Martin McGraw Jr. is the son of Martin McGraw and Margaret _ of Greenbrier County, WV. Many researchers miss the fact that there are two Martin McGraws in the records for southern West Virginia counties. Neither is signified by Sr. or Jr. in the records – other than the 1806 Monroe County Tax List – so I agree it can be confusing. But once you find all the records and do the necessary math, you learn there were two men, father and son.
Martin McGraw JR married Nancy Wood, daughter of Bailey Wood Sr. and Nancy (surname unknown). The couple was married in Monroe County, WV in May 1806 by Elder John Alderson. By 1820 the family had moved to what was then Nicholas County but in a location that became Fayette County in 1831 (Chimney Corner). Here is the list of children – all daughters – who survived and whom I am able to verify that were born to Martin and Nancy:
- Malinda McGraw, 1810-1833, m. Richard Milby 16 Feb 1836 Fayette County; died Putnam County, WV.
- Sarah McGraw, 1811-1886, m1. Harrison Hayes 18 Jan 1832 Fayette County, m2. John Legg during the 1850s in Putnam County, WV;
- Elizabeth McGraw, 1820-1896;
- Susannah McGraw, 1821-1891, m. Nathaniel Vaughn 3 Aug 1837 Fayette County, moved to MO after 1840, d. Andrew Co, Missouri.
- Ida B. McGraw, 1826-1902, m. James M. Duncan 14 Jan 1855 Putnam County, d. 1902 Putnam Co, WV. *Ida’s permission to marry James M. Duncan was provided by her cousin James McGraw, son of Thomas McGraw and Catherine Withrow. This is – or was – on file at the Putnam County Courthouse.
- Nancy McGraw, 1833-1900, m. Theophilus O’harra or Harrah _ Jul 1855 Fayette Co, d. Fayette County, WV
Note that Nancy McGraw was an infant when her mother died about 1833-4. Martin married a second wife, Sarah J. Johnson in 1836 Fayette County, WV and proceeded to have more children which are listed in the 1850 Census of Putnam County, WV. The children who were born to Martin and Sarah are:
- Lucretia A. McGraw, 1836-1873, m. David Smith (a widower) 17 Feb 1864 Mason Co, d. Mason County, WV.
- Mary E. McGraw, 1838-1900, m1. William H. Jacobs 20 Feb 1859 Fayette, m2. John William Duncan 25 Nov 1864 Putnam Co, died Mason County, WV;
- cannot account for any individuals possibly born in this eight-year time span;
- William H. McGrew, 1846-1930, m. Sarah Francis Duncan 31 Aug 1863 Putnam Co, d. Kanawha County, WV; Civil War Veteran, Co E, 2 VA (WV) Cav, enlisted 17 Aug 1862, discharged 30 June 1865 having served 1 year, 4 months, and 12 days; He is listed on the 1890 Veteran’s Schedule living in the Buffalo vicinity along with his mother, Sarah.
- George Andrew McGrew, 1849- bef. 1910, m1. Maria J. Hedrick 31 Mar 1870 Mason Co, m2. Eunice Harriet Cox 3 July 1886 Putnam Co, probably died in Mason County, WV (children retained the McGraw surname);
- Samuel Harvey McGraw, 1851-1923, m. Alsonia C. Dodson 19 Nov 1874 Putnam Co, died Kanawha County, WV (children retained the McGraw surname);
Around 1840 there was a mass migration of McGraw’s and in-laws to the Kanawha Valley. Martin’s brother Thomas is found in the 1840 Tax List in Kanawha County along with his father-in-law William Withrow and brothers-in-law. Note that Putnam County was formed from Kanawha in 1848. Four of Martin and Nancy’s daughters married their spouses in Fayette County. Of the four, only Susannah McGraw Vaughn did NOT migrate to Putnam County but went to Missouri with her husband and children. Martin and Sarah migrated to Putnam between the tax list in Fayette Co in 1842 but before May 1843, the year Martin appears in the Kanawha County Tax List. These are the individuals listed in the household in the 1850 Census: Martin, Sarah, Nancy, Lucretia, Mary E., William, George, Minerva, and Martha P. Their ages are not provided. Also, please know that I have no clue as to where Ida B was living/staying at the time the census was taken.
Prior to 1855 however, Martin moved the family back to Fayette County. This is evident given that daughter Ida married (in January 1855 Putnam Co) with permission provided by her cousin James McGraw, son of her uncle Thomas. To further substantiate this is the marriage of daughter Nancy McGraw in July 1855 Fayette County to Theophilus Harrah. And subsequently the marriage of my ancestor Mary E. McGraw to William H. Jacobs on 20 February 1859 in Fayette County. Martin had died in Fayette County in October 1858.
I have found that Martin and Sarah’s 3 sons are living on the Pocatalico River in the 1860 Putnam Census. Eleven year-old “G. A. McGraw” (most likely 17-year-old William) is enumerated in the household of J Lanham, Family No 954; Nine-year-old “S. J. McGraw” and six-year-old “H McGraw” are enumerated in the household of their elder half-sister, Malinda McGraw Milby, Family No 957, located at the “Mouth of Poca” – placing them in the vicinity of the current village of Poca, WV. Of course, these ages are wrong as the boys, from eldest to youngest, should have been aged about 17, 11, and 9 years old respectively.
As to their mother, Sarah Johnson McGraw, she may be listed as a Day Laborer in the household of James Cole Jr in the 1860 Fayette Census in the vicinity of Gauley Bridge. Not swearing to it but her husband has been dead two years by this time and Sarah may have been working off a debt. If so, she may have sent the boys to the care of their half-sister, Malinda Milby at Poca. In 1880, we find her living in the household of Samuel “Harvey” McGrew in the Union District of Putnam County. She is listed on the 1890 Veteran’s Schedule living in the Buffalo area drawing Martin’s Pension from the War of 1812.
Updated 5/19/2024 to replace Martha A. McGraw (daughter of Thomas McGraw) with Elizabeth McGraw, daughter of Martin McGraw Jr and first wife, Nancy Wood.
