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Grant
Stafford, son of James and Mary Stafford
12.
Grant Stafford3
(William1, James2) Born
18 February 18031 in
Ohio;2
died 26 March 1852 in Morgan County,
Indiana;1 married (1) Mary "Polly" Moffett 27 September 1827 in Morgan
County, Indiana3 and (2) Fanny Gregory 24 May 1838.4
Grant
left Highland County, Ohio and headed west as a young man. According to
biographical information written by M. W. Gregory, he was only 18 years
old when he went to Morgan County, Indiana to teach school in Brown
Township.3 The school was located near Judge Hiram Mathews,
who married one of Grant Stafford's sisters. In those early days school
teachers were paid by private subscription, by the parents of the children
attending the school. It was not uncommon for the teacher to charge about
$1.25 per student for a term of about 4-6 months and teachers commonly accepted
25-30 pupils.5
According
to the biography, Grant did not stay long
in Indiana the first time he came, but returned to Ohio after
only one year. However, he saw possibilities for a good life there and
convinced his father, mother and two sisters to move permanently to Morgan
County in the year 1826.1
Grant
Stafford met his first wife, Mary Moffett, after coming to Morgan County.
According to the biographical sketch published in the Martinsville Republican,
Grant's wives were half-sisters. Mary Moffett was the daughter of John and
Mary Moffett nee Jones. Mary was almost 16 year's old when they were
married on 27 September 1827.3
They were married about 11-13 years when Mary died. Once source gives her
date of death as 07 May 18381
and her cemetery marker shows her date of death as 02 May 1840.6
Her death left Grant, a widower, with seven young children to care for. Mary
Stafford was buried at Williams Cemetery in Morgan
County.6
Analysis
of census records for Grant Stafford provides a snapshot of his household at
various time points during his life. No listing is found for Grant
Stafford in 1820, but he is listed for the first time in 1830.8
At that time his household consisted of the following members:
|
Category |
Number in
household |
Comments |
|
Males < 5 |
1 |
Probably Emanuel
Stafford |
|
Male 5-9 |
0 |
|
|
Males 10 -14 |
0 |
|
|
Males 15-19 |
1 |
This male is unidentified -
could be a male relative or farm laborer. |
|
Males 20-29 |
1 |
Probably Grant
Stafford |
|
Males 30 and up |
0 |
|
|
Females < 5 |
0 |
|
|
Females 5-9 |
0 |
|
|
Females 10 -14 |
0 |
|
|
Females 15-19 |
2 |
1 female is
probably his wife Mary; 1 female unidentified - note Andrew and Mary
were not married in 1830. |
|
Females 20 and
up |
1 (60-69) |
Probably his
mother, Mary Stafford |
The
enumeration for this household correlates with other records for Grant. He
had married late in 1827 and by 1830 had one male child less than 5 years of age
living in his household. This listing indicates that his wife Mary was
born between 1810 and 1815.8
There is some controversy about the actual year of her death. The
newspaper biography lists the date of death for Mary Stafford as 07 May 18381
and her cemetery stone shows her age at the time of her death as 28 years, 4
months and 22 days with the date of her death 02 May 18405
and Grant and Fanny Stafford's marriage record shows the date of their marriage
as 24 May 1838.4
It is likely that the newspaper date is more correct than the cemetery stone,
since Grant Stafford married his second wife, Fanny, occurred in 1838. Due to
these discrepancies it is safer to list a range for the time of her birth.
She was probably born between 15 December 1809 and 25 December 1811.1,5
Grant
was 35 years old when he was widowed. He did not wait long to re-marry. Within less than 1 month he married his wife's half sister, Francis "Fanny" Gregory,
who was only 14 years old when they were married on 24
May 1838 in Morgan County, Indiana.1,4
Fanny and Grant were the parents of at least five children. Their eldest
child was probably, Dennis Stafford, who was born on 15 February 1839 and died
at the age of 1 year, 2 months and 25 days on 10 May 184010
approximately a month before the
1840 census was enumerated.7
The census taker recorded the following information for Grant's household in
1840.
|
Category |
Number in
household |
Comments |
|
Males < 5 |
1 |
Probably Amos B.
