Alexander and Jane Graydon (genealogy)

Alexander and Jane Graydon

Alexander was probably born in County Fermanagh, Ireland. A DNA match between my brother Don and a distant cousin in Toronto, Canada proves that he comes from or near the parish of Aghavea and the town land of Coolnagrange.  This family came from Ireland with some small children as daughter, Jane says she was born in Ireland and son, Thomas was born in Pennsylvania. The first account we have of Alexander in America is the 1790 census of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania in Hopewell, Newton, Tyborn and Westpensboro Townships in an area today near the town of Shippensburg.  Alexander Greadin is listed as 1 male over 16 and 6 females.   The other two Graydons listed in 1790 census for Pennsylvania are the sons of Alexander Graydon and his second wife Rachel Marks.
The 1792-1794 Militia Roll for Cumberland County lists Alex Greaden residing in the bounds of the 6th. Battalion on February 4, 1793. They were living near Shippensburg, which was originally settled by Irish and located on a post road. By 1800 the family is living in Washington County, Pennsylvania.  The family lists 1 male 0-10 and one male 45 and up.  This would have made Alexander born at least about 1755.   Also listed in the household are 1 female 0-10, 1 female 10-16, 3 females 16-26 and 1 female 45 and up.
On the 1800 Tax List for Pike Run Township of Washington County Alexander Greaden is listed as a distiller. This is important, as it gives validation to a family story that the Gradens were involved in the Whiskey Rebellion.  The farmers in Western Pennsylvania  protested a federal liquor tax because this was a way for them to get their products to market easier across the mountains. It was much easier to pack jugs of corn whiskey than the corn itself. They attacked the tax collectors until President Washington lead troops in as a show of force and the rebellion dissolved with no fighting. Washington County because of its location was involved. Farmers on the western frontier of Pennsylvania also used whiskey as an item for barter, as cash was scarce.
Life on the frontier was hard. Most homes were crude cabins made with round logs and the cracks daubed with clay. Roofs were clapboard and chimney of stone. The furniture made with the logs available and beds covered with blankets or fur. Clothing was hung on pegs.  Doors were two sections so that the top half could be left open in fair weather.
Life was busy from dawn to dusk. Women did the cooking, baking, washing, scouring, spinning, mending, sewing, caring for the children (who sometimes appeared about every year or so), cleaning of the cabin and then helping with the crops.  The milking was left to the women and children. Men were busy clearing the land, plowing, sowing the crops, hunting, and harvesting the crops. The family was fed with hog, and hominy, johnnycakes, and cornpone, sausage, mush and milk.  There were the nuts, fruits and vegetables that were gathered in season. Things that were needed could be grown or made at home.  Neighbors shared and helped one another. Weddings and house raisings were important social events.
Clothes were simple. Men wore a hunting shirt, breeches, leggings and jacket and cap usually with moccasins.  Women wore plain gown and a handkerchief for head covering. Children were barefoot except for winter and sometimes even in the winter. Pewter dishes were for company and wooden bowls were for everyday. Cabins contained a spinning wheel and a Bible which was their main reading and record-keeping source.
Sometime between 1800 and 1807 the family moved further west across the Ohio River into Jefferson County, Ohio.  One daughter, Margaret was left behind.  She had married an Irishman named John Sprowls and they remained in Washington County.  The Sprowls had traveled with the Gradens from Cumberland County shortly after the marriage of John and Margaret.  According to Sprowls family history they came to Washington County in 1796.
The religion of the family at the time is unknown but there were more Presbyterian Churches than others in this region of Pennsylvania.  The area was also settled by a lot of Scotch-Irish, which also agrees with a family tradition and now with DNA backup.
According to court records Alexander died in October of 1807 holding 94 acres of land in Section one, Township 11, Range 3 in the Steubenville District of Jefferson County valued at $4.50 per acre. At the time of his death he left 5 children, Mary (Polly), Jane (Jenny), Margaret, Isabella, and Thomas. He also left his widow Jane (Jenny). Jane the widow, and John Henderson, husband of Jane were administrators of the estate.  Son, Thomas bought the farm for $359.10. Margaret and John Sprowls sold her share of the estate to Jacob Mushrush and there was a court action to settle the estate. This court action is what gives us the names of Alexander’s survivors.  This legal document contains two spellings of the Graden name.
It is unknown when and where Jane, the mother, died although I would assume she lived out her days in Jefferson County.  It is also unknown where either of our Irish grandparents is buried.  


Family Information of Alexander and Jane
Margaret was born about 1782 and died Oct 3, 1838 in Washington County, Pennsylvania. She married John Sprowls about 1796  possibly in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania.
Mary (Polly)  married Thomas Riley possibly in Washington County, Pennsylvania
Jane was born about 1786 and died in 1872 in Jefferson County, Ohio. She married John Henderson November 28, 1810 in Jefferson County, Ohio.
Isabelle married Thomas Bell August 26, 1823 in Jefferson County, Ohio.
Thomas was born February 13, 1793 in Pennsylvania and died April 1850 in Jefferson County, Ohio. He married Margaret Oswalt January 10, 1816 in Stark County, Ohio. He married Christina Ann Speedy July 7, 1840 in Harrison County, Ohio


Sources:
1790 Census Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
1800 Census Washington County, Pennsylvania
1984 Keyhole, Publication of Genealogical Society of Southwestern Pennsylvania (1800 tax list)
 http://education.yahoo.com/search/be?lb=t&p=url%3Aw/whiskey_rebellion
History of Washington County
Sprowls Cemetery Records
Inventory of Estates, Jefferson County Ohio Books I and II
CPR B 423 (Court papers)
Probate records of Jefferson County, Ohio
Early marriage records of Jefferson County, Ohio
Pennsylvania Revolutionary War records
Sprowls Family Web site
DNA results for Don Graden
1850 Mortality Schedule for Jefferson County, Ohio

Carolyn Graden Dossey