“The challenge: have one blog post each week devoted to a specific ancestor. It could be a story, a biography, a photograph, an outline of a research problem — anything that focuses on one ancestor.”
This is entry #31 in Amy Johnson Crow’s Challenge: 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks.
#31 Mary Ann McGRAW abt. 1781-1840s
You’ve got to love an ancestor who leaves evidence of who her parents were! In 1800 my 4th great-grandfather William WOOD wanted to hitch up with Mary Ann McGRAW. But Mary Ann wasn’t old enough and had to have her parents’ permission to tie the knot.1
June the 2
Sir, this coms to let you now that
I Marten and Marget Mcgraw
is willing that William Wood
should have our daughter Mary Ann
To John Hutchason (Clerk)
The above was sworn to by
John Wood one of the witnesses
present
And so it came to be that Martin and Margaret McGRAW, my 5th great-grandparents, gave permission for their daughter, my 4th great-grandmother, Mary Ann McGRAW to marry William WOOD, my 4th great-grandfather. This took place in the newly formed county of Monroe formerly part of Greenbrier County.
Know all men by these presents that we William Wood
and John Wood are held & firmly Bound unto
James Monroe Esq. governor or Chief Majestrate of the
Commonwealth of Virg. in the Sum of one hundred and
fifty Dollars, with Condition that there is no lawful cause
to obstruct a marriage intended to be Solemnized between
the above named William Wood & Mary Anne McGraw,
Both of this County of Monroe, then this obligation to
be Void, otherwise to be & remain in full force and
Virtue – Sealed with our Seals & dated this
third day of June one thousand Eight hundred.
Attest. William Wood
John Hutchison, Clk. John Wood
John WOOD, one of the witnesses present when permission was given by Martin and Margaret McGRAW, went bond with William WOOD of Monroe on William’s marriage to Mary Ann McGRAW of Monroe on Tuesday the 3rd of June 1800 in Monroe County, Virginia.2
Two weeks later on Wednesday, the 18th day of June, Rev. John ALDERSON Jr. solemnized the marriage of William and Mary Ann.3
The WOOD family and Rev. John ALDERSON Jr. knew each other well. Bailey WOOD, William’s father, had been one of the original 12 Baptists who organized the Old Greenbrier Baptist Church.
On the 130th anniversary of the founding of the Old Greenbrier Baptist Church, Rev. Robert B. McDanel preached on Sunday morning, 26 November 1911, of the brave little band of twelve members with sturdy convictions whose “names are surely immortal.” He also shared the following about the membership.4
In those early years the membership was scattered over a wide extent of territory. It is recorded in the minutes, July 26, 1788, that those who lived nigh were required to attend the services once a month. Those who lived within fifteen miles must come once a quarter, and those at further distance once a year.
As part of the second night of celebration of the 200th annual session of the Greenbrier Baptist Association held in Alderson, West Virginia in July 2000, Rev. Jon Jennings portrayed Rev. John Alderson Jr. in a historical overview of the establishment of the Greenbrier Baptist Association and the Old Greenbrier Baptist Church. His monologue included the following:5
So, for four years I continued this struggle as a traveling preacher, until November 24, 1781, we gathered together, 12 faithful Baptists and organized the Greenbrier Baptist Church. (Let me see if I can recall the names: Myself, and my wife, Mary, and Thomas Alderson; then John Kippers, John Shepherd, then there was John, Katherine, Joseph and Lucy Scaggs, and the Woods family: Bailey and Ann, and James Woods).
Siblings of Mary Ann McGRAW
To make the following list I studied the tax lists submitted by Julie McGrew-Ayres6; the early marriages in the Greenbrier, Monroe, Kanawha, Nicholas, and Fayette counties area; and the pre-1850 as well as later censuses – for all persons named.
