Birth year could be 1782 or 1784.
A piece of evidence linking Wren Grayson, St., to Joseph Grayson of Marion county, Tenn., and his descendants and other relations lies in an affidavit made by Wren Grayson in 1850 when he filed for bounty land due him for serving in the war of 1812. Part of the document is quoted below, and was obtained from the National Archives, in Washington, D.C.:
"State of Indiana, County of Decatur: On this 2nd day of November 1850 personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace within and for the county and state aforesaid. Wren Grayson aged sixty year, a resident of the county and state aforesaid who being duly sworn according to law declare that he is the identical Wren Grayson who was a private in the company commanded by Captain James Tunnel in the Tennessee Regiment of Militia commanded by Colonel John Anderson in the war with Great Britain declared by the United States on the 18th day of June, 1812. That he was drafted at Knoxville in Knox county in the State of Tennessee on or about the first of September in the year of our Lord 1814 for the term of six months and continued in actual service in said war for the term of six months and was honorably discharged at Mobile in fort Charlotte, state of Alabama on or about the 20th of March, in the year of our Lord 1815. As will appear by the muster rolls of his company, the said Wren Grayson further states that he has lost his discharge above referred to by putting it in the hands of his brother Joseph Grayson who died shortly afterwards and never returned said discharge to the applicant which discharge is not now to be procured."
(Wren's brother Joseph Grayson died in either 1822 or 1823 as his will was probated in 1823. Wren Grayson left for Scott county Kentucky from Tennessee sometime during the decade 1820-1829. Possibly, he left before Joseph died, thus making it difficult for him to recover the discharge paper.)
-- The text below may have been written by Richard Grayson, but I'm not sure.
A large number of Grayson descendants have been able to trace their ancestry to a Grayson family that migrated from Wilkes Co., NC to various counties in Tennessee between 1790 and 1810. This soon proves to be a dead end as to date no one has been able to establish the origin of the most likely patriarch of the family, a Benjamin Grayson. It is widely believed that this Benjamin Grayson came from Virginia. The problem is that there are several Benjamin Graysons in Virginia and it is not clear which of these, if any, went to North Carolina and Tennessee where there are also multiple Benjamin Graysons. Finally, it is not certain that all of the Graysons of interest are sons of Benjamin; some may be brothers or cousins. In order to resolve this problem we have been attempting to assemble the known information about the various Benjamin Graysons in North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. The present document summarizes information we have found, much of which has not been widely known to previous researchers of this line. Unfortunately, the results remain inconclusive, though we are able to propose some new theories and clear up some of the mystery. Hopefully, future research will fully resolve the matter.
The puzzle begins in Wilkes Co., NC which was formed from Surry Co., NC in 1777. A Benjamin Grayson entered 400 acres of land adjoining Edmond Tilly in 1779 on Kings Creek on the border with Burke Co., NC. This is the first known mention of a Grayson in Wilkes Co., NC. Shortly thereafter additional Graysons appear in Wilkes Co., NC and various counties in TN. These Graysons include William, John, Benjamin Jr., Joseph, Wren, Nancy and Jesse. Later descendants can be attributed to one of these but none have been traced further back. It seems likely that some and perhaps all of these other Graysons were Benjamins children. To begin with we have used census and poll tax records to determine the probable ages of these early NC/TN Graysons. Originally, individuals between the ages of 21 and 55 paid poll tax in TN. This law was changed in 1801 such that free males over 50 were exempted. The likely ages deduced from poll tax and census data are as follows:
Benjamin Grayson Sr. (on poll tax list 1797&99 -with 1
poll in 1797 and 0 poll in 1799
No record exists for 1798) Born between 1742-1744
William Grayson (1850 Census, Monroe Co.,TN) Born 1767
John Grayson- (first pd poll tax 1789 Wilkes Co., NC) Born June 1767-June 1768
Joseph Grayson-(first pd poll tax 1794 Wilkes Co., NC) Born June 1772-June 1773
Jessee Grayson-(first pd. poll tax 1797 Wilkes Co., NC) Born June 1775-June 1776
Benjamin Grayson, Jr.(first on poll tax-list-1799) Born June 1777-June 1778
Wren Grayson (1850 census- Decatur Co., IN) Born 1782
Nancy Grayson Crouch (1850 census-IN) Born 1782
-- The text below may have been written by Richard Grayson, but I'm not sure.
