Margaret Alice McGrew

Notes:

Name Margaret Alice Thurmond
Event Type Death
Event Date 13 Jul 1914
Event Place Victoria, Victoria, Texas, United States
Gender Female
Marital Status Widowed
Birth Date 03 Mar 1835
Birthplace , Mississippi
Father's Name John Mcgrew
Mother's Name Nancy Holliday
Informant C L Thurmond
Certificate Number 15818
GS Film number 2051128
Digital Folder Number 005145350
Image Number 02132



Citing this Record:
"Texas, Deaths, 1890-1976," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K37T-9GJ : accessed 02 Jul 2014), Margaret Alice Thurmond, 13 Jul 1914; citing certificate number 15818, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2051128.

Margaret married Columbus Lafayette "Zip" Thurmond, Sr. on 2 Apr 1857 in Victoria, Victoria County, Texas. Columbus (son of John Green Thurmond and Anna Louisa Sturges) was born on 13 Nov 1833 in Lauderdale County, Tennessee; died on 1 Feb 1903 in Victoria County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Alfred Seymour Thurmond was born on 3 Mar 1858 in Victoria, Victoria County, Texas; died on 12 Dec 1918 in Victoria, Victoria County, Texas.
2. Columbus Lafeyette Thurmond, Jr. was born about 1859 in Victoria, Victoria County, Texas; died on 12 Dec 1919 in Victoria, Victoria County, Texas; was buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Victoria, Victoria County, Texas.
3. Annie Laurie Thurmond was born on 13 May 1862 in Victoria, Victoria County, Texas; died on 15 May 1896 in Victoria, Victoria County, Texas.
4. Sam Houston Wells Thurmond was born in 1866 in Victoria, Victoria County, Texas; died in 1901 in Victoria, Victoria County, Texas.
5. Jesse James Thurmond was born in 1871 in Victoria, Victoria County, Texas; died in 1963 in Auburn, Androscoggin County, Maine.
6. Benjamin Thurmond was born in 1872 in Victoria, Victoria County, Texas; died before 1882 in Victoria, Victoria County, Texas.
7. George Murat Thurmond was born on 14 Dec 1873 in Victoria, Victoria County, Texas; died on 10 Jul 1925 in Del Rio, Val Verde County, Texas.
8. Martha Malina Thurmond was born on 24 Feb 1879 in Victoria, Victoria County, Texas; died on 12 Nov 1966 in Victoria, Victoria County, Texas.
9. Thomas Pulaski Thurmond was born in 1881 in Victoria, Victoria County, Texas; died before 1891 in Victoria, Victoria County, Texas.
10. Benton Mcculloch Thurmond was born in 1883 in Victoria, Victoria County, Texas; died in 1893 in Victoria, Victoria County, Texas.
11. John Garibaldi Thurmond was born in 1885 in Victoria, Victoria County, Texas; died in 1889 in Victoria, Victoria County, Texas.

Notes:

Wynema McGrew writes that the baptisms of twin brothers Guillermo and Juan, children of Santiago and Constancia Tibbett (Tillet) Magrew, Protestants were recorded in Bapt. Rcds. Bk #2, p. 31, and she transcribed this below, exactly as she says they were recorded, in "Records of Old Mobile, Catherdral of the Immaculate Conception, Mobile, Alabama, Section 8, Baptisms, 1781-1850."

123. William Magrew
On 17 November 1788, I, the undersigned pastor of Mobile, baptized solemnly in James Magrew's house, William, born on 24, June 1788. /s/ Rev. Miguel Lamport

124. John Magrew
On 17 November 1788, I the undersigned pastor of Mobile, baptized solemnly in James Magrew's house John, born 24 June 1788. /s/ Rev. Miguel Lamport

[The above children are legitimate offspring] of James Magrew and Constantine Tillett, Protestants, natives of the Tombigbee River, in this District. Cassian Castanares, Sacristan, was the godfather for all. . /s/ Rev. Miguel Lamport

He and William purchased land in East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana in 1807. (THE SOUTHERN McGREWS GREW).

