John McGraw, Russell Co., VA

John McGraw is whom I have always presumed to be the second son of Martin and Margaret McGraw because he is listed in a few tax lists for Greenbrier on the same dates as Martin Sr and (George) Anthony:

Martin McGraw Sr and Anthony appear in the Greenbrier County Tax list for 1796 on April 17,
John “Mcgra” appears all by himself in the tax list the following year on April 12, 1797, as owing tax for 1 white titheable (himself) and 1 horse.
Then on May 4, 1798, and again on April 19, 1799, John appears on the same dates in the tax list with Anthony and Martin McGraw Sr.

The last time John appears in the Greenbrier County tax list is May 21, 1800 but he also appears in the Monroe County Tax List on 14 May 1801. In 1802 forward, we find him in Russell County, VA.

He may have been named for Martin McGraw Sr’s father. That’s pure speculation.

John married “Sally” or Sarah Anderson in Greenbrier County on 15 February 1799, officiated by Benjamin Grigsby, the second pastor of the Old Stone Church (Presbyterian) in Lewisburg. I suspect, but cannot confirm, that Sally/Sarah was a daughter of James R. Anderson, who appeared in the Greenbrier County 1796 tax list on April 16, the day before Martin McGraw Sr and Anthony McGraw were visited, putting the three families – the Andersons, the Grigsbys, and the McGraws – in proximity to one another. Grigsby built a house in 1796 known now as the Stone Manse near Caldwell, WV.

UPDATED 8/10/2026

John and Sarah Anderson moved from Monroe County, WV after the 1801 Tax List in plenty of time to appear in the 1802 Tax List of Russell County, VA. John first appears in the 1802 tax list (the only McGraw listed) and remains there through the 1850 Census for the county. In the 1850 Census of Russell County, John’s birthplace is listed as Pennsylvania, not surprising for the area yet, there are no “local” parents to which to tie him. His children’s names are nearly identical to those of his brothers – namely William, Thomas, Martin, and Henry – not that similar names are definitive but are clues of a sort – and there is the name of one son, “Anderson.”

Last, but certainly not least: my DNA matches several individuals who claim John McGraw of Russell County as their ancestor. So after all of these years of “assuming” that John McGraw was the son of Martin and Margaret McGraw of Greenbrier County, I believe we can change “assumed” to proved.

I failed to add the names of John McGraw’s children, whether by Sarah/Sally Anderson or a second wife. I can confirm that Thomas is a son: Recent Y-DNA tests performed on three of my male cousins reveal a match (whose tree I worked due to the absence of a complete tree provided) that show that these four males’ Y-DNA match identically on 37 out of 37 markers. In my book, that makes John McGraw a son of Martin McGraw Sr.

As to the children of John McGraw, below is a list I was able to gather over the last four years: What I can confirm is John A. McGraw born 1813, whom I discuss in a separate blog. Where did I find the names of the other males? The Russell County VA tax lists. Son, Martin McGraw, had a son James Harlin McGraw upon whose death record his father’s birthplace is given as Greenbrier County, VA. James’ son, Curtis, I believe, knew a little of his family history: albeit erroneous, it was another clue as to the origin of the McGraws of Russell County, VA.

Thomas McGraw born circa 1810 is the ancestor of the Y-DNA Match mentioned above*. Although I’ve sent email to him, I’ve not received a reply so I can’t in good conscience reveal his name without his consent. Now let’s move on to the list of children of John McGraw and Sarah Anderson that I’ve been able to document:

