John Grigsby (1720 - 1794)

Born 17 Apr 1720 in Stafford, Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Rosanna (Etchison) Grigsby — married 1746 (to 1761) in Culpeper, Virginia

Husband of Elizabeth (Porter) Grigsby — married 1764 in Culpeper, Virginia

Descendants

Died 7 Apr 1794 at age 73 in Rockbridge, Virginia, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: John Crouch [send private message]

Biography

"Many American families, particularly Virginian, trace their descent from John Grigsby, whose ancestors were unquestionably of Welsh origin, and who settled in this coun­try at a very early day, and were a potent factor in the social and intellectual development of the communities in which they lived. As a people, they have been noted for their refined tastes, gracious manners, broad-mindedness and liberality, and entire absence of anything like narrow clannishness, in relig­ious or political matters, and for unswerving devotion to the interests of higher education.” "The members of this family, with which the present records deal, were two brothers, James and John, who emigrated to America about the year 1660, and settled in Stafford County, Va., where John Grigsby was born in the year 1720." Henrietta Hamilton McCormick, Genealogies and Reminiscences Page 13 (PDF File Page 20) (Chicago:Self Published, 1897).

John Grisgby was born in 1720 in Stafford County, Virginia, the son of Charles Grigsby and Sarah Wilkerson. He served in the War of Jenkins Ear and in the Revolutionary War. He married twice and had fourteen children. He and his first wife, Rosanna Etchison, settled on the upper side of Rapid Ann River (now Rapidan River) in Culpepper County, Virginia, where they had five children. Rosanna died in 1761 or 1762.

John married his second wife, Elizabeth Porter, in 1764. John and Elizabeth had nine children. After the birth of their eighth child, during the winter of 1779-1780 John and Elizabeth traveled west over the Blue Ridge Mountains and settled in Rockbridge County, Virginia at what would be called "Fruit Hill" near Lexington, Virginia.

John is listed as member #42 on the Falling Spring Presbyterian Church register, to 1800, in Glasgow, Virginia. He had pew #4 and pledged 25 pounds before 1794. When the 1794 Pew Assignment was made his son James took claim to Pew #4 on his father's claim. Falling Spring Presbyterian Church.

John died on April 7, 1794. His was the first person to be buried in the new cemetery at Falling Spring Presbyterian Church. Family Search original register. The inscription on his grave is: " Pause, Reader here and look with solemn dread upon the last lone dwelling of the dead; Tho num'rous graves appear on every hand, This was the first of all the silent band." Falling Spring Presbyterian Church Memorial List.

Military Service

Battle of Cartagena de Indias

In March 1741, John Grigsby served in Lawrence Washington's (Pres. Geo. Washington's half-brother) Company in the Battle of Cartagena in Columbia, S.A..

The Battle of Cartagena de Indias was an amphibious military engagement between the forces of Britain under Vice-Admiral Edward Vernon of the British Royal Navy and those of Spain under Admiral Blas de Lezo. It took place at the city of Cartagena de Indias in March 1741, in present-day Colombia. The battle was the most significant of the War of Jenkins' Ear and one of the largest naval campaigns in British history. The war later was subsumed into the greater conflict of the War of the Austrian Succession. The battle resulted in a major defeat for the British Navy and Army. The battle marked a turning point in South American history, as Spain preserved her military supremacy in that continent until the nineteenth century

Of the 3,600 American colonists, who participated in this battle, most died of yellow fever, dysentery, and outright starvation. Only 300 returned home, including our John Grisgby, and Lawrence Washington, who renamed his Virginia plantation, Mount Vernon, after Admiral Vernon.

Revolutionary War

John Grigsby was a commander of Virginia's Thirteenth Regiment during the Revolutionary War. He served in the 13th VA Regiment. The 13th Virginia Regiment was authorized on 16 September 1776 by the Continental Congress for service with the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. The unit was organized on 12 February 1777 at Fort Pitt in present-day western Pennsylvania to consist of nine companies of troops from the far-western Virginia counties (now parts of West Virginia and western Pennsylvania). The regiment saw action in the Battle of Brandywine, Battle of Germantown, and the Battle of Monmouth. On 24 May 1778 the unit was assigned to the Western Department {Fort Laurens}, and on 12 May 1779 it was reorganized and redesignated as the 9th Virginia Regiment. It was again reorganized and redesignated as the 7th Virginia Regiment on 1 January 1781 to consist of two companies. The regiment was disbanded at Fort Pitt on 1 January 1783.

1774 Augusta Co., VA, Capt. Wm Nalle's Company, in Dunsmore's Expedition, French & Indian War, VA vs OH valley natives, compensated 1775 for 118 days service, paid £8, 17 shillings, p 103, notes on R & L sides not legible. They marched to Fort Pitt in August 1774.