A large number of Grayson descendants have been able to trace their ancestry to a Grayson family that migrated from Wilkes Co., NC to various counties in Tennessee between 1790 and 1810. This soon proves to be a dead end as to date no one has been able to establish the origin of the most likely patriarch of the family, a Benjamin Grayson. It is widely believed that this Benjamin Grayson came from Virginia. The problem is that there are several Benjamin Graysons in Virginia and it is not clear which of these, if any, went to North Carolina and Tennessee where there are also multiple Benjamin Graysons. Finally, it is not certain that all of the Graysons of interest are sons of Benjamin; some may be brothers or cousins. In order to resolve this problem we have been attempting to assemble the known information about the various Benjamin Graysons in North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. The present document summarizes information we have found, much of which has not been widely known to previous researchers of this line. Unfortunately, the results remain inconclusive, though we are able to propose some new theories and clear up some of the mystery. Hopefully, future research will fully resolve the matter.
The puzzle begins in Wilkes Co., NC which was formed from Surry Co., NC in 1777. A Benjamin Grayson entered 400 acres of land adjoining Edmond Tilly in 1779 on Kings Creek on the border with Burke Co., NC. This is the first known mention of a Grayson in Wilkes Co., NC. Shortly thereafter additional Graysons appear in Wilkes Co., NC and various counties in TN. These Graysons include William, John, Benjamin Jr., Joseph, Wren, Nancy and Jesse. Later descendants can be attributed to one of these but none have been traced further back. It seems likely that some and perhaps all of these other Graysons were Benjamins children. To begin with we have used census and poll tax records to determine the probable ages of these early NC/TN Graysons. Originally, individuals between the ages of 21 and 55 paid poll tax in TN. This law was changed in 1801 such that free males over 50 were exempted. The likely ages deduced from poll tax and census data are as follows:
Benjamin Grayson Sr. (on poll tax list 1797&99 -with 1
poll in 1797 and 0 poll in 1799
No record exists for 1798) Born between 1742-1744
William Grayson (1850 Census, Monroe Co.,TN) Born 1767
John Grayson- (first pd poll tax 1789 Wilkes Co., NC) Born June 1767-June 1768
Joseph Grayson-(first pd poll tax 1794 Wilkes Co., NC) Born June 1772-June 1773
Jessee Grayson-(first pd. poll tax 1797 Wilkes Co., NC) Born June 1775-June 1776
Benjamin Grayson, Jr.(first on poll tax-list-1799) Born June 1777-June 1778
Wren Grayson (1850 census- Decatur Co., IN) Born 1782
Nancy Grayson Crouch (1850 census-IN) Born 1782
from Don Heller:
Effie, my grandmother, told the story of her wedding night. It was too late to go to Wichita Falls after they got married, so they planned to spend the night at her father's home. Her brother Charlie also lived there. She said that after they finally got up the nerve to go to bed, they sat on the side of the bed, and the cowbell which Charlie had placed under there, rang. So she and Ernest smiled at each other and bounced the bed to make it ring several times. They heard the other two men chuckle. Then she said that Ernest crawled under the bed and took the bell off. Then she smiled and said they went to bed... It was interesting to hear stories from a very reserved 90-year-old lady as she recalled and talked about life!
