Thomas Graydon Family

Thomas Graydon Family
South Carolina

Thomas G. Graydon
b. c1770 Pennsylvannia(see notes 1770)
d. c 20 Feb. 1840 Laurens Co. SC

m. Sara "Sallie" Camp
b. c1770 NC
d. 21 Oct. 1853 Greenville Dist. SC
her father: John Camp
mother:Mary Tarpley

his father: unknown Graydon/Graden ancestor
his mother: unknown

Children
Elizabeth "Betsy" Graydon#	b. c1792	d. moved to Lauderdale Co., AL	m. Gabriel Pool Laurens Co., S. C.
William Addison Graydon# (vet. Indian Wars)	b. 11 June 1793 Edgefield Dist., SC	moved to Lowndes Co., AL d. 13 July 1866	m. Elizabeth Peak (Ross) Nov. 12, 1818 Laurens Co., S. C. (b. c1796 d. 27 Dec1869 AL)
John Graydon#	b. c.1796 SC	alive 1850 SC	m. Mary Permelia b. 1803 SC
Drury Graydon# (vet. Indian Wars)	b. c.1796 SC	moved to Georgia	m. Hannah Lindley Johnson (widow of James Johnson) dau. of Thomas Lindley and Elizabeth Ridgeway
Sterling Graydon#	b. 8 Sep 1799	d. 27 May 1883 Greenwood Co., SC buried: Turkey Crk. Bap. Cem., Greenwood Co., SC	1m. Eliza Jane Lindsey (b. 12 Jan 1812 d.14 Jun 1872) 2m. Susan Esther Dunwoody 12 May 1849 (dau of Rev. Samuel Dunwoody and Livinia Snead)
Mary Graydon#	b. 19 Feb 1801 (NC in 1850 census)	d.19 Aug 1879 Hamburg, Ashley Co., AR	m. John McDowell Terry 29 May 1823 SC (b. 4 Jul 1795 d. 7 Sep 1853)
Lydia Graydon, #	b. 11 July 1811, Laurens County, S. C.	d. 19 July 1872, Crawford County, Ga.	m. 20 Nov 1839 William Green Vinson (b. 2 Nov 1816, Barbour County, Ala.) he has three marriages and died 8 April 1887, Bibb County, Ga.
Nancy Graydon#(see notes 1843)	b.	d.	m. Asbury Terry 15 Mar 1828 (his 1st m.)
Keziah Graydon(f)#	b. c1805	d. (alive in 1860 MS)	m. Nimrod Nabors/Neighbors*(alive in 1860 MS)
Winnie Graydon (see notes 1843)	b. c1807	d. c1841-43	m. Asbury Terry after 1832 (his 2nd m.)
Mahala Graydon#	b. c1803	d.	m. Wm. Terry(possible son of William Terry or George Terry)

*Greenville Co. Cem. records
#projections of heirs based on the Will of Thomas Graydon, Records of Greenville, S. C.

James(?Drury)# Graydon
(this could be a grandson who shows up in the probate or probable son of Matthew, Thomas's brother)

b. 20 May 1818@

alive 1860 SC

m. Sarah Ann Kellett (b. 25 Jul 1823)@

@ records of Elizabeth Peery email-2 Nov 2000

1770- I discovered a record in 2006 in the DAR Library in Wash. D. C.titled "The History of the Graydon family"in a John Camp file. It is by an unknown author and listed as "Generation III" apparently as stated "from notes of John William Graydon, a grandson in 1887." He was the son of W

I have found no records for him or any Graden/Grayden/Greydon/Graydon before 1792 in South Carolina. There were a few Graydons in Virginia in 1790 and several Graydons are listed as soldiers in the Revolutionary Army from that state. He could just as easily have been a recent immigrant to the colonies from England, Ireland or Scotland.

One document on William Norwood Graydon, the son of Sterling E. Graydon Jr., states that "the first ancestors of the family to locate in this country came from Ireland and England." This record, however, has several errors that leaves this statement suspect. [Hemphill, p.198-99] However, the Graydon name does seem to have a root in Ireland at some point in history.

2/12/1792 - 3/1/1793 Thomas Graden owns land adjacent to Tully Choice. deed Book C, pa. 349
[Abstacts of Early records of Laurens Co. S. C. 1785-1820]

Sterling Gradon born to Thomas and Sarah Graydon @1799 SC [LDS records]

1800 - Thomas Graydon shows up in the US Census of Laurens County, South Carolina.

