Marvel Grimes / Graham and Nancy --- of NC and TN

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The author (Marty Grant) is a 1st cousin 6 times removed to Marvel Graham, assuming he is a son of Lewis Graham and Rebecca Eastridge as we believe.

Special thanks to Melvern Graham for shared research on the Marvel Grimes-Graham family.

The ethnicity of the Graham has been in question since the early 1800's. Arguments still ensue today. The early census takers (1820-1840) listed them as Free Persons of Color. On later censuses (1850, 1860, etc.) they were listed as either White or Mulatto. I don't know the actual ethnicity of the family except that they claimed to have Portuguese blood, while those that didn't like them claimed they were part African. (Both could be true of course as they are not mutually exclusive.)

Update: DNA test results show a descendant of Marvel Graham, and one from Jeffrey Graham, match each other, and both are Haplogroup E3a which is an African group. This should put the question to rest. There is African ancestry in the Graham line. This doesn't preclude a Portuguese connection, of course, but it does show an irrefutable African connection.

Marvel Graham was born ca 1817/18 [per 1850 census] or ca 1816/17 [per 1860 census]. These two are pretty close together. He was born in North Carolina per the same two sources. If his parents are who we believe, then he was probably born in Buncombe County near Long Shoals of the French Broad River.

Like many people of his surname, it sort of evolved from "Grimes" to "Graham" over time.

Marvel's parents are unproven but it seems very likely to me (and to others) that he is a son of Lewis Graham and Rebecca Eastridge of Buncombe Co., NC. The evidence linking them is circumstantial but compelling.

1. Marvel was listed as "M" (Mulatto) on the 1850 and 1860 census. This was true for Lewis' family as well.

2. Marvel lived in Haywood and Jackson Co., NC which is very near Buncombe where Lewis lived. Other members of the Graham family also lived in those counties.

3. Marvel's family moved to Blount Co., TN in the 1860's as did other children of Lewis Graham.

4. Lewis Graham did have a son Marvel's age per census analysis. This son is otherwise unidentified.

The above is all circumstantial, but it adds up and is of great interest. A descendant of Marvel Graham took the DNA test as did a descendant of Jeffrey Graham. Their results matched each other thus proving that Marvel and Jeffrey are closely related. We know that they are not father and son, so that leaves Jeffrey's proven brother Lewis as the most likely father for Marvel. DNA results, combined with all the circumstantial evidence we have seem to leave little doubt that Marvel is a son of Lewis. Some solid paper evidence would be nice, but I think it is pretty conclusive even without it. (An alternative would be that Marvel is a son of John Graham, brother of Lewis and Jeffrey, but we know nothing of him.)

For the 1820 census, Marvel would have been about 2 or 3 years old. Lewis Grimes' household in Buncombe County contained two boys under age 13 (born ca 1806-1820). One of those could be Marvel.

For the 1830 census, Marvel would have been around 12 or 13 years old. Lewis had one boy in the 10-23 age group (born ca 1806-1820) which fits Marvel. There is a problem with Lewis' 1830 census entry though, as his other sons (who are proven) don't seem to fit. Of course they could have been off at school or something.

By the time of the 1840 census, Marvel would be about 22 or 23 years old. He is not listed on the census as a head of household so he is probably still home with his parents. Lewis' household in Buncombe did contain one male aged 24-35 (born ca 1804-1816) which isn't a perfect fit, but it could be him. There were also two males aged 10-23 (born ca 1816-1830), one of which could be Marvel.

Marvel Grimes married Nancy --- sometime between ca 1840 and 1842, probably in Buncombe County (no marriage records survive from this period.) Nancy was born ca 1825/26 [per 1850 census] in North Carolina. I don't know her maiden name.

Marvel and family were listed on the1850 census in Haywood County which is next door to Buncombe. I don't know when they moved there specifically, though obviously sometime between 1840 and 1850. It is possible they married there, but no marriage record was found in that county. On the census, Marvel was listed with race code of "M" for Mulatto though the rest of the family were listed as "W" for White.

1850 census abstract: (Explanation of this census)

(Note: The dates at the end of each line are not part of the original census, but are approximate birth years based on age)

1850 HAYWOOD CO, NC Page 206   House/Family # 1021/1048  -  Twp

GRIMES MARVEL         32 M M FARMER                     NC                   1817/1818
GRIMES NANCY          24 F W                            NC                   1825/1826
GRIMES ARTHER A        7 M W                            NC                   1842/1843
GRIMES MARY            5 F W                            NC                   1844/1845
GRIMES REBECCA A       3 F W                            NC                   1846/1847

1860 JACKSON CO, NC Page 303B  House/Family #  347/ 347 --  Twp  WEBSTER P.O.

GRIMES M              43 M M FARMER                   125 NC                   1816/1817
GRIMES N              35 F W                              NC                   1824/1825
GRIMES M M            15 F W                              NC                   1844/1845
GRIMES A A            16 M W                              NC                   1843/1844
GRIMES R L            10 F W                              NC                   1849/1850
GRIMES R A            13 F W                              NC                   1846/1847

Children of Marvel and Nancy (---) Graham. Marvel and Nancy had four children per the 1850 and 1860 census. They are: Arthur A., Mary M., Rebecca A., and Roxann L. Graham. Rebecca and Roxanne both married Lafollette men, Arthur married three times, and Mary M. Graham married John E. Henderson in 1861 in Jackson Co., NC. I am also a Henderson researcher, but I haven't been able to trace them just yet.

Researcher List

Persons researching this family (click here for data on how to get on or off of this list):

• See Graham Researcher List

Register Report