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I (Marty Grant) am a 2nd cousin, 5 times removed of William Rufus Grant.
William Rufus Grant was born 23 Sep 1834 (based on a supposed Family Bible) in Blount County, Tennessee.
William may have been named for his two uncles, William Grant and William Morris. I don't know where the "Rufus" middle name might come from.
William R. Grant is a proven child of John Grant and Sarah Morris. He is a proven child, as named in the estate records of his father, and was living with two of his siblings in 1850.
William R. Grant seems to be home with his parents for the 1840 census, aged 5-9 (born ca 1830/35).
His parents died in the 1840's, and he apparently went to live with the Milligan family, for he was with them in 1850 (his sister and her husband).
1850 MONROE CO, TN Page 105B House/Family # 1476/1476 - 17th CIVIL DISTRICT Twp MILLIGAN JOHN 35 M W FARMER SC 1814/1815 MILLIGAN ELIZA 26 F W NC 1823/1824 MILLIGAN AVARILLA 3 F W TN 1846/1847 MILLIGAN SALLY 2 F W TN 1847/1848 GRANT DOLLY JANE 11 F W TN 1838/1839 GRANT RUFUS 16 M W FARMER TN 1833/1834
Sometime prior to 1858, William R. Grant married. His wife is known only by her initials of R. L. as given on the 1860 census record. I have not yet found any document revealing her given name nor her maiden name. She was born ca 1833/34 in North Carolina. I don't know where they married, but I suspect they married in Jackson County, North Carolina (but no marriage record was found). It is also possible that they married in Tennessee.
William R. Grant moved to the Ocunalufty River region of present Swain County, North Carolina before 1858. This area was still part of Jackson County at that time. William may have moved there alone, and then married, or married in Tennessee, and brought his new wife with him.
William now lived in the same region as many of his Grant cousins (descendants of his Great Uncle Andrew Grant), though none were living in the Ocunalufty River area. It is conceivable that he was in contact with some of them, though that is unknown. The nearest ones were in neighboring Macon County, less than 10 miles away.
For the 1860 census, William was listed in Jackson County, North Carolina, the only Grant in Jackson County this year (all of his cousins in the area were across the line in Macon County, not very far from him). Unfortunately, the census taker this year only listed everyone by their initials, making it difficult to identify everyone.
1860 JACKSON CO, NC Page 309 House/Family # 421/ 421 -- WEBSTER P.O. GRANT W R 27 M W FARMER 30 TN 1832/1833 GRANT E L 26 F W NC 1833/1834 GRANT M J 2 F W NC 1857/1858
For the Civil War, William R. Grant enlisted as a Private on 30 May 1861 in Company B, 25th Regiment, North Carolina Troops (Confederate). His entry record showed him a resident of Jackson Co, NC, aged 27 years. He was present and accounted for through February 1864. He was wounded at some point prior to 29 Feb 1864, and returned to the Invalid Corps on 28 Sep 1864.
Mrs. E. L. Grant died sometime before 1870 in Jackson County.
For the 1870 census, William and daughter were still in Jackson County, listed in Caney Fork Township.
1870 JACKSON CO, NC Page 228B House/Family # 99/ 99--CANEY FORK Twp GRANT WILLIAM R 36 M W SCHOOL TEACHER 50 100 TN 1833/1834 GRANT MADENA J 12 F W AT HOME NC 1857/1858
On 14 Dec 1870, W. R. Grant and Charles Jenkins were granted 100 acres on Kirkland Creek and Alarka Creek in Jackson County (later became Swain County). (Swain Co, NC Deed Book 11 page 325).
In 1871 Swain County was created from portions of Macon and Jackson County, including the section where the William Grant family resided. There was another William Grant in Swain County, also, but fortunately, William R. Grant always used his middle initial, so I'm fairly sure none of their records are mixed up.
On 13 Feb 1875, W. R. Grant sold his half of their 1870 land grant to Charles Jenkins for $25. Witnessed by E. W. Elliott. (Swain Co, NC Deed Book 1 page 392).
On 30 Mar 1877 W. R. Grant and E. Everett and Charles Jenkins obtained a guardian bond for W. R. Grant to be guardian of Modena J. Grant, aged 19 (his daughter). I'm not sure why this was necessary, for usually the father was the guardian by default. (Swain Co, NC Guardian Bonds).