He served in the Revolutionary War in the Rockbridge County VA Militia, in 1780 as a Sergeant and Ensign under Capt. Jas Gilmore and Brig. Gen. Daniel Morgan in SC. (See the VA Genealogist, Vol. 43, #2, Apr-Jun 1999, p 144, John H. Gwathmey's History Register of VA In the Revolution, p 538 and VASSAR's Master Spreadsheet of Revolutionary War Veterans. )

May 1780, Orange Co., VA Public Service Claims for Rev. War contributions made by John Grigsby. Court Book 11.

Oct 1780 & Jan 1781, Culpeper Co., VA War Public Service Claims for Rev. War service, drafted militiamen John Grigsby, troops for the Continental Army militia to service for 18 months, in class 49. 1780 General Assembly Act signed to fill VA quota of troops for the Continental Army. Aged ABOUT 60, he would seem to be too old to serve, other than contributing goods.

"On Monday morning, February 28, 1781, the militia marched away from Lexington and Bivouacked that night at "Fruit Hill," the home of "Soldier John" Grigsby, in the neighborhood of Faling (sic) Spring Presbyterian Church; the Grigsby family had come to Rockbridge County only a little over a year before." Rockbridge Co., VA Notebook, Complied from Articles by Dr. George W. Diehl as published in the News-Gazette, Lexington, VA, compiled by A. Maxim Coppage, III.

John Grigsby received 200 acres of land for his revolutionary war service (per Genealogist my grand [a reference to the grandparent of a contributor to this profile] hired). Land was most likely in KY or OH (searching for doc).

Spouses and Children

His first wife was Rosanna Etchison. They had five known children:

• James, b. 10 Nov 1748 (m. Frances Porter, sister of his step-mother)
• John, b. 15 Oct. 1752
• Charles, b. 5 Apr 1755
• Sarah "Sally", b. 30 Dec. 1757
• William, b. 6 Dec. 1761

His second wife was Elizabeth Porter, daughter of Benjamin Porter and Ann Campbell. They had 9 known children:

• Ann, 15 Jun 1766 to 1766-67
• Joseph, 6 Jul 1768 (m. Mary A. W. Scott)
• Jane Ashley, 19 Oct 1769 (m. William Paxton)
• Rachel, 7 May 1771 (m. Alexander McNutt)
• Martha, 19 Sep 1772 (m. Alexander Trimble)
• Elisha, 17 May 1774 (m. Elizabeth Hawkins Porter)
• Elizabeth "Betty," 10 Mar 1776 (m. William McNutt)
• Frances, 2 Feb 1778 (m. Thomas Beckham or James Grigsby)
• Reuben, 5 Jun 1780 (m. Verlina Alexander Porter)(first cousin)

Land Purchases

Fruit Hill was the home of John Grigsby and his second wife, Elizabeth Porter Grigsby. This is a brick home, now painted white, two story plus attic and basement, center hall entrance with stairs to second floor. Second floor rooms are separated by a solid wall. One set of rooms is reached by the front stairs, the other set is accessible by stairs from what may have been the first floor master bedroom. Buildings which housed the kitchen, etc. are not now standing. The initial tract of 460 acres was conveyed to John Grigsby November 1,1779 by his eldest son, James Grigsby, who had come to the Natural Bridge area two years earlier and had begun the purchase and development of several tracts of land. Reuben Grigsby was born there June 5, 1780, and it was here that "Soldier John" died. The home was inherited by son Joseph Grigsby (1768-1820) who married Mary Ashley Warren Scott. Fruit Hill.

In 1778, John Grigsby purchased land and then sold the same land 8 years later, in 1786. Orange County Deed Books #17, page 84 and Book #18, page 441.

1 Feb 1781, John Grigsby, Augusta Co. grantee, patent C, p 314-15, 10 shillings, assignee of Robt Poag, 80 acres in the Fork of the James River, Land Office Grants C, John Poags 12 Mar 1764 survey. Plus Patent C, p 316-317, 28 acres, 5 shillings, assignee of John Poag, surveyed 16 Mar 1768, in the fork of the James River, recorded 1 Feb 1781.

One of the contributors to this profile has an original 1781 Rockbridge Co., VA deed between (I believe) her [apparently a reference to Elizabeth Porter] step son James Grigsby. James paid 10 shillings for 59 acres (surveyed 1779) in Rockbridge on the waters of Buffaloe Creek, corner to Wm Gibson. I have no idea why my kin kept it. I SUSPECT James is the first born son of John Grigsby and his first wife, Rosanna Etchison, born 1748. I put a copy of this document on James' site, connected through his dad's site.

