Charles Grant and Sarah Wyatt of Rutherford Co, NC

NOTE: Charles Grant didn't marry Sarah Wyatt! Richard Grant did (not part of our Grants, but from the Greenville, SC Grant family). I'll update this webpage at some point, there is much new on Charles's family that isn't included here, including the names of several children proven by court and estate records. Charles went to Christian Co., KY and died there before 1805. Children include David, William and Alexander.

Charles Grant was born ca 1760/67 in VA, perhaps Louisa County. He is a proven son of William Grant and Mary of Rutherford Co, NC. His estimated birth years could easily be off, so don't rely on it.

Charles' father William Grant moved to what is now Rutherford Co, NC around 1771. It seems that the rest of the family joined them a year or two later, since William's younger son Thomas was born in VA ca 1773 (per the 1850 and 1860 census).

Charles' first record was dated 31 Dec 1788 when he and his father William Grant and David Mackey and Jeremiah Smith witnessed the Will of Edward Hagon. (Rutherford Co, NC Wills and Miscellaneous Records Book A page 34).

Assuming that Charles was at least 21 then (in 1788), that places his birth at ca 1767 or before.

At the time of the 1790 census, Charles was still at home with his father William Grant in Rutherford Co, NC, probably one of the two sons listed as age 16 and up (born before 1774).

On 26 Feb 1791 Charles Grant signed as bondsman for the marriage of Freeman Tomerlin and Nancy Mullins in Rutherford Co, NC.

On 28 Apr 1791 Charles witnessed a deed between James Kilpatrick and William Grant. (Rutherford Co, NC Deed Book 7 page 146).

In the January 1782 term of Rutherford Co, NC Court, Charles Grant was called into court on the charge of bastardy. The child nor the mother of the child was not named.

Beginning in May 1793 Charles Grant's name appeared numerous times in the Morgan District Superior Court records, all seemingly in regard to one case: Horse Stealing. William Musick and others were also named in these same proceedings.

Charles was named on 9 Oct 1794 in the Will of his father William Grant. Whatever was bequeathed to Charles is unknown, as that part of the will is damaged where it was folded.

It was around this time that Charles Grant vanished from Rutherford Co, NC. One of the 1793 Court records in Morgan District Court (an undated one, but 1793, I think) referred to Charles Grant "late of Rutherford Co, NC" meaning he no longer resided there.

An undated marriage bond in Lincoln Co, NC shows a Charles Grant applying to marry Sarah Wyatte. The bondsman was John Smith. There was no date on the bond, however, Governor Samuel Ashe's name was on the Bond, and he was Governor from 1795 to 1798. So the marriage must have been in that timeframe. This is the last record for Charles Grant. He did not appear on the 1800 census in NC or SC. It is quite possible the marriage in Lincoln Co, NC was a different Charles Grant, but I know of no others of that name anywhere near there, and Lincoln Co, NC did border Rutherford at that time. The 1790 census shows no Wyatt families in Lincoln Co, NC, but I found an Edward "Wayett" on page 113 and a James "Weyet" on the same page. The only John Smith in Lincoln was also listed on page 113 in Lincoln Co, NC in 1790. This tells me that in all likelihood, Sarah Wyatt is a daughter of either Edward or James Wyatt, and that she was there with one of them in 1790. Edward had three females with him then, one probably his wife, the other two probably daughters, one possibly being Sarah. James had 4 females, one probably his wife, the other three daughters. They were all in the 8th Company, but I don't know what part of Lincoln Co, NC that was. In 1790 Lincoln included all of present Lincoln, plus Gaston and Catawba and half of Cleveland.

The 1800 census for Lincoln Co, NC shows several Wyatt's listed, including: Daniel (pg 844), James (844), and Thomas (844). The 1800 census for Lincoln Co, NC shows four John Smith's listed (page 833, 844, 884 and 892). The one on page 844 with the Wyatt's is probably the one who was bondsman for Charles Grant and Sarah Wyatt.

I wish I knew where Charles and Sarah went to after their marriage. I found a Charles Grant in Montgomery Co, TN who was the right age, but close inspection shows he came from Halifax Co, VA and is a different person for our Charles. Our Charles was associated with William Musick who moved to St. Louis Co, MO before 1800. Perhaps Charles did the same. I haven't checked for him there. A possible, but unproven, child of theirs wound up in Illinois and Indiana, so that may be a clue of where to look for Charles.

Children

I know of no children for Charles and Sarah. One day, by accident, while looking for some Hensley relatives of mine, I discovered a "Wyatt Grant", born in the 1790's in NC, living in Illinois and Indiana. I made a mental note of him due to his name. I had found him in an early census record (1820, I think), and later in 1850.

I have found several census records, and a marriage record for Wyatt Grant, so I have some good data on him, but he was never in the same county with any other Grant families (at least not for the census). Wyatt was born ca 1794 in North Carolina. He married Elizabeth Duty on 28 Sep 1815 in Gibson Co, IN. They were listed on the 1820 census in Posey Co, IN, 1830 in Clark Co, IL, 1840 in Edwards Co, IL and 1850 in Williamson Co, IL. I have some additional data on Wyatt, but not enough to prove (or disprove) that he is Charles and Sarah's child, but that is certainly a possibility.

Researcher List

Persons researching this family (click here for data on how to get on or off of this list:

1. Charles¹ Grant , born 1760/67 in VA, son of William Grant Sgt and Mary Morris . He married abt 1795/98 in Lincoln Co, NC Sarah Wyatt , born in Lincoln Co, NC.