Clayton, West Va (1899)
In 1899, David Graham, 78, a grandson of Colonel James Graham (who built the Graham House in present-day Summers County, West Virginia), wrote a history of the Graham family as he understood it. He relied on the memories of relatives, and on court and civil records.
A reprint of 200 copies of this book was issued in 1966. Both editions are difficult to find. A photocopied transcript of the book along with supplemental family group sheets is available. (This transcript was typed by Susan Graham Redmond as part of an 859-page genealogy compilation put together by William L. Graham of St. Albans, West Virginia.)
To help genealogists use this valuable resource, I have prepared this online version. At one point, I scanned the 1982 transcript of the full text of David Graham’s book, and then compared my text to photocopies of microfilm of the original 1899 edition. The present version has been corrected from the original 1899 edition.
The sections correspond to David Graham’s table of contents (which he calls an index), except that items in square brackets were not specifically called out, but have been added by the transcriber as a navigational aid. Page numbers in the original edition are indicated in red within square brackets to aid in citation.
- [ Preface ]
- Grahams are Scotch Irish … 1 to 3
- From Scotland to Virginia … 16
- John Graham’s Will … 17
- John Graham’s Children … 21
- Anne, daughter of John Graham, Sr. … 23
- [ The descendants of Lanty Kincaid ] … 29
- [ Betsy, daughter of John Graham, Sr. ] … 35
- Florence Graham married … 40
- House of James Graham, Sr., at Lowell … 41
- Early settlement of Lowell … 45
- [ The descendants of Samuel and James Guinn ] … 48
- [ Other Early Settlers ] … 53
- James and Florence Graham’s Family … 57
- Joseph and Rebecca Graham … 71
- Joseph and Rebecca Graham’s children … 74
- More concerning early settlement of Lowell … 88
- Elizabeth Graham captured by the Indians … 93
- Col. Graham rescues Elizabeth from Indians … 96
- Elizabeth Stodghill, nee Graham … 99
- Civil jurisdiction of Lowell … 104
- James Graham’s estate … 105
- John Graham, Joseph’s brother … 108
- Robert Graham of Fort Chiswell … 110
- Michael Graham’s family … 113
- Slaves of James Graham, Sr. … 114
- Clayton’s balloon ascension … 117
I am a descendant of the Graham family. My grandfather was William Graham, the twin brother of James. I would love to find a copy of this book. My mother was Pauline Graham.
I’m trying to find some one to work with regarding my Graham. My Grandmother was Willie Lou Graham, dau of James Charles Graham, son of (Samuel) Aaron Graham, son of Samuel Graham (c 1799). Believe Samuel to be the son of Robert and … Delany. I have Robert’s will. Anyone out there????
Bettie in Port Orange, FL
Does anyone know how to get a copy of this book? My dad, who is 85 had a copy and cannot find it.. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
HI! I just found this page. I have an original copy of the History of the Graham family.
Would be glad to give it to an appreciative person.
marjhaas@att.net
I am a Graham a descendant of the W. Virginia Grahams and I would love you to send me a copy. Thank you
For copies of David Graham’s book, you might contact the Graham House Preservation Society (on Facebook or on their website.
Hello, Col. John Graham is my 6th Great Grandfather. At a Graham family reunion in Deerfield, Va a few years ago, we were told to contact the last publisher who actually printed the book but if the publisher is no longer in business, you could always print this out and have it bound somewhere else. That is what I have done.
I just bought 3 copies from Amazon.
Truly? I just searched “David Graham’s History of the Graham Family (1899)” on Amazon and nothing remotely close came up.
I can’t vouch for the quality of this book, but I do see something on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/History-Graham-family-David/dp/B00087GS88
My 3rd great grandfather name was Samuel Graham Sr., and he married my 3rd great grandmother Julia Ann Graham (maiden name Long). He was born in the year of 1836 in Virginia and died in the year of 1891 in Rocky Mount, Edgecombe County, North Carolina. I’m trying to find out more about his parents and siblings and would love to know if I come from this lineage of the Graham family. I would also like a copy of the book if I can get it please and thank you.
I don’t know that I can help you with these North Carolina Graham’s but you might try the resources available at the North Carolina Genealogical Society. As for copies of David Graham’s book, you might contact the Graham House Preservation Society (on Facebook or on their website.