from Lynette Knowles:
Effie May Grayson (Marshall *GG), 17 May 1869-07 Mar 1949, and Henry Frank (Frank, H Frank on his headstone) Marshall (*GG), 04 Jul 862-07 Mar 1946, married on 24 Feb 1887 in Saline City, Sugar Ridge Township, Clay County, Indiana.Their first child, Arthur William Marshall (GU), was born on 21 Feb 1889 in Terre Haute, Vigo, Indiana.When they married, Effie was just 17 years of age, but Frank was 24 years of age. It is unknown how long their courtship was prior to their marriage, but it is possible that Effie was only 16 years of age when they first met. How they met is unknown, but I believe Frank probably was working for the railroad in Terre Haute, Vigo County, Indiana, at the time, given they lived there after they married while Frank worked for the railroad. Given her young age, and as she was 7 years younger than him, I wonder if Effie was a very headstrong teenager. I wonder if the Clay County laws at that time required the father's permission for a 17-year old to marry (records of the marriage certificate do not provide that information). Effie also may have been influenced by her perceptions of the independence her older brother, William Morton Grayson (GGU), and older sister, Hattie Emily Grayson (Moss, Moss, Griffith GGA), experienced in their marriages. Marrying young and moving out of the parents' home and out from under their greater control may have tempted teenagers even at that time.
The 1940 Census reveals that Effie had finished the 8th grade in Indiana, and Frank had finished the 4th grade in Kentucky. Post-Civil War conditions in Indiana (Union), where the Graysons lived, and of Kentucky (Confederate), where the Marshalls lived, were tremendously different. The 1880 Census reveals that Frank, at 17 years of age, was working on his parents' farm (formerly a small plantation with slaves). The Marshall's farm was at Campbellsville, Taylor County, Kentucky. That community and county had been hard-hit by both Union and Confederate armies, and they had been dealt great blows by the Confederate Morgan's Raiders (Franks' father Thomas Frank, who also went by Frank, was a member of the Raiders and had been in 2 prison camps). Farming post-war on the Marshall land was most likely a hard-scrabble life, even 15 years after the war's end, as the Marshalls no longer had slaves for labor and had to do the hard manual labor themselves, possibly with a hired hand (if it could be afforded). As the eldest child, Frank was probably given no choice by his parents about working on the farm instead of being in school.
I wonder what Effie's parents' viewpoints were about education for women. Father James was a businessman and mother Mary kept house during their marriage. No information about their education has been found. Effie's older brother, William, was a businessman and married in 1886 at 21 years of age; no information about his education has been found. Effie's older sister, Hattie, married for the first time at 19 years of age; no information about her education has been found. During both of her 2 marriages, Hattie kept house.
It would have been interesting to have been a "fly on the wall" when Effie, at age 16/17, had told her parents about Frank, at age 24. But, the Grayson family had already been through a tremendous amount of distress in life. They were first hit with the death in 1862 of James' father, Henry Grayson (*3GG), from disease as the result of his service in the Union Army. Then, James' brother, Henry Woodward Grayson (2GGU), was accused of murder in 1867 after he served as a private in the Union Army. The story about the decade-long long-enforcement hunt for Henry and the related changes in the Grayson family lives is long and complicated. Overall, by the time Effie revealed Frank to her parents, her parents' reactions had probably been massively tempered by past significant events in the family. Perhaps the phrase "it could always be worse" is ages old, after all.
Name also appears as Harraway Owen.
We have a transcription of his declaration of military service, which he submitted in
order to obtain a pension. See the "scrapbook".
"I was born in Scott County, Kentucky on the second day of November, 1805. My father's name was Wren Grayson and my mother's maiden name was Betsy Owens".
"I have six brothers and one sister; brother Lewis died in childhood and another, Henry, died after raising a large family. My other brothers are Wren and Sanford Grayson of Decatur County and Joseph and Benjamin Grayson of Tipton County, Indiana, all men of honest repute among those who know them. My only and beloved sister is Mrs. Nancy Hamilton, widow of William Hamilton of Decatur County".
