Richard Grantham (1754 - 1846)

Born 16 Mar 1754 in Dobbs, North Carolina

Ancestors

Husband of Frances (Amis) Grantham — married 14 Apr 1784 in Rogersville, Hawkins, Tennessee, United States

Descendants

Died 22 Jun 1846 at age 92 in Grainger, Tennessee, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Dave Robison [send private message]

Biography

Sergeant Major Richard Grantham served with Dobbs County Regiment, North Carolina Militia during the American Revolution.

Richard Grantham is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A047154.

Richard Grantham was the son of John Grantham and his wife Ann Brown. He was born on 16 March 1754 in Dobbs County, North Carolina.^[1]

He served in the Continental Line during the American Revolution. After the war, he moved first to Hawkins County and then to Grainger County, Tennessee, where he would live for the rest of his life.^[2]

On 4 April 1785, he was married to Frances Amis in Hawkins County, Tennessee by the Rev. Thomas Murrell.^[3] Richard and Frances were the parents of:^[1]

• Penelope Grantham b. 10 Jun 1786
• Mary Grantham b. 8 Feb 1788
• Anne Grantham b. 29 Sep 1789
• Amis Grantham b. 1 Sep 1791
• Tabitha Grantham b. 27 May 1793
• Rachel Grantham b. 5 Mar 1795
• Rhoda (Rody) Grantham b. 9 Nov (year obscured by tear in page; probably 1796 or 1797)
• John Thomas Grantham b. 9 Jan 1800
• James Grantham b. 8 Oct 1801
• Alice Gale Grantham b. 7 May 1803
• Richard Grantham (no date; named in will)
• Willis Grantham (no date, named in will)

In 1830, Richard was head of a household in Grainger County, which included:^[4]

• 1 Free White Male - 15 thru 19
• 2 Free White Males - 20 thru 29
• 1 Free White Persons - 70 thru 79
• 1 Free White Females - 10 thru 14
• 1 Free White Female - 40 thru 49
• 1 Free White Female - 60 thru 69
• 1 Male Slave - 55 thru 99

He paid taxes on land in Grainger County in 1836.^[5]

In 1840, his household included one male 30-40, one male (presumably Richard) 80-90, one female 40-50, and one female 60-70 (presumably his wife, Frances.) ^[6]

Richard was 92 years old when he died on 22 June 1846. He and Frances were buried in the Grantham Family Cemetery in Grainger County. This cemetery was flooded by the Tennessee Valley Authority for the Cherokee Reservoir and was not relocated.^[7][8]

Military Service

Richard Grantham enlisted in the army on 22 July 1775 in Dobbs County, North Carolina.^[9] He served as private and corporal in Captains Thomas Lynch and Glen Drayton's Company under Colonel Charles Cotesworth Pinckney in the South Carolina Troops. He was in one engagement (which was not identified) and was discharged on 4 August 1778. He enlisted a second time, for five months, as a substitute for Joshua Grantham (whose relationship to Richard, if any, was not noted). During this tour, he served as sergeant major in Captain John Kennedy's Company, Colonel William Tazewell's North Carolina Regiment, and was in the battle of Brier Creek.

As a resident of Grainger County, Tennessee, he was granted a pension on his Revolutionary War service effective 4 March 1831.^[10][11] After Richard's death, on 1 August 1848, Frances applied for and was granted a widow's pension on his service.^[12]

Will

Richard Grantham wrote his will on 6 December 1845 and it was recorded in Grainger County on 18 July 1846:^[13]

In the name of God. Amen. I Richard Grantham of the state of Tennessee and county of Grainger being advanced in life and calling to mind the mortality of this Body and immortality of the Soul. But being of sound mind and disposing memory do make and ordain this my last will and testament. First, I will my Body to a decent and Christian like Burial and resigning my soul to God who gave it.

Secondly' I will and bequeath all of my Estate both real and personal to my beloved wife Frances Grantham, her natural life and furthermore by this my last will I grant to my wife Frances Grantham the privilege of disposing of all my household and kitchen furniture and also my flock of sheep as she may think proper by will or otherwise so that my hereinafter named Executors have no charge or concern with said Household or kitchen furniture and said flock of sheep.

Thirdly I will that at the Death of my wife Frances Grantham my hereinafter named Executors sell upon a twelve month credit all my property both real and personal (with the exceptions of my Black Boy Simon) and the proceeds of which to be disposed of as follows: (Viz.) Whereas my Daughter Penelope have remained with me to the present and now advanced in life and whereas also my Black Boy Simon is far advanced in Life and my Daughter Penelope having been a dutiful Child and my boy Simon a faithful Slave I therefore direct that my Executors retain in their hands one Hundred and fifty Dollars to each of them for their decent support in their old age to be managed by my executors for the aforesaid purpose to the best of their Judgment and also my Daughter Tabitha Robertson to have thirty Dollars paid to her out of my estate to make her equal with the rest of my daughters that have married and left me then the residue to be equally divided among my children as hereinafter named, first my daughter Penelope Grantham, 2nd children of my daughter Mary who intermarried with George Sanders (To her children because she is dead), Thirdly the children of my daughter Anna who intermarried with Hezekiah Robertson (to her children because she is dead). My son Amos as I have heretofore given him his portion I will him one Dollar. Fourthly, my daughter Tabitha. Fifthly my daughter Rachel. Sixthly my daughter Rhoda. Seventhly, my son John Grantham. Eighty (sic) my son James Grantham. Ninthly my daughter Alice, Tenthly my son Richard Grantham, Eleventhly my son Willis Grantham. All the above named to have equal [shares] in the money that is received for my Estate after the before mentioned Heirs.

