Newsletter 2 1978.pdf - The Grayson Family

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Page 119 Page 11 9
Dear Dr. Grayson,
2506 Cherokee Lane
Winston-Salem,
5 May 1974
Thank you for your informative letter re the Grayson family of
N*C., Tenn. and west.
The progenitor of my line, Joseph Grayson (b ca 1750), received
a land grant in Rutherford County, K.C. on the North Fork of the
First Broad Ri ~ e at r the Burke County line In 1773. Presumably,
it was entered prbor to that time. Later census returA~u i~dicate
that his children were born in Virginia.
In the next 27 years, Joseph received six additional land grants
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and purchased six other tracts of land totalling well over 1,000
acres, all located in tho present Golden Valley Community in the
South Mountains of Rutherford County*
Nothing is known of Joseph Grayson's wife who apparently died
I prior to 1807. On Dec. 17th of that year, Joseph married again,
this time to Rachel Van Zmdt, a spinster of advanced middle age,
He died, intestate, in Rutherford County sometime after 1810*
I Probably, he is buried in the old Grayson family cemetery which is
' now the site of First Broad Baptist Church*
Estate proceedings of the widow Rachel Graysan provide the only
proof of some of the children of Joseph Grayson, a11 by his first
wife or wives. They were (not in order)r
1. Joseph Jr. m 1807 Lettuce J, blelton. Moved to Henderson Co,,
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Kentucky .
2. Isaac m 1807 Mary (Polly) Melton. Died in Rutherford Go. in
1843.
I 3. Benjamin rn Anna hielton and d 1843 in Rutherford County.
4, W8lliam m 1807 Susannah Logan and d 1841 in Rutherford County.
5. Elizabeth m Wm. F. Whitesides znd d in Rutherford County.
6 a Susan (~usannah) b 25 Ivlay 1777 m Robert Black Dcvinney & went
to Georgia.
Isham Grayson who sued the other heirs of Joseph Grayson in 1815
apparently was another. He did not live in Rutherford County* A
I John Grayson who appears once in the early Rutherford records may
have been another. Probably, there were more.
While the names of the children of Wren Grayson arc suggestive of
I a familial connection, I have no evidence and no opinion on the
matter. If you find any evidence connecting the two lines or any
mention of Joseph Grayson in Virginia, I would like to know.
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Incidentally, Joseph Grayson's grandchildren of record had the
common family names--Joseph, John, Benjamin, William, Susan, Elizabeth,
Sarah and Ivlary, there being several of each name,
I hope this helps.