Family Lore as Clues to the Truth

We can't dismiss family stories, without checking them out.

Many times we learn that these stories, which were passed down from generation to generation have changed over time.  Much like the game of telephone, the stories change, are embellished or important facts forgotten with each new telling of the story.   However, in every family story, no matter how distorted over time, there are probably some grains of truth.  So, it is worth searching for the evidence that will prove or disprove each statement in the family story.

Our family lore is no different.

Robert Graham was born in Mississippi on August 20, 1818. He moved to Texas in about 1836. He then moved to Natchitoches, La., about 1841. Robert Graham married Ruth Smith (b. Dec. 5, 1813; d. Jun. 2, 1869) about 1843. Soon after marring Ruth Smith (a trapper's daughter) from Natchitoches, they moved to Forest Hill, Rapides Parish, La.  (Robert Graham 1818-1890 Family Story)

There is more to this story, but for this blog I am only dealing with this first paragraph. The story can easily be found throughout the Internet, as it has been repeated many times and in many places. Some of it can be verified and some of it cannot.

The evidence below will show that it is highly unlikely that Robert Graham and Ruth Smith married in Natchitoches, LA, and while they did eventually move to Forest Hill, Rapides Parish, Louisiana, it was many years later.

• Robert GRAHAM was born on 20 August 1818 and he died 10 Feb 1890.  These dates are probably correct as they appear on his headstone, Graham Family Cemetery, Forest Hill, Rapides Parish, Louisiana  (headstone photo by Elizabeth Mix)  So, far we don't have any collaborating evidence for his birthdate. 
• To date, there is no evidence, to prove that Robert moved to Texas in or about 1836, but as a young man of about 18 years of age, it is entirely possible. However, if he did move to Texas it was as a man already married to Ruth Smith.
• A land record dated 1 February 1836, for Robert and Ruth Graham in Scott County, Mississippi clearly demonstrates that Robert Graham and Ruth Smith were married prior to this date in 1836.  (Book C, page 63 Scott County Land Records).   (Research by Virginia Butter Fields)   Additional information added, 11 Jan 2013: Virginia Butter Fields explains that this record information including the Book C page 36 were found in the Scott County, Mississippi book containing the section and township records.  When she looked up the land by the legal definition, she found the purchase and sale history along with the book and page number noted.  However, the original deed was not located in the present day Book C.
• The next wrinkle in the story is that Robert moved to Texas about 1836.  There were several Graham families in eastern Texas, so it is possible... however.....

•  On 28 August 1838, Robert and Ruth Graham sold this same property to Jackson Graham.  (Nov 2012 research by Virginia Butter Fields)
• Then there is the 1840 Scott County, Mississippi Census, with a Robert Graham and 2 females, of the correct age ranges.  (Robert Graham, 1 male 20-29 years, 1 female under 5 years, 1 female 20-29 years). No other Robert Graham family in 1840 Mississippi fits this census as cleanly.
• Robert's & Ruth's oldest daughters may have been born in Mississippi, placing Robert and Ruth in Mississippi at least as late as 1839.
• Sarah C. Graham born about 1839 Mississippi (1850 Census Jackson Parish, Louisiana)
• Christiana Elizabeth Graham, born about 1842 Mississippi (1850 Census Jackson Parish, Louisiana), although all subsequent censuses list her as being born in Louisiana, so her birthplace is not definitive.
• Robert and Ruth Graham moved to Jackson Parish, Louisiana before 20 Oct 1843, when their son, William Jackson Graham was born.  So, regardless of whether Christiana was born in Mississippi or Louisiana, we can still be certain that Robert and Ruth were in Scott County, Mississippi by 29 September 1840, when the census was taken.
   
• The Robert Graham family appears on the 1850 Census in Jackson Parish, Louisiana. 
• Robert Graham registered Jackson Parish, LA Land Patents in 1851, 1858 and as late as 7 Dec 1859.
• The family lived in Jackson Parish, Louisiana for about 16 or 17 years -- which means they did not move to Rapides Parish, Louisiana right after they married. A review of the 1860, 1870, 1880 and 1890 census records, along with death records for most of the Graham children suggest that all of the 7 remaining children were born in Jackson Parish, Louisiana between 1845 and 1855. 
• The Robert & Ruth Graham family first appear in Rapides Parish, Louisiana on 16 Jan 1860 when Robert registered a Land Patent, and again on the 1860 census taken 10 July 1860.     

From the traditional family story, we have been able to prove that Robert Graham was probably born in Mississippi in 1818.  He did, indeed, marry Ruth Smith, although no marriage record has been found - the Scott County Courthouse burned in 1872, so we may never have the record.  And, we do not know who her parents were.  And, yes, the family did move to and live in Forest Hill, Rapides Parish, Louisiana, but not before 1860.

