Marty and Karla Grant
[Home] [What’s New?] [Books for Sale] [Christian] [Genealogy] [Search] [Support] [About] [Contact]
Joseph Graham (bef 1755-aft 1818) and Margaret — of Horry Co., SC
[Graham Home] - [Table of Contents] - Joseph Graham (bef 1755-aft 1818)
Jump to Children’s section | Jump to Family Group Sheet
Joseph Graham is my 5 times great uncle.
Joseph Graham was born before 1755 per his age on the 1800 census (45+). 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.
Carolyn Buckley lists Joseph as a son of John Graham and Mary Johnston. I don’t know if there is any proof for this but it does work, circumstantially.
Joseph Graham married Margaret --- before ca 1782, presumably in what later became Horry Co., SC. She was born before 1755 per her 1800 census entry. I don’t know her maiden name.
They are listed on the 1790 census in Georgetown Dist.,. SC in Prince George Parish.
1790 Census - Georgetown District., South Carolina, Prince George Parish
Page |
Name |
Males 16+ |
Males under 16 |
Females |
Others |
Slaves |
507 |
Joseph Graham |
2 |
4 |
3 |
~ |
4 |
My analysis (who each person *might* be):
2m 16+ (before 1774) 1. Joseph Graham (bef 1755)
2. Son? Brother? (1755/1774)
4m -16 (1774/1790) 1. William Graham (c1782) son
2. Son? (1784/1790) Joseph Graham (1784/90) son?
3. Son? (1784/1790)
4. Son? (1784/1790)
3f (before 1790) 1. Margaret (—) Graham (bef 1755) wife
2. Daughter? (1774/1784)
3. Daughter? (1784/1790)
4 slaves (bef 1790)
They are listed on the 1800 census in Georgetown Dist., SC in Kingston County. They are not listed near any other Grahams.
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
|
775 |
Joseph Graham |
1 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
~ |
1 |
~ |
9 |
My analysis (who each person *might* be):
1m 45+ (before 1755) Joseph Graham (before 1755)
1m 26-44 (1755/1774) Brother? Son? (1755/1774) > gone by 1810
1m 16-25 (1774/1784) William Graham (c1782) son
4m 10-15 (1784/1790) 1. Son? (1784/1790) Joseph Graham (1784/90) son?
2. Son? (1784/1790)
3. Son? (1784/1790)
4. James Graham (c1790) son
1m 0-9 (1790/1800) Robert Graham (1790/1794) son
1f 45+ (before 1755) Margaret (—) Graham (bef 1755) wife
1f 16-25 (1774/1784) Daughter? (1774/1784)
1f 10-15 (1784/1790) Daughter? (1784/1790)
2f 0-9 (1790/1800) 1. Daughter? (1790/1800)
2. Daughter? (1794/1800)
9 Slaves (before 1800)
On 5 Jan 1805, Joseph Graham Senr made a deed to Benjamin Stephenson for $250 for 250 acres on the north east side of Little Pee Dee River and on Pleasant Meadow Swamp. Originally granted to William Hill on 2 May 1770, then conveyed by Hill to James Lewis 17 Jan 1774, and fell to George Lewis son of James Lewis by heirship, then conveyed to Joseph Graham Senr 17 Dec 1791. Signed by Joseph Graham Senr. Witnesses were John B. Conway and Henry Dicks. On the same date (5 Jan 1805), Margarett Graham, wife of Joseph Graham Senr relinquished her interest in the land. (Horry Co., SC Deed Book A1, p. 261.)
Thomas Grainger sued Joseph Graham for trespassing regarding livestock from the estate of Gilbert Graham deceased. It was apparently agreed (in 1802) that Grainger would have use of the stock until Gilbert Graham’s children came of age and made suit to divide the estate. William Grant attorney for Grainger, Erasmus Rothmakler for Graham. Filed 4 Feb 1803. Grainger won the suit. It’s a long read and no genealogical interest other than noted above. This does show that Joseph Graham was associated with Gilbert Graham (who may be his brother). (Horry Co., SC Deed Book A1, pp. 13-17.)
They are on the 1810 census in Horry Dist., SC next to James Graham Jr (his son) and three houses from John Graham Senr, his brother.
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 |
Joseph Graham |
~ |
~ |
2 |
~ |
1 |
~ |
1 |
~ |
~ |
1 |
~ |
10 |
My analysis (who each person *might* be):
1m 45+ (before 1765) Joseph Graham (bef 1755)
2m 16-25 (1784/1794) 1. James Graham (c1790) son
2. Robert Graham (1790/1794) son
1f 45+ (before 1765) Margaret (—) Graham (bef 1755) wife
1f 10-15 (1794/1800) Daughter? (1794/1800)
10 Slaves (before 1810)
On 15 Nov 1811, Joseph Graham Senior, John McQueen and Hugh Stevens, Esquires, returned an appraisal of the estate of John Graham, Senior, deceased. Joseph Graham is listed as Executor. (Horry Co., SC Inventories, Appraisements and Sales, 1803-1818.)
On 12 Mar 1818, Joseph Graham Senr made a deed of gift to “my son James Graham” of 250 acres on the lake swamp adjoining land he deeded to his son William and Robert Graham. Joseph Graham Senr signed. Witnesses were Saml Willson and Martha Durant. Since Joseph’s wife Margaret didn’t sign or relinquish any rights, she may have been dead by then. Horry Co., SC Deed Book B1, pp. 571-572.)
