MySource:Jlanoux/The Grayson Family

[rubber stamp at top of each page: "Franklin Garrett"]

The Grayson Family

The Grayson family came early to America -- in 1769. It is a family to this day in England, than which none stands more fairly & is well known there. Thomas Grayson & Mary Cavendish -- both ideal English names -- were English born, married and in fair circumstances came to America and settled in Virginia, where January 1st 1770 was born their son Thomas Grayson. Young Thomas was a bold, adventurous man & early united his fortunes to those of the great pioneer Daniel Boone, going with him to Kentucky -- where to this day the name of Grayson is known & honored; indeed, one of the Counties is Grayson County. While crossing the mountains they met a detachment of pioneers from North Carolina under the leadership of Capt. Stuart who with his wife Sarah were children of Scotch parentage. Thomas Grayson & Sarah the young daughter of Capt. Stuart at once formed an attachment, which on their arrival in Kentucky was consummated in marriage. The young married couple remained in Kentucky until 1813, when with their family the [sic] removed to Mississippi, near Port Gibson, where a number of the Stuart family had preceded them (among them Capt. Stuart's widow Sarah, having gone to Arkansas, where she died 1836-7 at the age of 108 years: the Stuart family is identified with the history of Arkansas.) The Stuart family & the Graysons are well known in Mississippi -- also they have intermarried with the best families. Gov. Humphries wife was a Stuart and a near Kinswoman. In 1814 Col. Thomas Grayson brought his family to Catahoula Parish, Louisiana and they at once took that place among the first families of the State that they have ever since maintained.

Col. Grayson & wife had a large family: the family tree runs as follows:

Thomas Grayson, born in Virginia, Jan 1 / [17]70 died in Louisiana, Sep 14 / [18]39 Sarah Stuart, born in North Carolina, March 15 / [17]79 died in Louisiana, March 5 / [18]33 Married in Kentucky.

Children of Thomas & Sarah Grayson:

1. Wilfrid M. Grayson, born in Logan Co., Ky. & died in Louisiana. His descendants live in Louisiana -- one of his sons in Caldwell ph. [parish] is married to the aunt on Hon. C. J. Boatner member of Congress for 5th District.

2. Elizabeth, born in Logan Co., Ky., married & died in Louisiana. One of her sons is a leading citizen of Franklin ph.

3. Catherine, born in Logan Co.,Ky., married [J?] Stuart of Arkansas -- her descendants are influential citizens of that State.

4. Lucetta, born in Logan Co., Ky. & died in La. -- one of her daughters married the brother (Dr. HOM[?] Enery) of Govs. S. D. & Jno. M. Enery.

5. Minerva, born in Logan Co., Ky., married & died in Louisiana. One of her sons married the Sister of Gov. M. Enery & & was a leading lawyer & Judge in Ouachita parish.

6. Sarah Young Grayson, was born in Christian Co., Ky., July 14th 1805; married twice in Louisiana -- first F. P. Wall, her only surviving daughter Caroline, being the wife of Judge R. W. Richardson who has probably been longer on the bench of Louisiana than any living man: whom the people have honored and retained in that position. Mrs. Wall was a second time married to Col. Wm. Tew, by which marriage only one daughter survives -- Sarah, who has been twice married, 1st to Dr. Madison by whom she became the mother of one son Charles -- her second marriage was to Dr. Telle & they reside in New Orleans. Mrs. Sarah Tew's eldest daughter Eunice Tew married Spencer Mays a leading lawyer of Concordia & Tensas parishes No family was more highly esteemed than that of Col. Wm. Tew; it was the delight & honor of the leading men of Louisiana before the war to be the guests of Col. Tew & his Estimable wife.

7. Wiley Bhint[?] Grayson, was born in Christian Co., Ky. & died in Louisiana. He was during his life the leading citizen of Franklin parish. Was the friend of Henry Clay & other noted men.

8. James Madison Grayson, born in Ky. & died in childhood.

9. Eliza, born in Miss. Co., Ky., Oct 25 / [18]02, married died in Louisiana. First married Judge Scott the leading lawyer then in Monroe [Parish?]. Her descendants reside in La. & Florida.

10. Zelia Ann, born in Catahoula Ph. La. Nov. 13 / [18]14. Married Dr. J. M. Thomson one of the most eminent physicians & Surgeons of La. & the South, died in La. She has one remaining child, Mary E. the widow of Gov. Jno. M. Enery, deceased.

[NOTE: There is no child no. 11.]

12. Andrew Jackson Grayson, born in Catahoula Ph. Louisiana, August 20 / [18]18, died in Mazatlan, Mexico where he was in the interest of scientific research under direction of the Smithsonian Institute of the U.S. Govt. He was one of the Calafornia [sic] pioneers of 1848-9, & is known & honored in all America as the Audubon of the West.

13. James Stuart Grayson born in Catahoula ph. [parish] Nov 27 / [18]24 -- died in Ouachita ph., no children.

14. Narcissa Grayson, born in Catahoula Ph. La. Dec 22 / [18]16. Married May 10 / [18]36. Died March 12 / [18]90. Her husband was Hon. Isaiah Garrett -- Known throughout Louisiana. Several of their children survive -- one in Washington, D.C. -- one, Judge T. A. Garret is a prominent lawyer in Seattle, Washington -- three others, two sons & a daughter reside in Ouachita ph.

Prominent among other families are the Graysons of Baltimore, Md. and of Texas. In a number of States are to be found Counties & towns named for the Graysons.