James Griffin

Notes:

(Research):

Census Listings:

1860 Census
Texas, Robertson County, Sterling
Enumerated 18 July 1860
Page 58
422-422
Thomas and Angelina Griffin
423-423
J. W. Griffin 26 M Faremr 13,360 4,145 Ala
Janette Griffin 21 F Housekeeper Tx
James Griffin 6/12 M Tx

J. married Jeanette McGrew on 27 Dec 1855 in Robertson County, Texas. Jeanette (daughter of William Alexander McGrew and Serena ???) was born about 1839 in Texas; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Received a land grant from the Mexican government in 1835. In the Texas Army during the Revolution in 1836. Member of the Robertson County Rangers. Wynema McGrew writes that he enlisted on 12 Mar 1838 in Robertston County as a private under Captain N. Doyle, Volunteer Rangers. He was discharged 10 Jun 1839. Flood and Hardin McGrew, his brothers, also enlisted and were discharged at the same time.

William appeared on the Robertson County tax rool for 1838 through 1840. He was taxed on 1107 acres in 1838 and 1840 and 1111 acres in 1839. He paid no poll tax in 1838 but did the other two years.

William married Serena ??? before 1839. Serena was born about 1820 in Tennessee; died before 1860. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Wynema McGrew writes that after William's death, she married James P. FRENCH, on 13 Jan 1846 in Robertson County, Texas. This made him a stepfather of Paralee McGrew. When Serena died, James French married the widow Caroline Breedlove, whose son Thomas married Paralee. This made him not only Paralee's stepfather, but also her stepfather-in-law.

Notes:

According to the book THE SOUTHERN McGREWS GREW James Tate McGrew is first heard of when he signed a Memorial to Congress in 1803. He was a veteran of the War of 1812. They can be found on the Marion Co, MISS census in 1816. In 1818, James and three of his brothers were charged with assault and battery. They were in Yazoo Co, Miss by 1830. They moved to Robertson County, Texas in 1834. He also had land in Refugio County, Texas.

Esther McGrew Hardin believes that the family went from Marion County to Yazoo County MS before the 1830 census. Lots of children in 1830. Moved to Texas in 1834. She heard a story that they saw the "stars fell on Alabama" shower on their move to Texas. James T. McGrew had a land grant in Refugio County near his brother William McGrew per the Land Maps of Texas showing original land grants.

Wynema McGrew stated that James Tate received a First Class Headright, No. 45, dated 5 Feb 1838 by the Board of land Commissioners of Robertson County, Texas. She also transcribed another certificate as reading:

Republic of Texas No. 90. This is to certify that James T. McGrew has appeared before us, the board of land commissioners for the county of Robertson, and proved according to the law that he arrived in this county October 1834 and that he is a married man and entitled to one Labor of Land, upone the condition of paying at the rate of $3.50 for every labor of irrigable land, $2.50 for every labor of temporal or arable land, and $1.20 for every labor of pasture land, which may be contained in the Survey secured to him by this Certificate. Given under our hand this 5th day of February 1838, Thomas Dillard, President, Thomas ? Dunn, L. Hart, Associate Commissioners.

Wynema also notes that in Robertson County in 1838, Jas. T. McGrew was shown on the tax roll with 75 cattle and no poll.

Esther McGrew Hardin of San Antonio had received a transcription of the Will of James Tate McGrew from Juanita Johnson of Clovis, New Mexico. It was transcribed as follows:

I, James Tate McGrew of the Republic of Texas, County of Robertson, do make and publish this my last will and testament revoking all former wills, which may have been made by me at any time previous. And the wordly (goods?) that it has pleased God to entrust (me??) I dispose of as follows. First I direct that all my debts be paid out of the first money that shall come into the hands of my executors from any portion of my Estate real or personal. Also I direct that all my stocks of hogs except six sows and pigs be sold on credit of six months at some time during the next winter (that?) my executors may think best. I also direct that my oldesy yoke of oxen and the largest steers of my stock together with a few milch cows amounting in all between twenty and thirty head be sold at some time in the Spring of 1840, on a credit of six months also that the corn growing upon my bottom plantation be cribed and sold some time during the coming fall season and I further direct that the proceeds of all such sales be (divided?) amongst my heirs as follows:

