Christopher Graham (abt. 1670 - abt. 1746)

Born about 15 Jul 1670 in Londonderry, Ulster, Ireland [uncertain]

Husband of Margaret Florence (Risk) Graham — married 1699 in ,,Donegal,Ireland

Descendants

Died about 19 Feb 1746 at about age 75 in Bullpasture, Augusta, Colony of Virginia [uncertain]

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Biography

Christopher Graham was a Virginia colonist.

Christopher Graham migrated from Scotland to Ireland.

Christopher Graham migrated from Ireland to United States.

Christopher was the son of William Graham and Blanch Ervin born 2 February 1707 and baptized 23 Feb 1707 in Canonbie, Dumfries, Scotland ^{[1] [2] [3]} . The Graham family descends from the ancient Clan Graemme. As is true of many other families during the time of King James, the Grahams living on the border of England fled from Scotland to Ireland, and then on to the American Colonies. The Grahams, like many of the early settlers of the Valley of Virginia, were of Scotch-Irish descent and came from the counties of Donegal and Londonderry, in the northern part of Ireland. The term Scotch-Irish, does not necessarily mean a blending of blood between the Scotch and Irish nations, but implies the Scotch who emigrated from Scotland and settled in Ireland. During the years beginning shortly after the middle of the Seventeenth Century, there was a large emigration from Scotland and Ireland, having been brought about on account of religious persecution of the Scotch received at home. The Grahams were Presbyterians.

It is believed that Christopher Graham settled first in Paxton Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania where some of his children were born. The name of his wife has not been established beyond question, but some records show that her name was Margaret F. Risk (some say Florence). "A history of Highland County, Va. states that Christopher Graham and some of his sons settled in Highland County before 1740." However, according to Carol McGinnis in Virginia Genealogy: Sources and Resources, Highland County was not formed until 1 May 1847; and white settlement did not start until 1745. Part of it was formed from Bath County, which, in turn was formed from Augusta County. (p. 183 and p. 163.) Christopher Graham died in 1745 in Augusta County, Virginia. His son, Robert Graham, was appointed as administrator of his father's estate on February 19, 1746.

They had issue:

1. Archibald Graham.
2. Jane Graham.
3. Elizabeth Graham.
4. Rebecca Jane Graham.
5. William Graham
6. Robert Graham
7. John Graham
8. Margaret Graham

He emigrated to Paxtand Township in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania circa 1700.^[4]

He later purchased lands in Augusta County, Virginia.^[5]. A tract devised by James Gillespy to John Gillespy, his son, and by him conveyed to Christopher Graham; John, brother of William Gillespy. Description Landowner Book 23-435^[6] Christopher died in Bullpasture, Augusta, VA on 19 Feb 1746. ^{[7] [8]}

Research Notes

There are some details that were attributed to Christopher that are in conflict but might be pertinent ne'ertheless. For example, a census taken in 1791, years after the demise of Christopher, lists three GRAHAM men in Calfpasuter, Bath, Virginia who are heads of families.^[9]

Another reference attributes his death as being in 1748 rather than 1745 and has some conjecture regarding his issue: "Christopher died in 1748 and was "probably" the father of John, who lived until 1771, and who had eight children, one of whom was Jean, who married Andrew Lockridge. Robert inherited a half interest in the family Gristmill;, Florence married a cousin James Graham; the brother of Florence, who was also named James may have "owned the Mitchell Patent" at his death in 1829."^[10].

An alternate birth date and location has him born on 21 May 1650 in Edinburgh, Scotland.

It seems unlikely that Christopher would ot be baptized until the age of 37, as is suggested by the birth date of 1670, and baptismal record of 1707. Graham-17201 18:41, 2 May 2021 (UTC)

A source record (Baptism with birth date) in Canonbie, and with the correct parents names establishes Christophers birth date as 2 February 1707^[2].He could not have married Margaret Florence Risk on 4 Jan 1665 in Dumfries, Midlothia, Scotland nor in Donegal, Ireland circa 1699 . Graham-17201 20:20, 16 March 2022 (UTC)

Sources

1. ↑ "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950", database, FamilySearch : 11 February 2020), William Graham in entry for Christopher Graham, 1707. Record details: Name: Christopher Graham; Sex: Male; Christening Date: 23 Feb 1707; Christening Place: Canonbie, Dumfriesshire, Scotland; Father's Name: William Graham; Father's Sex: Male; Mother's Name: Blanch Irvin; Mother's Sex: Female
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950"
   FamilySearch (accessed 16 March 2022)
   Christopher Graham baptism in 23 2 1707 (born 2) in Canonbie, Dumfriesshire, Scotland. Father's name: William Graham; Mother's Name: Blanche Irvin
3. ↑ Cleek, George Washington, "Early Western Augusta Pioneers; Cleek, Including the Families of Cleek, Gwin, Lightner, and Warwick, and Related Families of Bratton, Campbell, Carlile, Craig, Crawford, Dyer, Gay, Givens, Graham, Harper, Henderson, Hull, Keister, Lockridge, McFarland, and Moore", Staunton, Virginia: private, 1957, Hathitrust, p. 361
4. ↑ Place: Pennsylvania; Year: 1670-1745; Page Number: 361 Source Information: Ancestry.com. U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc, 2010. Original data: Filby, P. William, ed. Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s. Farmington Hills, MI, USA: Gale Research, 2012.
5. ↑ "Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia, 1745-1800. Extracted from the Original Court Records of Augusta County" by Lyman Chalkley.
6. ↑ Virginia Land, Marriage, and Probate Records, 1639-1850; - Chalkley, Lyman. Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia, 1745-1800. Extracted from the Original Court Records of Augusta County. Baltimore: Genealogical P
7. ↑ Chalkley, Lyman, "Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia, Extracted from the Original Court Records of Augusta County 1745-1800", Rosslyn, VA: Mary S Lockwood, 1912, Vol. I, Archive.org, P. 38
8. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #148339631
9. ↑ Morton, Oren Frederic, "Annals of Bath County Virginia", Stuanton, Virginia: McClure Co., Inc., 1917, Archive.org, p. 119
10. ↑ Morton, Oren Frederic, "Annals of Bath County Virginia", Stuanton, Virginia: McClure Co., Inc., 1917, Archive.org, p. 194