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Thomas Gragg, of Augusta Co., VA
Facts and Events
Thomas Gragg was one of the Early Settlers of Augusta County, Virginia
Land
Acquisition of Land in Augusta Couknty, Virginia:
- Page 37 - Land Survey, Thomas Greeg, 140 acres, Dry Branch of Linville Creek, adjoining Samples, Herrons, Adams, Harrison. February 16, 1764. [Abstract of Land Grant Surveys, 1761-1791, Augusta & Rockingham Counties, Virginia, by Peter Cline Kaylor, pg. 15].
- Page 349.--Patent to Thomas Gragg (wife Elizabeth), 1st March, 1773. Teste: Joseph Smith, John Waren, Thomas ( ) Harrison, Henry Ewin. [Chalkley's, Vol. 3].
- see also - Harrison, J. Houston. Settlers by the Long Grey Trail, Page 224.S2
- This conveyance embraced a tract included in one of Thomas Harrison’s first patents to land at Harrisonburg. Back in the days of Maiden Plantation, in Sussex on the Delaware when Thomas Harrison disposed of his part of the plantation to James Hood, preparatory to his settlement in the Valley, he signed his deed of release by making his mar. (See Chapter VI). Such also is the way he identifies himself in the deeds above, including the last. Later, just before the formation of Rockingham, in probably his final signature on the Augusta records, he again so signed; this time as a witness to a deed—along with Joseph Smith, Henry Ewing, and John Warren, his son-in-law—to land patented to Thomas Gragg (wife Elizabeth), 1st March, 1773. (Deed Book 19, p. 349.)S2
Will and Estate
- Page 104.--19th April, 1773. Thomas Greeg's will--To wife, Elizabeth, the land purchased from Saml. Samples; to the children; executors to make a deed to George Davis for 140 acres; to my three children, Ann, Mary, and Elizabeth. Executors, Daniel Smith and Andrew Erwin. Teste: John Warren, Samuel Samples, George Davis. Proved, 17th August, 1773, by oath of George Davis and affirmation of Jno. Warren. Executors qualify with John Henton.
- Page 183.--20th September, 1773. Thomas Gragg's estate appraised by David Ralston, Henry Ewin, John Ewin.
- Page 313.--Estate of Thomas Gregg in account with Benj. Smith, executor of Daniel Smith, who was executor of Thos. Gregg--1790, 17th May, paid James Reece (?) as legatee, ditto Samuel Redman, ditto Elizabeth Gregg; to recording the inventory in 1773. (1793?).
- Page 136.--Settlement of Samuel Samples' estate--Paid heirs of Thomas Gregg, deceased.
- Vol. 1 - November 22, 1775. (95A) Mary Gragg, orphan, to be bound to Wm. Gragg. [this appears to be one of Thomas Gragg's daughters, bound out to her older brother William according to some researchers]
- Vol. 2 - 1779 - May 25th. Mary, orphan of Thomas Gregg, to be bound out.
- Vol. 2 - 1780 - Elizabeth, orphan of Thomas Gregg, to be bound to William Gregg.
Records
From Chalkley's:
- (Note Page 258.)--16th August, 1758. Thomas Gregg's bond (with Saml. Semple]) as administrator of Wm. Woods. [Note: William Woods listed in this record may be the Grandfather of Thomas Gregg and father of Thomas' mother, Nancy Wood, or possibly an uncle. More research necessary]. Note that some of the records for the Gragg family suggest a connection to Albemarle County. Coupled with indications that the family came to Old Augusta from Cumberland County PA, and the family connection to persons bearing the Woods surname, suggests that the Gragg's may have been part of a larger group of people that moved south from Cumberland County about 1733 and settled on either side of the Blue Ridge. Michael Woods (1) is sometimes identified as the leader of this group.
