Grant, John (Of Northampton)

  General Notes:

Source Northampton Cousins by Hazel Cornelia Griffin
No date listed on the copy I have.
Page 247

Mr. Henry G. Ellis of Richmond, Virginia, who supplied me with much of the information on John Grant's descendants wrote this about the James Grant family: "James Grant was the ancestor of numerous Grants of the County, (Northampton), including those established in the upper end of the county west of Garysburg (James W. et al), who intermarried with the Lees: the much quoted Cousin Ester (Esther)Reese who was for many years the recognized authority on family history and genealogy and storehouse storehouse of information, unfortunately, died with her some sixty years ago or more; The Grants who married into the Odom and Capehart families; and others. One of his sons William, was a specially a man of large affairs and considerable position in the County but the student of family history must be careful not to confuse him with another William a generation later who was one of the leading citizens of the County but who was not a descendant of James but rather his brother, John."
Hazel Conelia Griffin

Source Northampton Cousins by Hazel Cornelia Griffin
No date listed on the copy I have.
Page 248

There seems to be a great deal of mystery surrounding John Grant. It has been often stated that he was the
"much young" brother of James Grant who died 1767, based on the fact that James Grant died in 1767 and John Grant died 1803/4. One must remember that James Grant was quite young when he died. Based on what facts we have about John Grant we can place his birth date at about 1848 making him about 56 at time of his death.

It is assumed that John Grant was living in Northampton County in 1767 when his brother James died and lived there continuously until the time of his death yet he is not only absent from the 1790 Census but does not appear in the 1780-82 tax lists for the county. The 1789 marriages of his Quakeress daughters seems to indicate that he was living in Northampton County at the time but "Polly Grant daughter of John Grant of Northampton" written without benefit of punctuation could be interpreted as easily that SHE was of Northampton.

Descendants of Shadrack Grant son of John have a family tradition that John Grant was a Quaker and withdrew or was expelled from the Society of Friends for refusal to liberate salves which he owned. Perhaps this is true, though I can find nothing which would substantiate this. I did note that John Grant owned no slaves in 1800, nor his wife Mary in 1810.

Mr. Ellis wrote: "John's withdrawal, or expulsion from the quakers probably marks the beginning of the Methodist connection and interest which has been so marked among his Grant descendants ever since. This connection in interest centered around Rehoboth Meeting House. Grants participated in the organization of this church in 1798, five generations of Grants worshipped here, at least four, possibly five generations are buried in the church-yard. Bishop Asbury preached frequently at Rehoboth and the Church is mentioned several times in his famous journal. at least one of those mentions includes an incidental reference to a Grant who mus have bee John Grant." --Hazel Cornelia Griffin

The Burial place of John Grant is not known. It may be that he was buried in Rehoboth Church-yard were his son Shadrack and his grandson William along with many of their decedents are buried. (the Rehoboth Methodist Cemetery tombstones are in the Winter 1967 issue of Northampton County Cousins.{I do not have this issue--HJG})--HCG

John Grant's will is recorded in Will Book 2 page 268. It was written 7 Feb. 1803 and proved in September Court 1804. In it she names wife Mary, son Shadrack and daughters Margaret Bittle, Betsy Jones, Miriam Hall. To his granddaughter, Patsy Grant he left $30 "if she lives to marriage or comes to lawful age". A granddaughter Betsey Grant is also mentioned. Some think there was only one granddaughter mentioned and a clerk's error in recording the will transformed Patsy to Betsey in the second mentioning. I can not tell you to whom they (or she) belonged--HCG

John married Mary.