Jacob Grant (abt. 1745 - 1815)

Born about 1745 in Pennsylvania

Husband of Susannah (Chapman) Grant — married 10 Dec 1771 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Descendants

Died 1815 at about age 70 in Shenandoah, Virginia, USA

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Biography

Jacob Grant was born about 1745 in Pennsylvania. He was likely to be the son of William Grant, however, it is not certain.

The first certain evidence of Jacob Grant in records is his 1771 marriage to Susannah Chapman in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

According to books on the Shenandoah Valley, it was primarily settled by people from Pennsylvania. There was a trail leading directly into the Shenandoah Valley from Pennsylvania. The Shenandoah Valley is literally an extension of the Cumberland Valley, as it is called in Pennsylvania.

Great Valley Geographical Map

Jacob Grant begins appearing in Shenandoah County, Virginia, tax lists in 1798. This screenshot from Binns Genealogy Tax List Club provides the following information:

Jacob Grant in 1798 Tax List

Based upon the key to the above columns, the Household of Jacob Grant had only one male over 16, no slaves, and 2 horses to work his farm. This added up to a tax bill of $18. Considering that Jacob and Susannah Grant were married in 1771, it is probable that Jacob Grant was over 50 in 1798. Females weren't counted in the tax rolls of that era. However, Jacob Grant would have had at least one daughter, Hannah, still living in the household.

Jacob Grant's daughter, Hannah Grant, was married to Joseph Rakestraw in 1803 at Shenandoah County, VIrginia.^[1]

Strangely, Jacob Grant was not enumerated in the 1810 Census. Possibly he was an elderly dependent in another household at this time. He is not listed within the dependents of Joseph Rakestraw, who was enumerated in the 1810 Census.

Jacob Grant does not appear in the 1815 Directory of Virginia Landowners & Gazetteer by Roger G Ward. This could be a clue to look for a land sale prior to Jacob's death.

Jacob Grant died in early 1815. For some reason, none of his children came forward to administer his estate. On May 9, 1815, an unrelated county representative named Spengler was appointed by the Shenandoah County court to administer the sale of the Jacob Grant estate:

Estate to be Administered by the County

Jacob Grant's estate was sold in January 1816.^[2]

Hannah Grant Rakestraw at Father Jacob Grant's Estate Sale

Several family members purchased items from the sale.

The Estate Sale of Jacob Grant

Sources

1. ↑ "Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XR78-XJ2 : 11 February 2018), Jacob in entry for Jos Rakestraw and Hannah Grant, 03 Feb 1803; citing Shenandoah, Virginia, reference p 129; FHL microfilm 33,930.
2. ↑ Shenandoah County Will Book I, pages 508-509.

• Shenandoah County Will Book I, pages 508-509.

• "Pennsylvania Marriages, 1709-1940," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V2XN-W1N : 11 February 2018), Jacob Grant and Susannah Chapman, 10 Dec 1771; citing Swedes', Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; FHL microfilm 823,996.

• "Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XR78-XJ2 : 11 February 2018), Jacob in entry for Jos Rakestraw and Hannah Grant, 03 Feb 1803; citing Shenandoah, Virginia, reference p 129; FHL microfilm 33,930.