Purchased land in Marion Co, MS on 6 Aug 1817 and on 31 Oct 1818 (THE SOUTHERN McGREWS GREW).

Per Copiah County MS marriage records, John McGrew was a surity for J.M. Rowan and Mrs. Martha Lawhan, 2 Oct 1842, so this places the family of John McGrew in Copiah Co. It was probabaly his son, however, as he was deceased by 1836.

Was in DeClouets Regiment during the War of 1812, and was in the Battle of New Orleans, along with his twin brother William.

Per Nancy's pension application, he died in Covington, St. Tammany Parish, LA. Their is also a Covington Co, Mississippi where the family once lived. This could cause confusion in the records.

John married Nancy Holliday before 1827 in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana. Nancy (daughter of Ayres Holliday and Olivia Johnson) was born about 1796-1797 in Georgia; died after 1860 in Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

(Research):

Census Listings:

1850 Census
Mississippi, Copiah County, Gallatin
Enumerated 21 Sept 1850
Stamped 255
678-678
Nancy McGrew 54 F --- $320 Ga
Wm G. McGrew 23 M Farmer Mi
Amanda 19 F Mi
James McGrew 17 M Laborer Mi
John McGrew 16 M Mi
Margaret McGrew 14 F Mi
George Hartley 22 M Laborer Mi
John W. Seers 70 M Garden Maker N. York

1860 Census
Texas, Victoria County, Victoria
Enumerated 14 Jun 1860
Page 39
279-287
Martha Cunningham 22 F ---- $7500 $7000 Miss
Nancy McGrue 63 F ---- $--- $1500 Ga
Amanda McGrue 29 F Miss

Notes:

According to Feldman's ANGLO-AMERICANS IN SPANISH ARCHIVES (p 27) he and John McGrew were American residents of Mobile on January 1, 1786.

Wynema McGrew writes (p. 7) that he may also have been a royalist and left the Carolinas in the late 1770s of early 1780s, moving to area that became the Mississippi Territory, as had his older brother John. He received a Spanish land grant in 1788.

The following information is courtesy of Ester McGrew Hardin, and was originally prepared by Robert Lee McGrew of Pearland, Texas in December 1986. Some additional information has been added to his work from loose papers owned by Mrs. Hardin and from the book THE SOUTHERN McGREWS GREW by Everette L. McGrew, 2106 Freeland Way, Dallas TX 75228.

James witnessed the sale of property on March 30, 1770 in Tyrone County, North/South Carolina by Alexander Kilpatrick on both sides of the Pacelot River. This is near where his brother, John, had bought land October 9, 1770. The brothers left Tyrone County in 1778, with their wives and children, and settled in Mississippi.

James settled, however, in the area of St. Stephens, Alabama, on the banks of the Tombigbee River. This was a remote area with few settlers. The boundaries of Washington County at that time were the Chattahooche River on the east, Pearl River on the west, the 31st parallel on the south, and 32 degrees, 28 minutes on the north. From this 25,000 square miles, 26 counties in Mississippi and Alabama were later formed.

Many of these early settlers from the Carolinas and Georgia were in the territory as early as 1775, and as such were subject to the laws of the ruling Spanish Government. In keeping with Spanish regulations, the commandant of the Alabama Fort of San Esteban de Tombecbe compiled in 1797 a census of the settlers of the district. This list contained fifty-one (51) families; two of which were those of John and James McGrew. They became leaders of their settlement and were successful planters living on large plantations and active in early territory politics. James's brother, John McGrew, Sr., became on of the wealthiest planters in the south, owning approximately 4000 acres. On the 1808 tax rolls, he paid a tax of $25.05 on 29 slaves and a 640 acre section.

Mrs. Hardin had in her papers a copy of a letter from The Catholic Center, Archdiocese of Mobile, Mobile, Alabama dated January 27, 1982. It showed the following baptism's:

Ana (Nancy), Maria Casia (Keziah), Guillermo (William), Juan (John), children of Santiago (James) and Constancia Tibbett (Constance Tillet) Magrew, (Protestants). Dated 17 Nov 1788. Recorded Page 31, Bapt. Rcds. Bk #2.