Stafford |
|
Males 5 - 9 |
1 |
Probably James
M. Stafford |
|
Males 10 -14 |
1 |
Probably Wiley
Stafford |
|
Males 15 - 19 |
1 |
Probably Emanuel
W. Stafford |
| Males 20 - 29 |
0 |
|
| Males 30 - 39 |
2 |
Grant is
probably 1 of these males; 1 male is unidentified. |
| Males 40 and up |
0 |
|
| Females < 5 |
0 |
|
| Females 5 - 9 |
1 |
Probably Sarah
Stafford |
| Females 10 - 14 |
0 |
|
| Females 15 - 19 |
2 |
Fanny is
probably one of these females; 1 female is unidentified. |
| Females 20 and up |
0 |
|
By
the time the last census, on which Grant Stafford is listed was enumerated some
of the older children had left Grant's household. Grant and Fanny's
younger children were still in their household.
During
his lifetime, Grant served several public offices, collected census
data, handled estates for children whose parents died and many other civil
duties besides being a large land owner. He lived in Morgan County until
his death on 29 March 1852.1 Grant's
will was filed and recorded in Morgan County, Indiana on 20 April 1852.10
Grant's will is a rather lengthy document and
give explicit instructions to his executors. It is summarized here due to
the poor quality of the photocopy made from a microfilmed copy of the original
Morgan County, Indiana Will Book.
Source:
Grant Stafford will (20 Apr 1852), Morgan County,
Indiana Will Record Book 1:153-159.
Last
will and testament of Grant Stafford of Morgan County, Indiana signed on 27
March 1852 instructs his executors, Wylie Stafford, son, and William R.
Harrison to administer his wishes.
1)
All debts be paid including a large debt in the branch of the State Bank of
Indiana at Indianapolis due the 01 May next year for which Bales Breedlove and
P.M. Parks are the securities. The large mules are to be sold to pay
said debt.
2)
Interest due on mortgage in favor of trust funds from the county treasurer on
the farm and house where he resided is to be paid promptly and the principle
is to be paid when the executors decide it is appropriate.
3)
Interest due on trust funds under charge of the Morgan County Auditor should
be paid promptly until principle is paid.
4)
$150 in school funds is due the county by Grant Stafford
5)
Settlement should be made on the estate of _____ [not legible] for which he
served as co-administrator with S. R. Stevens.
6)
Money is due the successor of the Morgan County treasurer and should be paid.
7)
Several settlements are out standing in favor of others and in favor of Grant
Stafford and need to be paid.
8)
Son, Wylie, is to finish plank fence and be paid for his expenses and charges.
9)
Grant Stafford indebted for $150 for a mortgage made by William Gregory.
10)
Grant Stafford entitled to credit $500 on notes held by Thomas Russell for 80
acres land to which Grant Stafford held title.
11)
Executors to sell large mules to pay off debts; other personal property and
stock to remain until executors can sell advantageously.
12)
Arrangements made for farm for 1852 to be carried out as planned. His
family is to remain at his present residence and all things be conducted as
previously arranged.
13)
Grant's son, Emanuel Stafford, who was in California at time of writing is
bound by agreement in consideration of his receipt of funds to go to
California is to divide the profits of his adventure. [This is
important as it gives some indication that Emanuel Stafford went to California
around the time of the Gold Rush. It may be the only evidence
documenting that he made this trip.]
14)
If Emanuel does not pay Wylie, the executors are directed to pay Wylie a sum
of $500.
15)
Executors may _______ [not legible] an advance to Grant's daughter, Sarah
Trowbridge $160.
16)
Grant had already advanced Sarah Trowbridge the sum of $300; and bequests a
sufficient sum to her to make her share $1000.