• Sib 1: Anthony (1775-1814) born abt. 1775 Pennsylvania
• Sib 2: John (1776- ) born abt. 1776 Pennsylvania
• Sib 4: Martin (1785-1858) born 1785 Pennsylvania
• Sib 5: William (1788- ) born abt. 1788
• Sib 6: Elender (1788-1845) born abt. 1789
• Sib 7: Samuel (1792-1874) born abt. 1792 (West) Virginia
• Sib 8: Thomas (1795-1855) born abt. 1795 (West) Virginia
• Sib 9: Henry (1797-1873) born abt. 1797 (West) Virginia
The marriage of William WOOD and Mary Ann McGRAW was the only one that had a bond showing her parents to be Martin and Margaret McGRAW. Thomas McGRAW’s wife Catharine gave the names of his parents as Martin and Margaret McGRAW on his 1855 death record.7
I believe that all of these McGRAWs were children of Martin and Margaret EXCEPT for William McGRAW who married Elizabeth GILL. This William was a grandson through their son Anthony.
Parents of Mary Ann McGRAW
After studying the possible children of Martin and Margaret McGRAW, I found the estimated years of birth seen for the couple in many online GEDCOM files need to be revised.
Martin: He was most likely 21 or older when he married. Anthony, the oldest known child, was born abt. 1775. If he was the first child and born within a year of the marriage, Martin and Margaret might have been married about 1774 or earlier. Martin would therefore have been born about 1753 or earlier. Martin was last seen on tax lists in 1805 and Margaret was first seen on the tax lists in 1810. Martin died after 1805 and before 1810.
Margaret: In 1820 and 1830 her son Henry McGRAW had an older woman living in his household. In 1820 Henry was not yet married and the woman age 45 or older must be his mother.8 I believe that the woman aged between 70 and 79 in 1830 is his mother although any other older woman.9 But let’s assume she is Henry’s mother. This range in 1830 would put her birth between 1751-1760. She would have been between 15-24 when her oldest child Anthony was born. Margaret would therefore have been born between 1751-1760. Margaret died most likely between 1830-1840.
Mary Ann McGRAW was born in Pennsylvania
Mary Ann McGRAW’s brother Martin McGRAW Jr. (1785-1858) married William WOOD’s sister Nancy WOOD by the publication of banns on 3 May 1806 in Monroe County. The marriage was solemnized by Rev. John ALDERSON Jr.10 A marriage by license was more expensive than marriage by the publication of banns. This public notice of an intended marriage had to be published, verbally or by written notice, for three consecutive meetings at the churches of the bride and groom making the waiting time longer than with a license.
Was there a reason that the couple would marry “by banns” in 1806? Martin McGRAW Sr., as mentioned previously, was last seen on the Greenbrier tax lists in 1805 which may suggest that he was deceased when his son Martin Jr. married. Could he not afford a marriage license?
Martin Jr. lived long enough to be enumerated on the 1850 census.11 We rely on the census for valuable pieces of information concerning our ancestors. Nevertheless, the information is only as reliable as the person who answered the enumerator’s questions. In the case of Martin Jr., no ages were listed for any of the persons in his household in 1850. Still, their places of birth were included. Martin Jr. was born in Pennsylvania. As Mary Ann was his older sister she was likely also born in Pennsylvania. Martin Jr.’s War of 1812 pension papers may have more information on his place of birth. (Note: The pension file was downloaded and reviewed 4 January 2020. Martin McGraw Jr.’s place of birth is not mentioned.)
Children of Mary Ann McGRAW and William WOOD
In 1810 Mary Ann and her husband William WOOD were enumerated next door to her brother Martin McGRAW and her father-in-law Bailey WOOD.12 By 1810 Mary Ann had given birth to 5 children. Four would follow in the next 14 years.
