Alexander McGrew

Bef 1783 - 1849  (~ 66 years)

• Name	Alexander McGrew  [1, 2]
  Birth	Bef 1783	St. Stephens, Mississippi Territory   [2]
  Gender	Male
  Death	2 Oct 1849	Milam, Sabine County, Texas   [2]
  Burial	Milam Cemetery, Milam, Sabine County, Texas
  Notes	According to both THE SOUTHERN McGREWS GREW and the notes of Robert Lee McGrew of Pearland, TX, Alexander was probably born around 1778 in South Carolina. Wynema McGrew instead shows he was born in Louisiana/Mississippi Territory, sometime prior to 1783. He obtained a passport in St. Stephens on September 24, 1797 to go to Georgia. His father had obtained a passport to go to Georgia earlier that same year. A land record indicates that Alexander inhabited and cultivated land near the Tombigbee River around 1797. In the early 1800's he put up a $700 bond as postmaster of Woodstown, AL. In 1801 he bought some land and in 1802, he and his mother sold land in Mississippi. He signed a memorial to Congress in 1803, and in 1806 he sold, along with other heirs of James McGrew, additional land. Alexander married Elizabeth Blackburn on October 16, 1808. Since she was under 18 years old, her father had to first grant his permission. Alexander was a veteren of the War of 1812. (Nixon's Company, Mississippi Militia), serving for the entire three years of the war. On 3 February 1817, he, a brother, and brother-in-law John Johns were charged with assault and battery. Alexander was the only one who paid a fine. In October 1818, he, John Johns, and brothers (this time William, James, and John) once again were fined for assault and battery. On July 11, 1819 he registered his brand "MC." In 1843, he was involved in a lawsuit over the ownership of a slave named Elvy he was alleged to have stolen. Alexander and Elizabeth (Blackburn) McGrew moved to Sabine County in the mid-1840's. They may have moved to join Elizabeth's father, Gabriel Blackburn, who had received a large land grant in Sabine County in 1836. The 1845 tax roll of Sabine County listed A. McGrew as owning 5 slaves. His eldest son, James, paid tax on a horse and a wagon at the same time. Alexander operated a gristmill on the banks of the Palo Guacho Bayou. The Texas Mortality schedule for 1850 showed "Alexander McGrew, age 58, sick 10 days, died 1849 in Sabine County." Alexander's widow, Elizabeth, can be found on the 1850 Sabine County census, along with her children John, Lorenzo, Margaret, and Adaline. She later moved back to Mississippi (Perry County) with her eldest son, James McGrew. Blanche also indicated that the McGrew family was closely connected to the Methodist Ministers of that time. Son Lorenzo Dow McGrew was apparently named after the "eccentric Methodist Lorenzo Dow. In fact he covered virtually all of the territory of the United States in his peripatetic life, from New England to the Louisiana territory, but his journeys through the Old Southwest left an especially indeliable impression..On September 3, 1804, he married an equally peculiar woman, Peggy, and then the very next morning left her for an eight month trip through the Mississippi Territory." From the book, "A Way through the Wilderness: The Natchez Trace and the Civilization of the Southern Frontier" by William C. Davis (Harper Collins, 1995). According to Robert McGrew of Pearland, the McGrew's were in fact neighbors of preacher Lorenzo Dow in St. Stephens (Alabama) in the Mississippi Territory. There is a military marker for Alexander McGrew in the Old Milam Cemetery in Sabine County. It is inscribed with a cross and "Alexander McGrew, Pvt Capt Motts Co, 15 Miss Militia, War of 1812. [Died] 2 Oct 1849. " The Sabine County Reporter October 22, 2014 Pages 1 and 2 "Milam Cemetery receives marker" The Texas Historic Cemetery Dedication Ceremony for Milam Cemetery took place on Saturday, October 11, following the annual Nethery reunion...local historian Weldon McDaniel....gave a presentation outlining some of the significant historical events that took place in Milam and the importance of preserving the history of Milam Cemetery. He said as many as 85 percent of all early settlers coming into Texas put their boots in red dirt. Although San Augustine and Nacogdoches counties have a friendly battle over which is older, Milam is just as old as either of them.... Dorothy Nethery Spain had the honor of reading the script engraved on the marker: "Milam, the first County Seat of Sabine County, has a history of travelers and visitors stretching back centuries. Native Americans and Spanish exploreres, soldiers and missionaries passed through and often camped on Las Boregas Creek. Texian settlers encountering the natural abundance echoed the words of Stephen F. Austin, who recorded in his diary entry of July 16, 1821: "We then suddenly came to an open rolling country thinly timbered soil about the color of Spanish browne, and in some places redder. This Red Land is very productive and is covered with the most luxuriant growth of grass I ever beheld in any country." The settlment first called Red Mound (Red Mount) was the seat of Government for the Sabine District since 1822, and was surveyed as a town site in 1828. Milam Cemetery is on a high hill overlooking the historic community. The exact dated of the first burial will never be known Spanish Explorers were passing through present-day Milam as early as 1539 and camped on Las Boregas Creek a few hundred yards west of the cemetery. Local hisorians believed Anglo burials occurred here probably as early as 1775, since travelers used the campsite down the hill on the Las Boregas. The land on which the cemetery is located was granted to JOHN SMITH on Feb. 26, 1835. The first marked burial is dated 1864, although more than 100 unmarked graves are suspected. The numerous military Veterans dating back to the Creek War are interred here, as well as prominent early citizens from the CAUSEY, WEATHERRED. McGREW, and NETHERY families. Milam Cemetery may be the oldest organized cemetery in Sabine County, and cherished chronicle of generations of visitors and residents."
  Person ID	I1709	Strong Family Tree
  Last Modified	14 Feb 2021