That WM. A. McGREW receive fifty dollars

That the heirs of GEORGE W. McGREW, MY SON DECEASED, receive fifty dollars

and the remainder of my sons and daughters and my wife to share and share equal of the remainder. And of the remaining unsold portion of my stock of cattle and the reserve of my stock of hogs together with my small black mare, my household and kitchen furniture I give and bequeth unto my wife. Also I further direct that all the real or lande of the Estate secured to me in this Republic or which may be secured to me be equally divided between the following heirs:

MARY JANE McGREW
FRANCIS ALEXANDER McGREW
SAMANTHA ANN McGREW
JAMES THOMAS McGREW

and my wife which portion of my real estate I give and bequeth unto my wife in lieu of her dower during her widowhood and at her death to be equally divided amonth those of my heirs who have not recd land of this Government. I further direct that should JOHN FLOOD McGREW fail to hold ? the ? land now deeded to him in fee simple title -- that he have one equal share of my real estate with my wife and the last mentioned sons and daughters. I also direct that the amount given to the heirs of George W. McGrew be retained in the hands of my executors at interest until the daughter of said George W. McGrew shall be of sufficient age to require the same for the purpose of education and then that it be appropriated for that purpose. The heirs or representatives of any of my children who shall have died between the time of my decease and such division or distribution of - to be entitled to such share or shares as their respective ancestors would have been entitled to were they then living and the share of my real and personal estate thus bequeathed to my wife to be in lieu of her dower at law and I hereby appoint my neighbor George W. Hill and my wife Elizabeth McGrew as executors of this my last will and testament and I also do hereby appoint my said wife Elizabeth McGrew Guardian for my minor heirs to take possession of their portions of my Estate and retain the same for their benefit to put the monied portion at and draw from the same as may be necessary to defray the expenses of educating them, and I further direct that my executors whenever they shall deem it expedient so to do and the prices of land shall justify the same sale for the use of my minor heirs their portions of the river lands belonging to my estate and (invest?) the proceeds as will be most advantageous but so that my heirs will be able to receive the money as they may arrive at years of maturity. To execute all of which I appoint my above named executors, and the above named Guardian for my minor heirs. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this the ... day of August, 1839, in the presence of the subscribing witnesses. Interline before signed. Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of us Benj Sewell, A.Hicks, J.T. McGrew

James married Elizabeth ??? on 1 Jan 1812 in Amite County, Mississippi. Elizabeth was born about 1794 in Georgia; died in May 1860 in Limestone County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Elizabeth was a full blooded Cherokee Indian. She had first married a Francis Patterson. her maiden name is not known. Juanita Johnson of New Mexico, a descendant of Mary June McGrew and her husband Benjamin Maddox, sent photographs of Elizabeth McGrew to Esther McGrew Hardin in San Antonio. She did appear to be Native American from the photo.

Court records show Elizabeth's daughter, Twiney Pierce married Hiram McLaughlin, so Elizabeth may have been married twice before, to a Pierce and a Patterson. (Twiney might also have been previously married). Twiney's marriage is recorded in Marion County, Mississippi, Marriage Record Book "A" 1812-1824, with "consent by James and Elizabeth McGrew for Twiney Pierce, daughter of Elizabeth McGrew.' Twiney married Hiram McLaughlin on 27 Sept 1823.

A divorce court in Marion Co, MS has a lawsuit between Francis Patterson and James McGrew about support for Twiney Pierce.

Wynena McGrew writes that she died of inflammation after being ill for 25 days in Limestone County, Texas.

(Research):
Census Listings:

1850 Census
Texas, Robertson County, Precinct 4
Enumerated 3 Nov 1850
Stamped 235
108-108
Benjamin W. Madox 20 M Farmer Ga
Mary J Madox 17 F Miss
109-109
Elizabeth McGrew 56 F $22,220 Ga
[Texas, Robertson County, Precinct 1]
John T. (sic-F[lood]) McGrew 28 M Farmer 1111 Mississippi
Elizabeth M Barton 6 F Texas
110-110
Thomas McGrew 26 M farmer 640 Miss
Lucretia McGrew 17 F Ala
Alfred Hicke 55 M Farmer 1486 Miss

Notes:

Married:
According to the Church of the Latter-day Saints "Ancestral File-ver 4.15", Alexander McGrew and Elizabeth Blackburn were also shown as the parents of Thomas McGrew (b. 1824 in Marion County, Mississippi) and Samantha McGrew (b. 1826 in Marion County, Mississippi). However, the research of Wynema McGrew of Hattiesburg, Mississippi shows that Thomas and Samantha are actually the children of James Tate McGrew (the brother of Alexander McGrew) and Elizabeth Patterson McGrew.