• Ch 1: Enoch J. (1801-aft. 1870) was born about 1801 in Monroe
• Ch 2: Margaret “Peggy” (1801-1856) was born about 1801 in Monroe
• Ch 3: Unknown (1804- ?) female was born bet. 1804-1809 in Monroe
• Ch 4: Elijah (1806-1885) was born about 1806 in Monroe
• Ch 5: Amos (1807-1845) was born about 1807 in Monroe
• Ch 6: Allen (1814-1862) was born about 1814 in Monroe
• Ch 7: Bailey (1816-1842) was born bet. 1816-1819 in Monroe or Nicholas
• Ch 8: Unknown (1816-?) female was born bet. 1816-1819 in Monroe or Nicholas
• Ch 9: Mary Ann “Polly” (1824-aft. 1900) was born 5 June 1824 in Nicholas County
Note (30 July 2022): PPT (personal property tax) lists are now available online for all Virginia counties. The entries for Wood in Monroe and Nicholas counties were checked. William was in Monroe County until Nicholas County was formed in 1818.
Following the birth of her last child Mary Ann’s children began to marry:
• Ch 4: Elijah WOOD married Rachel HONAKER (1804-1860) on 4 January 1825 in Nicholas County13
• Ch 2: Margaret “Peggy” WOOD married Thomas WITHROW (1806-1880) on 12 October 1826 Nicholas County14
• Ch 1: Enoch J. WOOD married Margaret JOHNSON (1800-1850) before 1827
• Ch 5: Amos WOOD married Susan PARRISH ( -1845) on 12 May 1831 in Nicholas County15
• Ch 6: Allen WOOD married Elizabeth JOHNSON (1808-1881) on 14 November 1832 in Monroe County16
• Ch 9: Mary Ann “Polly” WOOD married Martin HESS (1818-1900) on 1 October 1841 in Fayette County17
These six children gave Mary Ann McGRAW and William WOOD 47 grandchildren and close to 200 great-grandchildren. I don’t have all great-grandchildren as I have only recently begun research on Peggy and Thomas WITHROW.
Mary Ann’s husband William WOOD died before 18 August 1835 in Fayette County when his sons Elijah and Amos were appointed administrators of his estate.18
Years ago an indexing error on Ancestry for Amos WOOD’s 1840 census showed two women in his household. It has been corrected and reflects the household correctly. At the time, I didn’t pay close attention to the numbers and columns on the census sheet and assumed the older woman was Mary Ann McGRAW. This mistake caused me to estimate her death in the 1840s.
Following the 1840 census, there were several deaths in the family. Bailey WOOD died before 10 November 1842 when his brother Elijah WOOD was appointed administrator of his estate and appraisers were chosen.19
Amos WOOD died leaving a will dated 24 May 1845 that was presented in open court in June 1845.20 Although he provided for his 5 children he did not mention his wife Susan who must have predeceased him.
Mary Ann McGRAW, the widow of William WOOD, was living on 19 January 1836 when her dower rights were established for the land of her deceased husband.21 She likely died before the 1840 census. The census records of each of her children were studied and none had an older woman in their household. Although many have her date and place of death as abt. 1845 in Nicholas County, I believe that she died in Fayette County, where she was living when her husband died.
On the anniversary of Mary Ann McGRAW and William WOOD’s 100th wedding anniversary, only one of their children was still living. Mary Ann “Polly” WOOD and her husband Martin HESS, married 56 years, were living on the south side of Mountain Cove District in Fayette County.22
This Post was Updated on 31 July 2022: Missing source citations were added, images were scaled, and some corrections were made to the text and format. Further records were found that necessitate a new post updating information on one of the children.
© 2014-2022, copyright Cathy Meder-Dempsey. All rights reserved.
- West Virginia Vital Research Records Project (database and images), West Virginia Division of Culture and History citing county records in county courthouses, West Virginia (A collaborative venture between the West Virginia State Archives and the Genealogical Society of Utah to place vital records online via the West Virginia Archives and History Web site accessible at https://archive.wvculture.org/vrr), West Virginia, Monroe County, June 1800, William Wood and Mary Ann McGraw, permission slip from her parents (http://www.wvculture.org/vrr/va_view.aspx?Id=11370465&Type=Marriage : accessed 2 January 2020). ↩
- Ibid., West Virginia, Monroe County, Marriage Bond dated 18 June 1800 William Wood and John Wood went bond on the marriage of William Wood and Mary Anne McGraw (both of Monroe). (http://www.wvculture.org/vrr/va_view.aspx?Id=11370480&Type=Marriage : accessed 2 January 2020). ↩
- Ibid., West Virginia, Monroe County, 18 June 1800 William Wood and Mary Ann McGraw married by John Alderson. 1800 Marriage Record entry (right page, 1st entry under Alderson). (http://www.wvculture.org/vrr/va_view.aspx?Id=11369625&Type=Marriage : accessed 2 January 2020). ↩
-
West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History, “1781-1911: One Hundred and Thirtieth Anniversary, Old Greenbrier Baptist Church,” “One Hundred and Thirtieth Anniversary Sermon Preached by the Pastor, Rev. Robert B. McDanel, Sunday Morning, November 26, 1911.”