'Lastly I will and appoint that James Grantham and Hugh W. Taylor [be] my Executors to Execute this my last will and Testament of which I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 6th December in the year of our Lord 1845 and witnessed in the presence of the Testator,

Signed Richard Grantham (seal)

and acknowledged in presence of (interlined before signed): George G. Taylor, Jacob P. Kirkham, James H. Gray

Recorded the 18th July 1846.

Note

It has been noted elsewhere that Joshua Grantham was Richards brother who had a young family at this time and that this was the motivation for Richard to serve in his place. The Heritage of Wayne Co states that at the time of the Revolutionary War, Joshua Grantham's children were young, so Joshua's first cousin, Richard Grantham (son of John), who was not married at the time, volunteered in Joshua's place. He served six months as a private and 18 months as a corporal, during which time he took part in the Battle of Brier Creek.[RobinsonRobertson Descendants to B Winfield.FTW]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} "Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files," North Carolina, service of Richard Grantham, Widow's pension for Frances Grantham, File # W-418, digital images, image 17 of 53, Richard Grantham Family Bible (births), Fold3 (https://www.fold3.com/image/22088370); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M804, roll 1110. Note that this image is behind a paywall.
2. ↑ "Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files," North Carolina, service of Richard Grantham, Widow's pension for Frances Grantham, File # W-418, digital images, image 8 of 53, Richard Grantham Interrogatory, Aug. 1832, Fold3 (https://www.fold3.com/image/22088353); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M804, roll 1110. Note that this image is behind a paywall.
3. ↑ "Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files," North Carolina, service of Richard Grantham, Widow's pension for Frances Grantham, File # W-418, digital images, image 16 of 53, Richard Grantham Family Bible (marriages), Fold3 (https://www.fold3.com/image/22088368); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M804, roll 1110. Note that this image is behind a paywall.
4. ↑ 1830 Census: "1830 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1830; Census Place: Grainger, Tennessee; Series: M19; Roll: 180; Page: 388; Family History Library Film: 0024538
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8058 #751045 (accessed 25 January 2023)
   Richard Grantham in Grainger, Tennessee.
5. ↑ Tax Record: "Tennessee, U.S., Early Tax List Records, 1783-1895"
   The Tennessee State Library and Archives; Nashville, Tennessee; Early Tax Lists of Tennessee
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2883 #25226 (accessed 25 January 2023)
6. ↑ 1840 Census: "1840 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1840; Census Place: Grainger, Tennessee; Roll: 525; Page: 100; Family History Library Film: 0024546
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8057 #3529467 (accessed 25 January 2023)
   Richard Grantham (85) in Grainger, Tennessee.
7. ↑ This cemetery was designated Grantham Cemetery No. 54 on TVA Land Map and Track No. Ck 946 and is 1.8 miles from the North End of the Olen R Marshall Bridge, about 200 or 300 feet on the right side of the road. See: Cemeteries Relocated by TVA. Tennessee Valley Authority. http://www.tva.gov/river/landandshore/culturalresources/cemeteries.htm: accessed 26 October 2012.
8. ↑ Burial: "U.S., Tennessee Valley Cemetery Relocation Files, 1933-1990"
   The National Archives at Atlanta; Series Title: Cemetery Relocation Files, 1933-1990; ARC Number: 656399; Record Group Title: Records of the Tennessee Valley Authority; Record Group Number: 142; Box Number: 69
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 60427 #125944 (accessed 25 January 2023).
9. ↑ "Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files," North Carolina, service of Richard Grantham, Widow's pension for Frances Grantham, File # W-418, digital images, image 18 of 53, summary of service, Fold3 (https://www.fold3.com/image/22088372); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M804, roll 1110. Note that this image is behind a paywall.
10. ↑ Military: "U.S., The Pension Roll of 1835"
    Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 60514 #48056 (accessed 25 January 2023)
    Name: Richard Grantham; Rank: Pri.and cor.; Age: 79; Birth Year: abt 1752; Pension Enrollment Date: 4 Mar 1831; Residence Place: Grainger, Tennessee, USA; Service Description: N. Carolina line.
11. ↑ Ledgers of Payments, 1818-1872, to U.S. Pensioners Under Acts of 1818 Through 1858 From Records of the Office of the Third Auditor of the Treasury, 1818-1872; (National Archives Microfilm Publication T718, 23 rolls); Records of the Accounting Officers of the Department of the Treasury, Record Group 217; National Archives, Washington, D.C.
12. ↑ "Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files," North Carolina, service of Richard Grantham, Widow's pension for Frances Grantham, File # W-418, digital images, image 27 of 53, Frances Grantham widow's pension application, 1 Aug 1848, Fold3 (https://www.fold3.com/image/22088389); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M804, roll 1110. Note that this image is behind a paywall.
13. ↑ "Tennessee Probate Court Books, 1795-1927," Grainger County, Wills, settlements, and administration settlements, 1796-1852, "Wills and Settlements, 1839-1847," digital images, DGS # 004776041, image 1346 of 1620, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-2PTB-89); citing Grainger County, Tennessee, transcript of Wills 1839-1847, original p. 451, transcript p. 1285.

• Revolutionary War Soldiers for NC and SC, Data provided by the website Carolana.

Acknowledgements

• WikiTree profile Grantham-99 created through the import of ROBISON Gedcom of DRR Ancestors and Descendants for WikiTree 01 JUL 2012.ged on Jul 1, 2012 by Dave Robison. See the Dave Robison web page, http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/r/o/b/David-R-Robison/WEBSITE-0 001/UHI... dated 09/28/2001. Dave is a descendant of Tabitha Grantham, daughter of Richard who married Hezekiah Robinson/Robertson.