Samantha Ann McGrew

Notes:

According to the LDS ancestral file, ver 4.15, Samantha McGrew is the daughter of Alexander and Elizabeth (Blackburn) McGrew. However, according to McGrew researcher Wynema McGrew of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, she is actually the daughter of Alexander's brother, James Tate McGrew by Elizabeth Patterson. Several years after her first husband was killed (along with one of her brothers) as they fought Indians at Morgan's Point, Samantha married her husband's brother David A. Barton, Jr. and had two children. (THE SOUTHERN McGREWS GREW)

Samantha married David Armstrong Barton on 27 Jan 1842 in Robertson County, Texas. David was born on 27 Jan 1811 in Rutherford County, Tennessee; died on 15 Dec 1844 in Franklin, Robertson County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Elizabeth Jane Barton was born about 1843 in County of Robertson, Republic of Texas; and died.

Notes:

According to the book THE SOUTHERN McGREWS GREW James Tate McGrew is first heard of when he signed a Memorial to Congress in 1803. He was a veteran of the War of 1812. They can be found on the Marion Co, MISS census in 1816. In 1818, James and three of his brothers were charged with assault and battery. They were in Yazoo Co, Miss by 1830. They moved to Robertson County, Texas in 1834. He also had land in Refugio County, Texas.

Esther McGrew Hardin believes that the family went from Marion County to Yazoo County MS before the 1830 census. Lots of children in 1830. Moved to Texas in 1834. She heard a story that they saw the "stars fell on Alabama" shower on their move to Texas. James T. McGrew had a land grant in Refugio County near his brother William McGrew per the Land Maps of Texas showing original land grants.

Wynema McGrew stated that James Tate received a First Class Headright, No. 45, dated 5 Feb 1838 by the Board of land Commissioners of Robertson County, Texas. She also transcribed another certificate as reading:

Republic of Texas No. 90. This is to certify that James T. McGrew has appeared before us, the board of land commissioners for the county of Robertson, and proved according to the law that he arrived in this county October 1834 and that he is a married man and entitled to one Labor of Land, upone the condition of paying at the rate of $3.50 for every labor of irrigable land, $2.50 for every labor of temporal or arable land, and $1.20 for every labor of pasture land, which may be contained in the Survey secured to him by this Certificate. Given under our hand this 5th day of February 1838, Thomas Dillard, President, Thomas ? Dunn, L. Hart, Associate Commissioners.

Wynema also notes that in Robertson County in 1838, Jas. T. McGrew was shown on the tax roll with 75 cattle and no poll.

Esther McGrew Hardin of San Antonio had received a transcription of the Will of James Tate McGrew from Juanita Johnson of Clovis, New Mexico. It was transcribed as follows:

I, James Tate McGrew of the Republic of Texas, County of Robertson, do make and publish this my last will and testament revoking all former wills, which may have been made by me at any time previous. And the wordly (goods?) that it has pleased God to entrust (me??) I dispose of as follows. First I direct that all my debts be paid out of the first money that shall come into the hands of my executors from any portion of my Estate real or personal. Also I direct that all my stocks of hogs except six sows and pigs be sold on credit of six months at some time during the next winter (that?) my executors may think best. I also direct that my oldesy yoke of oxen and the largest steers of my stock together with a few milch cows amounting in all between twenty and thirty head be sold at some time in the Spring of 1840, on a credit of six months also that the corn growing upon my bottom plantation be cribed and sold some time during the coming fall season and I further direct that the proceeds of all such sales be (divided?) amongst my heirs as follows:

That WM. A. McGREW receive fifty dollars

That the heirs of GEORGE W. McGREW, MY SON DECEASED, receive fifty dollars

and the remainder of my sons and daughters and my wife to share and share equal of the remainder. And of the remaining unsold portion of my stock of cattle and the reserve of my stock of hogs together with my small black mare, my household and kitchen furniture I give and bequeth unto my wife. Also I further direct that all the real or lande of the Estate secured to me in this Republic or which may be secured to me be equally divided between the following heirs:

