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The Grace Family, Georgia to Texas
Thomas Grace of Hancock Co., Ga.
Thomas Grace was the father of Eli Whaley's wife, Betsy
Grace. Thomas Grace was the son of a John Grace, b. ca. 1736
who died in Sussex County, Delaware. John Grace is named on
the assessment list of Broad Creek Hundred in 1785. His will,
dated 12 May 1799, was probated in Sussex County in June
1802. His wife, Sally, and son, Johnathan, were named
executors. He is said to have been a mill operator and his
church affiliation, Baptist. Sally might have been a Dolby.
She was age 70-80 in 1805-7. His land was described as West/Wirt of
Mire Branch. Witnesses to his will were Robert Robertson,
Anthony L. Vickers & Jesse Shiles. Children named in will
were:
ii. Nancy Grace m. after 1799, William Dixon; willed
land "Survey where father lived " " Hard Fortune &
Rambling Deed'
iii. John Grace, Jr. b. ca. 1769; willed land
"Wainrights Old Tract: & New Rights. Had a daughter,
Sally.
iv. Thomas Grace b. ca. 1750 m. Sally, believed to have
been Sally Maddux before 1781; they were in Georgia
when father died.
2. Thomas Grace, the son of John Grace, was named in the list
of forty seven members of the Broad Creek Baptist Church
organized May 31 1781 by the Revs. Phillip Hughes and
Elijah Baker. In The History of Delaware by Scharf, it is
stated, p. 1288, that the church decreased from forty
-seven members to twenty three by reason of the removal of
several families to Georgia and North Caroline and some to
another church in 1784-5. Thomas Grace and family was one of those
who went to Georgia.
In the records of the Powellton Baptist Church, Hancock
County, Georga, it states "the first church building was
completed in 1787, according to the minutes of the church.
the minutes read: November 30, 1787, during conference
Brethren Benjamin Thompson and Henry Graybill were
appointed to settle with Thomas Grace for building the
meeting house." A balance of three pounds and thirteen
Shillings were due Mr. Grace. The above sum was
subscribed and paid in full." This church building was
located about a half mile north of Powells Creek, and
about two miles from Powelton on the property of Benjamin
Thompson, Sr. It was first named Powell's Creek Baptist
Church and later changed to Powelton.
On the 27 June 1788 Thomas Grace of the State of Georgia
Green County appointed Andrew Frazier with power of
attorney to sell a bond due the him from Jonathan Wooton
of the State of Deleware and County of Sussix County and
was to pay Frazier, fourteen pounds to be taken out of the
amount of One Hundred and thiry eight pounds in Maryland
Currency, the bond was supposed to bring. William Maddux
witnessed with R.Middleton, J.P.
On the 4th Sept 1790, Robert Flournoy of Wilkes co., sold
to Thos. Grace of Greene Co., for 20 lbs. Sterling, a
tract supposed to contain 40-50 acres on Buckhorn, the
waters of Fulsom's Creek adj. where said Thos. Grace now
lives, Joesph Maddox corner across the old trading path to
a tract supposed to be surveyed for Abraham Maddox part of
433 acres granted to said Robt Fluornoy; signed Robert
Flournoy. Witnesses: Henry Graybill, Benjamin Evans;
Rec. 11 July 1791.
On 4 Sept 1790, Thomas Grace of Greene Co. sold to
Benjamin Evans of same for 25 pds. lawful money 10 acres
between the waters of Fulsoms Creek & Turkey Branch on the
waters of Hoop poll Creek & Fulsoms Creek, being part of a
tract of 200 acres granted Josiah Carter July 1785 adj.
Abraham Reddick. signed Thomas Grace. Wit: Hen Graybill,
J.P Malcom Johnston; Rec. 11 Jan 1793.