(https://archive.wvculture.org/history/religion/greenbrierbaptist01.html : accessed July 2014). ↩ - Historical Monologue of Greenbrier Baptist Association, “Dramatic Monologue by Elder John Alderson, Jr.,” a historical overview of the establishment of the Greenbrier Baptist Association and the Old Greenbrier Baptist Church (originally found online http://www.shuckmemorial.com/GBAHistory.html : site last updated 27 August 2006). The article has been saved to the Wayback Machine: https://web.archive.org/web/20070707021923/https://www.shuckmemorial.com/GBAHistory.html : accessed 30 July 2022. ↩
- Julie McGrew-Ayres, “Greenbrier County, WV – McGraw’s in the Greenbrier Co. Tax Lists – 1792-1833,” submitted February 1999 (http://files.usgwarchives.net/wv/greenbrier/taxlists/mcgraw.txt : accessed July 2014) ↩
- WVCulture.org, 1855 Death Register entry for Thomas McGraw line 68. (http://www.wvculture.org/vrr/va_view.aspx?Id=4786546&Type=Death : accessed 22 January 2020). ↩
- 1820 U.S. Federal Census (index and images), Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7734/), citing Fourth Census of the United States, 1820 population schedule, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C., NARA microfilm publication M33, 142 rolls, NARA Roll: M33_133, Image: 218, Virginia, Monroe, Peterstown, page 179, Henry McGraw household (https://www.ancestry.com/ : accessed 8 January 2020). ↩
- 1830 U.S. Federal Census (index and images), Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/8058/), citing Fifth Census of the United States, 1830 population schedule, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C. NARA microfilm publication M19, 201 rolls, Roll: 190; History Library Film: 0029669, Virginia, Greenbrier, page 192, Henry McGraw household (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 7 September 2014). ↩
- WVCulture.org, West Virginia, Monroe County, 3 May 1806, Nancy Wood and Martin McGraw married by John Alderson, banns were published. 1806 Marriage Record (right page, 4th entry from bottom). (http://www.wvculture.org/vrr/va_view.aspx?Id=11369727&Type=Marriage : accessed 2 January 2020). ↩
- 1850 U.S. Federal Census (index and images), Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/8054/), citing Seventh Census of the United States, 1850 population schedule, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C., NARA microfilm publication M432, 1009 rolls, Roll: M432_971, Virginia, Putnam County, District 46, sheet 287A, household 274-282, lines 14-22, Martin McGraw (accessed 22 January 2020). Ages were not listed. This is a known omission on the 1850 census of Putnam County. ↩
- 1810 U.S. Federal Census (index and images), Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7613/), citing Third Census of the United States, 1810 population schedule, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C. NARA microfilm publication M252, 71 rolls, Roll: 70, Family History Library Film: 0181430, Virginia, Monroe, image 22, page 575, William Wood (accessed 2 January 2020). ↩
- WVCulture.org, West Virginia Marriages, 1780-1970, FHL microfilm 495643, image 130, West Virginia, Re-Index and Copy of Marriage Record No. 1–Nicholas County, line 6, 4 Jan 1925, Elijah Wood and Rachel Hannaker, married by Jno Campbell, citing Nicholas County. (http://images.wvculture.org/495643/00130.jpg : accessed 25 April 2013). ↩
- Ibid., West Virginia Marriages, 1780-1970, FHL microfilm 495643, image 130, Re-Index and Copy of Marriage Record No. 1—Nicholas County, no page number, 9th entry, 12 Oct 1826, Thos Withrow, Margaret Wood, married by John Campbell. (http://images.wvculture.org/495643/00130.jpg : accessed 22 July 2014). ↩