The above deed proves that James Graham and William Graham are sons of Joseph and also implies Robert Graham was as well.
There are two Joseph Grahams listed on the 1820 census in Horry, one listed as “Senr” and the other as “Junr.” However, I don’t believe either of them are the same as Joseph Graham (before 1755). Our Joseph was either dead by 1820, or perhaps he’s with his son James who has a male aged 45 and up with him in 1820 (born before 1775), which is too old to be James himself.
Joseph Graham and wife Margaret had at least 11 children according to their 1790, 1800 and 1810 census entries. Two sons are proven by an 1818 deed, namely William and James. Robert is probably also be a son as hinted at in the 1818 deed. I didn’t find him deeding land to any of his other children, nor did he leave a Will or estate records. I suspect that Joseph Graham (1784/90) is also a son of his but currently have no strong proof other than that he fits and was in the right area.
1. Unknown Son (1755/1774). Home in 1790 aged 16+ (before 1774) and home in 1800 aged 26-44 (1755/1774). Might be too old to be a son. Could be a brother or nephew instead.
2. Unknown Daughter (1774/1784). She was home in 1790, no ages, and home in 1800 aged 16-25 (1774/1784), and gone by 1810.
3. William Graham (c1782). He was home in 1790, aged under 16 (1774/1790) and home in 1800 aged 16-25 (1774/1784), but gone by 1810. He is a proven son of Joseph as named in an 1818 deed. William is not listed on the 1810 census. He would have been around 28 then. I don’t think he was married yet by then. He isn’t on the 1820 census either, but should be around 38. I believe he’s with his brother Robert Graham then listed as aged 26-44 (1775/1794) which fits. William married Molcy — before ca 1830, presumably in Horry Co., SC. “Molcy” can be its own name, but is sometimes a nickname for Mary. She was born ca 1810 in North Carolina. I don’t know her maiden name. They are on the 1830 census in Horry near brother Robert Graham. They are on the 1840 census in Horry near cousin Abraham Graham. They are on the 1850 census in Horry. William seems to have died in the 1850s. Molcy is on the 1860 census in Horry with widow Nancy Harrelson, perhaps her sister.
4. Unknown Son (1784/1790). Joseph Graham had an apparent son this age with him in 1790, aged under 16 (1774/1790) and home in 1800 aged 10-15 (1784/1790). He was gone by 1810 so married or dead or moved out by then. I suspect this is Joseph Graham (1780/90) who married Lucretia. I can’t prove it though, but it works well.
5. Unknown Son (1784/1790). Joseph Graham had an apparent son this age with him in 1790, aged under 16 (1774/1790) and home in 1800 aged 10-15 (1784/1790). He was gone by 1810 so married or dead or moved out by then.
6. Unknown Son (1784/1790). Joseph Graham had an apparent son this age with him in 1790, aged under 16 (1774/1790) and home in 1800 aged 10-15 (1784/1790). He was gone by 1810 so married or dead or moved out by then.
7. Unknown Daughter (1784/1790). She was home in 1790, no ages, and home in 1800 aged 10-15 (1784/1790) but gone by 1810.
8. James Graham (c1790). James was 58 on the 1850 census, or born ca 1791/92, but that doesn’t quite work with his earlier census records, so I’ve put his birth at ca 1790 which works with all the records except 1850, which is close enough. An 1818 deed proves that James is a son of Joseph. James is probably not born yet on the 1790 census, but in 1800 is with his parents age 10-15 (1784/1790), and home in 1810 aged 16-25 (1784/94). He married Delilah — before 1820. She was born ca 1790 in NC. I don’t know her maiden name. James “Senior” is listed on the 1820 census in Horry. I didn’t find them on the 1830 census. They were back for the 1840 and 1850 censuses in Horry. I didn’t find either James or Delilah in 1860, so perhaps dead by then.
9. Robert Graham (1790/1794). Robert was 51 on the 1850 census (born ca 1798/99) but that seems too young. Some interpret it as 57 instead, which works out to ca 1792/93 which works better with his earlier records. He seems to be with his parents in 1800 aged 0-9 (1790/1800) and home in 1810 aged 16-25 (1784/1794). Robert married Jane — before 1820, presumably in Horry. She was born ca 1801 in SC. I don’t know her maiden name. They are listed on the 1820, 1830, 1840 and 1850 censuses in Horry. I didn’t find either of them in 1860.
10. Unknown Daughter (1790/1800). Joseph had an apparent daughter this age with him on the 1800 census, aged 0-9 (1790/1800). She was gone by 1810 so perhaps married or dead by then.
11. Unknown Daughter (1794/1800). Joseph had an apparent daughter this age with him on the 1800 census, aged 0-9 (1790/1800). She was still home in 1810 aged 10-15 (1794/1800).
For Family Group Sheet and other notes see my database pages for Joseph Graham and Margaret (—)
Revised: October 25, 2025
Copyright © 1996-2025 Marvin A. Grant, Jr. All Rights Reserved.
[Home] [What’s New?] [Books for Sale] [Christian] [Genealogy] [Search] [Support] [About] [Contact]