Dear Graham Descendants,

Last year I visited with my husband's sister and we started talking about the family.  Well she pulled out old boxes of photos, newspaper clippings, funeral memorial cards etc... Pretty soon she shared with me her grandmother's wedding ring and the bride and groom cake toppers from her parent's wedding cake along with all kinds of other things that she and her mother had saved.  I was able to photograph the items and scan all the photos and other bits of paper.  She had quite a few photos with no names or dates, but luckily another distant cousin's grandfather (age 92) was able to identify the people, and in some cases, even tell us where the photos were taken.  I was then able to share these photos and new information with other members of my husband's family on the family blog, so....

Now I wonder, do any of you have old photos or memorabilia stashed in old photo albums and boxes in the attic or basement?  How about funeral cards, newspaper clippings, or old documents of any type?  Maybe you have things that you inherited from your parents or grandparents -- dare I dream that anyone reading this might have an old Graham family Bible with names and dates recorded in it.

If you have any of these things, how about sharing them with other family members?  What I am suggesting is if you can photograph or scan old photos or other bits of old family history and email them to me.  I'll post them here on the Graham family blog for all to see.  Even if you don't know who the people are in the photos, maybe someone else will.

Maybe, just maybe by sharing old photos, newspaper clippings, or other old items someone will recognize something and identify it for us all.  And, just maybe that old bit family history hidden away in a box or album will be something that will enrich our Graham family history for you, your children and grandchildren.

You don't have to be too perfect in your photo taking; I can clean up most photos before posting them.

Nothing is too insignificant to not be of historical interest to our family. But if you aren't sure if something might be of interest, ask me -- I'll probably say YES!

I'll be happy to give everyone credit for their photos or scans, or if you would rather remain anonymous I can do that to. 

You can email me at norah@rvinglover.com

Ruth Smith's Birthplace

Ruth Smith wife of Robert Graham was born 5 Dec 1813 in - and that is the question.

Where was Ruth Smith born? 

We don't have a lot of information about Ruth prior to her marriage to Robert Graham.  We don't know who her parents were.  Family tradition says that her father was a trapper, but with a common last name it is going to be a problem to discover her parents.

The first order of business is to determine where Ruth was born, and then perhaps we can narrow down possible Smith families to discover which one she came from.   In looking over the available documents that list Ruth's possible birthplaces we discover that there is no agreement and several possibilities.

The 1850 (Jackson Parish, Louisiana) and 1860 (Rapides Parish, Louisiana) censuses both show Ruth as being born in Kentucky.  This is significant because these are the only 2 records of her birth that were created when she was still alive.

The 1870 Mortality Schedule for Rapides Parish, Louisiana states that she was born in Mississippi. We don't know who gave this information, but it couldn't have been Ruth, herself.

The only other documents listing possible birthplaces are the death certificates of some of her children.  The informants in some cases were her grandchildren, and in other instances the relationship of the informant is unclear, at this time.  Of the 5 death certificates examined (William Jackson Graham 1940; Julia Ann Willis, 1936; Emily Butter, 1933; Mary Ann (Maggie) Willis, 1940; and Annie Willis, 1936) Alabama (3), Louisiana (1), and Mississippi (1) were listed.

Looking back at the history of the Mississippi Territory at the time of Ruth's birth in 1813, we find that it encompassed both of what we know as Mississippi and Alabama.  If Ruth were born in part of Mississippi that is now Alabama, that could account for some confusion on the part of her grandchildren.  But other than Kentucky having once been part of Virginal (before Ruth's birth), there shouldn't be any confusion with Kentucky and Alabama or Mississippi.   

My best "guess", at this time, is that Ruth Smith was probably born in Kentucky as this is the only state listed on the censuses during her lifetime.  Perhaps this will change once more records and more of Ruth's family is found.

William Jackson Graham - Laura Dyer Marriage

On th 24th of January 1870 Wm J. Graham and Laura Dyer were issued a marriage license in Rapides Parish, Louisiana.  William Jackson Graham, son of Robert Graham and Ruth Smith was 26 years old and Laura Dyer, daughter of William Dyer and Mary Hurbert was 20 years old at the time of their marriage.  

The Minister's Marriage Return tells us that they were married at the home of Laura Dyer's father William Dyer on 26 January 1870.   There are 2 records of this marriage at the Rapides Parish courthouse.  One is a handwritten statement and the other is the standard form.  Both are essentially identical and we are left to wonder why 2 records were submitted.

