Malachi Grant (c1790) and Penelope (---) of Marlboro Co., SC and Richmond Co., NC

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• 25 Feb 2009 Completely overhauled by Marty Grant, relationship unknown. The old page was badly out of date, so I've started over with a new format and added some new information.

I don't know who Malachi's parents were. There was a Mary Grant in Richmond Co., NC in 1795 or at least she was mentioned that year in a land entry to Darby Henagan who entered 100 acres on the north side of Clark's branch of Crooked Creek "including Mary Grant's improvement." (North Carolina Land Entry # 1403, dated 21 Nov 1795).

Mary Grant's "improvement" means that she had already lived on the land and had either cleared some land or built a house or something that "improved" the land. It could have been recent or several years before.

In any event, Mary could easily be Malachi's mother. If he was born in what is now Richmond Co., NC then she is about the only choice as there were no other known Grants in Richmond in the 1700's as far as I've found.

Of course there is every possibility that Malachi wasn't born in Richmond County, but moved there from somewhere else. His first public records are across the state line in Marlboro District (now County), South Carolina.

Malachi Grant was listed as white on the 1810, 1820 and 1830 census, but by 1840 he had become "free colored" and was listed with a race of "M" for Mulatto on the 1850 census. This can be interpreted to mean he was white with black ancestry, enough to pass either way, depending on the census taker, or that he was white with Native American (Indian) ancestry. There could be other explanations as well, but regardless of his actual ethnic origin the census taker in 1840 and 1850 thought he wasn't "pure white" so he listed him in the non white category. It is impossible to determine what his ethnic ancestry was from census records alone. DNA testing of his descendants may shed some light on it.

Malachi would have been about one year old or less by the time of the 1790 census, assuming he was actually born yet. There were no Grants at all in either Richmond or Marlboro on that census.

In 1800 Malachi would have been about 10. There were still no Grants in Richmond, but over in Marlboro there was an apparent widow Mary Grant. Is she the same person mentioned in the 1795 land entry? Could be. She had one apparent son aged 10-15 (born ca 1784/90). This could certainly be Malachi Grant, but it is impossible to prove it from this record alone.

Malachi is listed on the 1810 census in Marlboro living by himself. Richard S. Grant was also listed, but not nearby (on the next page). His household contained 4 free colored persons and 4 slaves.

1810 census analysis (based on available evidence): (Explanation of this census)

1810 Marlboro Dist., SC page 96/132 Mal Grant 00100-00000-0-0

Analysis:

1 Male 16-25	(1784/1794)	Malachi Grant (c1790)

0 Free Colored Persons

0 Slaves

Malachi Grant married Penelope (---) sometime between 1810 and 1820, presumably in Marlboro Dist., SC. She was born ca 1779/80 per her age on the 1850 census (70). She was born in North Carolina per the 1850 census, county unknown. I don't know her maiden name.

They are listed on the 1820 census in Marlboro. Richard Grant is again the only other Grant listed, but this time the census is alphabetical so I can't tell if they were neighbors or not. Richard's age is much younger this time, so it may be a different Richard. Both Malachi and Penelope ages in 1820 are off from what was given in 1850.

1820 census analysis (based on available evidence): (Explanation of this census)

1820 Marlboro Dist, SC page 74 Malla Grant 200100-10100
Free Colored Persons=0000-0000

Slaves=0000-0000

Analysis:

1 Male 16-25	(1794/1804)	Malachi Grant (c1790)

2 males 0-9	(1810/1820)	1-Son? (1810/15)

				2-Son? (1815/20)

1 Female 16-25	(1794/1804)	Penelope (---) Grant (c1780) wife

1 female 0-9	(1810/1820)	Daughter? (1810/20)

They are still in Marlboro for the 1830 census. Richard is also still there, but several pages away. William Grant (1770/80) is listed about 6 houses from Malachi. Who is he? He could easily be Malachi's father or an uncle at least, or perhaps an older brother.