On 28 May 1792 Thomas Grace and Sarah his wife of Greene
County, Ga. sold Jonathan Hosea of same for 20 lbs Ga.
money 20? acres part of tract tranted Josiah Carter and
part of another tract granted Robert Flournoy, both on the
waters of Hooppoll Cr. and on Turkey branch of said creek
including the house and plantation where the said Hosea
now lives; Thomas Grace Sarah (X) Grace wit: Josiah
Dennis , Robert Waddington, Mathew Rabun, J.P.
Again in 1799, Sarah Grace's name is on the list of
members of the Powellton Baptist Church, and on one record
Sally Grace is listed as having joined 3 July 1787 by
letter from Broad Creek Church on Eastern Shores of
Maryland.
Thomas Grace also signed a deed of Eli Whaley's in Hancock
County in 1800, and it may be that is where Eli got his first land
although no deed has been found to confirm this, but it
was on Fulsom's Creek.
Thomas died and left a will, Will Bk. C, p.326, Hancocck
County, Ga., Nov. 1, 1806- Dec. 1806. Sally died 12 Aug
1835 in Hancock County. In his will, Thomas names the following
Children:
i. James M. Grace b. 3 Aug 1769 Del; m. c. 1794 Mary
Jane Betts ; d. 1 AUG 1859 Allenton, Wilcox Co., Al;
died at home of son, J.B. He was age 90 born
in Delaware and died of old age, sick for two days
according to 1860 Alabama Mortality Schedule (In
Betts History, she is Nancy Betts and sister of
Samuel Betts, Jr. who m. (2) Mary Whaley Jones,
sister of Eli Whaley. Nancy Jane was born 6 July
1775/76 ; d. Oct. 4 1865; Conecuh Co.,Al.
ii. Polly (Mary ) Grace b. ca. 1780 m. Daniel Melson;
living with sister, Comfort, in 1850 Coweta Co.,Ga.
Daniel Melson, III son of Daniel Melson, II/mother unknown.
B: 1745 in Little Creek Hundred, Sussex Co., DE
d: aft 1850 in Hancock Co., GA
m: Mary "Polly" Grace d/o Thomas Grace
b: abt 1766
d: aft 1850 in Hancock, GA
Children:
1. William P. Melson b: 30 Jul 1795 d: 10 Jul 1833 m: Daisy V. Shell
2. Appleton White b: abt 1801 d: 1876
m: 1.Penelope Simms
2. Melinda Johnson
3. Laura Crowder
3. Elizabeth Melson b: 1807 m: George Harrison
4. Sarah Melson b: abt 1811 m: Abraham Crowley
5. Mary D. Melson b: abt 1816 m: William Simms
iii. Patsy Grace m. Agrippa Atkinson-Some of their
descendants came to Smith and Cherokee County, Tx.
Agrippa Atkinson's will recorded Bibb Co., Al ;
probated July 1833, Book D., p.112
Legatees named in will:
Patsey Atkinson, widow
v. Tabitha Grace m _________ Alford
vi. Joshua Grace b. 26 Jan 1784 Sussex, Del m. Susan
Janes Simmons 1 June 1807 Hancock Co, Ga. d. 19 Oct.
1862 Henry, Co., Al.
vii. Dolby Grace (No information)
viii. Margaret(Peggy) Grace b. c. 1793 m. 21 Nov. 1811
Isaac Culver, Hancock Co., Ga. d. 1867; lived adj.
Thomas Jefferson Whaley in Hancock.
ix. Thomas Grace, Jr., b. ca. 1776; m.
Thomas Grace was living in Rusk County, Texas in 1850
in the HH of Thomas Berryhill and wife, probably a
daughter. He was 74 born in Maryland.
x. Silas Grace b. 1785-90; m. Elizabeth Lockhart 17 Oct
1816/17 Hancock Ga.; d. c. 1841 Talbot Co., Ga.
xi. Comfort Mattox Grace b. 26 Feb 1798 m. 16 Sept 1816
John Simms Hancock Ga.as his second wife; Lived
Henry Co.,Al 1860; She died 18 July 1880 Newman
Coweta Co., Ga.; bur Simms Cem.