Under Spanish regulations all residents were required to have their children baptized by a Catholic priest, even if they were not Catholic.

JAMES McGREW, had died in 1797 at the age of 57. According to THE SOUTHERN McGREWS GREW a James McGrew of St. Stephen's obtained a passport to go to Georgia on 8 January 1797. Possibly James died while on this trip?

James's widow, Constance, and children petitioned the Congress of the United States of American for title to his land, since the original title had been a Spanish grant, and as of 1799 the territory had been taken over by the United States. John also petitioned for his land. Many letters were written to President Thomas Jefferson, and to the Congress of the United States. These were signed by John Flood McGrew, William McGrew, John McGrew, Sr, and John McGrew, Jr. [Col. John Flood McGrew was a member of the Territorial Council, and friend of Chief Pushmataha, chief of the Choctaw tribe]. These petitions were granted and full titles to the lands in question were given to the two McGrew families. John and his children prospered during the next few years, as did Constance McGrew and her grown children. Constance tried to also obtain a grant for an additional 604 acres of land, but was denied. She and her children later sold the 400 acres of their land to Wm. and John Pierce.

Below, from the AMERICAN STATE PAPERS Volume 1, p. 686, is the summary of the hearing related to the land grant of James and Constantia McGrew in the Mississippi territory:

The heirs of James McGREW, case no. 53 on the docket of the Board, and no. 73 on the books of the Register. Claim--Of 400 acres, by virtue of a Spanish warrant of survey, under the first section of the act. The claimants presented their claim, together with a surveyor's plot of the land claimed, in the following words and figures, to wit: To the Commissioners appointed in pursuance of the act of Congress passed the 3rd day of March, 1803, to receive and adjust claims of lands east of Pearl River. Please take notice, that the following tract of land, situated on the west side of the river Tombigbee, butting and bounded as follows: beginning on a corner cotton tree, above Reams's line and lands claimed by Young Gains, &c, about two miles below Fort St. Stephen's, (supposed;) thence, running south, eighteen degrees west, one hundred and twenty-six chains fifty links, to a corner red oak; ...... thence, down the meanders of the river to the first mentioned station; .....is claimed by James McGrew, or by his heirs, to wit: Peggy McGrew, Eliza McGrew or Eliza De Castro, Alexander McGrew, Giles McGrew, James McGrew, Jane McGrew, Nancy McGrew, Keziah McGrew, John McGrew, and Wm. McGrew, children of said James McGrew, under and by virtue of a Spanish warrant or order of survey, granted unto him, the said James McGrew, on the day of; and the said claimant did, on the 27th day of October, 1795, inhabit and cultivate the tract herein specified, agreeably to the requistions of the first section of an act of Congress, entitled an act, and the same does not appear to be claimed by any preceding provision of the act, and now exhibited to the Register of the Land Office, established east of Pearl river, to be recorded as is directed by said act. To all which they beg leave to refer, as also to the plot hereto fixed, &c, &c. Presented February 29th, 1804, by Elizabeth De Castro, her X mark. Witness, Edwin Lewis. Surveyed in February, 1804, by Robert Ligon. Chain carriers, Young Gains, Dawson Grimes.

In support of this claim, a Spanish warrant of survey was exhibited in the following words and figures, to wit: Don Estevan Miro, Colonel of the royal army, Governor civil and military of the city and province of Louisiana,&c.,&c. Mobile, 12th January, 1788. James McGrew, inhabitant of this jurisdiction of Mobile, with the greatest respect to your excellency, represents and says, that there is on the Tombigee river ten acres of vacant land, which until now, has never been claimed by any proprietor; he begs your excellency to grant him, with the profounder customery, with papers of titles necessary from the Secretary of Government, that may correspond witht he concession; for which favor he will be forever thankful. (signed) James McGrew. Certified by Vicent Folch.
.
Both Wynema McGrew, the author of a book about the Descendants of James McGrew, and G.E. McGrew, 132 Lausanne Drive, Camden, SC 29020 suggest that the McGrews of South Carolina are from Omagh, County Tyrone, Ireland, and landed in Charleston SC in May, 1773. See LDS Alm(?) 874714, at the Orangeburg Historical Society in South Carolina.

