William Grant and Martha Baker of Smith and Wilson Co, TN

I have no clues yet who William's parents might have been, but it is entirely possible that he was a brother of Wilson Grant (c1775/94) who was in Smith Co, TN with him in 1820. I have no real evidence that they were brothers, but it should be considered a possibility.

William Grant would have presumably been home with his parents for the 1800 and 1810 census. I don't know if he was NC or TN for those years. If TN, then those records are lost, unfortunately. In 1800 and 1810 North Carolina census, there are way too many choices to consider. Lots of Grant households had an apparent son this age.

Whether William Grant was in Tennessee in 1800 and 1810, he was there by 1819, for in that year he married in Smith County.

On 30 Dec 1819, William Grant married Martha Baker in Smith Co, TN. Martha was born ca 1799/1800 in Virginia. I don't know what County. I don't know who her parents were. In 1820, there was a George Baker, a John Baker and a John E. Baker listed in Smith Co, TN. All three of these were old enough to be Martha's father, but John E. Baker seemed to be single, and living by himself, so that would leave George and John as prime suspects. (William and Martha named one of their sons "George", so that may be another clue). Interestingly, John E. Baker (c1792) moved to Wilson Co, TN later as did the Grants. He could be Martha's brother, or perhaps not.

William Grant was listed on the 1820 census in Smith Co, TN. He was on the same page with Wilson Grant (might be his brother?). Unfortunately, this census was alphabetical, so them being listed close together does not mean they lived close together.

I have not yet found William Grant on the 1830 census. There was a "William T. Grant" listed in Smith Co, TN that year, but he was too young to be this same person, he was born ca 1800/10 with wife the same age, and one apparent daughter under age 5. This does not seem to be the same person, however, it could be this same family, if enumerated incorrectly for some reason (Perhaps they weren't home when the census taker came around). Since William's oldest son was named "William T. Grant" (c1821), it makes me wonder if this William T. in 1830 Smith Co, TN is really him, but with wrong entries.

At some point between 1820 and 1840, William Grant and family moved to neighboring Wilson Co, TN. He was listed on the 1840 census there. There was already one Grant there in Wilson prior to William arriving, and that was Jubal Grant (c1790/1800). I don't know if they are related or not. In 1840, both were listed in Wilson County, but not close together at all, in fact many pages apart.

William and family were listed in Wilson County, TN still for the 1850 census. They were in Civil District Number 22. Jubal Grant's family was in Wilson County as well, but many pages away. There is no obvious connection between them, but they could be related. An interesting note, is that John E. Baker, age 58 (c1792), born in VA was also in Wilson Co, TN. His age is perfect to be Martha's brother, and he was in Smith Co, TN back in 1820, just like William Grant and Martha Baker. He was single then (in 1820) and single in 1850. He was not listed particularly close by the Grants, but he was in Wilson County. No proof of anything, but it suggests a possible connection.

Sometime during the 1850's, William Grant and family moved to Tipton County, Tennessee. Tipton County is in the western part of Tennessee, bordering on the Mississippi River. There were no Grants in that county back in 1850.

In 1860, William and Martha were listed on the Tipton Co, TN census. Their children were all gone apparently. Some of their sons were listed in Tipton also in their own households. I don't have the full listing, just names and ages: William Grant-66, Martha-64. Page 10-348. (From Byron Sistler 1860 Tennessee Census Index).

I did not find William or Martha on the 1870 census index in TN, so they may have died in the 1860/70 timeframe.

Children

William Grant and Martha Baker had several children per the various census records. Since I have not yet found them in 1830, there is a gap in my analysis of their possible children.

Unknown Daughter (1810/20). William Grant had an apparent daughter this age with him in 1820 (age "under 10", born ca 1810/20). Since William and Martha were married in December 1819, this child must be very young, or a child from a previous marriage for either William or Martha. Since I don't have William's 1830 census record, I don't know if this child was still home then. She was not with William in 1840, so probably married or dead by then.

Unknown Daughter (1820/25). William Grant had an apparent daughter this age with him in 1840 (age 15-19, born ca 1820/25). Since I don't have William's 1830 census record yet, I can't say if she was there with him then. She was not with William in 1850, so had probably married or died by then.

