Alexander Grayson

Notes:

Alexander may have died on 4 May 1859.

References:

(1) Clan Munro files - Redden, Virginia R. - descendants of John Robinson
Grayson - dated 20 Sep 1997 - p. 1

(4) Clan Munro files - Redden, Virginia R. - John Robinson Grayson of Virginia
- dated 28 Jan 1997 - p. 3

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

Buried:
Alexander was buried at Lot 441 in Laurel Grove Cemetery, Savannah, Georgia.

Notes:

John's middle name is seen interchangeably as Langdon and Langston.

He was born in Liverpool, England when his mother accompanied his father on one of his sailing ships.

John served as a private in the Florida Seminole War in 1836. He was a Lieutenant during the Mexican War in 1848 but was not called to active duty.

Ref 1 says that John Langdon Grayson had two sons named Nathaniel, each by a different wife, Sarah Elizabeth. There is no evidence that John was married a second time and it has been concluded that "Sarah Elizabeth" is the same person as Jane Amelia Elizabeth Hale, John's first wife. Also, there was only one son named Nathaniel.

References:

(1) Clan Munro files - Redden, Virginia R. - descendants of John Robinson
Grayson - dated 20 Sep 1997 - p. 1

(3) Clan Munro files - Redden, Virginia R. - The Monroes of Virginia - Update
18 Nov 1997 - p. 1

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

Buried:
John was buried at Lot 441 in the Laurel Grove Cemetery, Savannah, Georgia.

John married Jane Amelia Elizabeth Hale on 21 Apr 1846 in Savannah, Chatham Co., Georgia, USA. Jane was born on 7 Jun 1830 in Savannah, Chatham Co., Georgia, USA; died on 31 Jul 1910 in Savannah, Chatham Co., Georgia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Jane was the daughter of John H. and Eddy (Floyd) Hale

References:

(1) Clan Munro files - Redden, Virginia R. - descendants of John Robinson
Grayson - dated 20 Sep 1997 - p. 1

(2) Clan Munro files - Redden, Virginia R. - e-mail message dated 28 Sep 1997

(4) Clan Munro files - Redden, Virginia R. - John Robinson Grayson of Virginia
- dated 28 Jan 1997

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

Notes:

John was bound as an apprentice to his brother-in-law, Lund Washington, to learn to be a ship's officer or commander. While at sea on the brig "Polly", he was kidnapped by the British on the coast of Holland and impressed into service as part of the crew of a 20-gun ship.

During a battle between this British ship and a Dutch 20-gun ship, John deposed the British officer in command for cowardice and assumed command. He boarded and captured the Dutch ship and carried her out to sea and away from the guns of the Dutch fort which was also firing on the British ship.

John wrote to Lund Washington and told him of his predicament whereupon Lund, with the help of the US Government, obtained his release in 1800. He returned to America and told Lund that the British tried to get him to stay in their navy as a ship commander. He had been in command of the ship "Charleston" and others.

John served in the US Navy retiring after the War of 1812.

John became owner of a line of ships and followed in his brother-in-law's footsteps as a ship line operator. At one point he took command of the "Liverpool Packet: sailing from Savannah and Charleston to Liverpool, England. He made many trips to England and other places and at times took his wife with him. One of his children was born on one of these trips.

He later became the harbormaster in Savannah, Georgia. He was an able seaman and a powerful and resolute man.

Ref. (5) says John served in the U.S. Navy rising to the rank of Captain.

One reference says he was married in Savannah, Georgia. He may have been married in Charleston or Georgetown, South Carolina.

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

Ref 2 says John was born in 1770.

References:

(1) Clan Munro files - Redden, Virginia R. - descendants of John Robinson
Grayson - dated 20 Sep 1997 - p. 1

(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

(5) Clan Munro files - Redden, Virginia R. - John Robinson Grayson of Virginia
dated 28 Jan 1997

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

Birth:
John was born at Belle Air, his father's home.

Buried:
John was buried at Lot 441 in the Laurel Grove Cemetery in Savannah, Georgia.

John married Frances Ann Harvey on 17 Sep 1816 in Charleston, Charleston Co., South Carolina, USA. Frances was born on 18 Dec 1800 in Georgetown, Williamsburg Co., South Carolina, USA; died on 2 Jan 1862 in Macon, Bibb Co., Georgia, USA; was buried in Savannah, Chatham Co., Georgia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

References:

(1) Clan Munro files - Redden, Virginia R. - descendants of John Robinson
Grayson - dated 20 Sep 1997 - p. 1

(4) Clan Munro files - Cataluna, Esther R. - The Ancestry of Esther Cataluna -
dated 7 jan 1998 - p. 2

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

Buried:
Frances was buried at Lot 441 in the Laurel Grove Cemetery, Savannah, Georgia.

Notes:

Married:
John and Frances were married at the St. Philip's Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina.

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.