Marty and Karla Grant
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John Graham (1755/65-1811) and Martha — of Horry Co., SC
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John Graham and Martha (—) Graham are my 5 times great grandparents.
John Graham was born 1755/1765 per his age on the 1800 census of 26-44 (1755/1774) and his age in 1810 of 45+ (before 1765). Those combine to 1755/65. 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.
John Graham is a proven son of an older John Graham as stated in an 1804 deed. The elder John’s wife is said to be Mary Johnston but I’ve seen no actual proof of that yet.
John Graham married Martha — before ca 1790. She was born before 1765 per her age on the 1810 census of 45+ (before 1765). This poses a problem because there was no female near that age with John in 1800, the oldest listed then was aged 16-25 or born ca 1774/1784. It is entirely possible Martha was a second wife and they didn’t marry until between 1800 and 1804, or that either the 1800 or 1810 census was in error regarding her age.
John Graham is listed on the 1790 census in Georgetown District in Prince George Parish. There are two others listed in Prince Frederick Parish.
1790 Census - Georgetown District., South Carolina, Prince George Parish
Page |
Name |
Males 16+ |
Males under 16 |
Females |
Others |
Slaves |
507 |
John Graham |
1 |
2 |
3 |
~ |
8 |
My analysis (who each person *might* be):
1m 16+ (before 1774) John Graham (1755/65)
2m -16 (1774/1790) 1. John Graham (1774/80) son > m by 1800
2. William Graham (c1788) son
3f (before 1790) 1. Martha (—) Graham (bef 1765) wife
2. Mary Graham (before 1790) > gone by 1800
3. Elizabeth Graham (1784/1790) daughter
8 Slaves (before 1790)
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.)
They are listed on the 1800 census in Georgetown Dist., SC in Kingston County a few houses from William Graham (bef 1755) and James Graham (1755/65).
1800 Census - Georgetown District, South Carolina, Kingston County
Page |
Name |
M0-9
|
M10-15
|
M16-25
|
M26-44
|
M45+
|
F0-9
|
F10-15
|
F16-25
|
F26-44
|
F45+
|
FPC
|
Slaves
|
772 |
John Graham Senr |
1 |
1 |
~ |
1 |
~ |
1 |
1 |
1 |
~ |
~ |
~ |
11 |
My analysis (who each person *might* be):
1m 26-44 (1755/1774) John Graham (1755/65)
1m 10-15 (1784/1790) William Graham (c1788) son
1m 0-9 (1790/1800) Joseph Graham (c1794) son
1f 16-25 (1774/1794) Martha (—) Graham (bef 1765) wife [not a good age match]
1f 10-15 (1784/1790) Elizabeth Graham (1784/1790) daughter > m by 1806
1f 0-9 (1790/1800) Jane Graham (c1795) daughter
11 Slaves (before 1800)
On 17 Apr 1801 John Graham and Mary Graham witnessed a deed from Samuel Foxworth to Margarette Johnston. John Graham proved the deed on 4 May 1801. (Horry Co., SC Deed Book A1, p. 332.)
I don’t know who Mary Graham was. John had a daughter named Mary. If she was old enough in 1801 it could be her. It could also be his mother Mary Johnston Graham if still alive then. Alternately, it could be his wife, as I’ve already speculated that Martha wasn’t his first wife. However, the same Mary (apparently) also witnessed an 1804 deed that included Martha as John’s wife (see below).
On 13 Jan 1804 John Graham Senr and wife Martha, of Horry, sold land to William Graham for $200. The land was 660 acres on Mitchells Swamp of Little Pee Dee River originally granted to Thomas Waring in Feb 1739, and from him transferred to John Moor 10 Apr 1744, and from Moor to William Coachman and from Coachman “to my father John Graham deceased” by deed 19 Jun 1766. The land lays “betwixt the plantation on which the said William Graham now lives and James Johnstons old plantation on Mitchell Swamp.” The deed was signed by John Graham Senr and Martha Graham (her mark). Witnesses were Arnold Godwin and Mary Graham. Mary Graham proved the deed on 23 Aug 1804. Martha Graham, wife of John, relinquished her dower rights on the same date (23 Aug 1804). (Horry Co., SC Deed Book A1, pp. 226-227).