Thomas Gradon
males 4 (U-10), 0 (10-16), 1(16-20), 1(26-45), 0
females 1 (U-10), 0 (10-16), 0(16-20), 1(26-45) 0 - 0 0
[US Census 1800, Laurens co., SC. p43]

has four sons (-16), one dau (-16) and a wife.

Mathew Graden, (perhaps brother of Thomas)
males 0 0 1(16-20) 0 0
females 0 0 1(16-20) 0 0 - 0 0

1800- Thomas Graydon is listed along with the Camp family in several land documents in Laurens Co. SC.

2/11/1800 - 1/26/1801

"Edmond Ragsdale pl. to Sml. Ridgeway for $25, 25 acres on Peachling Cr. of Roody R. gr. to sd. E. R. 1793 by Moultrie, boardered on Wm. Anderson, Thos. Graydon, Nathan Camp, sd. S. R. witness; Henry Ridgeway, Larkin Ragsdale. Joseph Downs. justice of peace. Deed Book G., p.,141. [Abstacts of Early Records of Laurens Co. S. C. 1785-1820]

12/24/1800-4/21/1801 Wm. Thomason to Edmond Ragsdale, land boardered by Thomas Gradon. Deed Book J, p. 76. [Abstacts of Early Records of Laurens Co. S. C. 1785-1820]

1810 - U.S. Census Laurens Co., S. C.

Thomas Graden, p. 26
males 3 (U-10), 0 (10-16), 1 (16-26), 1 (26-45)
females 3 (U-10), 2 (10-16) , 1 (16-26), 1 (26-45)

Sollomon ?Graden ( or Goodwin) p. 61, Laurens Co., SC
males 2 (U-10), 0 (10-16), 0(16-26), 1 (26-45)
females 0 (U-10), 0 (10-16), 0(16-26), 1 (26-45)

1815, April 24 - Solomon Hopkins dec'd. appraised by Thomas Gradon. Will book D-1. p. 203 [Abstacts of Early Records of Laurens Co. S. C. 1785-1820]

1817, Nov. 6- John Wilson dec'd, appraised by Thomas Gradon. Will book D-1, p.444. [Abstacts of Early Records of Laurens Co. S. C. 1785-1820]

1818- Some time, I assume after he married, William Graydon found a career as a farmer, school teacher and surveyor. He apparently was well educated and was known Greek and Latin scholar. He was employed by the Government for a period of twenty five years. He assisted in surveying the reservations for the Creek Indians. "He was a staunch Democrat. He was opposed to secession. Religiously, was a Universalists. Was paralyzed in left side with symptoms of apolplexy. Was a good English scholar. Had some distinctions in Mathematics. Was a great reader of Scott's works; found great preference with him. Was a member of the G. T. Served six months in the War of 1812.

Elizabeth Peack ( Ross) was born about 1796 and was never a member of any church, but leaned toward the Methodist. Was an exemplary woman. Died on December 2th 1869. Was the mother of the following children:"

Thomas Oliver Graydon (CSA 61st AL Reg.)	b. Aug. 25, 1819 Butler Co., AL	d. Mar 6, 1864, Orange Courthouse, VA (of pneumonia)	m. Martha Cheaham (seven children)
James Lawrence Graydon	b. Mar 2, 1821 Butler Co., AL	d. Apr 17, 1822	died young
Mary Emily Graydon	b. May 26, 1823 Butler Co., AL	still living in 1887	never married, taught school when young
Elizabeth Caroline Graydon	b. 1 Feb 1825 Butler Co., AL	d. 19 Jun 1836	died young
Sallie Ann Graydon	b 5 Feb 1827 Butler Co., AL	d. 15 Nov 1827	died young
William Addison Graydon (CSA 17th AL Infantry)	b. 12 Mar 1828 Butler Co., AL	d. unknown, inherited the homestead
John Dewitt Clinton Graydon	b. 5 Apr 1830 Lowdnes Co., AL
Lucindy Jane Graydon	b. 1 Aug 1832 Butler Co., AL	d. 2 Nov 1884 (at her farm with her son)	m. John McCoy
Henry Sterling Graydon	b. 15 Mar 1837 Butler Co., AL		m. Dora King 28 Oct 1858. (they had 11 children) (d. 29 July 1882) 2m. Albert Kent(Ramage)
Nancy Maria Graydon	b. 17 May, 1840 Butler Co., AL		never married
Walter Drury Graydon (CSA 33rd AL Reg.)	b. 17 May 1843 Butler Co., AL	moved to Arkansas in 1887	m. Mary Harrison 1864

All the family listed comes from the DAR record. "John Camp File"

1820- U.S. Census Laurens Co., S. C.

