Grant Genealogy Volume 3, Issue 1 Jan 2004

Grant Genealogy

Volume 3, Issue 1

January 2004

Editor: Marty Grant, Kinston, NC, USA
E-Mail: public@martygrant.com
Website: http://www.martygrant.com

Welcome to this issue of "Grant Genealogy", a newsletter devoted to Grant Genealogy in North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia (and other states to a lesser extent).

Please visit my Grant web pages at: http://www.martygrant.com/gen/grant.htm for documented web pages for numerous Grant families in NC, TN and VA.

To change your subscription information (change your e-mail address, or unsubscribe) refer to the instructions at the bottom of this newsletter.

This newsletter is devoted to Grants in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee, and it seems to me that most of the Grants in these states are from Scotland originally, but some could be English or Irish. Perhaps many of the diverse lines we are studying have common ancestry back in Scotland. (Perhaps a Grant Surname DNA Study would help identify related lines).

In this Issue:

Introduction

This and that. Print on Demand publishing.

Grant book finally here!

I finally got my book in print. (Only took 20 years!)

Another Grant book

North Carolina Census Records

And yet another book!

A Guide to Using Census Records (1790-1930) for Genealogy.

What's New on the Grant Web pages?

New pages, and recently updated pages.

Early Virginia Land Grants

Some Grant land grants in Virginia in the 1600's and 1700's.

Expert Advice:

Research Check List

Web Links

Introduction

Hi, I hope everyone is doing well. I apologize for taking so long to get this newsletter out. This it the first one in quite awhile. My only excuse is that I've been pretty busy. I've published 7 books and frankly, that is all I've been working on! And yes, two of those books are about the Grants! So if you are interested, read all about it below.

As I've mentioned before (forgive me if I'm boring everyone with this), I still have health problems, namely an injured tail-bone that just won't heal. I haven't been "normal" since 1999 though some would argue I've never been normal! <g> I can only sit for short periods of time and can't travel very far or be too physically active. It is very frustrating, but I don't let it depress me. I know it could be much worse and there is plenty of suffering in the world, I'm not unique. I praise and thank God for every day of my life and I'm thankful for all of you as well and that I've had this chance to know you.

In spite of my health problems (or because of them) I have redoubled my efforts to get my 20+ years of research published. I have posted much of my research on my website at martygrant.com but that is a slow time consuming process and I still have a long way to go and there are limitations to what can be put online. I have wanted to publish some of my work in book form for some time and I finally found a source that will do "Print on Demand" (or "POD") with no upfront costs. Traditionally, publishing a genealogy book could cost quite a fortune out of pocket, and up front, then there are large delays, then you have to order a large number of books which you may never sell out of, thus never making your money back. However, with POD, you don't have all these problems. You can order as many or as few copies as you want. No need to stockpile. If someone wants a book, they order it either from me directly or from the publisher, it gets printed, bound and mailed to the purchaser. Easy. This is the method I have used for my Grant books. More on that later. If you are interested in doing your own books (big or small), check out Lulu publishers at http://www.lulu.com, I highly recommend them. They also do music, calendars, etc.

One great thing about POD publishing is that it is very easy to make corrections and to put out new editions.

Regarding this newsletter, it will probably look like spam mail for my books that I am selling and not much Grant information. I apologize for that but no one has sent me anything for publication nor have I dug up an interesting records lately. I'll try to fix that before the next newsletter comes out.

Grant Book finally here!

I have finally published my Grant family history. It took me 23 years, but I realized I couldn't put off publishing any longer. I don't expect to leave this world anytime soon, but I didn't want to risk all that research being lost after I'm gone.

"A History of the Grant Family of Western North Carolina" is now available. It is 836 pages, indexed, and fully documented. There are photographs, maps, and all sorts of useful data on my Grant family and other Grants in the area. The book is available professionally printed ("perfect" binding) and is also available on CD or as a downloadable PDF file (requiring Adobe Acrobat Reader to view). Unfortunately, due to the size of the book, I had to split it into two volumes. You should buy both volumes, though if you don't want the index, you can just buy volume one.

Of course a book like this could never have been completed without all of my dear cousins who have shared data with me over the years. Thanks to you all!

Here is what is in Volume One:

676 pages

Each family line traced down to the present day when possible.

Photographs, maps

Chapter 1 - The origins of the Grants (Scotland, immigration records into Virginia and elsewhere)

Chapter 2 - William Grant (c1720-1795) and Mary of Virginia and Rutherford County, North Carolina

Chapter 3 - Elizabeth Grant (c1755) and James Morris of Rutherford County, North Carolina

Chapter 4 - Alexander Grant and Susannah Morris of Rutherford County, North Carolina

Chapter 5 - William Grant Jr and Elizabeth (---) of Rutherford County, North Carolina

Chapter 6 - Clementine Grant of Rutherford County, North Carolina

Chapter 7 - Andrew Grant and Martha Mackey of Rutherford and Macon County, North Carolina

Chapter 8 - Charles Grant and Sarah Wyatt of Rutherford County, North Carolina

Chapter 9 - Thomas Grant and Amy Coxey of Rutherford and Buncombe County, North Carolina

Volume two contains:

160 pages

Chapter 10 - Other Grant Families in Western North Carolina (very brief)

Chapter 11 - Bradley, Dalton and Morris families of Rutherford County, North Carolina

Chapter 12 - Mackey family of Rutherford County, North Carolina

Index for both volumes

The chapter on "other" Grants (besides the William and Mary family) is not very extensive, so don't buy if you are only looking for that data, though you could just buy volume two by itself which is pretty inexpensive, and you shouldn't be disappointed.

