Smith

Notes:

She lived in Tensas Parish, Louisiana and later in Mississippi.

References:

(1) Clan Munro files - Redden, Virginia R. - Update on Rev. Spence's Kids - dated 4 Feb 1998 - p.2

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Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Family/Spouse: Dr. William L. Chew. William was born about 1809; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Samuel served as a member of Congress from Erie District, Pennsylvania and was later appointed Receiver of Public Moneys at St. Stephen's, Alabama.

References:

(1) Clan Munro files - Redden, Virginia R. - Descendancy Chart of Susannah Monroe (second installment) - dated 7 Oct 1997 - p. 6

(2) Clan Munro files - Redden, Virginia R. - Update on Rev. Spence's Kids - p.1

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Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Samuel married Sally Grayson in 1808-1809 in Prob., Virginia, USA. Sally (daughter of Rev. Spence Monroe Grayson and Mary Elizabeth Wagener) was born on 1 Jul 1784 in Belle Air, Prince William Co., Virginia, USA; died in in , , Mississippi, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Sally's husband was a member of Congress from Pennsylvania. When his term ended, he was appointed Receiver of Public Moneys at St. Stephens, Alabama.

After Samuel's death, Sally and her two children moved to Mississippi.

References:

(1) Clan Munro files - Redden, Virginia R. - Update on Rev. Spence's Kids - p.1

(2) Clan Munro files - Williams, Irmalee - Family group record of Spence Monroe Grayson - dated 29 May 1996

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Notes:

Spence inherited and resided at "Belle Air," the former residence of his father in Prince William County, about two miles from the Occoquan river. Later in his life he went to England and studied theology. He was ordained by the Bishop of London, 24 May 1771. He then returned to Virginia in 1771 and preached for a long time at Cameron Parish in Loudoun County, Virginia.

He was a chaplain with the rank of captain in Colonel William Grayson's Virginia Regiment in the American Revolution and was a fighting as well as praying parson. He was Chaplain of Grayson's Additional Continental Regiment in May 1777. He retired 22 Apr 1779.

Spence Grayson was known as a refined gentleman and was devoted to his family and to his friends. He was a large handsome man of distinguished being and manner and an eloquent speaker. He and his family were prominent in the affairs of Virginia and were frequent guests of President George Washington. He was a personal friend of the President. When George Washington's nephew, Major George Augustine Washington was married, there were three clergymen present. The General chose Rev. Grayson to perform the ceremony and gave him $100.

"Belle Air," his home, was situated in the southeast corner of Prince William County, Virginia. The broad Potomac flowed in front about a mile distant south. The view of the Potomac was particularly fine pointing as it did up and down many miles and including Indian Head directly opposite on the Maryland shore. Indian Head was where the Americans opened fire on the British squadron under Com. Gordon on its decent down the river in 1814 after plundering Alexandria.

The plantation consisted of 1000 acres of fine rolling and well-watered land. In nearly the center of the plantation there rose a beautiful tableland, elliptical in shape, large enough for the dwelling, the out-houses, shade trees, walks, gardens, and lawns, and it was exclusively used for that purpose.

Spence was ordained by the Lord Bishop of London on 29 May 1771. The births of some of his children in England was estimated by the time he was in college there. Some of them may have been born in Loudoun County where he preached after returning from England. He was a justice in Prince William county in 1769, so his daughter, Susan Monroe may have been born before he went to England.


Ref: Clan Munro files - May, Frank Boone III
- Johnson, Monroe
- Williams, Irmalee - Benjamin Grayson family record
- Spence M. Grayson family record

Ref 2 says Spence was born in 1742. Ref 5 says he was born in 1732.

References:

(1) Clan Munro files - Redden, Virginia R. - Descendancy Chart of Susannah
Monroe (second installment) - dated 7 Oct 1997 - p. 1, 6

(2) Clan Munro files - Redden, Virginia R. - Descendancy Chart of Susanna
Monroe attached to a letter from Carolyn Brent dated 16 Jul 1997 - p. 2

(4) Clan Munro files - Cataluna, Esther R. - The Ancestry of Esther Cataluna -
dated 7 jan 1998 - p. 1

(5) Clan Munro files - Grayson, Nathaniel Lewis, III - Descendants of David
Munro - p. 1

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Birth:
Spence was born at "Bell Air," the estate of his father in Dumfries, Virginia.

Died:
Spence died at "Belle Air", his estate in Dumfries, Virginia.