MARY JANE McGREW
FRANCIS ALEXANDER McGREW
SAMANTHA ANN McGREW
JAMES THOMAS McGREW

and my wife which portion of my real estate I give and bequeth unto my wife in lieu of her dower during her widowhood and at her death to be equally divided amonth those of my heirs who have not recd land of this Government. I further direct that should JOHN FLOOD McGREW fail to hold ? the ? land now deeded to him in fee simple title -- that he have one equal share of my real estate with my wife and the last mentioned sons and daughters. I also direct that the amount given to the heirs of George W. McGrew be retained in the hands of my executors at interest until the daughter of said George W. McGrew shall be of sufficient age to require the same for the purpose of education and then that it be appropriated for that purpose. The heirs or representatives of any of my children who shall have died between the time of my decease and such division or distribution of - to be entitled to such share or shares as their respective ancestors would have been entitled to were they then living and the share of my real and personal estate thus bequeathed to my wife to be in lieu of her dower at law and I hereby appoint my neighbor George W. Hill and my wife Elizabeth McGrew as executors of this my last will and testament and I also do hereby appoint my said wife Elizabeth McGrew Guardian for my minor heirs to take possession of their portions of my Estate and retain the same for their benefit to put the monied portion at and draw from the same as may be necessary to defray the expenses of educating them, and I further direct that my executors whenever they shall deem it expedient so to do and the prices of land shall justify the same sale for the use of my minor heirs their portions of the river lands belonging to my estate and (invest?) the proceeds as will be most advantageous but so that my heirs will be able to receive the money as they may arrive at years of maturity. To execute all of which I appoint my above named executors, and the above named Guardian for my minor heirs. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this the ... day of August, 1839, in the presence of the subscribing witnesses. Interline before signed. Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of us Benj Sewell, A.Hicks, J.T. McGrew

James married Elizabeth ??? on 1 Jan 1812 in Amite County, Mississippi. Elizabeth was born about 1794 in Georgia; died in May 1860 in Limestone County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Elizabeth was a full blooded Cherokee Indian. She had first married a Francis Patterson. her maiden name is not known. Juanita Johnson of New Mexico, a descendant of Mary June McGrew and her husband Benjamin Maddox, sent photographs of Elizabeth McGrew to Esther McGrew Hardin in San Antonio. She did appear to be Native American from the photo.

Court records show Elizabeth's daughter, Twiney Pierce married Hiram McLaughlin, so Elizabeth may have been married twice before, to a Pierce and a Patterson. (Twiney might also have been previously married). Twiney's marriage is recorded in Marion County, Mississippi, Marriage Record Book "A" 1812-1824, with "consent by James and Elizabeth McGrew for Twiney Pierce, daughter of Elizabeth McGrew.' Twiney married Hiram McLaughlin on 27 Sept 1823.

A divorce court in Marion Co, MS has a lawsuit between Francis Patterson and James McGrew about support for Twiney Pierce.

Wynena McGrew writes that she died of inflammation after being ill for 25 days in Limestone County, Texas.

(Research):
Census Listings:

1850 Census
Texas, Robertson County, Precinct 4
Enumerated 3 Nov 1850
Stamped 235
108-108
Benjamin W. Madox 20 M Farmer Ga
Mary J Madox 17 F Miss
109-109
Elizabeth McGrew 56 F $22,220 Ga
[Texas, Robertson County, Precinct 1]
John T. (sic-F[lood]) McGrew 28 M Farmer 1111 Mississippi
Elizabeth M Barton 6 F Texas
110-110
Thomas McGrew 26 M farmer 640 Miss
Lucretia McGrew 17 F Ala
Alfred Hicke 55 M Farmer 1486 Miss

Notes:

Married:
According to the Church of the Latter-day Saints "Ancestral File-ver 4.15", Alexander McGrew and Elizabeth Blackburn were also shown as the parents of Thomas McGrew (b. 1824 in Marion County, Mississippi) and Samantha McGrew (b. 1826 in Marion County, Mississippi). However, the research of Wynema McGrew of Hattiesburg, Mississippi shows that Thomas and Samantha are actually the children of James Tate McGrew (the brother of Alexander McGrew) and Elizabeth Patterson McGrew.

Notes:

According to Feldman's ANGLO-AMERICANS IN SPANISH ARCHIVES (p 27) he and John McGrew were American residents of Mobile on January 1, 1786.

Wynema McGrew writes (p. 7) that he may also have been a royalist and left the Carolinas in the late 1770s of early 1780s, moving to area that became the Mississippi Territory, as had his older brother John. He received a Spanish land grant in 1788.

The following information is courtesy of Ester McGrew Hardin, and was originally prepared by Robert Lee McGrew of Pearland, Texas in December 1986. Some additional information has been added to his work from loose papers owned by Mrs. Hardin and from the book THE SOUTHERN McGREWS GREW by Everette L. McGrew, 2106 Freeland Way, Dallas TX 75228.

James witnessed the sale of property on March 30, 1770 in Tyrone County, North/South Carolina by Alexander Kilpatrick on both sides of the Pacelot River. This is near where his brother, John, had bought land October 9, 1770. The brothers left Tyrone County in 1778, with their wives and children, and settled in Mississippi.

James settled, however, in the area of St. Stephens, Alabama, on the banks of the Tombigbee River. This was a remote area with few settlers. The boundaries of Washington County at that time were the Chattahooche River on the east, Pearl River on the west, the 31st parallel on the south, and 32 degrees, 28 minutes on the north. From this 25,000 square miles, 26 counties in Mississippi and Alabama were later formed.