In 1807, when I was two years of age, my parents moved to Tennessee and settled in Bledsoe County. There I almost grew to manhood and was familiar with the scenes and incidents attendant upon those early times, in adventures with Indians and wild animals in the Sequatchie Valley and upon the Cumberland Mountains".
"I was always physically strong, healthy, and hearty. At the age of seventeen, at a religious meeting held at the house of Richard Stone, I began to be conscious about my condition as a sinner. Mrs. Stone had been converted to God, embraced the faith of the Cumberland Presbyterians, a very earnest set of Christian people".
"Mr. Stone, as soon as he had found peace, constantly appealed to his friends and neighbors to `flee from the wrath to come.' While listening to him I was deeply convicted, felt very bad indeed, and was glad when the meeting closed, remarking as I left that they would not get me back there again. But the spirit of the Lord had taken strong upon me, and I realized the necessity of yielding to the call of my Master, and led by his help, to a new and better life." (Copied from the Madison Courier, February 1, 1882; "an autobiography of the deceased written by him some years ago and carefully placed away by him".)
Records have not yet been found in Bledsoe County of the Wren Grayson family, so nothing more is known of these early years than the above. It is surmised that the family left Tennessee before John was 21, because he said "There I almost grew to manhood". If by that, he meant he left at the age of 20, then the Wren Grayson family left Bledsoe County in 1825.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/74536636/john-wren-grayson
=================
From Death Certificate:
Age 76
Nativity - Kentucky
Male White Married
Cause of death - Malignant disease stomach and lungs (one year)
J.W. Conway, MD
Died at Cemetery Street
C. Vail, Undertaker
==================
From The Madison Weekly Herald
3 February 1882
THE OLD SEXTON
Death of Father John Grayson
End of an Honest, Peaceful LifeAt 10½ o'clock last night the bells of the Fire Department tolled for the death of John Grayson, the venerable sexton of Springdale Cemetery. Although the event had been long anticipated, it was heard of with grief, for no one was held in more high esteem by the community that "Pap" Grayson, as he was familiarly known, and his friends found a ready expression of sincere sympathy on the lips of all they met.
Mr. Grayson was born in Scott County, Kentucky, in 1805, and was one of eight children, five of whom are alive to-day. While yet a child, his father moved to the Cumberland mountains in Tennessee and there took his home in the Sequatchie Valley. This now fair and fertile region was then in the possession of Creek Indians a wilderness where could be hard
"The panther's whisper,
And the bear's low grown,
The snakes sharp rattle,
And the wolf's wild howl"and John was reared to a sturdy manhood amid all the perils of the frontier. He returned to Kentucky in 129 and there married Pamelia Commmings, with whom he has lived happily 52 years.
In 1830 Mr. Grayson moved to this State, locating in Decatur county, and there remained until attracted to this city by the building of the Madison and Indianapolis (J.M. & I.) railroad. His family was now increasing and he concluded to make his home here. He was the father of six children, Rebecca J., Sarah A., Mary Catherine, Salatheil, Andrew J., and John W., all of whom are yet alive, and the youngest is now over 40 years of age.
He had worked at intervals in the cemetery of the new city, and in 1852, at the earnest request of Mr. C. Vail, he took charge as sexton of Springdale, succeeding Mr. Marx, and has occupied that position for over 20 consecutive years. In that time he has placed in the last resting place some member of nearly every family in Madison having buried over five thousand.
He was elected messenger of Western Fire Company No. 3, upon its organization, and has occupied that position of importance and trust ever since. In his honor the company named their magnificent steamer "Pap" Grayson, as he was dearly loved by the "boys," and it will be ever a tangible monument to his memory.