  
  

  Father	James McGrew,   b. Abt 1744   d. Abt 1797, St. Stephens, Mississippi Territory (Age ~ 53 years)
  Mother	Constance Tillett,   b. Abt 1752   d. Between 1805 and 1808, St. Stephens, Mississippi Territory (Age ~ 53 years)
  Marriage	Bef 1774	South Carolina
  Family ID	F1161	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Elizabeth Blackburn,   b. Between 1794 and 1796, Feliciana Parish, Louisiana d. Aft 1860, Perry County, Mississippi (Age ~ 67 years)
  Marriage	14 Oct 1808	Wilkinson County, Mississippi   [1]
  	Wilkinson County Courthouse--Woodville, Mississippi Circuit Clerks Office Marriage Book A ---- page 293 Know all men by these presents that we, ALEXANDER MCGRAW and Ezekial Petty, both of the county of Wilkinson, Mississippi Territory, are held and firmly bound unto the Governor of the Mississippi Territory and his successors in office, in the sum of $200 which payment well and truly be made, we bind ourselves and each our executors, administrators, and severally firmly by these presences sealed with our seals and dated the 12 of October 1808. The condition of the above obligation is such that whearas the above bound Alexander McGraw hath this day prayed and obtained the license to be joined in marriage to ELIZABETH BLACKBURN of the County aforesaid, Now if there is no lawful cause to obstruct this marriage for which the license was granted, then the above obligation to be void, otherwise to remain in full force and virtue. Signed, Alexander McGrew and Ezekial Petty (his mark) Marriage Book A --- page 305 This is to certify that I, G.B. am willing to the marriage of my daughter to Mr. Alexander McGraw. Given under my hand this 13th day of October 1808. Signed, Gabriel Blackburn Marriage Book A --- page 135 (315?) On the 16th day of October 1808, I joined in Matrimony Mr. Alexander McGraw and Miss Elizabeth Blackburn. Signed, Josias Gray, J.P. Per a Family Group Sheet prepared by Mary Frances SMITH Fisher of Jackson, Mississippi, Alexander McGrew and his wife Elizabeth Blackburn were the parents of nine known children, and three additional children, a daughter born ca. 1810-1815 per the 1820 and 1830 Marion County, Mississippi census, a daughter born ca. 1820-1825, per the 1830 and 1840 census, and a son born ca. 1830-1835, per the 1840 census. Bettye Bragg Wagstaff of Sabine County, Texas indicated that some researchers indicate 10 children were born. Mary Fisher used the following information in her research: 1816 MISS Marion County census 7th page 1820 MISS Marion County census page 85 1 male under 10, 1 male 10-16, 1 male 26-45 3 females under 10, 1 female 16-26 1830 MISS Marion County census page 117 5 sons, 4 daughters plus he and Elizabeth 1840 MISS Marion County census page 117 1850 TEX Sabine County census- Elizabeth McGrew. He was listed on the Mortality Schedule. 1860 MISS Perry County census page 12, Family # 88/81 Elizabeth McGrew Her family group sheet lists the following children: **James Alexander McGrew b. ca 1810 m. to Elizabeth Lott Harriet McGrew b. ca 1813 m. to John C. Partin **William McGrew b. ca 1815 m. to Dorinda Lott **Eliza Ann McGrew b. ca 1816 m. to Elisha M. Collins **John Gabriel McGrew b. ca 1821 d. ca 1857 in Sabine County **Ferdinand L. McGrew b. ca 1825 died 24 Aug 1846 in the Mexican War **Lorenzo Dow McGrew b. circa 1828 m. to Mary Margaret Neeley **Margaret McGrew b. circa 1835 **Adaline McGrew b. circa 1838 **Matches the LDS Family Group Sheet from Ancestral File Ver 4.15. The LDS sheet did not include Harriet McGrew, and additionally showed the following three children, apparently in error: Thomas McGrew b. ca 1824 Samantha McGrewb. ca 1826 -male McGrew b. prior to 1830, m. 1838 to Serena ? and died 1842 Thomas and Samantha are actually the children of Alexander's brother, James Tate McGrew. They are listed in his will.
  Children	1. James McGrew,   b. Abt 1810, Feliciana Parish, Louisiana d. Abt 7 Jun 1891, Covington County, Mississippi (Age ~ 81 years)   2. Harriet McGrew,   b. Abt 1813, Feliciana Parish, Louisiana d. Aft 1851, Sabine County, Texas (Age ~ 39 years)   3. William McGrew,   b. Abt 1815, Covington County, Mississippi d. Bef 1860, Marion County, Mississippi (Age ~ 44 years)   4. Eliza Ann McGrew,   b. 20 Mar 1816, Marion County, Mississippi d. Aft 1850, Texas (Age 34 years)   5. John Gabriel McGrew,   b. Abt 1821, Marion County, Mississippi d. Abt 1857, Sabine County, Texas (Age ~ 36 years)   6. Ferdinand McGrew,   b. Abt 1825, Marion County, Mississippi d. 24 Aug 1846, Camargo, Mexico (Age ~ 21 years)   7. Caroline C. McGrew,   b. Abt 1827, Marion County, Mississippi d. Bef 1853, Sabine County, Texas (Age ~ 25 years)   8. Lorenzo Dow McGrew,   b. 15 Oct 1828, Marion County, Mississippi d. 25 Feb 1885, Lavaca County, Texas (Age 56 years)   9. Margaret B. McGrew,   b. Abt 1835, Marion County, Mississippi d. Yes, date unknown   10. Adaline McGrew,   b. Abt 1838, Marion County, Mississippi d. Yes, date unknown
  Family ID	F681	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	5 Jul 2014