Esther McGrew Hardin instead speculates that the McGrew's might be descended from Quaker families originally from Pennsylvania. Many McGrew's can be found in Orange County, North Carolina records. Additionally, in the corner of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware, many members of the Blackburn, Means and McGrew families were all kin, a pattern of intermarriage between these families that continued for many generations. It is possible they came to Pennyslvania from Omagh.

James married Constance Tillett before 1774 in South Carolina. Constance was born about 1752; died between 1805 and 1808 in St. Stephens, Mississippi Territory. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Constance Tillett was likely a daughter of Giles Tillett of Virginia, who was an early settler of Georgia. In 1773, he can be living with his wife and 4 sons and 3 daughters on 500 ares of land at the fork of Broad river (Georgia), where he built a cabin. During the American Revolution, he was purportedly an unrepentant loyalist. On 12 October 1774, in response to the Boston Tea Party, the settlers of Kyoka (Kiokee) and Broad River signed a protest "against any resolutions expressive of disloyalty to our most gracious King and the Lords and Commons of Great Britian." Everette McGrew notes that he was a member of the South Carolina Dragoons, Capt. John Harrison's Company, South Carolina Light Dragoons, St. Augustine, FL, 25 Apr 1783, along with George and James Tillett.

Ayres married Olivia Johnson. Olivia was born before 1790; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Wynema McGrew, in her book titled THE JAMES MCGREW FAMILY, 1744-1797(Second Edition, 1999, Hattiesburg, MS), writes that she had made the following TENTATIVE conclusions about Alexander and Margaret McGrew and their offspring, using data collected from a variety of sources (some of which may be considered factual and some speculative).

Alexander and Margaret McGrew may have married in Ireland, and appear to have been the parents of six children, places of birth unknown. They were probably from in or near Omagh City, County Tyrone, Ireland, the McGrew family having come to Omagh City from Scotland before the mid-fifteenth centery. The name McGrew probably originated form the sept of MacGrewar or MacGruer of the Clan Gregor.

Esther McGrew Hardin instead suggested that the family descended from Quaker families originally from Pennsylvania. Many McGrew's can be found in Orange County, North Carolina records. Additionally, in the corner of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware, many members of the Blackburn, Means and McGrew families were all kin.

James Mims, on his online "Digging the Roots of the Mims Family Tree" has a third theory, showing him as Alexander MacGRUER, born 7 Oct 1706 in Iverness, Scotland, and married to Margaret TATE, also of Inverness. Both were shown as dying in South Carolina.

Wynema lists the probable children of Alexander and Margaret are:

1) Mary McGrew b. ca 1737 d. bef. 1776, married Grove YOUNG. [Note: Janice McAlpine (mcalpage@cox.net) emailed that Mary's husband was actually named Legros Young, and that he died on 5 Mar 1878 in Cambden District, South Carolina].
2) John McGrew b. ca 1739 d. ca 1818, married Elizabeth CLARK
3) James McGrew b. ca 1744 d. ca 1797, married Constantia (Constance) TILLET
4) Peter Alexander McGrew b. ca 1745 d. ca 1792, married Margaret McCLAIN
5) Margaret McGrew b. bet 1746-1749 d. ca 1805
6) William McGrew b. 23 Apr 1752 D. 1815, appears to have wed Mary GOODWYN

She noted that on 4 July 1755, Alexander McGrew petitioned for 550 acres of land in South Carolina, and had 11 persons in his household. On 5 August of that same year, a plat for 350 acres of middle ground between Broad and Wateree Rivers was found with a certificate dated 10 Oct 1755.

In his Will, dated 11 Oct 1776, he names five children--four by relationship, James, Peter, William and Margaret, one by implication of relationship, John--and also his own wife Margaret. His will was probated 7 Feb 1977 in Craven District, SC. Alexander does not name Mary as a child. Wynema cites Caroline T. Moore, comp "Abstracts of the Wills of the State of South Carolina 1760-1784" Privately Published, 1969), pg. 292, as her source for this information.

(pp. 2-7)

Alexander married Margaret ???. Margaret was born after 1715; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]