To purchase, you can order online and pay via Credit Card or PayPal. Be sure to order both volumes, you have to add both to the shopping cart. It doesn't do them both automatically, though they are working on that. It is cheaper if you order online, and you have various shipping options. To order online go to: http://www.martygrant.com/books/grant-book.htm and then click on the "buy" button and follow the onscreen instructions. Don't forget to put both volumes in your cart.

To purchase via check, money order or cash, send $60 (that covers both volumes, and shipping and handling):

Marty Grant, 3291 Alton Phillips Road, Kinston, NC 28504

If you have any questions about what is or isn't in the book, please contact me and ask.

Another Grant Book

I also put together a book with all of the Grant census records (1790-1850) for North Carolina. This is a useful source book and fairly inexpensive ($20 if ordered from me, less if ordered online). It is 86 pages and indexed. It is also available bound, or as a CD or as a downloadable PDF file. Click below to order or for more information:

http://www.martygrant.com/books/grant-census-nc.htm

If you want to order by cash, check or money order, send $20 to me:

Marty Grant, 3291 Alton Phillips Road, Kinston, NC 28504

And yet another book!

I also put together a book showing how to use Census records for doing genealogy research. I cover all the censuses from 1790 to 1930 and explain each one in detail and give examples. This is a useful guide book for beginner to intermediate researchers. Click below to order online:

http://www.martygrant.com/censusguide.htm

If you want to order by cash, check or money order, send $22 to me (it is cheaper if you order it online):

Marty Grant, 3291 Alton Phillips Road, Kinston, NC 28504

What's New on the Grant Web pages?

I have done nothing to my Grant web pages since the last newsletter. I have been concentrating on getting my book published.

Early Virginia Land Grants

I pulled these land grant cards from the website of the Library of Virginia several years ago. They are some of the earliest land grants in Virginia for Grant families. The oldest one is from the 1680's!

Format: Name, date, county where the land was granted, description of land, Book and page where the original grant or patent is filed.

Alexander Grant, 25 Jun 1747, Goochland, 370a both sides of Elk Licking Branch a run of Lickinghole; Patents 26, 1747-48, p. 33

Farquhard Grant, 15 Mar 1744, Prince George, 400a on the upper side of the old field branch of Butterwood Swamp adjoining Coleman, Wyatt and Woodlief, Patents 23, p. 825

Jasper Grant, 13 Jul 1787, Halifax, 100a On the draughts of Cow Creek adjoining Glass’s land &c, Grants No. 13, p. 241

John Grant, 20 Mar 1745, Amelia, 200a On both sides of the Lazaritta Creek, Patents No. 24, 1745-46, p. 208

Peter Grant of Henrico, 13 Oct 1727, County not given, 400a on the south side of James River, on the lower Manakin Creek, Patents 13, p. 223

Robert Grant, 22 Sep 1739, Charles City, 290a Adjoining the lands of Thomas Colliers, Warwick Hockaday and Mrs. Mary Cocke, Patents 18, 1738-39, p. 516

Thomas Grant, 20 Apr 1682, Lower Norfolk, 111a Lying at the head of Tanners Creek in the woods. Patents 7, p. 119

Thomas Grant, 20 Feb 1723, Hanover, 400a on the eastern head branches of Stone house creek, adjoining John Crenshaw, Patents 11, p 324

Thomas Grant, 17 Aug 1733, Hanover, 800a Adjoining John Crenshaw and Thomas Johnson, Patents 15, p. 113

William Grant, 24 Apr 1703, Princess Ann, 150a Late in the possession of Isabella Grant late daughter of Wm. & Amy Grant, decd. Patents 9, p. 542

Expert Advice: Research Check List

Reprinted with permission from Family Tree Magazine Email Update, copyright 2003 F&W Publications Inc. To subscribe to this free weekly e-mail newsletter, go to
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RESEARCH CHECKLIST

Have you tried all these sources?

Records at the town level and in local libraries:
* cemetery and tombstone records
* city directories
* newspapers
* school records
* tax lists
* town records
* vital records
* voter registration records

Records at the county level or county libraries:
* county and state census records
* county histories
* deeds (land and property records)
* naturalization records
* newspaper collections
* vital records
* wills and estates (probate records)

Records at the state level or in state archives:
* archived historical documents
* immigrant and passenger manifest documents
(pre-federal period)
* manuscript collections
* newspaper collections
* state census records
* state land grants
* state military records

Records at the federal level:
* censuses (federal only)
* immigrant and passenger manifest documents
* military records (for federal military service)
* naturalization records (after INS establishment in 1922)
* pension records (federal military service)

Records in church archives or offices:
* church histories
* church records pertaining to the purchase of pews,
donations, membership lists, etc.
* lists of clergymen who served in the parish or church
* sacrament records regarding baptisms, marriages and
deaths/burials

--Excerpted from "The Genealogist's Question and Answer
Book" by Marcia Yannizze Melnyk.
Purchase it online for only $18.99!
http://www.familytreemagazine.com/specialoffers.asp?EMgqa071703

Web Links

Marty and Karla Grant website: http://www.martygrant.com

What's New at Marty and Karla Grant?: http://www.martygrant.com/gen/whats-new.htm

Grant Genealogy - North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia: http://www.martygrant.com/gen/grant.htm

What's New on the Grant pages? http://www.martygrant.com/gen/grant/grant-new.htm

Grant Census Transcriptions 1790-1870: http://www.martygrant.com/gen/grant/grant-census.htm

Grant Discussion Forum (North Carolina Grants only): http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GrantGenealogyNC/

Other Grant websites: http://www.martygrant.com/gen/grant/grant-links.htm