Other
bequests as follows: Son Wylie to receive Grant's gray horse; Emanuel a
horse worth $80 or cash; Son James M. a sorrel horse he claims as his; Son
Amos B. his choice of two fillies; Wife Fanny black riding horse; Son Oliver a
bay horse colt. To Jane Stewart a young heifer 3 years old; Farm
utensils and present stock to remain for use of family or payment of hands as
necessary; household and kitchen furniture given to wife for her use and the
use of the family. The bay horse named Yale, 5 milk cows, 20-25 hogs and
sheep be kept for use of his family.
Land
divided as follows:
-
To Wylie and Emanuel and their heirs - 10 acres to
be laid off in square in the SE 1/4 Section 14, T12, R1E and SW
1/4 Section 17, T12, R2E, also that part of the SE 1/4 Section 12, T12, R 1E;
Also a strip 30 rods wide of the full length of the east side of the SE 1/4
Section 12, T12, R1E; Emanuel to divide said lands and Wylie to be given first
choice of lots.
-
To son, James M., the following lands: 10 acres in
NW corner of the NE 1/4 of SE 1/4 Section 14, T12, R1E and 80 acres off the
east side of the NW 1/4 Section 18, T12, R2E.
-
To son, Amos B. and daughter
Mary, to be divided equally when they reach the age of 21, the SW 1/4 of
the NW 1/4 and the east 1/2 of the NW 1/4 and the SW 1/4 of the NE 1/4 all in
Section 20, T12, R2E.
-
To wife, Fanny, to use during the minority of his
children Oliver, Phebe Ann and Scott the remainder of his estate to wit: NE
1/4 Section 13, T12, R1E, remainder of SE 1/4 section 12, T12, R1E also 23
acres off of the W side of the NW 1/4 section 18 T 12, R2E, also 20 acres
being the E 1/2 of the NE of the SE 1/4 of Section 14, T12, R1E. Said
lands given for use by wife are to be bound for her comfortable support and
maintenance during her lifetime. Said lands to be divided among younger
children equally once they reach 21 years of age.
-
Any surplus personal
estate or monies to be divided equally among his children; with 1/4 of any
surplus shall be subject of demands of Fanny. Son, Wylie, and William R.
Harrison are appointed executors signed by Grant Stafford on 27 Mary 1852;
witnessed by J. R. Robard and James Crawford.
The
will was proven on 20 April 1852 by James Crawford.12
Studying
the information from the Green Township tax records in Morgan County for Grant
Stafford in 1842 and the bequests in his will helps to identify to which Grant
Stafford the lands belonged.
Comments:
Further
research is needed for Grant Stafford. This is not considered to be an
exhaustive search. There is conflicting evidence presented by different sources
regarding Grant Stafford's parents. Some family historians have
reported that Grant Stafford is the son of Robert Stafford and Sarah
Bullock. There is strong evidence suggesting that this is an
incorrect assumption. After studying the evidence available including a
biographical sketch in a newspaper article, census records, land records
documenting transfers of land to Grant Stafford and Robert Stafford's will, it
is my conclusion that the confusion lies in the fact that there were more than
one Grant Stafford. In fact, there were at least 3 men, who are cousins by
blood of various levels:
-
Grant
Stafford, b. 18 Feb 1804 - son of James and Mary Stafford nee Brown
-
Grant
Stafford, b. about 1825 - son of Robert and Isabella Stafford [maiden name
not documented]
-
Grant
Stafford, b. about 1848 - son of Benjamin and Margaret A. E. Stafford nee
Price
Suggested
research for further studies:
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Deed
records are needed for purchase and sale of each property owned by Grant
Stafford.
-
Fanny
Stafford nee Gregory is enumerated after Grant's death; need to follow her
to death.
-
Grant's
children have not been exhaustively researched.
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Marriage
record for Wiley Stafford and Sarah Slaughter.
-
Information
about Grant's parents and siblings.
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Wiley Stafford