Buried:
Buried in the family vault at the Belle Air estate

Spence married Mary Elizabeth Wagener in 1754 in Belle Air, Prince William Co., Virginia, USA. Mary was born in 1741 in Piscataque, Essex Co., Virginia, USA; died in 1810 in Washington, , District of Columbia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Mary Elizabeth Wagener (or Wagoner) was the daughter of Peter Wagener and Miss Robinson.

After the death of her husband in 1798, Mary continued living on the "Belle Air" estate with her two unmarried daughters, Sally and Caroline. All the other daughters had married, some going to other parts of the South. Later, when the two youngest daughters had married and gone to Mississippi, Mrs. Grayson moved from "Belle Air" to Washington where she died in 1810 at the residence of her son-in-law, Mr. Lund Washington.



References:

(1) Clan Munro files - Redden, Virginia R. - Descendancy Chart of Susannah
Monroe (second installment) - dated 7 Oct 1997 - p. 1

(2) Clan Munro files - Redden, Virginia R. - Descendancy chart of Susannah
Monroe (3rd Installment) - dated 23 Dec 1997 - p. 2

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Died:
Mary died at the home of her son-in-law, Mr. Lund Washington in Washington, D.C.

Notes:

Benjamin was the son of John and Susannah (White) Grayson.

Benjamin may have been born in Lancaster, Virginia. He was buried in the family vault at their Belle Air estate.

Ref 2 says Benjamin was born in 1700.

He was a merchant and a farmer. He married (2) widow Ewell.

References:

(1) Clan Munro files - Redden, Virginia R. - Descendancy Chart of Susannah
Monroe (second installment) - dated 7 Oct 1997 - p. 1, 6

(2) Clan Munro files - Redden, Virginia R. - Descendancy Chart of Susanna
Monroe attached to a letter from Carolyn Brent dated 16 Jul 1997 - p. 2

(3) Clan Munro files - Redden, Virginia R. - Descendancy chart of Susannah
Monroe (3rd Installment) - dated 23 Dec 1997 - p. 1

(4) Clan Munro files - Cataluna, Esther R. - The Ancestry of Esther Cataluna -
dated 7 Jan 1998 - p. 1

The following information was taken from a document written by John Breckinridge Grayson Jr. in 1877.

Benjamin and his sister emigrated from England or Scotland to Westmoreland County, Virginia and setted on the Occoquan River near the spot which later became Colchester.

Benjamin Grayson was a man of exceedingly fine address, and notably was of good blood. He went to America in the early 18th century. He is thought to be the younger son of a refined and wealthy family, if not of nobility; and his acquirements, person and habits bore ample evidence of it.

In his new home he became a merchant trading in tobacco largely with vessels in the then Bay of Occoquan, and carried on a large commission business for the captains and supercargoes.

Seeing the wants of the people in the new country, he planned and executed for their benefit and improvement. Among many branches of his extensive business he started a large wholesale trade in homemade crackers and sea biscuits, and wheat bread, which extended to every settlement from Occoquan to the mountains.

At that time cornbread was the universal provision of the staff of life, and his starting the wheat bread and cracker branch of his business was gladly welcomed by both the colonists and the captains of the foreign vessels trading in the Bay of Occoquan and at Dumfries. His great industry and judicious management of his affairs enabled him to acquire a large estate, and the great esteem and popularity, which his probity and diligence obtained, were the cause of his being made executor to some very wealthy children of the gentry.

Benjamin Grayson left Westmoreland County in 1710 or 1720, and settled in the town of Dumfries, Prince William County, Virginia, where he was largely engaged in the mercantile and shipping business. Dumfries was at that time the county seat of Prince William County and a port of entry and export. The largest vessels for half a century were borne on the creek from the Potomac River to Dumfries, and her wharves and warehouses were scenes of great commercial activity.

The decline of Dumfries dates chiefly from the rise of Alexandria and Baltimore, and the gradual shallowing of the water entrance to her wharves. Over the years, the once broad and deep water course dwindled to an insignificant creek, and her wharves have disappeared. Where once stood her warehouses are fields of corn and waste lands. There still stands within her limits about a dozen or more handsome houses, built of English brick, with fine marble porches at the entrance, evidence of the former opulence of Dumfries. Many of the other houses still standing are built of fr He married the rich widow Linton, whose maiden name was Susanna Monroe, sister of Spence Monroe the father of President James Monroe, who was from an old and distinguished Scotch family. He married the rich widow Linton, whose maiden name was Susanna Monroe, sister of Spence Monroe the father of President James Monroe, who was from an old and distinguished Scotch family.ame, and still present a good appearance.