  
  

• Event Map		Birth - Bef 1783 - St. Stephens, Mississippi Territory Marriage - 14 Oct 1808 - Wilkinson County, Mississippi Death - 2 Oct 1849 - Milam, Sabine County, Texas  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Documents		McGrew, Elizabeth (Blackburn) Estate Settlement Land Sale, page 1 of 2 The Estate of Elizabeth McGrew, administered by her granddaughter, Frances A. (Partin) Steel, sold land that had originally been deeded to Alexander McGrew by A.G. Blackburn (22 Jan 1849) to John W. Allen, thought to be a son-in-law of Elizabeth's. This copy is courtesy of Bettye Bragg Wagstaff.
  		McGrew, Elizabeth (Blackburn) Estate Settlement Land Sale, page 2 of 2 During the September 1868 term of the County Court of Sabine County, The Estate of Elizabeth McGrew, administered by her granddaugher, Frances A. (Partin) Steel, sold land that had originally been deeded to Alexander McGrew by A.G. Blackburn (22 Jan 1849) to John W. Allen, thought to be a son-in-law of Elizabeth's. This copy is courtesy of Bettye Bragg Wagstaff.

  
  

• Sources

  [S451] Wagstaff, Bettye Bragg-Family Researcher [bfwag@jas.net], Correspondence and Family Group Sheets dated August 1995 exchanged between Bettye Bragg Wagstaff of Bronson, Texas and Mary Frances Smith Fisher of Jackson, Mississippi, copies in files of Melinda McLemore Strong of San Antonio, Texas (Reliability: 3). [S202] McGrew, Wynema THE JAMES McGREW FAMILY (1744-1797) Second Edition, 1999, p. 15 and 26 (Reliability: 3).