Gilbert Graham (bef 1774-c1796) of Horry Co., SC

Marty and Karla Grant

[Home] [What’s New?] [Books for Sale] [Christian] [Genealogy] [Search] [Support] [About] [Contact]

[Graham Home] - [Table of Contents] - Gilbert Graham (bef 1774-c1796)

Jump to Children’s section | Jump to Family Group Sheet

Gilbert Graham is my 5 times great uncle.

Gilbert Graham was born before 1774 per his age on the 1790 census of 16+ (before 1774). Since he’s a proven brother of William Graham (bef 1755) and likely brother of Joseph (bef 1755), John (1755/65) and James (1755/65), it seems his birth would be in line with theirs, so perhaps born ca 1770 at the latest. I don’t know where he was born, perhaps in South Carolina. He was most likely of Scottish or English ancestry.

What is now Horry County was part of Craven County until 1769 when Georgetown District was created from it. The area remained Georgetown until 1801 when Horry District was carved out from it. It remained Horry District until 1868 when all districts became counties, thus it was Horry County from then on. However, Gilbert died before Horry was ever formed.

Gilbert Graham is a proven brother of William Graham (bef 1755), who is thought to be a son of John Graham and Mary Johnston. Others have speculated that Mary is a daughter of Gilbert Johnston (Sr) which, if correct, would probably be Gilbert Graham’s namesake.

Gilbert Graham married someone, name unknown, before 1790. There is a Mary Graham who witnessed some deeds in 1801 and 1804. It is possible she was Gilbert’s widow, but that’s just speculation on my part.

Gilbert Graham is listed on the 1790 census in Georgetown District in Prince George Parish.

1790 Census - Georgetown District., South Carolina, Prince George Parish

Page	Name	Males 16+	Males under 16	Females	Others	Slaves
507	Gilbert Graham	1	1	2	~	4

My analysis (who each person *might* be):

1m 16+ (before 1774) Gilbert Graham (bef 1774)

1m -16 (1774/1790) John Gilbert (c1790) son

2f (before 1790) 1. Wife?

2. Daughter?

4 Slaves (before 1790)

Gilbert Graham was dead by late 1796 for on 2 Aug 1796 John Graham Sr made a deed for 20 pounds to John Graham son of Gilbert Graham deceased. He deeded 100 acres on the north east side of Little Pee Dee. It references the original plat granted to John Graham Sr 21 May 1772. John Graham signed. Witnesses were Samuel Foxworth and Thos. Hardee. (Horry Co., SC Deed Book A1, pp. 135-136.)

Any Will or probate records for Gilbert Graham were undoubtedly lost during the Civil War when the Georgetown District records were destroyed. However, a few deeds filed in Horry prove at least three of his children. I’ve found none that prove who his wife was, unfortunately.

Mrs. Gilbert Graham was not listed on the 1800 census. She was either dead by then, remarried, or residing with another family and thus not a head of household.

In 1804, Thomas Grainger sued Joseph Graham in court on a charge of trespassing relating to use of cattle belonging to the estate of Gilbert Graham, deceased. According to the suit, on 20 Feb 1802, Joseph Graham had agreed to let Thomas Grainger use and manage the livestock “until the children of Gilbert Graham deceased should become of age or until they or some one of them should institute a suit for the division of the estate of the said Gilbert Graham deceased.” This suggests that Joseph Graham was administrator or Executor of Gilbert Graham’s estate and or guardian of the children. It also shows that as of 1804, the children of Gilbert Graham were all still under age. None of the heirs were listed by name. (Horry Co., SC Deed Book A1, pp. 13-17.)

On 27 Oct 1806, Moses Harrelson, James Singleton and William Graham made a bond to William Hemmingway, Ordinary for Horry District. The condition was that William Graham would be come guardian to Margaret Graham and raise her. An added note by William Graham dated 15 Jan 1807 referred to “Guardianship of brother Gilbert daughter” which proves who Margaret was, and also proves that William and Gilbert were brothers. (Horry Co., SC Administration Bonds 1803-1818, p. 31.)

I’ve found no other records pertaining to Gilbert Graham yet.

Children

Gilbert Graham had at least three children as proven by Horry County records, namely James, Margaret and John. There may have been others, but these are all I know of at present.

1. John Graham (c1790) proven by 1796 deed from John Graham Sr (1755/65) to him, referring to him as John son of Gilbert.

John is probably the male under 16 with his father in 1790, thus born ca 1774/1790.