Sarah Jane McGraw, b. abt. 1803 Russell Co, VA; d. 22 Oct 1876, Lee Co, VA; m. Charles G. Robbins abt. 1821
William D. McGraw, b. abt. 1805 Russell Co, VA; d. 1888 Pulaski County, KY; m.1 Catherine LNU – div. 20 Sep 1849 Russell Co, VA; m.2. Julia Ann Foster 19 Feb 1864 Rockcastle Co, KY (although 7 children had already been born to the couple);
Susan/Susannah McGraw, b. abt. 1805 Russell Co, VA, d. abt 1861 Johnson Co, MO; m. William Robbins abt. 1830 Russell Co, VA;
*note to self: John’s brother Martin (Jr) also had a daughter named Susannah. That name may not be coincidental*
James McGraw, b. abt. 1808 Russell Co. VA; d. abt 1891 Tazewell Co, VA; m1. Nancy Owen abt. 1830 Russell Co, VA; m2. (possibly not a marriage but… ) Christina Robinett abt. 1851;
Thomas McGraw, b. abt. 1810 Russell Co, VA; d. after 1880 Russell Co, VA; m.1 Malisie Nancy Hurt abt. 1840 Russell Co, VA; Malisie Hurt died about 1849, m.2 Catherine Lewis 17 Aug 1860 Russell Co, VA.;
Nelly McGraw, b. abt. 1811 Russell Co, VA; THIS IS AN ASSUMPTION. I say this because John had more daughters than I’ve been able to document. Nelly, as a daughter not a second wife, fits perfectly in the gap between Thomas and John A., next on our list;
John A. McGraw, b. Oct 1813, Russell Co, VA; d. abt 1879 Roane Co, WV; m1. Nancy M McGraw 18 Apr 1841 Fayette Co, WV (d. 11 Apr 1855); m2. Eliza J. Wood [Stone Johnson] 6 May 1856 Fayette Co, WV;
Anderson McGraw, b. abt. 1820 Russell Co, VA; d. 1863 Rome, Floyd, GA; m. abt. 1839 Elizabeth Helton (died Apr 1850 per Federal Census Mortality Schedule); m.2 Margaret Lewis. No marriage date, marriage is assumed. I believe that Margaret Lewis is related to Catherine Lewis, second wife/consort of Thomas McGraw, #5 above;
Dorinda McGraw, b. abt 1824 Russell Co, VA; d. 17 May 1853 Russell Co, VA; m1. James B. Lowe, named on death record;
Martin McGraw, b. abt. 1827 Russell Co, VA; d. abt. 1910 Bloomington, Magoffin, KY; m.1. Serilda Jones abt. 1850 per the years/math given in the 1850 Morgan Co, KY Census;
Charles McGraw, b. abt. 1830 Russell Co, VA; d. 24 Apr 1895 Wayne Co, WV; m. Julina Stewart 28 Feb 1855, Lawrence Co, KY; Co. B, 5th Regt WV Inf (Union);
Henry L. McGraw, b. 9 Jun 1832 Russell Co, VA; d. Nov 1903 Russell Co, VA; m. Christina Vipperman 20 Jan 1866, Russell Co, VA.

ALL of the males listed above, with the exception of Henry L. McGraw, are named and/or listed in the Russell County Tax Lists 1829 thru 1850. John Sr is delineated from his son, John A (as Jr), in the only tax list on which he appears (1832). John A McGraw went to Fayette Co, WV. Martin McGraw appears 1844 and 1845 tax lists only. The assumption is he left for Kentucky. Charles McGraw appears one time only and that is the 1849 Tax List. The assumption is that he, too, has left and gone to Kentucky since he married in Lawrence County in 1855. I have assigned Henry L. McGraw to John and Sarah McGraw simply because I have no idea who else could be his parents.

In the 1840 Russell County VA Census, a female aged 50-59 whom I believe to be Sarah, is listed in the household along with the following individuals I have named according to their calculated ages:

Males 5-9 (1) Charles (9 yo)
Males 10-14 (1) Martin (13 yo)
Males 20-29 (1) Anderson (20 yo)
Males 60-69 (1) John McGraw (62 yo)
Females 15-19 (1) Nelly McGraw (29 yo)? (wrong category?)
Females 50-59 (1) Sarah Anderson (wrong category or a few years younger than husband, John).

And if you know that I’m wrong and why, feel free to let me know.

Interested in the “Mystery McGraws”?