Additional names to research from these records are:  Wm Randolph, Thomas E. Randolph, F. Richard Barker, Mathew P. Willis 

Records obtained from the Rapides Parish Courthouse, Alexandria, Louisiana.

William Jackson Graham

As I started to review my records/files on William Jackson Graham, oldest son of Robert Graham and Ruth Smith I quickly realized that my assumption about his birthplace was wrong.

According to the 1850 census, Jackson Parish, Louisiana Wm J. Greyham was 7 years old and he was born in Louisiana.  In fact, he was the first of Robert and Ruth's children to be born in Louisiana, which is important to know to try and pin down the year when the family moved from Mississippi to Louisiana. 

Christiana E. age 8 was most likely born in 1842, and we know from William Jackson Graham's death records that he was born on 29 Oct 1843, which means that the family moved sometime in 1842 or before the end of Oct 1843.   

His death certificate also states that he was born in Jackson Parish, Louisiana.  The informant of the information on the death certificate was H. R. Graham (Hadley Robert Graham), one of William's sons.

However, Jackson Parish was not formed until 1845, so William could not have been born in Jackson Parish in 1843.  Jackson Parish was created 27 February 1845 from Claiborne, Ouachita, and Union Parishes (1).   Obviously, William Jackson Graham was born in one of these other parishes, but which one?

As a side note, William's younger sister Julia Ann also thought to be born in Jackson Parish was actually born 22 Feb 1845 which was just 5 days before the Jackson Parish was formed.  

A quick online search of the BLM GLO for all land patents acquired by any Robert Graham turned up only 3 in Jackson Parish and 1 in Rapides Parish that could have been our Robert Graham.  While these records do place the Robert Graham family in Jackson and Rapides Parishes at specific times, they do not help with the birthplace of either William Jackson or Julia Ann Graham.

 
On the 1850 Jackson Parish census Robert Graham is listed with real estate valued at $250.  This would have been property he acquired prior to the earliest land patent in 1851.  It is not know when he acquired this earlier property or in which parish -- Jackson or if before 27 Feb 1845, which parish. 

The next steps will be to see if there are any courthouse records for Robert Graham in Jackson Parish and in any of the 3 prior Parishes (Claiborne, Ouachita, or Union) or perhaps church records of William and Julia Ann's baptisms. 

More about William Jackson Graham in upcoming blog posts.

 
1. Family Search https://www.familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Jackson_Parish,_Louisiana 

What Happened to Sarah?

Sarah C. Graham (abt 1838 - after 1850), was the oldest daughter of Robert Graham and Ruth Smith. 

Sarah C. Greyham appears on the 1850 census in Jackson Parish, Louisiana as an 11 year old born in Mississippi.  This family is no doubt the same as Robert and Ruth Graham.  All the ages and birthplaces of every family member matches those in future censuses.

She may also be the under age 5 female associated with a Robert Graham on the 1840 census in Scott County, Mississippi.

 

Beyond these 2 records there is no hint as to what happened to Sarah C. Graham after 1850.   In 1860, Sarah would have been 21 years old; was she already married when the rest of the family moved from Jackson Parish to Rapides Parish, Louisiana in 1860, or perhaps she died sometime between 1850 and 1860? 

Graham - Pickren Marriage Records

I was surprised and happy to learn that the 1800s marriage records in Louisiana, and no doubt elsewhere, really comprised more than just the marriage license.  The example below for L. D. Graham and A. V. Pickren, my 2nd great-grandparents, is an example of a 3 part marriage record, consisting of marriage bond, license and the minister's statement of the marriage.  Each provides information vital to the genealogical record and clues for further research.

Marriage Bond

Marriage bonds were taken out a day to several days prior to the marriage.  While no money was actually paid, they served as a guarantee for the marriage.  The security person listed was often a relative of either the groom or the bride.  In the case of L. D. Graham's bond, W. J. P. Byrd served as security.  From, the 1880 Census we learn that W. P. Beird was Victoria Pickren's brother.  

How nice it is to also have both of these men's signatures.