A destructive fire in 1848 swept over Dumfries and much of the town was destroyed.

Benjamin Grayson resided at Dumfries where he married a rich widow, Mrs. Linton, whose maiden name was Susanna Monroe. She was the sister of Spence Monroe the father of President James Monroe. She was from and old and distinguished Scotch family. Susanna Monroe first married a Mr. Tyler, and then Linton, both of whom left her a son and large estates.

The sister of Benjamin Grayson married Mr. Harrison the ancestor of Colonel Burr Harrison, of the Revolutionary Army, and of Matthew Harrison, lawyer of Dumfries. The name of Spence was introduced into the Monroe family by intermarriage with a lady of that ancient, wealthy and respectable family. Many of the descendants have been so named. The names of Susan M. and Susanna Monroe were also long adhered to in the several branches.

After Susanna died, Benjamin married Miss or Mrs. Ewell, by whom he had no issue. He built a residence near the Occoquan and Potomac Rivers on a large tract of land he owned, and called the estate "Belle Air", in honor of the old place further up the county which had been the home of his second wife.

The residence was a fine large mansion, situated on a table land elliptical in shape, fronting the Potomac River, which was about one mile distant, and at that point about four miles wide. The mansion was built in manorial style, with lofty columned front, massive carved oaken doors and wainscoting. The estate was largely cultivated and noted for its fruits and flowers. After the death of Benjamin Grayson, it passed by inheritance to his son, the Reverend Spence Grayson, of the Church of England.

In 1740, Benjamin Grayson was a colonel of the militia and an owner of lands in Virginia, and what later became Kentucky. He was a highly esteemed gentlemen in Prince William County.

After the death of Susanna Monroe, Benjamin Grayson married the widow Ewell, by whom he had no issue. This lady was of the same family as was the late General Ewell of the Confederate Army.

Benjamin Grayson departed this life in 1757 at his residence "Belle Air" in Prince William County, Virginia. The burial services were performed by the Rev. Mr. Scott, of the Church of England. He left a handsome estate; and an unblemished name for the glory of his posterity, for their edification and example.

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Died:
Benjamin died at his estate "Bell Air" in Dumfries, Virginia.

Benjamin married Susannah Monroe in 1734 in Dumfries, Prince William Co., Virginia, USA. Susannah (daughter of Capt. Andrew Monroe, II and Eleanor Spence) was born in 1695 in , Westmoreland Co., Virginia, USA; died in Nov 1752 in Belle Air, Prince William Co., Virginia, USA; was buried in Belle Air, Prince William Co., Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Susannah (or Susanna or Susan) was married three times and had issue by (2) Charles Tyler, and (3) Captain (or Colonel) Benjamin Grayson. The Holt reference says she was the aunt of President James Monroe, but she was probably his first cousin twice removed.

Error alert: The Boggs reference says that Susannah first married William Linton and second Charles Tyler, but the dates of her children indicate that she was first married to Charles Tyler and second to William Linton. Also, the Bolton reference says Susannah was the daughter of Andrew Monroe and Elizabeth Alexander.

From her father, Susannah inherited: one negro boy, 2 cows, 2 steers, household furniture and 10,000 pounds of tobacco.

One reference gives Susannah's birth year as 1704. The Williams reference gives the name of Susannah's first husband as William Luiton.

Ref: Clan Munro files - May, Frank Boone, III
- Eggleston, Sam Daniel, Jr.
- Guilford, Dr. Joan S.
- Williams, Irmalee - Descendants of George Munro
- Benjamin Grayson family record

Susannah was buried in the family vault at their Belle Air estate.

Ref (3) says Susannah died in 1751. Ref (4) says Susannah (or Susanna) was born in 1705.

References:

(2) Clan Munro files - Redden, Virginia R. - Descendancy Chart of Susannah
Monroe (second installment) - dated 7 Oct 1997 - p. 1, 6

(3) Clan Munro files - Redden, Virginia R. - Ancestry of James Monroe,
President of the United States

(4) Clan Munro files - Redden, Virginia R. - Descendancy Chart of Susanna
Monroe attached to a letter from Carolyn Brent dated 16 Jul 1997

(5) Clan Munro files - Cataluna, Esther R. - The Ancestry of Esther Cataluna -
dated 7 jan 1998 - p. 1

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Buried:
Susannah was buried in the family vault in Belle Air Plantation, the family estate between Quantico Creek and the Occoquan River in Virginia near Dumfries.