Thomas Graden
males 0 (U-10) , 0 (10 -16), 2 (16-26) , 0 (26-45) , 1 (45+)
females 2 (U-10) , 2 (10 -16), 2 (16-26) , 0 (26-45) , 1 (45+)

1828-

"married on 6th inst. by Rev. Mr. Smith, Mr. Asberry Terry of this Dist. to Miss Nancy Grayden of Laurens Dist.." [Greenville Republican, Green ville. S.C. Mar, 15. 1828 issue]

I don't know at this point whether this is also "Winnie" Graydon that is the father of his children or even if this is the daughter to Thomas Graydon. See the notes for Asbury Terry, son of Thomas Terry.

1829- State of S. Carolina, Laurens Co. census record lists

Thomas Graden 7
Benj. Camp 2

1830
Drury Graden is in Dekal Co., GA, US Census

males 1 (U-5) , 1 (30 -40)
females 0 (U-5) , 1 (20 - 30) , 2 (16-26) , 0 (26-45) , 1 (45+)

31 July 1830 - Codicil to will of Drury Boyce. James Graydon, son of Mathew Graydon. Land adjacent to Thos Misbet(?Nisbet) , Wm. Wood, Harris Thompson. Wit:
[Laurens Co. S. C. Wills 1784-1840, So. Historical Press, 1988]

1840 -
Drury Gradin is in Fayette Co., GA, US Census

males 1 (10 -15) , 1 (40 -50)
females 1 (30 - 40)

1840 Feb. 20, - Sterling Graydon (as he signed), Asbury Terry(as he signed) and John M. Terry(as he signed) become executors to the estate of Thomas Gradon. They post a $10,000 bond as executors and agree to pay bills and heirs as required. Money is owed to John M. Terry, Wm Terry, Asbury Terry, Sterling Gradon, John Graden, G. Poole, Wm Gradon, W. G. Vinson, Drury Gradon, Nancy Gradon. Included in the estate were nine slaves with an estimated value as follows: - (man) "George" $585, (women) "Charity" $375, "Chloiy" $700, (boys) "Jacob" $750, "Dick" $900, "Addam" $850, "Washington" $775, "Joshua" $500, "Bob" $450.
[Landers Co., S.C., Judge of Probate, Box 89, pkg. 9, LDS film #1029341]

(These records indicate to me that all of these individuals are heirs to the estate through either direct descendancy or marriage consequently the inclusion of the unknown female heirs in the above list of children. Elroy C.)

W. G. Vinson purchases - 1 negro woman "Cloe" for $625 and 1 boy, "Bob" for $427
Willam T. Watts, purchases 1 negro man, "George" $420
Drury Graydon purchases 1 saddle $100, 1 sorel mare $100, 1 negro Man "Jacob" $706, 1 negro boy "Joshua" $520
Charles Terry purchases- 1 heiffer $6.25
John Terry purchases - several small items, negro boy "Adam" $913
Asbury Terry purchases - several small items, 1 negro boy "Washington" $757
Moses Myers purchases - 1 steer $6.50
Nimrod Neighbors purchases - several small items, 1 negro boy "Dick" $919 Zacheriah Gray purchases - 16 bushels of refined corn for $6.40
Leroy Madison purchases - 1 bay horse $69.50
William Nizbitt purchases-20 dozen oats, $2.40
there are other smaller sales

In another associated records copied by another researcher also identified in Packet 89-9 - 1840
Pettition for Adm. of Est. - Sterling Graden, Asberry Terry, & John Terry. Feb. 20, 1840
Wit: John Graden (was Justice of Peace for Laurens co., )
Appraisers apointed - joseph Sullivan, Dempsey Nesbit, & Andrew McKnight. Distributees

William Graden				$745.52
Gabriel Pool & wife			$745.52
John M. Terry & wife			$745.52
Wm. Terry & wife  $745.52
Asberry Terry & wife    		$745.52(see the note of 1843)
Nimrod Nabors  & wife    		$745.52
William G. Vinson  & wife  		$745.52
John Grayden       			$745.52
Drury  Graden				$745.52
Sterling   Graden   			$745.52
Nancy (?G) Graden   			$745.52 (see the note of 1843)

The listing of goods and chattles, which included 9 slaves, consisted of many pages of household goods and farm equipment. Auction of goods - some who bought & some items named.

Sarah Graden - Flax wheel, side saddle, large Bible, sorrel mare, kettle, etc. (note of the researcher - "I believe Sarah is Thomas's wife, although she is not identified as such. Some papers may be missing from file.")