The above deed proves John Graham Senr was a son of the older John Graham and also proves that John’s wife was Martha by 1804. The deed also associates him with William Graham, who is probably his brother.
On 20 Aug 1808 John Graham Senr sold 450 acres to Daniel McQueen Sr for $285. 400 acres part of grant to said John Graham dated 1 Oct 1792, and other tract granted to James Carrell 7 May 1787 and sold by him to John Graham on 18 Jun 1806. The tracts adjoin each other on the south side of the Lake Swamp at and above the mouth of Joiner Swamp. John Graham Senr signed the deed. Witnesses were Josiah Lewis and Willis Lewis. Martha Graham, wife of John relinquished her rights on 9 Nov 1808. She signed by mark. (Horry Co., SC Deed Book A1, pp. 354-355.)
They are on the 1810 census in Horry Dist., SC, near John Graham Jr and James Graham Jr.
1810 Census - Horry District, South Carolina
Page |
Name |
M0-9
|
M10-15
|
M16-25
|
M26-44
|
M45+
|
F0-9
|
F10-15
|
F16-25
|
F26-44
|
F45+
|
FPC
|
Slaves
|
476 |
John Graham Senr |
~ |
1 |
~ |
~ |
1 |
2 |
1 |
~ |
~ |
1 |
~ |
2 |
My analysis (who each person *might* be):
1m 45+ (before 1765) John Graham (1755/65)
1m 10-15 (1794/1800) Joseph Graham (c1794) son
1f 45+ (before 1765) Martha (—) Graham (bef 1765) wife
1f 10-15 (1794/1800) Jane Graham (c1795) daughter > m 1813
2f 0-9 (1800/1810) 1. Daughter? (1800/1810)
2. Margaret Graham (1800/1810) daughter
2 Slaves (before 1810)
On 1 May 1810, John Graham Sr made a deed to John McQueen for $760 for several slaves. Signed by John Graham Sr. Witnessed by James Grice and Jesse Jones. (Horry Co., SC Deed Book B1, pp. 15-16.)
John Graham Sr made his Will on 14 May 1811 in Horry, naming:
∙ beloved wife Martha
∙ my son Joseph
∙ two daughters Jennet and Margaret (neither of age)
∙ my sons John and William
∙ daughter Elizabeth
∙ daughter Mary
∙ Executors son Joseph Graham and William H. Grice
John Graham Sr signed the Will. Witnesses were Jane Graham and Betsy Ann Murphy (her mark). Jane Graham proved the Will on 9 Nov 1811 meaning John had died by then.
A note at the bottom of the Will by William H. Grice stated that Joseph Graham was 17, but was qualified to be executor. (The Will above is fully transcribed by Harmon Graham, Jan 2006 as published in Independent Republic Quarterly, 2005, Vol 39., No. 1-4, p. 25.)
The witness Jane Graham is probably his daughter (named as Jennet in the Will). “Jennet” was a common diminutive form (nickname) for “Jane” in those days. Jane would have been about 15 or 16 then, so old enough to be a witness.
I don’t know when Martha (—) Graham died, other than after 14 May 1811.
John Graham and wife Martha had seven children as proven by John’s 1811 Will. Census analysis suggests at least one more child.
1. John Graham (Jr) was born ca 1774/1780 presumably in what is now Horry Co., SC. He is a proven son of John as named in the 1811 Will. Furthermore, an 1817 deed proves that it is John and wife Doty that is the same John. John seems to be with his parents for the 1790 census, aged under 16 (1774/1790). He married Doty — before 1790. She was born 1774/84 per her age on the 1800 census. I don’t know her maiden name.