For the 1880 census, they were listed in Swain County, in Ocunalufty Township. All the other Grants were in Charleston and Nantahala Townships. A widow, Margaret (Shuler) Weeks, and her children, were living with William. Margaret was listed as a House Keeper. They would marry within two years.
1880 SWAIN CO, NC Page 206B House/Family # 135/ 142 -- OCUNALUFTY Twp GRANT W R W M 45 HD M FARMER TN NC NC 1834/1835 WEEKS MARGARET W F 32 S HOUSE KEEPER NC NC NC 1847/1848 WEEKS JOHN M W M 15 S S NC TN NC 1864/1865 WEEKS ANDREW L W M 11 S S NC TN NC 1868/1869
On 13 Mar 1882, William R. Grant married widow Margaret (Shuler) Weeks in Swain County. The marriage record was full of good genealogical information: W. R. Grant, age 47 of Swain County, North Carolina, son of John and Sarah Grant (both deceased), formerly of Blount County, Tennessee. Margaret Weeks, age 34, of Swain, daughter of William and Elizabeth Shuler, both living of Swain. William and Margaret were married by I. T. S. Sherrill, Baptist Minister at William Grant's home in Ocunalufty. Witnesses were Jenry T. Aslinger, Martha Aslinger and S. M. Cumming.
Margaret was born ca 1847/48 in Macon Co, NC (now Swain County), daughter of William G. Shuler and Elizabeth Lawless. Margaret was first married to David Weeks (on 9 Feb 1864 in Jackson County). David was a son of Noah and Martha (---) Weeks. Margaret and David had at least two children together: John M. Weeks and Andrew L. Weeks.
William R. Grant died in 1883 in Swain County. I don't have the exact date, but the year was stated in the court record mentioned below. I don't know where he was buried.
On 4 Mar 1884, W. T. Conley, Administrator of W. R. Grant, deceased, brought a suit against T. M. Howard and wife Modena J. Howard (William Grant's daughter) petitioning to have his land sold and divided. The record mentioned he died In testate (without leaving a Will). (Swain Co, NC Orders and Decrees 1873-1908 pages 141-147)
On 1 Nov 1884, Margaret Grant, widow of W. R. Grant, deceased, sold 49 acres to A. B. Allison. The land was on Foot Hollow Branch, north side of Tuckasegee River, adjoining William Estes. Witnessed by A. M. Fry. Margaret Grant signed with a mark. I don't where she got this land, perhaps from her first marriage, or perhaps she inherited it from parents. (Swain Co, NC Deed Book 4 page 566).
On 14 Mar 1885, J. A. Thompson and wife N. A. Thompson sold Margaret Grant 25 acres on Tuckasegee River at mouth of Peachtree Creek. (Swain Co, NC Deed Book 7 page 533).
On 14 Sep 1889 Margaret Grant sold the 25 acres (purchased in 1885) to J. M. Weeks, reserving lifetime rights to the land (meaning she could continue to live on it until she died). (Swain Co, NC Deed Book 13 page 136).
I was unable to locate Margaret on the 1900 census, though she was still living at that time.
On 7 Sep 1901, J. M. Weeks and wife Mary Weeks and Margaret Grant sold their 25 acres to C. C. Martin. (Swain Co, NC Deed Book 20 page 157).
I did not find Margaret on the 1910 census.
She was on the 1920 census in Swain County, living with grandchildren (from first marriage).
1920 SWAIN CO, NC House/Family # 227/ 230 -- CHARLESTON Twp WIGGINS COLUMBUS L. HD R M W 35 M NC NC NC CARPENTER HOUSE 1884/1885 WIGGINS LAURA WF F W 33 M NC NC NC 1886/1887 WIGGINS RALPH P S M W 13 S NC NC NC 1906/1907 WIGGINS IDA E D F W 11 S NC NC NC 1908/1909 WIGGINS GLEN S M W 7 S NC NC NC 1912/1913 WIGGINS GRADY S M W 5 S NC NC NC 1914/1915 WIGGINS MILLARD S M W 3 S NC NC NC 1916/1917 GRANT MARGARET GM F W 69 W NC NC NC 1850/1851
She died sometime after 1920.
William R. Grant and wife E. L. had one child together. William and his second wife Margaret had no children together. Margaret had at least two children by her first husband, but I've made no attempt to trace them.
