I'm presently unsure who the parents of Thomas and Matthew Graydon are at this time. Most researchers believe that the origin of the family name is from Ulster Ireland from the clan of Gray, under the Earl of Gray. In colonial records the spelling is extremely inconsistent from one record to the next. I have found it spelled Graden, Gradon, Greadun, Grayden, Greydon, Graydon, Greddin and Greden.

In the DNA tests of Mark Graydon, who is a surname heir to Thomas, this line comes from County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.  Dave Graydon of the Graydon DNA Project says there is little doubt that Thomas Graydon(b.c1767-70) is from James Graydon of Fermanagh Co., Ireland.  There are numerous records of Freeholders that give some evidence of the makeup of this somewhat rare family name, even in Ireland.   The question is which of the connecting relatives is the proper chain of inheritance of the DNA.  The present best guess is that Thomas Graydon was the immigrant and son of James Graydon. Thomas disappeared from the Irish records and could have emigrated to the colonies.  

In County Fermanagh there were several Graydons who are listed at Freeholders in various years between 1747-1767. Public Records of Northern Ireland. "PRONI" T/808/15063  p. 25-26
                   name                         community          parish               date

Graydon	Alex.	Drumboy	Aghavea	3 May-1753
Graydon	James	Coolnagrane?	Aghavea	15 Jun-1756
Graydon	John	Drumboy	Aghavea	14 Jul-1752
Graydon	Sam.	Cavanagarvan	Aghalurcher	15 Jul-1747
Graydon	Sam.	Maguiresbridge	Aghalurcher	20 Oct-1747
Graydon	Thomas	Coolnagrane?	Aghavea	Oct-1760
Graydon	William	Cavangarvan	Aghalurcher	15 Jul-1747
Graydon	William	Cavangarvan	Aghavea	Apr-1767
Graydon	William	Coolnagrane?	Aghavea	Oct-1760

Dave Graydon goes on for the next generation:

Flora Graydon Gambrll wrote that the name was orginally Gray and later became Grayson and then Graydon. She says, "As far as we can find out, the first Graydon came to Boston in the British Army. He later married a Philadelphia lady. He had four sons. The 2nd, Sterling, came to Laurens County (S. C.) as a surveyer about the time of the American Revolution. His oldest brother was pribater secretary to George Washington during the revolution, and there is a book called "Graydon's Memoirs" which tells this story. " I have not been able to find any evidence supporting this assumption. Records for this family are particularly rare perhaps because the records were destroyed during wars, floods or other natural disasters.  A recently discovered writing by the grandson of Thomas stated that he was "a native of Pennsylvania". (see Thomas' records)

The following story was written by Anne Elcybeth "Elsie" Terry Vance, about 1952 as part of the family history for her children. She was the ggranddaughter to Thomas Graydon, her parents being Robert Y. H. Terry. The following was taken from a written history that she was able to get from her father's memories of the family written about 1906.  If this record is accurate about Robert's grandfather fighting in the Revolution he would have to have immigrated by 1776 to be able to participate.   I am having particular trouble justifying the dates of the Revolution with the possible immigration of Thomas Graydon, the known ancestor.   If Robt Y. H. Terry's Graydon grandfather was alive at the Revolution he could not be the DNA link of Dave Graydon because Dave's Thomas Graydon from Fermanagh was still an adult living in Ireland at the last Freeholder's census in 1788.

"Thomas Graydon's father was a soldier in the southern division of the Continental Army. There being no funds for commissary or weapons each man furnished both his food and weapon. As the force might be near a man's home he was granted furlough to see his family and get the necessary food. Grandfather Graydon had gone in to his home for this purpose. In some way the Tories, who were very active in that section, found out that he was home. They surrounded the house, took him prisoner and hung him in his own doorway. They stood guard till they knew he was dead, then rode off, leaving his family to take him down and bury him. His wife was completely overcome, so his two daughters took him down, made his coffin of "split out" boards, dug his grave and buried him in his garden. Thomas Graydon the only son was a little boy, too small to help. Grandfather Graydon gave his life for his loved American. I never knew his given name. Papa always spoke of him as "Grandfather." He said as a little boy in South Carolina, he had often stood by that grave of his great grandfather at the old home in North Carolina" [Norfleet 3/6/03]

The records on this family were developed Lewis Wood before 1995 and forwarded to me by his cousin, Elizabeth (Graydon) Peery.