1830 census analysis (based on available evidence): (Explanation of this census)

1830 Marlboro Dist., SC page 69 Malachia Grant 1011010000000-0100010000000
Free Colored Persons=000000-000000

Slaves=000000-000000

Analysis:

1 Male 30-39	(1790/1800)	Malachi Grant (c1790)

1 male 15-19	(1810/1815)	Son? (1810/15)

1 male 10-14	(1815/1820)	Son? (1815/20)

1 male 0-4	(1825/1830)	Barnabas Grant (c1827) son

1 Female 30-39	(1790/1800)	Penelope (---) Grant (c1780) wife

1 female 5-9	(1820/1825)	Daughter? (1820/25)

They were in neighboring Richmond Co., NC for the 1840 census, and this is the first census to list them as "free colored."  They were one of four Grant families listed there that year, all of whom were in the free colored columns. Malachi was listed next to Jeremiah Grant and was four houses from John W. Grant. John Grant Sr. was two pages away. I don't know the relationships amongst them. John Grant Sr. (c1780) was from nearby Brunswick Co., NC and had lived there several years before moving to Richmond.

1840 census analysis (based on available evidence): (Explanation of this census)

1840 Richmond Co., NC page 246 Malachi Grant 0000000000000-0000000000000
Free Persons of Color=020010-010100

Slaves=000000-000000

Analysis:

1 Male 55-99	(1740/1784)	Malachi Grant (c1790)

2 males 10-23	(1816/1830)	1-Son? (1815/20)

				2-Barnabas Grant (c1827) son

1 Female 36-54	(1784/1803)	Penelope (---) Grant (c1780) wife

1 female 10-23	(1816/1830)	Daughter? (1820/25)

They were still in Richmond for the 1850 census. They were just a few households from John Grant (c1780), relationship unknown. The entire family was listed with a race of "M" for Mulatto.

1850 census abstract: (Explanation of this census)

They were back in Marlboro Dist., SC for the 1860 census and were "white" once again.

1860 census abstract: (Explanation of this census)

I wasn't able to find Malachi or Penelope on the 1870 census. They may have both died before then.

1. Unknown Son (1810/15)
2. Unknown Son (1815/20)
3. Unknown Daughter (1810/20)
4. Unknown Daughter (1820/25)
5. Barnabas Grant (c1827)

Others list Jeremiah Grant (1815) as one of Malachi's sons, which could be correct, but I've seen no direct proof that Jeremiah is Malachi's son. He does fit, and they were next door neighbors in 1840.

Others list John G. Grant (c1818) as a son of Malachi. He does fit, but I don't know what the proof is that he is Malachi's son.

He was apparently home with his parents for the 1830 census aged under 5 (1825/30), and still home in 1840 aged 10-23 (c1816/30). He was with them in 1850 ("Barna" age 23).

He married Charlotte (---) in the 1850's, probably in Marlboro Dist., SC. They are listed on the 1860 census in Marlboro.

1860 census abstract: (Explanation of this census)

Barnabas Grant died on 31 Jan 1865 at Elmira, NY during the Civil War of Chronic Diarrhea. He was a member of the 4th Cavalry from South Carolina, Company E and was captured 11 Jun 1864 at Louisa Court House (Virginia).

I didn't find Charlotte or the children on the 1870 census.

To contact someone on the list, cut and paste their email address into your email program and then manually remove the spaces which are there for a little bit of spam protection.

• Griffin Michael Grant = mike47268 @ ameritech.net (Malachi-Jeremiah-Zechariah)
• Marty Grant = Marty Grant, relationship unknown.
• Jimmy Inman = (need current address) (Malachi-Jeremiah-)
• Jerry T. Kendall = jtkendall @ mecsc.net
• Ruth O'Dell = ruthodell @ earthlink.net (Malachi-Jeremiah-)
• Charles Stegall = cstegall @ cfl.rr.com (Malachi-John G-Richard S-)