- Ibid., West Virginia Marriages, 1780-1970, FHL microfilm 495643, image 130, Re-Index and Copy of Marriage Record No. 1—Nicholas County, no page number, 14th entry, 12 May 1831, Amos Wood, Susan Parish, married by W. Carnefix. (http://images.wvculture.org/495643/00130.jpg : accessed 22 July 2014). ↩
- Ibid., West Virginia Marriages, 1780-1970, FHL microfilm 1710879, image 516, 14 Nov 1832, Allen Wood and Charles W Johnson bond for the marriage of Allen Wood and Elizabeth Johnson. (http://images.wvculture.org/1710879/00516.jpg : accessed 23 July 2022). ↩
- Ibid., West Virginia Marriages, 1780-1970, FHL microfilm 584764, image 201, page 23, entry 3, Martin Hess and Mary A Wood, 1 Oct 1841, married by John Johnson. (http://images.wvculture.org/584764/00201.jpg : accessed 30 July 2022). ↩
- “Court minutes and order books, 1837-1928,” browse-only images, FamilySearch, citing microfilm of original records at the Fayette County, West Virginia courthouse., Film 585502, DGS 8613652, Minute books, v. 1-2 1837-1848, image 12 of 470, August Term 1835, 18 Aug 1835, page 11, 3rd entry, Amos and Elijah Wood, bond for letters of administration for the estate of William Wood, deceased. (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C34C-T9J7-H?i=11&cat=100698 : accessed 23 July 2022). ↩
- Ibid., Film 585502, DGS 8613652, Minute books, v. 1-2 1837-1848, image 287 of 470, November Term 1842, 10 Nov 1842, page 521, 1st and 2n entry, Amos and Elijah Wood, bond for letters of administration and appraisers of estate of Bailey Wood Jr. (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C34C-T9KW-6?i=286&cat=100698 : accessed 31July 2022). ↩
- “West Virginia Will Books, 1756-1971,” database with images, FamilySearch, Fayette > Will book, v. 001 1832-1866 > image 224 of 292 (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9392-C9SQ-5S?cc=1909099&wc=M6DN-5NG%3A179689901%2C179689902 : 23 October 2018) ↩
- “Court minutes and order books, 1837-1928,” Film 585502, DGS 8613652, Minute books, v. 1-2 1837-1848, image 24 of 470, January Term 1836, 19 Jan 1836, page 34-35, Mary Wood’s dower rights. (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C34C-T9FB-T?i=23&cat=100698 : accessed 23 July 2022). ↩
- 1900 U.S. Federal Census (index and images), Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7602/), citing Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900 population schedule, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C., NARA microfilm publication T623, 1854 rolls, Roll T623_1757, FHL microfilm 1241758; West Virginia, Fayette County, Mountain Cove, enumeration district 18, sheet 3A+3B, lines 50-52, household 48-49, Martin Hess (accessed 31 July 2022). ↩
I never cease to be amazed at your meticulous research! You are an inspiration, and have great skills!
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Thank you Helen. I really appreciate the praise. Don’t know about it always being great skill — sometimes it is luck, and other times it is looking in the right place!
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I too, am very impressed! Love all the documentation and everything is very clearly laid out—well done!! 🙂
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Thank you Patty!
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Oh no! It is a great skill you have! Keep up the great work. I surely admire it.
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You are so nice Helen. You make me feel good. Thank you, thank you!
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William, who married eliz Gil was my gg grandfather, great grandfather was named Samuel . Willam came to southern ohio with Presley gill,your work is much appreciated. mabel McGraw Vassar
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Hello Mabel,
Nice to hear from you. I have an old post of yours attached to William McGraw. It helped me connect William and Anthony McGraw and Martin McGraw.