They are on the 1800 census in Georgetown Dist., SC, Kingston County, listed as John Junr not near any other Grahams. They were on the 1810 census in Horry a few houses from his probably uncle James Graham Sr. In an 1817 deed, John Graham “son of John” sold land. His wife Doty relinquished her rights. This deed proves that John/Doty is the son of John/Martha. This is helpful as there were other John Grahams in the area, though I believe this one was the oldest of his generation.
John Graham “Senior” is listed on the 1820 census in Horry. Unfortunately this one was alphabetical so we can’t determine neighbors. There was no one Doty’s age with him, so she may have deed between 1817 and 1820. He is also listed in Horry on the 1830 census. He is also on the 1840 census as John Graham “Sr.”
John Graham made his Will in Horry on 11 Feb 1842 naming his heirs. There was no date of it being submitted to court, but John Graham was dead before 1845/1846 because on those tax lists his estate was listed. An 1848 Estate records name his heirs as of that time which matches the Will, further showing that son John was out of state then, though it didn’t specify where.
2. William Graham was born ca 1787/88 per his age on the 1850 census (62). He seems to be with his parents for the 1790 census, aged under 16 (1774/1790), and home in 1800, aged 10-15 (1784/1790), but gone from their household by 1810. He was not listed as a head of household on that census, at least not in Horry. He was named in his father’s 1811 Will. I next find him on the 1850 census in Marion Co., MS residing with his nephew John Foxworth. He is 62 then with no property listed nor any wife or children at home. There is a William Graham in that county in 1840, 1830 and 1820 with a large family and a large number of slaves. Are those records for the same William there in 1850?
3. Unknown Daughter (before 1790). John Graham had a female with him in 1790 who was gone by 1800. This is probably his daughter Mary as named in his 1811 Will. She was probably married by then, but he didn’t list her surname in the Will. I haven’t yet found out who she married.
4. Elizabeth Graham (1784/1790-c1824). She was home in 1790 and in 1800 aged 10-15 (1784/1790). She married Stephen M. Foxworth before 1 Oct 1806. They moved to Marion Co., MS by 1812 and remained there. Her brother William Graham went there also. Elizabeth was named in her father’s 1811 Will but he didn’t list her surname though she was married by then. Stephen M. Foxworth died in 1844 leaving a widow Elizabeth (c1788-aft 1860), but I see from other researchers that she is Elizabeth Rumph, his 2nd wife, married ca 1826, Elizabeth Graham having died ca 1824. I haven’t seen any primary evidence for that, but it would explain the large gap in the children’s ages.
5. Joseph Graham was born ca 1793/94 per a notation on his father’s Will saying he was 17 at that time (1811). He was apparently home with his parents for the 1800 census aged under 10 (1790/1800) and home in 1810 aged 10-15 (1794/1800). He married Claire Skipper before ca 1820 in Horry. She was born ca 1784/85. She was named in the 1827 Will of her father Abraham Skipper as daughter Clarissa Graham. Joseph is listed on the 1820, 1830 and 1840 censuses and 1845/46 tax list in Horry as Joseph Graham Jr each time. They are listed there in 1850. Claire died in the 1850s. Joseph was still living in 1860.
6. Jane Graham (c1795-1860s) was named in her father’s 1811 Will as daughter “Jennet” who was under age (under 21) then. She was old enough to witness the Will though. She seems to be home with her parents in 1800 aged under 10 (c1790/1800) and home in 1810 aged 10-15 (c1794/1800). She married Pugh Floyd in 1813.
7. Margaret Graham (1800/1810). She was home in 1810 aged under 10 (1800/1810). She was named in her father’s 1811 Will and noted she was under age, thus less than 21 (born ca 1790/1811). I don’t know what became of her after 1811.
8. Unknown Daughter (1800/1810). There were two girls aged under 10 (c1800/10) with John in 1810. One was probably Margaret, but the other is unidentified. She wasn’t named in his 1811 Will so dead by then, or wasn’t a daughter at all, but perhaps a grandchild, niece or servant, etc.
For Family Group Sheet and other notes see my database pages for John Graham and Martha ---
Revised: October 26, 2025
Copyright © 1996-2025 Marvin A. Grant, Jr. All Rights Reserved.
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