These researchers believe that Mathew Graydon is the brother of my Thomas Graydon. Although there is no proof to verify this at this time I include this Graydon in the line with the hope that someone will provide the needed connective material. You will also note that there are a few disagreements with what I put together for the family of Thomas Graydon. For instance James is included in both families for the time being.

1770 - William Gradon applies for a plat of 200 acres in Berkley County.  South Carolina.
So. Carolina
Pursuant to a Warrant to me directed by john Brunner Esqure S. Gov.  & bearing date Feb. 6th day 1770 I have abmeusured  of laid out unto William Gradon a plantation or trat of land containing two hundred acres situate in Berkley County on the Waters of Reedy River Butting and bounding on land Claimed by Samuel Kelly to the west by the Indian Land all other sides bounds on vacant.  Land & hath such shape for & marks on the plat above doth represent Certified for the 19th day of Feb. 7, 1770, from Pat Cunningham Det.
                                                                         ( ?Ord Es ) 2 March 1773 for Richard Lang
notes of Mary Norfleet, Jan 12, 2009 -  "... I found William Gradon, whom I believe was Thomas father.  The document is a survey for a plat of 200 acres on Ready (Reedy) River in Berkeley County ... which from 1682 - 1769  there were three counties for the entire state: Berkeley, Craven and Colleton.  ... Currently the Reedy River runs through only two counties - Greenville and Laurens before dropping into the Saluda River.  ... My conclusion: William Gradon was Thomas's father.   The land initially surveyed in 1770 was the land Thomas likely inherited from his father as the oldest male heir and probably lived on for the rest of his life.  I futher accessed the original survey record for Tully Choice, since we had the 1792 deed for Tully Choice which lists Thomad Graydon.  Samuel Boling, Thomas Mathis and James McKnight as an adjacent landowners.  The 1786 survey plat for Tully Choice, lists adjacent landowners as Joseph Keleth (Kellet), Thomas Mathis (Mathews - he is listed in several documents as owning land adjacent to the Graydon property and was living near Thomas Gradon in the 1800 census)  and Mrs. Reed.  Was Mrs Reed Thomas Graydon's mother and widow of William Graydon?[Mary Norfleet 12 Jan 2009]

1800 - US Census, Laurens Co., Roll: 50  Page: 43

Mathew Graden, (perhaps brother of Thomas)
males 0 0 1(16-20) 0 0
females 0 0 1(16-20) 0 0 - 0 0
[US Census 1800, Laurens co., SC. p43]

1810 - US Census, Laurens Co., has another Graden the right age to be a brother to Thomas Graydon.

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

 p. 61b

 Sollomon Graden
males 2 (U-10), 1 (26-45)
females 1 (26-45), 4 slaves

 There is no record for Matthew Graden in Laurens Co.

Matthew Graden age (20-30)
wife " Age (20-30)
Son " " (10-15) (age 2 in the 1830 census)
son " " (5-10) (age 1 in 1830 census)
son " " (under 5)
(Matthew Graden Jr. and family was living with his father in the 1830 census)

Abstacts of Early Records of Laurens Co. S. C. 1785-1820
Greenville Co. Cem. records, South Carolina Genealogical Society.
Greenville Republican, Greenville. S.C. Mar, 15. 1828 issue
Norfleet, Mary Vance, records and history as recorded by her grandmother, Anne Elcybeth "Elsie" Terry Vance. 3/5/03 - email- mvn471@montrose.net
Marriage and Death Notices from Upper SC Newspapers, 1833-1865
Hemphill, J. C. Men of Mark in S. C.,Vol. III, 1908, p198-99
Peery, Elizabeth- records of(heir of James Graydon), 114 Brookside Cr., Greenville, SC 29609 (864) 292-9426, email-PerryDean@aol.com 2 Nov 2000
Public Records of Northern Ireland, "PRONI", http://applications.proni.gov.uk

 
 

Return to Elroy's Family Index ||  My History of Northern Ireland || Ancestoral Chart #12

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web pages created by Elroy Christenson- echriste@sccd.ctc.edu - last updated 9/14/08