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Martin V. McGraw is my fourth great grandfather – direct lineage. Sure wish I could find out who his parents were! Great info 🙂 Greg McGraw
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Hello Greg. Thanks for stopping by. Wonderful to hear from someone who has direct lineage to my ancestors.
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Thanks! And thank you for stopping by my Site 🙂
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I didn’t have much time to begin reading your blog today but it is now on my reader. 🙂
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🙂
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Hi Greg! Martin McGraw is also my husband’s 4th great grandfather—through his son Thomas and Thomas’ son Samuel (which is where the name seems to have changed to McGrew, for unknown reasons!).
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Nice to meet you! I have a strong suspicion that the name was McGrew when this lineage came out of Ireland. One of Martin’s tax records in PA, (before he moved to VA), shows his name as McGrew. It is quite possible that he was a Quaker, as he had a fair amount of land and there were McGrew Quakers all over the place where he lived. Maybe they had a falling out or something and he switched it to McGraw. I’m hoping to get my DNA tests back in a few weeks and see what links I can find. Thanks for commenting!
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Thanks for posting this information. My husband is decended through Martin’s son, Thomas. It appears many of Martin’s decendants changed their name from McGraw to McGrew sometime after the civil war. Thomas’ son Samuel (my husband’s great-great grandfather) was born a McGraw, married as a McGraw 1868, but he and his famly were McGrews in the 1870 census and on every document thereafter, including he and his wife’s death certificates. No idea why the names changed. At first I assumed spellng errors, etc., but I’ve read accounts that all but one of Martin’s son’s decendants changed their name, appearing as though it was purposeful, but no reason is known. I haven’t confirmed any of this—except for the change in Samuel McGraw/McGrew. If anyone has any information about this, I’d greatly appreciate it! Thanks again!
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Good question Patty. Hope someone sees this and replies. Thanks for reading my post!
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It seems possible that Martin, Sr. wasn’t liked – just a hunch, but I get a “black sheep” sort of feel about him – nothing to substantiate it. And the fact that his father remains a mysterious enigma, (despite all of the wrong parental attributions of Samuel McGraw and Elizabeth McClelland on ancestry.com), seems to point to some sort of rift. The hole in my Quaker theory is that they kept great ancestry records, and Martin V. isn’t on them that I have discovered. One day . . .
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So glad that I don’t have “wrong parents” listed for Martin. Lots of misc. notes but no parents. As you say, one day….
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I stumbled on the Samuel McGrew–Elizbeth McClelland listings too—but I’ve never been comfortable with it. I’ve never found an actual document to substantiate it. I saw that you mentioned you were getting your DNA done. My husband is doing that as well. Have you heard of the McGrew DNA Project? Since you are decended from a different son of Martin than my husband, that could go a long way in clarifying if Martin McGraw is in fact, the brother of Thomas McGrew, as I’ve seen theorized. With the participants they now have, it seems the two are definitely closely related—as they have participants who are known decendents of Martin McGraw and Thomas McGrew–among several other lines.
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I read about that on Genforum and copied it to Martin’s notes to remind me to check for updates.
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I am familiar with that project. I intend to submit my results to the McGrew DNA project, as well as the one for McGraw, McCrae and McGregor. There is a body of evidence that indicates many McGregors took the name McGrew when they fled to Ireland from Scotland. I’ll be curious to find out!
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You’ll have to keep us up to date, please:
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I will!
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BTW, I am descended through Thomas’ older brother Henry.
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Well, Cathy, I’m probably wrong, as I think I am the only person who has Elizabeth Ware as Martin’s wife, (an emigrant from England). I think most have Margaret Shores. But, I found a Marriage bond between Samuel McGraw and Margaret Shores from about 1826 in Hampshire, VA, and that threw me. Pretty mixed up! It probably is Margaret Shores, but he did have a child named Elizabeth, but none named after a Margaret. That surprised me, too, as each parent had a child named after them. I may never know!