Many of these early settlers from the Carolinas and Georgia were in the territory as early as 1775, and as such were subject to the laws of the ruling Spanish Government. In keeping with Spanish regulations, the commandant of the Alabama Fort of San Esteban de Tombecbe compiled in 1797 a census of the settlers of the district. This list contained fifty-one (51) families; two of which were those of John and James McGrew. They became leaders of their settlement and were successful planters living on large plantations and active in early territory politics. James's brother, John McGrew, Sr., became on of the wealthiest planters in the south, owning approximately 4000 acres. On the 1808 tax rolls, he paid a tax of $25.05 on 29 slaves and a 640 acre section.

Mrs. Hardin had in her papers a copy of a letter from The Catholic Center, Archdiocese of Mobile, Mobile, Alabama dated January 27, 1982. It showed the following baptism's:

Ana (Nancy), Maria Casia (Keziah), Guillermo (William), Juan (John), children of Santiago (James) and Constancia Tibbett (Constance Tillet) Magrew, (Protestants). Dated 17 Nov 1788. Recorded Page 31, Bapt. Rcds. Bk #2.

Under Spanish regulations all residents were required to have their children baptized by a Catholic priest, even if they were not Catholic.

JAMES McGREW, had died in 1797 at the age of 57. According to THE SOUTHERN McGREWS GREW a James McGrew of St. Stephen's obtained a passport to go to Georgia on 8 January 1797. Possibly James died while on this trip?

James's widow, Constance, and children petitioned the Congress of the United States of American for title to his land, since the original title had been a Spanish grant, and as of 1799 the territory had been taken over by the United States. John also petitioned for his land. Many letters were written to President Thomas Jefferson, and to the Congress of the United States. These were signed by John Flood McGrew, William McGrew, John McGrew, Sr, and John McGrew, Jr. [Col. John Flood McGrew was a member of the Territorial Council, and friend of Chief Pushmataha, chief of the Choctaw tribe]. These petitions were granted and full titles to the lands in question were given to the two McGrew families. John and his children prospered during the next few years, as did Constance McGrew and her grown children. Constance tried to also obtain a grant for an additional 604 acres of land, but was denied. She and her children later sold the 400 acres of their land to Wm. and John Pierce.

Below, from the AMERICAN STATE PAPERS Volume 1, p. 686, is the summary of the hearing related to the land grant of James and Constantia McGrew in the Mississippi territory:

The heirs of James McGREW, case no. 53 on the docket of the Board, and no. 73 on the books of the Register. Claim--Of 400 acres, by virtue of a Spanish warrant of survey, under the first section of the act. The claimants presented their claim, together with a surveyor's plot of the land claimed, in the following words and figures, to wit: To the Commissioners appointed in pursuance of the act of Congress passed the 3rd day of March, 1803, to receive and adjust claims of lands east of Pearl River. Please take notice, that the following tract of land, situated on the west side of the river Tombigbee, butting and bounded as follows: beginning on a corner cotton tree, above Reams's line and lands claimed by Young Gains, &c, about two miles below Fort St. Stephen's, (supposed;) thence, running south, eighteen degrees west, one hundred and twenty-six chains fifty links, to a corner red oak; ...... thence, down the meanders of the river to the first mentioned station; .....is claimed by James McGrew, or by his heirs, to wit: Peggy McGrew, Eliza McGrew or Eliza De Castro, Alexander McGrew, Giles McGrew, James McGrew, Jane McGrew, Nancy McGrew, Keziah McGrew, John McGrew, and Wm. McGrew, children of said James McGrew, under and by virtue of a Spanish warrant or order of survey, granted unto him, the said James McGrew, on the day of; and the said claimant did, on the 27th day of October, 1795, inhabit and cultivate the tract herein specified, agreeably to the requistions of the first section of an act of Congress, entitled an act, and the same does not appear to be claimed by any preceding provision of the act, and now exhibited to the Register of the Land Office, established east of Pearl river, to be recorded as is directed by said act. To all which they beg leave to refer, as also to the plot hereto fixed, &c, &c. Presented February 29th, 1804, by Elizabeth De Castro, her X mark. Witness, Edwin Lewis. Surveyed in February, 1804, by Robert Ligon. Chain carriers, Young Gains, Dawson Grimes.

