one actually proven is John Grant Jr. The rest are based on other evidence, mostly circumstantial.

John Grant and Mary may have had other children, but I don't know who they were. There were no other male Grant's showing up in the pre 1790 records who could be their kids. They probably had daughters, but I don't know who any of them might have been. The John Grant family and the Elisha Uzzell family seem closely connected through the years, so it is possible there is some familial connection between them. At the very least, the Grant and Uzzell families were neighbors from the 1750s' through the 1850's. John Grant named one of his probable sons "Elisha" Grant, so that might mean something.

There also seemed to be lots of Lawhorn and Grant connections (mainly after 1800 though). I'm not sure how the families are connected, or if they are more than just neighbors.

1. William Grant (c1748)

2. Michael Grant (c1750)

3. Elisha Grant (c1754)

4. John Grant (c1757)

William Grant was born before 1748, but probably not much before. He first appeared on the 1769 Dobbs Co, NC tax list, so was at least 21 then (born before 1748). He was deeded land by John Grant circa 1769-1771, so that is the primary reason I think John is William's father. They did live in the same area, and William was a neighbor to Michael and Elisha and John listed below, also children of John and Mary Grant. See his own page for more information.

Michael Grant was born before 1750, but probably not much before. He first appeared on a 1771 Dobbs Co, NC Militia Muster roll. He lived on or near Walnut Creek, and was a direct neighbor of William Grant, and Elisha Grant on the 1790 census. I'm convinced they are brothers. See his own page for more information.

Elisha Grant was born ca 1754/55. He was a Revolutionary War soldier, and he lived on or near Walnut Creek, and was a direct neighbor of William and Michael Grant on the 1790 census. See his own page for additional information.

John Grant was born before 1757. He is a proven child of John Grant and Mary. He was apparently a witness to his father's murder in 1773. His first record (other than being a witness to murder) was dated 1778. He left Wayne Co, NC before 1790 (or was living with someone else then) and was married to Rachel ---. They sold their Wayne Co, NC land in 1796. This last record showed him as John Grant "Sr". There was a John Grant listed on the 1800 census in Wayne Co, NC in the same area this John had lived, but he was only born ca 1774/84. He could be a son or nephew of John and Rachel. I don't know where John and Rachel moved away to. See his own page for additional information.

Researcher List

To contact someone on the list, cut and paste their email address into your email program and then manually remove the spaces which are there for a little bit of spam protection.

Marty Grant, relationship unknown, but interested
See the pages for the suspected children, there may be researchers listed.
Be sure to visit the GrantGenealogyNC mailing list / forum.

Register Report

First Generation

1. John Grant was born before 1729. He died on 6 Aug 1773 in Dobbs Co, NC (now Wayne Co, NC).

John married Mary before 1748 in Johnston Co, NC (now Wayne Co, NC). Mary died after 6 Aug 1773 in Dobbs Co, NC (now Wayne Co, NC).

They had the following children.

+ 2 M i. William Grant was born before 1748. He died after 1800.

+ 3 M ii. Michael Grant was born before 1750. He died in 1818.

+ 4 M iii. Elisha Grant was born in 1753/1754. He died on 23 Jan 1830.

5 M iv. John Grant was born before 1757 in Johnston Co, NC (now Wayne Co, NC). He died after 1796.

John married Rachel.

Second Generation

2. William Grant (John) was born before 1748 in Johnston Co, NC (now Wayne Co, NC). He died after 1800 in Wayne Co, NC.

William married ? about 1770 in Dobbs Co, NC (now Wayne Co, NC). ? died before 1800 in Wayne Co, NC.

They had the following children.

6 M i. Stephen Grant was born in 1765/1784 in Wayne Co, NC. He died after 1814 in Wayne Co, NC.

Stephen married Patience Roberts, daughter of John Roberts and Nancy, in 1800/1803 in Wayne Co, NC. Patience was born in 1784/1785 in Wayne Co, NC. She died after 1850 in Moore Co, NC.