Children:
1. Benjamin Thomas Simms b. 8 Aug 1817; d. 1888
2. Almira Simmsb. Nov. 24, 1820 d. Nov. 25 m. Robert
Orr.
3. Franklin Robert Simms born 8 Mar. 1823 m. Susan
Gary ; m. (2) Mary Lou Speer;moved to Texas
4. James Alexander Simms
5. Susan Simms
6. John Dickinson Simms
7. Sarah Margaret Simms
8. Mary Emily Simms
Simms information from A Family Called Fort by Homer T.
Fort, Jr. and Druscilla Stovall Jones 1970.
xii. Jeptha Grace b. c. 1800 m. Martha Culver 13 May 1821
Hancock Co., Ga.
Thomas & Joshua Grace had 2 draws in land lottery of
1806, Capt Shivers dist. Hancock County
Some other Grace notes from LDS film Hancock County
#0222014.
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Book M. 1818-1823
Sarah Grace appoints attorney Silas Grace, p. 383-1821.
Joshua Grace to W A. shivers p. 330
John Kelly and wife to Abner Atkinson, p. 158 (1819) from "Marriages and Deaths 1820 - 1830" abstracted from extant Georgia newspapers by Mary B. Warren w/ Sarah Fleming White Mrs. Sarah Grace, 75 y, d. 8/12/1825, member of the Baptist Church for more than 30 years. from: Mount Zion Missionary , Mount Zion [Hancock Co.Ga] 8-29-1825
Many of the families the Whaleys and Graces married into were from the Sussex Co., Del and Md. area such as the Betts, Culvers, Melsons, etc.
WILL BOOK C, 1803-1816, P. 328 HANCOCK COUNTY, GEORGIA In the name of (God) Amen. I Thomas Grace of the county of Hancock and State of Georgia being very weak in body, but of sound mind and memory, and calling to mind that all men are born once to die do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form folloring (sic)( that is to say) First of all I recommend my Sole to Almighty god who gave it (to) me and my body to be buried in a Decent Christian like manner------- Item, I give and bequeath to my beloved daughter Polley Melson ditto Item, I give and bequeath to my beloved daughter Patsey Atkinson Ditto Item, I give and bequeath unto my beloved daughter Betsy Whaley Ditto Item, I give and bequeath unto my beloved daughter Tabitha Alford Ditto Item, I give and bequeath unto my beloved son Joshua Grace Ditto Item, I give and bequeath unto my beloved son Dolby Grace, one Good Horse saddle and Bride(Bridle) seventy five Dollars in cash and one cow and calf. Item, I give and bequeath unto my beloved daughter Peggy Grace, one good Bedstead and furniture, one cow and calf, and one two year old heifer, one pewter dish and six Pewter plates, one Spinning wheel and two smoothing irons, one iron pot, one trunk, and three head of sheep----- Item, I give and bequeath unto my beloved son Thomas Grace two Hundred dollars in Cash Item, I give and bequeath unto my two beloved sons Silas Grace and Jeptha Grace, one horse saddle and bridle apiece, and all and singular the tract of land whereon I now live, containing two hundred acres and they the said Silas and Jeptha to jointyly maintain their Brother Thomas Grace during his lifetime------------- Item, I give and bequeath to my beloved daughter Comfort Grace one good bed bedstead and furniture, one cown and calf, one two year old heifer, one perter dish six perter plates one spinning wheel, two moothing irons, one iron pot ,three head of sheep------ Item, I nominate and appoint my beloved wife Salley Grace and my beloved son in law, Agrippa Atkinson, sole executors of this my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal the first day of Movember one thousand eight hundred and six. Signed, Sealed and Acknowledged in Presence of Signed Hard Hawkins Thomas Grace (Seal) Allen Pope Terrell Barkdale ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Inventory and appraisement of this estate recorded on page 334 of same book.
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