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I list Martin’s wife as Margaret [–?–] McGraw. Not exactly going by the rules but when I don’t have a maiden name for a wife I use the unknown [–?–] with her husband’s surname.
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Heck, I don’t even know the rules! I just found that marriage document that showed Martin Magraw marrying Elizabeth Ware in PA in 1774, and that seemed to fit. I learn as I go 🙂
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I haven’t spent that much time looking into Martin McGraw in Pennsylvania. I did have a look at tax records available through ancestry.com and there seemed to be more than one man by that name at the time. I’ve been sticking with Margaret as it was Martin and Margaret who gave permission to my 4th great-grandmother Mary Ann McGraw to marry William Wood. Maybe we will find that Martin was first married to another woman before Margaret.
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That is a definite possibility – or more likely I’m just wrong about Elizabeth Ware.
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We need to keep ourselves open for any possibilities. Where did you find the marriage record?
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On ancestry.com. Here is a link to the page. It’s really long, but I copied and pasted it in my browser and it worked
http://interactive.ancestry.com/2383/32554_234045-00202/8189?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.com%2fcgi-bin%2fsse.dll%3fssrc%3dpt_t73959489_p48285854469_kpgz0q3d32799_m1%26srchb%3dr%26gss%3dangs-g%26rank%3d1%26tid%3d73959489%26pid%3d48285854469%26gpid%3d%26gsfn%3dMartin%2bV.%26gsln%3dMcGraw%26msbdy%3d1753%26msddy%3d1810%26msbpn__ftp%3dChester%2bCounty%252c%2bPennsylvania%252c%2bUSA%26_82004030__ftp%3dGreenbrier%2bCounty%252c%2bVirginia%252c%2bUSA%26msrpn__ftp%3dWestmoreland%252c%2bPennsylvania%26msrpn1__ftp%3dWheatland%252c%2bWestmoreland%252c%2bPennsylvania%252c%2bUnited%2bStates%26msrpn2__ftp%3dBedford%252c%2bPennsylvania%26msrpn3__ftp%3dWestmoreland%252c%2bPennsylvania%26msgdy%3d1774%26msgpn__ftp%3dPennsylvania%252c%2bUnited%2bStates%26msfng%3dSamuel%26msfns%3dMcGraw%26mssng0%3dElizabeth%2bM.%26mssns0%3dMcGraw%26mscng0%3dMary%2bAnne%26mscns0%3dMcgraw%26mscng1%3dMartin%26mscns1%3dMcGraw%26mscng2%3dElizabeth%26mscns2%3dMcGraw%26mscng3%3dSamuel%26mscns3%3dMcgraw%26mscng4%3dWilliam%26mscns4%3dMcGraw%26mscng5%3dHenry%26mscns5%3dMcGraw%26mscng6%3dThomas%26mscns6%3dMcGraw%26pcat%3dROOT_CATEGORY%26h%3d8189%26db%3dPAMarriageRecords%26indiv%3d1&ssrc=pt_t73959489_p48285854469_kpgz0q3d32799_m1&backlabel=ReturnRecord
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It’s up near the top of the document
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Thank you Greg. While I’m at it I think I’ll take a look at the tax lists and land warrants. Maybe I can figure out how many persons named Martin McGraw were in Pennsylvania before he went to (West) Virginia.
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Probably every other person 😉 I have tracked the geography of the land warrants and taxes of the man I believe is the right Martin McGraw, and the geography is consistent. One note I made is tat he was shown as holding 150 acres at the age of thirteen, (or possibly 16), which immediately led me to think that a sole surviving parent had passed that same year and it was an inheritance. Thus I used that year and location for death info for Samuel McGraw. Total speculation, bit it was worth a shot!
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I think the last time I checked the tax records the images weren’t included. I’ve always pushed the McGraw line aside as it was so confusing.
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Yeah, it’s a mess . . . which explains a lot about me 🙂 LOL
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But we can do something about the mess, everything takes a bit of work. 🙂
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Indeed! I may have to make some trips to PA and Fayette/Greenbrier WV.
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Wish I could do that!