The lesson here is to read and mine those family stories for clues to be proved or disproved with facts, supported by evidence.

_______________________________________________ 

Sources:

Fields, Butter Virginia. Robert Graham Research Report November 2012. email correspondence. 3 Jan 2013.

Mix, Elizabeth. Photo of Robert Graham headstone taken 1997.

Willis, Randy. Robert Graham 1818-1890 Family Story. (no date) "Ancient Faces". accessed 3 Jan 2013. <http://www.ancientfaces.com/story/robert-graham-1818-1890-family-story/382965>.

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? 

Robert Graham Family 1850 Census

Exciting News!

It's taken awhile, but I've finally located Robert Graham and family on the 1850 census.

1850 Census Jackson Parish, Louisiana

Transcription:

1) Robert Greyham, 31, male, farmer, value of real estate $250, born Mississippi;
2) Routh Greyham, 36, female, born Kenty [sic], cannot read/write;
3) Sarah C. Greyham, 11 , female, born Mississippi, attending school;
4) Christina E. Greyham, 8, female, born Mississippi, attending school;
5) Wm J Greyham, 7, male, born Louisiana:
6)  Julia A Greyham, 5, female, born Louisiana;
7) Emily Greyham, 4, female, born Louisiana;
8) Lorenza D Greyham, 2, male, born Louisiana;
9) Demal, 1, male, born Louisiana;
10) James Albridge, 27, male, born Louisiana

Locating Robert Graham would have been much easier if the last name indexed on Ancestry.com hadn't been Gresham.   While the census taker had horrible handwriting and the spelling wasn't much better I feel confident from the names and ages of everyone, in this family, that this is indeed our Robert Graham family. 

New Information:

I was really interested to see that there was an older daughter Sarah C. born in Mississippi, whose name I hadn't encountered before.  

Also of interest, was that both Sarah and Christina (the 2 oldest children) were born in Mississippi; this certainly changes some of the history about this family.  With the 2 oldest children being born in Mississippi it is highly unlikely that Robert Graham and Ruth Smith were married in Natchitoches, Louisiana in 1841, as previously thought.  

Elizabeth Graham family connection:

I was hoping that once this census was located Elizabeth Graham, who married Joel Merchant, would appear with the Graham family, as a child.  She does not!  Family tradition tells us that Elizabeth was one of Robert's and Ruth's daughters, but to date I haven't found any hard evidence to support it.  

Some circumstantial evidence is that she and Joel Merchant did live next door toWilliam Jackson Graham's family and only a few houses from Emily and Julia (sisters of William J. Graham and known daughters of Robert Graham) and close to Robert Graham.  Another important point is that Elizabeth  and Joel's marriage license lists Elizabeth's last name as Graham.  So, while she was a Graham we cannot, at this time, be certain that she was Robert & Ruth Graham's daughter. I would like to find further documentation that links Elizabeth firmly to Robert & Ruth Graham, before I can say with complete confidence that she is their daughter.

Another interesting connection: 

In 1870, each of these Graham women: Elizabeth, Julia and Emily had a minor child, last name Walker, living in their households. Two additional Walker children were living next door to Robert Graham in 1870.  This Walker family becomes important in locating Robert Graham on the 1860 census.

The Walker Connection:

It was the Walker children who led me to find Robert Graham on the 1850 census in Jackson Parish, Louisiana.  

From the 1870 Census in Rapids Parish, Louisiana:

• William Walker age 17,  living next door to Robert Graham
• Thomas Walker  age 13, living next door to Robert Graham
• Sarah Walker, age 17, living in the household of Daniel H. Willis and Julia A. (Graham) Willis. 
• Dempsy Walker, age 12, living in the household of William Butter and Emily (Graham) Butter.
• Elizabeth Walker, age 7, living in the household of Joel Merchant and Elizabeth (Graham) Merchant.

All 5 children were born in Louisiana.

On the 1860 census, in Jackson Parish, Louisiana William, Sarah, Dempsy and Jefferson (who is probably Thomas) appear as the children of Thomas and Charity Walker and are living next to Lafayette Walker.  Both Thomas and Lafayette Walker were born in Mississippi.

The fact that the Walker's and Robert Graham were both living in Jackson Parish, LA in 1860, and all 3 were born in Mississippi, along with the fact that the Walker children living with various Graham children in Rapides Parish, LA in 1870 certainly suggests some kind of important connection.

In 1850,  both Thomas Walker and Lafayette Walker are found on the census as the children of Saunders Walker Sr., in Pike County Mississippi, which borders the Louisiana/Mississippi border on the north.   Based on the Graham-Walker connection, whatever it may be, it seems like Pike County Mississippi might be a good starting point to search for Robert Graham in Mississippi.