There are two Johns on the 1800 census, one is his uncle John Graham (1755/65), and the other is John Jr, son of his uncle John. John son of Gilbert was only around 10 years old at that time.

There are two Johns on the 1810 census in Horry, but it’s the same two from 1800, neither being John son of Gilbert. He was probably still single at this time and perhaps 20.

On 14 Jan 1812, Samuel Johnston and John Graham “son of Gilbert” witnessed a deed from William H. Grice to John McQueen. John Graham signed with a mark. (Horry Co., SC Deed Book B1, p. 63.)

John Graham was not listed on the 1820 census in Horry. His 1^st cousin John, son of John (1755/65), was the only one listed. John son of Gilbert, if still in the area, was residing with someone else.

Records on him are scarce. The next one I find is the 1850 census where he is living in Barbour Co., AL with George W. Benson and wife Susan (Harrelson) Benson, and Susan’s 92 year old mother Nancy Harrelson. She is the widow of Moses Harrelson. They were from Horry originally and associated with the Grahams there, perhaps related. We don’t know who Gilbert Graham’s wife was, perhaps a Harrelson? That could explain the association, though it’s just a guess on my part.

On the 1850 census John is listed as 60, a farmer, no property, born in South Carolina. He was either never married, or already widowed with all his children gone from home by then.

We know this is the same John Graham because his brother James Graham was associated with these same Bensons in Barbour Co., AL.

I didn’t find John Graham on the 1860 census. He may have been dead by then.

2. Margaret Graham (1786/96-aft 1806) proven by 1806 administration bond for guardianship by her uncle William Graham. If she was still a minor in 1806, she was born no earlier than ca 1786 and no later than ca 1796 when her father died. She may be the apparent daughter with Gilbert Graham in 1790, thus putting her birth before 1790, or ca 1786/90. Or, she might be the female aged 1794/1800 with William Graham in 1810 if still unmarried by then. I don’t know what became of her after 1806.

3. James Graham (c1790) is proven by his 1820 census entry which lists him as “Graham James Son Gilbert.” I don’t know who he was living with on the 1800 census.

He was head of household in 1810, listed as James Jr. married with children by then. He married Mary — at some point. I don’t know her maiden name. She was born ca 1784/90 per census analysis.

James was on the 1820 census in Horry, listed, as noted before, as “Graham James Son Gilbert” presumably to distinguish him from James son of Joseph who was listed as James Senior on that census.

James was in Pike Co., AL for the 1830 census, which is also where Theophilus Floyd of Horry had moved. Two of James’s sons married Theophilus’s daughters, probably in Pike County.

By 1840 he was in Barbour Co., AL listed a few houses from his son James H. Graham. The Floyds were then in that county too.

In 1840, James Graham deeded property to Elizabeth Ann Benson, who is a daughter of George W. Benson. (Barbour Co., AL Book B, pp. 891-892.)

In 1842 James Graham and wife Mary deeded property to Rebecca Benson a minor heir of George W. Benson. Both James and Mary signed with a mark. (Barbour Co., AL Book D, pp. 197-199)

Two days later they deeded property to Matthew C. Graham (their son, though not so stated in the deed). (Barbour Co., AL Book E, pp. 112-113)

I didn’t find James in 1850. He and Mary may have both been dead by then. However, there is a compatible James Graham back in Horry Dist., SC for the 1850 census. If him, he had married again in the 1840s to Winniford (—). She was born ca 1825 in South Carolina, perhaps Horry. I don’t know her maiden name. James and Winny were in Covington Co., AL by ca 1856. They are listed there on the 1860 census.

I’m not 100% sure the James Graham of 1850 Horry and 1860 Covington are the same James who is son of Gilbert Graham who was in Horry in 1820 and AL in 1830 and 1840. He does fit age-wise and name-wise, but if it’s him, why did he return to Horry? Also, why would he have two sons named James? Gilbert’s son had James H. (c1811). The one in Horry in 1850 had a James Madison born ca 1849/50. Of course I don’t have proof that James H. Graham (c1811) is James’s son. He could be John’s son instead.

However, until I can prove otherwise, I’m going to leave James (c1790) of 1850 Horry/1860 Covington as the same person as James son of Gilbert. If anyone has any information to help me prove or disprove this, please share.

For Family Group Sheet and other notes see my database pages for Gilbert Graham (bef 1774-c1796)

Revised: October 25, 2025

[Home] [What’s New?] [Books for Sale] [Christian] [Genealogy] [Search] [Support] [About] [Contact]