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Fayette is about 30 minutes from me. Greenbrier a little more. But being a novice, I would have no idea where to start!
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I would have to cross the Atlantic Ocean to do research in West Virginia. I’m not a novice genealogist but would help to do the research at the archives and courthouses. It would take a lot of planning to even get ready to research in the counties as I would want to do every one of my father’s lines!
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That would be a bit of a trip! The area is beautiful though! ☺ Maybe I’ll venture down there in the near future and snoop around!
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Would be nice to hear from you if you make any discoveries! Happy Hunting!
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I’ll definitely share any info I get!
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Hi Cathy,
Another long link below. I don’t know exactly how to read this thing, but it appears to me to be a land grant of 300 acres in PA from Martin McGraa, Sr. to Marting McGraa, Jr., (which might be my Martin V. McGraw). And it matches the land and tax info that I have for Martin V. McGraw in the same place and time. If I am reading it right, could this be the elusive father we have as Samuel McGraw? Would love to hear your thoughts!
http://interactive.ancestry.com/2350/33019_b078938-00436/125822?backurl=http%3a%2f%2ftrees.ancestry.com%2ftree%2f73959489%2fperson%2f48290261709%2fmergefamily%3fdbid%3d2350%26rpid%3d125822%26stid%3d0%26spid%3d0%26sept%3dImage%26sest%3dSearch%26sesubt%3dImage&ssrc=&backlabel=ReturnToTree
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Greg, I sent you an email.
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I e-mailed back all the info I could find about the document.
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Did Martin V. McGraw leave a will or have you seen a probate file from when he died in 1858? I am trying to determine if it was his daughter Susannah who married Nathaniel Vaughn.
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Kathy, I haven’t looked into any kind of court records for Martin McGraw Jr. Have you tried searching the catalog at FamilySearch for Fayette County? They have a lot more court records etc. than the last time I checked. Good luck.
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Great research! Love the letter. Martin and Margaret are my 5th G Grand parents. I’m descended through Anthony and Elizabeth McGraw’s daughter Elizabeth. She married Benjamin Johnson in Fayette County in 1829. Anthony died in Norfolk Va in 1814 while serving with with the 4th regt Va Militia. Benjamin was 71 when he married 24 year old Elizabeth. He served three years in the 3rd Maryland during The Revolution.
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Hello Gunter, I only have William, George A., Andrew, and Mary as children of Anthony and Elizabeth. When was their daughter Elizabeth born? I have a George C. Johnson b. abt. married to Sarah Tincher. His parents were Benjamin Johnson and Elizabeth [–?–]. I don’t know who this Benjamin was. He is one of the “loose” Johnsons in my database. I descend from William Johnson and Amy Nelson so trying to keep everyone sorted. Thank you for reaching out.
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Sorry Cathy for such a long absence. George Colby Johnson (1830-1909) and Sarah Ann Tincher were my great great grandparents. My great grandfather, Horace Judson, married their daughter Tabitha Ann and was living with them on the 1880 Fayette census. In the 1880 census, “Ancestry” has George Johnson’s surname reversed. Benjamin Johnson married Elizabeth McGraw (1805-1880) in 1829 when he was 71 and she 24. He had three sons by his unknown first wife. After his death in 1834, she married James T. Price. Benjamin is my “patriot Ancestor” in the SAR. Benjamin first appeared on the Kanawha census in 1810. This should explain a lot. http://www.revwarapps.org/w27761.pdf – promise to pay closer attention – Gunter
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Cathy,
In addition, the info I have on Elizabeth is from a Skaggs second cousin. Also, George A. McGraw married Lucretia “Lucy” Skaggs in 1829. Their son Harvey McGraw is a witness that appears on Elizabeth’s widow’s pension statement of 1878. – Gunter
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Hi Cathy, You are right when you say that it’s wonderful when ancestors leave behind evidence about the parentage, especially female ancestors. Your work is an inspiration to us all. Thank you, Brian
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Thank you, Brian. I‘be learned so much from going over these old posts. Always on the lookout for new collections to browse through! You‘re welcome.
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