Modena J. Grant was born April 1858 in Jackson County, North Carolina. The 1900 census gives her birth as "Apr 1861", but the year must be wrong, for all her other census records give her a birth year of ca 1857/58, in fact her age is consistent that way. Age 2 in 1860, age 12 in 1870, and age 22 in 1880. So, assuming the "April" part is correct, I've assigned her a birth date of April 1858.
She was home with her parents in 1860 ("M.J." age 2) and home in 1870 ("Madena J." age 12).
On 4 Nov 1872, E. Everett, D. K. Collins, William Dehart and Charles Jenkins made a Guardian Bond for E. Everett to be guardian of Modena J. Grant. I'm not sure why her father was not made her guardian, (though he was made her guardian in 1877). (Swain Co, NC Guardian Bonds).
So why was "E. Everett" (Epaphradotus Everett) appointed Modena's guardian? Presumably, her father was not up to the task, but what was the Everetts relationship to the family. He was born ca 1830 in Tennessee. Could he be an Uncle to Modena? Or just a family friend?
On 30 Mar 1877 W. R. Grant and E. Everett and Charles Jenkins obtained a guardian bond for W. R. Grant to be guardian of Modena J. Grant, aged 19. (Swain Co, NC Guardian Bonds).
On 23 Oct 1877, Modena married Tighman M. Howard in Swain County. The marriage record shows Modeney J. A. Grant age 20, of Swain County, married Tighman M. Howard, age 21, by M. T. Battle, Justice of the Peace at E. S. Shuler's house. Witnesses were A. Mingus, E. S. Shuler, and S. A. Battle.
Tighman M. Howard was born ca 1856/57 in Tennessee. I have his parents as Noah Jackson Howard and Mary Caroline Jenkins, but I don't recall where I got this, so I'm not sure if it is accurate.
They were listed on the 1880 census in Swain County in Charleston Township. Interestingly, In the "Occupation" column, Tighman was listed as "In Prison".
1880 SWAIN CO, NC Page 166 House/Family # 42/ 42 -- CHARLESTON Twp HOWARD T M W M 23 HD M IN PRISON TN TN NC 1856/1857 HOWARD MADENA W F 22 WF M KEEPING HOUSE NC NC NC 1857/1858
Tighman M. Howard apparently died sometime between ca 1894 and 1900, or else he and Modena separated, for she was living alone in 1900, marital status = single. If he was in prison in 1880, perhaps he died there, or perhaps they divorced.
1900 SWAIN CO, NC Page House/Family # 132/ 132--CHARLESTON (2) Twp HOWARD MODENA HD W F APR 1861 39 S 4 4 NC TN NC HOWARD JOSHUA S W M JUN 1882 17 S NC TN NC DAY LABOR HOWARD CARRY D W F FEB 1884 16 S NC TN NC HOWARD THEODORE S W M OCT 1891 8 S NC TN NC HOWARD ROY S W M MAY 1894 5 S NC TN NC
I did not find Modena and family on the 1910 census.
Persons researching this family (click here for data on how to get on or off of this list:
1. William Rufus1 Grant Pvt, born 23 Sep 1834 in Blount Co, TN; died 1883 in Swain Co, NC, son of John Grant and Sarah "Sally" Morris. He married (1) in 1850/58 in Jackson Co, NC E L (---), born 1833/34 in NC; died 1860/70 in Jackson Co, NC; (2) on 13 Mar 1882 in Swain Co, NC Margaret Shuler, born 1847/48 in Macon Co, NC; died aft 1920 in Swain Co, NC, daughter of William G Shuler and Elizabeth Lawless.
Children of William Rufus Grant Pvt and E L (---) were as follows:
+ 2 i Modena J2 Grant, born Apr 1858 in Jackson Co, NC; died aft 1900 in Swain Co, NC. She married Tighman M Howard.
Generation 2
2. Modena J2 Grant (William Rufus1), born Apr 1858 in Jackson Co, NC; died aft 1900 in Swain Co, NC. She married on 29 Oct 1877 in Swain Co, NC Tighman M Howard, born 1856/57 in TN; died 1894/1900 in Swain Co, NC, son of Noah Jackson Howard and Mary Caroline Jenkins.
Children of Modena J Grant and Tighman M Howard were as follows:
3 i Joshua3 Howard, born Jun 1882 in Swain Co, NC.
4 ii Carry3 Howard, born Feb 1884 in Swain Co, NC.
5 iii Theodore3 Howard, born Oct 1891 in Swain Co, NC.
6 iv Roy3 Howard, born May 1894 in Swain Co, NC.
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