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This letter is presented to
illustrate some of the mis-information with which we had to deal in
searching for Andrew Jackson Grisham, Sr. and Gillie (Olive)
(Mason) Grisham. Not only did we continue to search for
information about Andrew and Gillie, but our search expanded
to prove or disprove this letter. While some
accurate information is presented below--it is interspersed with many
inaccuracies. If you choose to
use any information from this page, please do so very cautiously.
--Elreeta
WILLIAM Q. HILL LETTER
I received from Noel Grisham, of Round Rock, TX, on 10 June, 1986, a copy
of the 9 Jan. 1977, letter from Wm. Q. Hill, of Florence, AL, to Ronnie
Crawford, of Baldwyn, MS. Noel had researched the GRISHAM family for more
than 40 years. He believed that the information in the letter and the
attached GRISHAM PAGE are the most nearly correct that he has found. Noel
was rather certain that George Gresham, Sr.
was the father of Isaac and
Ephraim. Interspersed throughout the letter are
handwritten comments--Noel's, I presume. These comments are in red.
Wm. Q. Hill Route 1, Box 26
Florence, AL 35630
9 January, 1977
Mr. Ronnie Crawford
Route # 2, Box 24A
Baldwin, MS 38824
Dear Mr. Crawford:
A a few days ago I was back in the courthouse at
Lawrenceburg, Lawrence County, Tennessee. I could not find any
record that confirmed or indicated the children of George Grisham. As
before I found several deeds regarding his land transaction in the county.
I was informed by one of the members of the Co. Historical Society, that
there were some old records in the basement of the courthouse but the
county Judge would not let me go to the basement an [sic] search. It is my
understanding that the Historical Society is working on these records to
restore them and have them put in file in the proper county offices.
In regard to you [sic]
information that you sent from; Mr. Thomas Green, Duncanville,
Texas---Ephraim Grisham and children [sic]. I am sending a copy of this
letter to Mr. Green. The information from Mr. Green really has me
confused. Mrs. Austin, who died about twelve years ago at the age of 79
years, made an affidavit some years back regarding Isaac Ephraim Grisham
and his wife, Sarah Olive. In this affidavit, Mrs. Austin says
Isaac
Ephraim Grisham married Sarah (Gilly) Olive and had the following
children: "There is confusion here. I think
Isaac and Ephraim were brothers."
[This appears to be primarily the family of Ephraim
Grisham and Sarah Choate with
some changes written in to adjust to the children of Andrew Jackson
Grisham and Gillie Olive.--Elreeta]
1. James T. Grisham, b. ca 1832. (Went to Texas ca 1880,
lived in Hamilton County, Texas. Three of his children; Charles, Virgil,
Willie. There is an arrow pointing to 1. James T.
Grisham. The "T" has been crossed out and an "L"
written in. "Yes" has been written in.
2. Martha S. GRISHAM, b. ca. 1834. (Thought she married
Tom Mitchell.) "Yes" with arrow pointing
to 2. Martha S. Grisham
3. Joseph S. Grisham, b. ca 1836. (Did not know what
happened to him.)
4. Hetty B. Grisham, b. ca. 1838. (Did not know what
happened to her.)
5. Sarah J. Grisham, b. ca. 1840. (Did not know what
happened to her.)
6. Ephraim A. Grisham, b. ca. 1842. (Thought he married
Betty _________. (Thought he may have not moved to Texas.)
7. Prudence S. Grisham, b. ca. 1844. (Thought she
married a Mr. Anderson.)
8. Nancy W. Grisham, b. ca 1846. (Did not know what
happened to her.)
9. Rhoda W. Grisham, b. ca. 1848. (Did not know what
happened to her.
10. Hester C. Grisham, b. ca. 1850. (Thought she may
have lived in Lawrence Co., Tenn..)
11. Andrew Jackson Grisham b. Dec. 1, 1854. d. June 22,
1897, Hunt Co.. TX. Buried Mt. Carmel Ce., at Wolf City, TX, Hunt, Co.
Married Cordelia Ann Enblish [sic. English]
b. June 16, 1860. d. Aug., 1949. "Yes"
with number circled -- 11. Andrew Jackson
12. Amanda R. Grisham b. ca. 1856. (She may have been
called Rachel Ellen) (Thought to have lived at Bailey, Wolf City, or
Hickory, Hunt Co., TX.) "Yes"
with number circled -- 12. Amanda R. Grisham Married Hamilton
Savage.
13. George F. Grisham, b. ca 1858. (Did not think he
went to Texas, but did not know what happened to him.)
14. Richard D. Grisham, b. Mar. 16, 1861. d. Aug., 1925,
Hunt Co., TX. Married Phebe Leander Welch, Dec. 3, 1885. Bur. Mt. Carmel
Cem., Hunt Co., TX. He was reared by his brother Ephraim, after his
parents died when he was very young. "Yes"
with number circled -- 14. Richard D. Grisham. The "D" has been
crossed out and an "R" My grandfather.--at 9 he went to TEXAS
with Pattersons, Greens, Englishes ,and Savages.
I have seen a marriage record (copied by Mr. Morrison
from Lawrence County, Tennessee marriages) but have not seen the original
record, Ephraim Grisham to Sarah Choat, Sept. 14, 1831; bond by
George Grisham. "This is not Isaac but was a brother
to Isaac," has been written in.