7 M ii. John Grant was born in 1774/1784 in Wayne Co, NC. He died after 1800.

8 F iii. Charity Grant was born on 7 Oct 1788 in Wayne Co, NC.

Charity married Lewis Martin, son of Joseph Martin and Tabitha, in Wayne Co, NC. Lewis was born in 1779 in Caroline Co, VA. He died in Onslow Co, NC.

3. Michael Grant (John) was born before 1750 in Johnston Co, NC (now Wayne Co, NC). He died in 1818 in Wayne Co, NC.

Michael married ? before 1775 in Dobbs Co, NC (now Wayne Co, NC). ? died in 1790/1800 in Wayne Co, NC.

They had the following children.

9 M i. Lewis Grant was born about 1774/1775 in Dobbs Co, NC (now Wayne Co, NC). He died in 1830/1840 in Greene Co, NC.

Lewis married ? about 1800 in Wayne Co, NC or Greene Co, NC. ? was born in 1780/1790. She died in 1830/1840 in Greene Co, NC.

10 M ii. Needham Grant was born in 1774/1790 in Wayne Co, NC. He died after 1816 in Greene Co, NC.

11 F iii. Nancy Grant was born in 1790/1800 in Wayne Co, NC.

Michael also married ? about 1800 in Wayne Co, NC. ? was born before 1765. She died in Wayne Co, NC.

They had the following children.

12 M iv. Michael Grant was born in 1799/1800 in Wayne Co, NC. He died after 1850 in Lenoir Co, NC.

Michael married Sarah "Sally" in 1820/1825 in Greene Co, NC. Sarah was born in 1799/1800 in NC. She died after 1850 in Lenoir Co, NC.

13 F v. Mary "Polly" Grant was born in 1800/1810 in Wayne Co, NC.

4. Elisha Grant (John) was born in 1753/1754 in Johnston Co, NC (now Wayne Co, NC). He died on 23 Jan 1830 in Wayne Co, NC.

Elisha married ? before 1790 in Wayne Co, NC. ? died before 1800 in Wayne Co, NC.

They had the following children.

14 M i. Thomas Grant was born in 1784/1790 in Wayne Co, NC. He died after 1830 in Wayne Co, NC.

Thomas married Susanna in 1800/1810 in Wayne Co, NC. The marriage ended in divorce. Susanna was born in 1779/1780 in Wayne Co, NC. She died after 1860 in Wayne Co, NC.

Thomas was also in a non-marital relationship with Winny Mozingo, daughter of Pierce Mozingo and Sarah "Sally" Graddy, in Not Married. Winny was born in 1809/1810 in Wayne Co, NC.

15 M ii. Jesse Grant was born in 1786/1787 in Wayne Co, NC. He died in 1860/1870 in Wayne Co, NC.

Jesse married ? in 1810/1820 in Wayne Co, NC. ? was born in 1794/1800. She died in 1838/1840 in Wayne Co, NC.

Jesse also married Sarah in 1838/1840 in Wayne Co, NC. Sarah was born in 1813/1814 in Wayne Co, NC. She died in 1850/1860 in Wayne Co, NC.

Jesse also married Mary "Polly" in 1850/1860 in Wayne Co, NC. Mary was born in 1814/1815 in Wayne Co, NC. She died after 1870 in Wayne Co, NC.

16 M iii. Daniel Grant was born on 4 May 1800 in Wayne Co, NC. He died on 21 Mar 1880 in Wayne Co, NC.

Daniel married Sarah Churchwell on 20 Mar 1817 in Duplin Co, NC. Sarah was born in 1794/1800 in Duplin Co, NC. She died before 1850 in Wayne Co, NC.

Daniel also married Elizabeth Whitfield before 1850 in Wayne Co, NC. Elizabeth was born in 1799/1800 in NC. She died on 9 Nov 1864 in Wayne Co, NC.