William Mahafee    - 
John Graydon    --- many many items
John Terry     --        ''      "          "
William Terry --        ''      "          "
Asbury Terry --        ''      "          "
Nimrod Nabors --        ''      "          "
Carles Davenport --        ''      "          "
Thos. Kirkpatric
Jas. Latimor 
Thos. Canter--
Thos. Lindley ---
Sterling Grayden -- --- many many items
Sampson Babb
Harrison Thompson 1 pr. Steelyards
Henderson Manley - bedstead & furniture
Jeremiah Hopkins  - Book
Kindric Vaugh  - Small bible
D. G. Tranham  - Hymn Book
Jas. Anderson  - Chest & table
David Tranham - chairs
Jas. Savage - grindstone
Lorenzo Peet - Rifle Gun
Martin Babb - Firedogs
Austin Moore -  --- many many items
Wm. Babb - Wheat, bacon
Terry Graydon - Saddle, mare & 2 slaves 
Leroy Madison - horse
William Watts - 2 slaves
Wm. G. Vinson - 2 slaves 
Garland Dial  - 5 hogs
Jesse Bagwell - red cow 
Charles Terry - heifer
Moses Myers - steer
William Dial  - sheep & geese
Eihu Abercrumbie - blacksmith tools

Misc sales to : Joseph Sullivan, Lewis Borough, Miles Nash, Tos. Peden, Jas. Anderson, Sr., Nathan Nesbitt, Henry G. Jonson, Anderson Myers, Jonathan Abercrumbie, Reuben Williams, Samuel Nabors, Zachariah Gray, C. A. Bradley, Hosea Mahaffee, Samuel Ramsey, Wm. Nasbit, Terry Reaves,
Total amount of sale, $6,615, 76

1843 - There were several advancements made by the executor, Sterling Graydon, to various heirs over a period of years. The final payouts was not reported until March 4, 1843.

Return of Starling Graden execut of Thomas Graden and of monies paid.

paid to J Howen			$25.50
paid Nimrod Nabors		 10.00
paid Gabril Pool and wife  	198.00
paid Wm Graden			 30.00
paid W. G. Vinson & wife  	600.00
paid Wm Gradin			 20.00
paid William Terry		600.00
paid for this document  	  1.00
paid for recording doc    	   .12
                     		$1684.62
proven before on 4th
March 1843
(signed) Sterling Graydon

These records of the descendents of William Green Vinson come from the records of James Lynch. I only suspected a marriage of a daughter to W. G. Vinson based on his listing in the probate records of Thomas Graydon. The following record confirms my hunch lends support to the other marriages in my mind.

William Green Vinson b. 2 Nov 1816, Barbour County, Ala., (son of Henry Vinson and Sallie Reid) m. (1) 20 Nov 1839, in South Carolina, Lydia Graydon, b. 11 July 1811, Laurens County, S. C., (daughter of Thomas Graden and ?) d. 19 July 1872, Crawford County, Ga., m. (2) Dec 23, 1875, in "Elmwood", Georgia,1 Joanna E. (Troutman) Pope, b. Feb 19, 1819, ?,2 m. (3) April 9, 1887, in Bibb County, Georgia,3 Catherine A. Avant. William died 8 April 1887, Bibb County, Ga.

Children by Lydia Graydon:
i Ptolemy Vinson b. June 9, 1843, GA.4
ii John Wesley Vinson b. Aug 20, 1845.
iii Thomas Oscar Vinson b. May 16, 1848.

[James P. Lynch, III; jplynch@crosslink.net]

1843 - Asberry Terry & wife received an advancement of their share of Thomas's estate in 1841. When the final settlement was made in 1843, Asberry Terry & his present wife received this share. One researcher says that "this indicates that his first wife (Graden) had died between 1841 and 1843 and he had remarried." There is a family legend that Asberry married two Graydon sisters. Nancy shows up in the will of Thomas Graydon in 1840 but "Winnie" doesn't and should be listed as the wife of Asberry in the will. If Nancy does die between 1828 and 1840 it makes perfect sense that the advance and payment would be uncontested since he marries the other younger sister. Asberry Terry researchers say, as does a marriage record in 1828, that Asberry marries a "Nancy Gray (Graydon, was written next to Gray in brackets)." The "Nancy Graden" that shows up in the probate records, who had married Asbury Terry, is only listed by name even though deceased. "Nancy Graden" I propose, is I believe a means used to reserve part of the estate for the only child of Nancy. Nancy Terry, should only be 12 to 13 years old and probably living with her father. The young Nancy should be entitled to her mother's share of the estate along with "Winnie" as the wife of Asberry Terry. Robert Y. H. Terry, son of John McDowell Terry, stated in a letter in 1906 factually that Nancy had a child named Nancy who married a Anderson and that Asberry's second wife ws "Winnie" Graydon." [R. Y. H. Terry]

May 25, 1849 - Married, S. E. Graydon of Laurens Dist. to Miss Susan Dunwoody
Cokesberry, Abbeville dist. on 151st, by Rev. J. W. McCall
[ Marriage and Death Notices from Upper SC Newspapers, 1833-1865]

1850. between 18 and 20th July- John Graydon Sr. dies in Laurens Co. SC.. Sterling Graydon is administrator of the estate, and is helped by J. M. Terry, his apparent uncle. James M. Sullivan owed $66.25 for medical services from his last illness.