The Sarah Olive that I have mentioned in this letter,
was the dau. of James and Sarah (Sally) Hartsfield Olive. Sarah (Sally)
Hartsfield was sister to my g. g. g. grandfather William
Hartsfield.
Mr. Crawford you and Mr. Green let me hear from you
regarding the information on Isaac Ephraim Grisham (Gresham) family. Ephraim
has been crossed out.
If I should happen to find anything that confirms
children of George Grisham, I shall be glad to let you know.
Good luck.
Sincerely,
William Q. Hill
Handwritten notes on this letter
include:
Isaac Ephraim GRISHAM, b. VA 1810.
Geo. b. VA 1772, attached
Attached to the letter is the following page entitled
"GRISHAM." The source of this page is unknown. Perhaps it is
from Mr. Hill, or perhaps it is the data sent to Mr. Hill by
Mr. Thomas
Green of Duncanville, TX.
GRISHAM
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GEORGE GRISHAM
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- born in 1772 in Virginia. Married
NANCY
___?__ who was also born in Virginia about 1789. (Could be second
wife?). Known children: Ephreim, born about 1810;
John born about 1812;
James born about 1824; Martha born about 1826; Caroline born about
1833. George and Nancy moved to Lawrence County, Tennessee
about 1820.
Handwritten comments: "GEORGE
born about 1835," and "ISAAC also, I think.(NOEL)"]
John married Nancy ? who was born about 1820 in
Tennessee. Known children: Meredian, born 1834; Thomas,
born 1837; Elizabeth, born 1841; Emaline, born 1843; Francis, born
1848.
James married Elizabeth ? who was born about 1824
in Tennessee. Known children: Mary E., born 1846, and
Margella, born about 1848.
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EPHREIM GRISHAM
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born about 1810; married Sarah ? who was born in
Tennessee about 1813. Known children: James
T., born
about 1831; Martha A. born about 1833; Joseph S. born about
1836; Hetty born about 1837; Sarah J. born about 1839;
Ephreim born about 1841;
Prudence S. born about 1843; Nancy M. born about 1844; and
Rhoda M. born about 1848."A RHODA GRISHAM
married ......./not legible/........in Van Zant County, 16 Feb.
1871." All of these children were born in Tennessee, but at
least two, JAMES and EPHREIM moved to Texas, JAMES to Kaufman Co. and
EPHREIM to Van Zant Co.
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JAMES L. GRISHAM "L" has been crossed out
and "T" or "J" has been written in on "JAMES L.
GRISHAM" |
- born 1831 married Anna
Heffington Heffington
is handwritten, who was born about 1831 in Tennessee. Known
children: William Alexander, born 1852; Joseph born 1854;
Nancy, born 1857; and Sally, born 1860. The two boys were born in Tennessee and the two girls in
Texas so the family moved to Kaufman Co. about 1855 or 1856. Apparently,
both parents died before 1868. In the Probate Records of Kaufman Co. dated
January 26, 1868:
"Now at this term of court comes Thomas
Heffington--application
for guardianship of persons and property of William Grisham, Joseph
Grisham, Nancy Grisham, and Sally Grisham, minor children under the age of
14 and without guardian and the court being satisfied as to--no objection
being made-- granted---"
[Handwritten comment: "Don't
understand this since William was over 14. Could be this was filed on in
court for some years. What happened to Joseph and Nancy--died young-no
issue."]
This Thomas Heffington was also from Tennessee and lived
near James and Anna. He was a younger brother of Anna. I have no further
information on Joseph or Nancy. Sally married Thomas O.
Hamilton and died
without issue in Kaufman Co., in Feb., 1942.
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| WILLIAM ALEXANDER GRISHAM,
Sr. |
- married Josephine L.
Walker,
daughter of John Walker of Kentucky, on 13 November, 1878. Their only
child, William Alexander Junior was born 2 September, 1880. William Senior
died before W. A., Jr. was born. On 26 October, 1883, Josephine (Jodie)
married J. B. Burns. Kaufman Co. Probate Records show that guardianship of
William Jr. was transferred to Burns in Kaufman from Lawrence Co.,
Tennessee on 18 November, 1889. : "Was WILL the
only child?" "Yes." "Buried
Liberty Cemetery Kaufman Co." |
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WILLIAM ALEXANDER GRISHAM, JR.
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- married first, Rebecca Ann Chappell and they had one child,
Ruby C., born Oct. 1899. This marriage must have been stormy and it ended quickly
in divorce. William next married Lela Buie on 26 August, 1903 and
they had two children, Lillian and Billie Lou.
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Other handwritten
comments on the page include:
1. GEORGE GRISHAM--great,
great grandfather
2. ISAAC GRISHAM
3. RICHARD R.GRISHAM
4. JAS. ALBERT GRISHAM
5. NOEL GRISHAM"
"27 in 1800
57 in
1830
37 in 1840 67 in 1840
47 in 1850 77 in 1850"
[Ronnie Crawford's wife is a descendant of William
James Grisham, son of George Gresham, Sr., who died in Lawrence County,
TN, in 1852.]
SOURCES
Crawford, Ronnie
Grisham, Noel |