- Page 287.--17th November, 1758. Benj. Copland's estate settlement, by Ann Ralston (late Anne Copland). 19th March, 1755, former account. John Shaw's note (he ran away). Paid Thos. Pointer for one-half year schooling of Jacob and Mary Copland £1. Credits since 23d September, 1757--To Hannah Copeland, Sarah Copeland, Anne Ralston, David Ralston, Samuel Semple, Thomas Gregg, Samuel Hull, Robert Patterson, Edward McGeery, David Berry, Daniel Henderson, Peter Trader.
- Samuel Semple Creditor
- (Note: Samuel married Benjamin Copland's daughter Hannah in 1761)
Information on Thomas Gragg
- Morton, Oren Frederic. History of Pendleton County, West Virginia (74302)S1
- Thomas Gragg was probably born about 1715, in Northern Ireland. Thomas Gragg came from Ireland with his sons, Henry and William and was of Scotch ancestry.
- Thomas Gragg's will, dated April 1773, Augusta County, Virginia, named his wife, Elizabeth and children: Ann, Mary and Elizabeth - sons Henry and William were not mentioned in the will. Thomas married Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel Semple. Thomas apparently died soon after the making of his will, as appraisers for the estate were appointed 17 August 1773. Mary, daughter of Thomas, was bound out to her brother, William in 1775. Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas, was bound out to her brother William in 1780. The first mention of Thomas in Augusta County, Virginia, court records, was 16 August 1758 - "Thomas Gregg's bond with Samuel Sample as administrator of William Woods estate." On 16 February 1764, Thomas bought 140 acres of land from Samuel Semple, on Dry Branch of Linville Creek. The area, in which the Thomas Gragg family lived, is about three miles north and west of Harrisonburg, Virginia.
- The Gregg Family History Project Website
References
- Morton, Oren Frederic. A history of Pendleton County, West Virginia. (Franklin, West Virginia: O.F. Morton, 1910)
Pages 167, 208.
Page 167, Gragg, Scotch-Irish, before 1792, Reed's Creek.
Page 208, Gragg, Thomas (____ ____)-left a minor daughter, Mary and appears to have had these sons:
1. Henry
2. William (Mary ____)-d. Jan. 24, 1795.
3. Samuel (Ann Black)-m. 1785?
A daughter of William was killed by the Indians in 1781 (see Page 64,65). Elizabeth (Peter Cassell-m. 1794) was a daughter of Henry.
The family seems afterward to have moved to the South Fork above Sugar Grove. J. Robert and Amby Gragg of that district are present representatives of the family...
Page 64, 65 - In 1781 took place what seems the last Indian raid into this county. A party of redskins, led by Tim Dahmer, a white renegade, came by the Seneca trail to the house of William Gragg, who lived on the highland a mile east of Onego. Dahmer had lived with the Graggs, and held a grudge against a daughter of the family. Gragg was away from the house getting a supply of firewood, and seeing Indians at the house he kept out of danger. His mother, a feeble old lady, and with whom Dahmer had been on good terms, was taken out into the yard in her chair. The wife was also unharmed, but the daughter was scalped and the house set on fire, after which the renegade and his helpers made a prudent retreat. The girl was taken up the river, probably to the house of Philip Harper, but died of her injuries.
- Harrison, J. Houston (John Houston). Settlers by the Long Grey Trail: Some Pioneers to Old Augusta County, Virginia, and Their Descendants of the Family of Harrison and Allied Lines. (Dayton, Virginia : J.K. Ruebush Co., 1935)
Page 224.
This conveyance embraced a tract included in one of Thomas Harrison’s first patents to land at Harrisonburg. Back in the days of Maiden Plantation, in Sussex on the Delaware when Thomas Harrison disposed of his part of the plantation to James Hood, preparatory to his settlement in the Valley, he signed his deed of release by making his mar. (See Chapter VI). Such also is the way he identifies himself in the deeds above, including the last. Later, just before the formation of Rockingham, in probably his final signature on the Augusta records, he again so signed; this time as a witness to a deed—along with Joseph Smith, Henry Ewing, and John Warren, his son-in-law—to land patented to Thomas Gragg (wife Elizabeth), 1st March, 1773. (Deed Book 19, p. 349.)
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