William T. Grant was born ca 1820/21 in Smith Co, TN. I don't have William's 1830 census record, so I don't know if William T. was home with him then (though probably was). He was apparently with his parents for the 1840 census (age 15-19, born ca 1820/25). He was home with them in 1850 in Wilson Co, TN, age 29, name "William Grant".

When the family moved to Tipton Co, TN in the 1850's, William T. Grant went as well. He was listed on the 1860 census in Tipton County, residing with his brother James. He was listed as age 39, name "William T. Grant".

William T. Grant was listed on the 1870 census index in Tipton Co, TN as age 47, and as "W. T. Grant". I don't have the listing yet.

James W. Grant was born ca 1821/22 in Smith Co, TN. I don't have William's 1830 census record, so I don't know if James was home with him then (though probably was). He was apparently with his parents for the 1840 census (age 15-19, born ca 1820/25). He was home with them in 1850 in Wilson Co, TN, age 28, name "James Grant".

James W. Grant married Martha A. --- ca 1850/60, either in Wilson County or Tipton County, TN. I don't know what her maiden name was.

James and Martha were listed on the 1860 census in Tipton County. James' brother William T. Grant was residing with them: James W. Grant-36, Martha A-29, William T.-39. Page 9-348. (From Sister 1860 Tennessee Census Index)

It is entirely possible that Martha was not James' wife, but his younger sister instead. The reason I think wife instead of sister, is the order they were listed in 1860 (James, Martha, then William). William was older than Martha, so if they were three siblings listed together, why list them out of age order?

I didn't James on the 1870 census index for Tennessee He may have left the state, or died in the 1860/70 timeframe (Civil War?).

Martha Grant was born ca 1827/28 in Smith or Wilson Co, TN. I don't have William's 1830 census record, so I don't know if Martha was home with him then (though probably was). She was apparently with her parents for the 1840 census (age 10-14, born ca 1825/30). She was home with them in 1850 in Wilson Co, TN, age 22, name "Martha Grant".

I don't know if Martha accompanied the family to Tipton Co, TN in the 1850's. She was not listed with her parents in 1860. Her brother James had a Martha A. Grant, age 29 with him in 1860, presumably his wife. The age isn't a good match for sister Martha, but it is close, so that could be her instead of a wife. James and Martha had no apparent children in 1860, so perhaps that was sister Martha with him, instead of a wife of the same name.

George Grant was born ca 1832/33 in Smith or Wilson Co, TN. He was apparently with his parents for the 1840 census (age 5-9, born ca 1830/35). He was home with them in 1850 in Wilson Co, TN.

George went with his parents to Tipton Co, TN in the 1850's. He married Mary C. --- there ca 1858 or so.

George and family were listed on the 1860 census in Tipton Co, TN: George Grant-27, Mary C.-21, Thomas W-1. Page 10-348. (Sistler 1860 Tennessee Index)

Margaret Grant was born ca 1833/34 in Smith or Wilson Co, TN. She was apparently with her parents for the 1840 census (age 5-9, born ca 1830/35). She was home with them in 1850 in Wilson Co, TN.

I don't know if Margaret went with her parents to Tipton Co, TN or not. She was not with them for the 1860 census.

Researcher List

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

1. William¹ Grant , born 1793/94 in NC; died aft 1860 in Tipton Co, TN He married on 30 Dec 1819 in Smith Co, TN Martha Baker , born 1799/1800 in VA; died aft 1860 in Tipton Co, TN.

Children of William Grant and Martha Baker were as follows:

2 i William T² Grant , born 1820/21 in Smith Co, TN.

3 ii James W² Grant , born 1821/22 in Smith Co, TN. He married in 1850/60 in Wilson Co, TN or Tipton Co, TN Martha A (---) , born 1830/31.

4 iii Martha² Grant , born 1827/28 in Smith Co, TN.

+ 5 iv George² Grant , born 1832/33 in Smith Co, TN. He married Mary C (---) .

6 v Margaret² Grant , born 1833/34 in Smith Co, TN.

Generation 2

5. George² Grant (William¹), born 1832/33 in Smith Co, TN. He married in 1850/59 in Tipton Co, TN Mary C (---) , born 1838/39.

Children of George Grant and Mary C (---) were as follows:

7 i Thomas W³ Grant , born 1858/59 in Tipton Co, TN.