For the past few years Mr. Grayson has looked forward to the day of his death, and was one day writing something which he placed in the family Bible. It was afterward found to be the following autobiographical sketch of his life. The paper reads as follows:
"JOHN GRAYSON
Born Scott Co., Ky., Nov. 2, 1805. In 1807, when I was 2 years old, my parents moved to the State of Tennessee, and settled in Bledsoe, Co. There I grew to manhood. At the age of 17, at a religious meeting held at the house of Richard Boone, I began to be concerned about myself as a sinner. Mr. Stone had been converted to God, and embraced the faith of the Cumberland Presbyterians, a very earnest set of Christian people. Mr. Stone, as soon as he had found peace, commenced appealing to his friends and neighbors to 'flee from the wrath to come'. While listening to him I was deeply convicted, felt very bad indeed, and was glad when the meeting closed, remarking as I left that they would not get me back there again. But the spirit of the Lord had taken strong hold upon me, and I realized the necessity of yielding to the call of my Master, and leading by his help, a new and better life. In this frame of mind I made a full surrender to Christ, and before I got home I was happy in a Saviour's pardoning love. So that, of course, at the very next meeting I was promptly on hand, feeling it a grand privilege to be there."
For the past few days his mind has wandered back to the scenes of his early life. Again he was upon the mountain leading the wild and happy backwoods life. Again he lived in the little cabin, contented, hearty, and strong. He even saw once more his little brother burn to death, an accident his early years had witnessed, and wanted to save his life. But these visions of the past were only momentary, for his mind would clear.
At his own request, his experience having led him to believe the dead are best preserved therein, his coffin will be made of walnut.
Mr. Grayson was a consistent member of Trinity M.E. Church. He has in all this number of years enjoyed the esteem and respect of every citizen of Madison, and by his kindly manners and life of probity endeared himself to all. He dies at a good old age, full of years and honors, and goes into the great beyond, clad in the panoply of the Christian soldier, to enjoy, after fighting life's battle bravely, the rest that remaineth was "like the descending of ripe and wholesome fruits from a pleasant and florid tree. In the presence of his friends and dearest relatives, he passed away, leaving behind him a long record of good works and a name that is a rich inheritance to his children. It is well with him.
(Note: There is a poem after this article, but it is illegible)
8 February 1882
On last Tuesday night week at 10:30 o'clock, Mr. John Grayson, the old sexton of Springdale cemetery, sank pacefully to rest. Deceased had been in ill-health for some time, so that the event was not unexpected, but it cast a gloom over the community which held him in high esteem. Mr. Grayson came here while this valley was in possession of the Indians. He had held the office of Sexton for thirty years, and had been Messenger of the Western Fire Co. No. 3 since its organization. He leaves a wife and six children. The funeral occurred on Thursday last at 2 p.m., the Rev. L. G. Adkinson officiating.
update, 2021:The Western Fire Co. No. 3 still exists, and has a facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/WesternFireCo3/.
We are called upon to chronicle the death of another venerable pioneer--Mrs. Permelia Grayson, widow of the late John Grayson. Her death occurred at the home of her son in law, Mr. Sewell Loyd, on Broadway, at 6:00 o'clock this morning. She had been a sufferer for about one year with debility and a pulmonary affection, and her illness was rendered the more distressing by the illness and death of her life companion which occurred two weeks ago; yet she was patient in her sufferings, and calmly resigned the world to join her beloved husband who recently passed to the other shore.
They trod life's journey together for so many years, sharing with each other the joys and vicissitudes which fall the lot of man and wife and, at a ripe old age, after lives well spent, they sleep peacefully beside each other under the friendly sod of the valley.
Mrs. Grayson was born in Scott county, Kentucky, in 1806, and hence was in the 76th year of her age. Her maiden name was Cummins, she being a daughter of Major Andrew C. Cummins, who distinguished himself in the War of 1812. She was married to John Grayson in 1829, and removed with him to this state in 183_?. The biographical sketch of Mr. Grayson "The Old Sexton" published in these columns two weeks ago, forms, in a great measure the biography of the one whose death we are now recording.