In support of this claim, a Spanish warrant of survey was exhibited in the following words and figures, to wit: Don Estevan Miro, Colonel of the royal army, Governor civil and military of the city and province of Louisiana,&c.,&c. Mobile, 12th January, 1788. James McGrew, inhabitant of this jurisdiction of Mobile, with the greatest respect to your excellency, represents and says, that there is on the Tombigee river ten acres of vacant land, which until now, has never been claimed by any proprietor; he begs your excellency to grant him, with the profounder customery, with papers of titles necessary from the Secretary of Government, that may correspond witht he concession; for which favor he will be forever thankful. (signed) James McGrew. Certified by Vicent Folch.
.
Both Wynema McGrew, the author of a book about the Descendants of James McGrew, and G.E. McGrew, 132 Lausanne Drive, Camden, SC 29020 suggest that the McGrews of South Carolina are from Omagh, County Tyrone, Ireland, and landed in Charleston SC in May, 1773. See LDS Alm(?) 874714, at the Orangeburg Historical Society in South Carolina.

Esther McGrew Hardin instead speculates that the McGrew's might be descended from Quaker families originally from Pennsylvania. Many McGrew's can be found in Orange County, North Carolina records. Additionally, in the corner of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware, many members of the Blackburn, Means and McGrew families were all kin, a pattern of intermarriage between these families that continued for many generations. It is possible they came to Pennyslvania from Omagh.

James married Constance Tillett before 1774 in South Carolina. Constance was born about 1752; died between 1805 and 1808 in St. Stephens, Mississippi Territory. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Constance Tillett was likely a daughter of Giles Tillett of Virginia, who was an early settler of Georgia. In 1773, he can be living with his wife and 4 sons and 3 daughters on 500 ares of land at the fork of Broad river (Georgia), where he built a cabin. During the American Revolution, he was purportedly an unrepentant loyalist. On 12 October 1774, in response to the Boston Tea Party, the settlers of Kyoka (Kiokee) and Broad River signed a protest "against any resolutions expressive of disloyalty to our most gracious King and the Lords and Commons of Great Britian." Everette McGrew notes that he was a member of the South Carolina Dragoons, Capt. John Harrison's Company, South Carolina Light Dragoons, St. Augustine, FL, 25 Apr 1783, along with George and James Tillett.

Notes:

Wynema McGrew, in her book titled THE JAMES MCGREW FAMILY, 1744-1797(Second Edition, 1999, Hattiesburg, MS), writes that she had made the following TENTATIVE conclusions about Alexander and Margaret McGrew and their offspring, using data collected from a variety of sources (some of which may be considered factual and some speculative).

Alexander and Margaret McGrew may have married in Ireland, and appear to have been the parents of six children, places of birth unknown. They were probably from in or near Omagh City, County Tyrone, Ireland, the McGrew family having come to Omagh City from Scotland before the mid-fifteenth centery. The name McGrew probably originated form the sept of MacGrewar or MacGruer of the Clan Gregor.

Esther McGrew Hardin instead suggested that the family descended from Quaker families originally from Pennsylvania. Many McGrew's can be found in Orange County, North Carolina records. Additionally, in the corner of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware, many members of the Blackburn, Means and McGrew families were all kin.

James Mims, on his online "Digging the Roots of the Mims Family Tree" has a third theory, showing him as Alexander MacGRUER, born 7 Oct 1706 in Iverness, Scotland, and married to Margaret TATE, also of Inverness. Both were shown as dying in South Carolina.

Wynema lists the probable children of Alexander and Margaret are:

1) Mary McGrew b. ca 1737 d. bef. 1776, married Grove YOUNG. [Note: Janice McAlpine (mcalpage@cox.net) emailed that Mary's husband was actually named Legros Young, and that he died on 5 Mar 1878 in Cambden District, South Carolina].
2) John McGrew b. ca 1739 d. ca 1818, married Elizabeth CLARK
3) James McGrew b. ca 1744 d. ca 1797, married Constantia (Constance) TILLET
4) Peter Alexander McGrew b. ca 1745 d. ca 1792, married Margaret McCLAIN
5) Margaret McGrew b. bet 1746-1749 d. ca 1805
6) William McGrew b. 23 Apr 1752 D. 1815, appears to have wed Mary GOODWYN

She noted that on 4 July 1755, Alexander McGrew petitioned for 550 acres of land in South Carolina, and had 11 persons in his household. On 5 August of that same year, a plat for 350 acres of middle ground between Broad and Wateree Rivers was found with a certificate dated 10 Oct 1755.

In his Will, dated 11 Oct 1776, he names five children--four by relationship, James, Peter, William and Margaret, one by implication of relationship, John--and also his own wife Margaret. His will was probated 7 Feb 1977 in Craven District, SC. Alexander does not name Mary as a child. Wynema cites Caroline T. Moore, comp "Abstracts of the Wills of the State of South Carolina 1760-1784" Privately Published, 1969), pg. 292, as her source for this information.

(pp. 2-7)

Alexander married Margaret ???. Margaret was born after 1715; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]