Last Will and Testament

Will of John Grigsby, Rockford County, Virginia. Will Book 1, page 456, Will 23. Written and signed 11 May 1792. Presented to the Rockbridge County, Virginia court on 3 June 1794:

IN THE NAME OF GOD, Amen I John Grigsby of Rockbridge County being at this time in a low state of health but having the due exercise of reason and knowing the uncertainty of life and that it may please God to call me hence do make and ordain this to be my last Will and Testament. Item I desire that all my just debts be duly paid. Item I give unto my eldest son James Grigsby five shillings current money of Virginia over and above what he has already received.

Item I give unto my son John Grigsby five shillings current money of Virginia over and above what he has already received.

Item I give unto my son Charles Grigsby thirty pounds Virginia Currency, likewise a feather bed with furniture and a couple of sheep.

Item I give unto my son William Grigsby thirty pounds Virginia currency.

Item I give unto my daughter Sarah Welch exclusive of what she has already received twenty-five pounds Virginia currency.

Item I give unto my daughter Jane Paxton five shillings current money of the State of Virginia over and above what I have already given her.

Item I give unto my daughter Rachel McNut five shillings current money of the State of Virginia over and above what I have already given her.

Item I lend unto my loving wife Elizabeth Grigsby all my estate real and personal to have and to hold the same during her natural life in joint trust discharging debts and gifts or legacies as above in a reasonable time, and that she my said wife in joint trust with chosen Executors herein mentioned do act discretionary with my younger sons and daughters in manner following:

That Martha, Elizabeth and Franky shall have at age or marriage equal to their sisters Jane Paxton and Rachel McNut including all they received at marriage and my sons Joseph, Elisha and Reuben to have the plantation whereon I now live divided equally amongst them by any three or more neighbors whom they shall appoint and at the decease of my wife the remainder shall be divided equally among my sons and daughters, viz: Joseph, Jane, Rachel, Martha, Elisha, Elizabeth, Franky and Reuben having no respect in the division to such sum as shall be given to any of them either at age or marriage and further it is my will that if any of my last named sons and daughters should die intestate his, her, or their share of the estate as above mentioned shall be equally divided among the survivor or survivors.

Lastly, I appoint and nominate my beloved wife Elizabeth Grigsby Executrix and Joseph Grigsby Executor of this my last will and testament hereby making nul and void any will or wills heretofore made by me acknowledging this my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this eleventh day of May, Domini one thousand seven hundred and ninety two.

Signed, sealed and acknowledged

John X Grigsby (seal)

In the presence of:

John Paxton Robert Snodgrass William X Arnold David Willock Copy Teste: Harry B. Wright,Clerk

Sources

• https://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A048485
• William H. Grigsby, Genealogy of the Grigsby Family in Part, Including a Brief Sketch of the Porter Family 1 (1878; Republished Chicago: Robert Hall McCormick 1905).
• History of VA, Vol IV, p 28
• M. Coppage, Diehl's Rockbridge County Notebook
• History of Rockbridge Co., VA by O.F. Morton, p 489, & his Military file.
• Find A Grave Memorial # 7727284
• Will of John Grigsby, Rockford County, Virginia. Will Book 1, page 456, Will 23. Written and signed 11 May 1792. Presented to the Rockbridge County, Virginia court on 3 June 1794.
• Inventory of John Grigsby, Rockford County, Virginia. Will Book 1, Will 23. Inventoried 4 July 1794. Presented to the Rockbridge County, Virginia court on 2 September 1794.
• Robert K. Wright, The Continental Army, Washington, D.C.: United States Army Center of Military History. p. 291. (1983, CMH Publication 60-4-1).
• Battle of Cartagena
• Gwathney, Virginians in the Revolution p. 329
• Eckenrode, Revolutionary Soldiers of VA p. 182; War Dept. Records 45, 1 (2 V.R.)
• Genealogy of the Grigsby Family in Part Including a Brief Sketch of the Porter Family, 1878 by William H. Grigsby, 1905
• Elizabeth M. Nicholson, Editor, Memorabilia, The Grigsby Family Reunion Book, 1179-1979 (Green Harbor, MA: Wampeter Press, 1979).
• Mrs. Thomas T. Gwin, Genealogy of The Grigsby Family, Baltimore Sun, May 21, 1905.
• 1709 Deed of John Grigsby

Baltimore Sun.

• National Grigsby Preservation Foundation.
• National Grigsby Family Society.
• Genealogies and Reminiscences COMPILED BY HENRIETTA HAMILTON McCORMICK. Revised Edition. CHICAGO: Published by the author 1897. Page 16 https://archive.org/details/genealogiesremin00mcco/page/16/mode/2up