Transcription

State of Louisiana,
Parish of Rapides

Know all Men by these Presents, That we L. D. Graham, as principal, and W. J. P. Byrd as security, are held and firm bound unto the Governor of the State of Louisiana, in the sum of Five hundred ($500) Dollars, for the payment of which we and ourselves, our heirs, executors and administrators, jointly and severally by [missing letters] ese presents.

Dated at Alexandria, the 3 day of May A. D. 1870 Whereas, a license has been this day issued by the Clerk of the District court in and for the Parish of Rapides, to unite in the Bond of Matrimony, the []ove bound, Mr. L. D. Graham and Miss A. V. Pickren.  Now therefore, the condition of the above obligation is such, that if there should exist no legal impediment to this alliance, then the said obligation to be null and void, else to remain in full force and virtue. 

[...]ned in the presence of

Charles Owen                                                    L. D. Graham

                                                                          W. J. P. Byrd

Marriage License 

Transcription

State of Louisiana

Parish of Rapides

To any Justice of the Peace or Minister of the Gospel, who is authorized to celebrate Marriages in and for the Parish of Rapides…. Greeting:

You are Hereby licensed and permitted to unite in the BOND OF MATRIMONY, according to the law and Established Rules Mr. L. D. Graham and Miss A. V. Pickren, Given under my hand ant the Seal of Office as Clerk of the District Court, in and for the Parish of Rapides, the 3 day of May 1870.

[signed] Charles Owen dep Clerk

 Minister's Return

From this document we learn that L. D. Graham and A. V. Pickren were married on 5 May, 1870 at the home of H.C.C. Teagle, rather than at the home of R. Graham, as were many of her sisters. 

One of the witnesses Silas C. Scarborough, was probably A. V. Pickren's step-father.  We know that the newlyweds were living next door (or at least close by) to Silas Scarborough and Mary D. Scarborough from the 1870 census.  We also know that A. V. Pickren's mother M. D. Scarborough (widow) and her brother John E. Scarborough were living with L. D. and Aaron V. Graham in Milam Co., Texas in 1880 (census). 

It would be interesting to know who Napoleon B. White (witness), H. C. C. Teagle (residence of marriage ceremony) and J. F. Marshall, Minster were.  Almost all the other Graham children were married by one of the Willis ministers, and they were married at the home of R. Graham.  This marriage certainly broke with family tradition.  

Another interesting break with Graham marriage tradition was A. V. Pickren's age at the time of marriage.  She was only 14.  All the Graham daughters were at least 18 and most were in the 20-22 age range at the time of their marriages.  And, both sons were over age 20 when they married.  L. D. Graham's only brother William Jackson Graham also married a woman over the age of 20.  So, A. V. Pickren's tender age of 14 years and 4 months was extremely young by Graham family tradition.

I also have doubts about A. V. Pickren's signature on the marriage record.  Her signature style strongly resembles the signature of L. D. Graham.  

Transcription

State of Louisiana

Parish of Rapides

Be it Remembered that on the 5^th day of May 1970, Mr. L. D. Graham and Miss A. V. Pickren personally appeared before me J. F. Marshall in and for the Parish of Rapides, together with the witnesses whose names are subscribed hereto. All witnesses of full age, and resident in the said Parish, and that then and there the said Mr. L. D. Graham and Miss A. V. Pickren {…}oving produced the license required by Law, signified their desire and intention, before us the said Marshall and witnesses to be united in the State of Matrimony: L. D. Graham, and Miss A. V. Pickren were by the said J. F. Marshall in the presence of said witnesses, Joined in Wedlock according to the Laws of the State of Louisiana, and by me the said J. F. Marshall duly pronounced to be Husband and Wife.

In Testimony Whereof, the parties to the said Marriage hereunto affix their signatures, together with me the said J. F. Marshall and the aforesaid witnesses on this 5^th day of May A.D., 1870 at residence of H. C. C. Teagle in the Parish aforesaid.

Witnesses:                                                                                                          [signatures]

S. C. Scarborough                                                                                             L. D. Graham

[illegible]                                                                                                             A. V. Pickren

Napoleon B. White                                                                                          J. F Marshall, Minister of the Gospel   


The 3 combined documents provide additional clues to be researched in the future.  And, while almost all marriage indexes show the date of 3 May 1870 as the marriage date for this couple, having all the marriage documents shows that while the marriage bond and license were acquired on 3 May 1870, the marriage didn't occur for another 2 days -- on 5 May 1870