Paid was J. M. Terry
John Anderson owed $20.56 for flour, corn and cotton baging bales.
John Bolling owed $27.06(including $12.71 for a coffin)misc. dry goods.
[Estate Papers of John Graydon]

1850 US Census, Laurens Co., S.C.

Sara Graydon (80f from N Carolina)is listed with the family of J. M. Terry (55), and Mary (50), William (20), John (17), Robert (14), Sarah(11), and Lucien McCall(4). [ Laurens Co.420,Greenville]

Nimrod Neighbors (54m SC) with Kiziah (47f) and their nine children (next door to John Gradon) [Laurens Co. 314 Greenville]

John Gradon (54) Pamela (47f)(next door to Nimrod Neighbors) and their nine children. [Laurens Co. 314 Greenville]
William Gradon (17m) is also listed with John Gradon family [Laurens Co. 314 Greenville]

1850 US Census, Butler Co., AL . According to Barbara Graydon, her ancestor William Graydon moves to Butler County, AL about 1819 along with a brother, John Graydon. He shows up here on the census of 1840, 1850 and 1860 census. They apparently were early settlers of the area of Greenville, Alabama.

William Graydon                   57    M        born 1793        SouthCarolina    farmer
Elizabeth                         53    F        born 1797        SC
Emily                             25    F        born 1825        Alabama
William A.                        22    M        born 1828        AL
John Clinton                      20    M        born 1830        AL
Lucinda Jane                      17    F        born 1833        AL
Henry Sterling                    13    M        born 1837        AL
Nancy M.                           9    F        born 1840        AL
Walter D.                          6    M        born 1844        AL
Nero (a free man)                 84    M        born 1766        Virginia
value of property:    $1000

[1850 US Census, Butler Co., AL ]

Tallapoosa Co., AL

Drury Graden	    Age 52  born SC
Martha Graden			 "    50  born SC
William L. Graden   "  23  born SC
Thomas H. Graden   "  8  born GA
Sarah E. Graden    "  2  born GA

1853 - Died of 21st of Oct at the residence of her daughter in Greenville Dist, Mrs Sara Graydon in the 84th year of age and her 30th year in membership of the Baptist church. [ Marriage and Death Notices from Upper SC Newspapers, 1833-1865]

1860 - Nimrod and Kezzai Nabors seem to have moved to Mississippi (I don't know the county but probably close to the Devenports) .

Nabors, N. 63 S. C.
......... K. 57 S. C.
......... J. G. 36 S. C.
......... (several other apparent children are listed without initials and only ages)
35, 29, 23, 22, 20 17, 15, all born in S. C.

Sources:

Abstacts of Early Records of Laurens Co. S. C. 1785-1820
Estate Papers of Thomas Graydon, Judge of Probate,Laurens Co, S. C., box 89, p.9 , 1850
Estate Papers of John Graydon, Judge of Probate,Laurens Co, S. C., box 110, p.7 , 1850
Graydon, Barbara - records for William Graydon email - bgraydon11@mchsi.com
Greenville Co. Cem. records, South Carolina Genealogical Society.
Greenville Republican, Greenville. S.C. Mar, 15. 1828 issue
Landers Co., S.C., Judge of Probate, Box 89, pkg. 9, LDS film #1029341
Marriage and Death Notices from Upper SC Newspapers, 1833-1865
Hemphill, J. C. Men of Mark in S. C.,Vol. III, 1908, p198-99
Lynch III, James P. records of E. G. Vinson heirs in a email of 16 Mar 1999; jplynch@crosslink.net
Peery, Elizabeth- records of(heir of James Graydon) email-PerryDean@aol.com 2 Nov 2000
Norfleet, Mary Vance, thanks for her vast collection of records and history as recorded by her grandmother, Anne Elcybeth "Elsie" Terry Vance. 63090 Opossum Lane, Montrose CO 81401-9603. 3/5/03 - email- mvn471@montrose.net

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