394Richard Grantham
Key Facts
Snapshot:American patriot in the Revolutionary War; owned a slave
Parents:unknown
Born:by 1755
location unknown
Died:between 31 October 1813 and November 1817
probably Robeson County, North Carolina
Buried:unknown

394Richard Grantham was born by 1755.1

The earliest-created record I've found of him is a deed dated 12 May 1771 in Bladen County, North Carolina, which shows that he purchased 200 acres on the south side of Ashpole Swamp from Josiah Taylor.2 Over the next few decades, 394Richard appears frequently in deeds from the area, so much so that there are simply too many to list here, and therefore I've made a spreadsheet of deeds that include him. The aforementioned Ashpole Swamp (sometimes called Tadpole) and Drowning Creek (now called Lumber River), two locations mentioned very frequently in his deeds, now lie in southeastern Robeson County, North Carolina, which was formed from Bladen County in 1787.

Although I don't know the exact nature of his service, 394Richard helped America during the Revolutionary War, as proven by a pay voucher issued 22 August 1784.3 His DAR ancestor number is A211728. There's also a pay voucher dated 13 August 1782 that I suspect pertains to him.4

22 August 1784: 394Richard's pay voucher for his service during the Revolutionary War. Bigger copy.3
13 August 1782: I'm somewhat less certain, but this pay voucher may pertain to 394Richard, too. Bigger copy.4
22 August 1784: 394Richard's pay voucher for his service during the Revolutionary War. Bigger copy.3

13 August 1782: I'm somewhat less certain, but this pay voucher may pertain to 394Richard, too. Bigger copy.4

A 1784 Bladen County tax list shows 394Richard as a taxpayer who owned 1185 acres:5



1784: 394Richard as a taxpayer in Bladen County, North Carolina. Full page.5

The 1790 census shows 394Richard's household in recently created Robeson County. The numbers below represent: 2 men age 16+, 1 boy age 0-15, and 4 females, (and no slaves). On the full sheet,6 you can see that he lived near several relatives who are named in his deeds and who'd later be named as heirs in his will.7


1790: 394Richard's household in Robeson County, North Carolina. Full page.6

The 1800 census shows 394Richard still in Robeson County and that he'd acquired a slave. The numbers below represent: 2 men age 16-25, 1 man age 45+, 1 woman age 45+, and 1 slave.1 His apparent wife (i.e., the woman age 45+) may or may not be the same woman as his wife Sarah, who is named in his will.7


1800: 394Richard's household still in Robeson County, North Carolina. Full page.1

394Richard seems to be missing from the 1810 census.

The original of 394Richard's will is copied below alongside a transcription. As you can see, the will is dated 31 October 18137 and was proved at a November 1817 Robeson County court.8

In The Name of God Amen.
I, Richard Grantham Senr. of Robeson County,
and state of North Carolina being of sound
mind and memory; all thanks be to God
for it: Do make and ordain, this and no other
to be my last will and testament in manner
and form following vizt. first I commit my
soul to Almighty God who gave it: and
my body to the Earth from whence it was taken.
to be intered at the Discretion of my friends.
And as for what worldly goods it has pleased
God, to Bless me with, I Give and Dispose of as
follows. Vizt. first I desire that all my just
Debts should be paid, after which.
I give, and bequeath unto my beloved wife Sarah
Grantham, during her natural Life my Dwelling
House and all that part of the plantation in
which the house stands; Also three Cows & Calves,                 
One Feather Bed and furniture, also two sows
and pigs, one horse, Bridle and saddle, and all
my household goods; except so much as hereafter
shall be mentioned.
Likewise I ^ give to my son Moses Grantham One Hundred
Dollars in cash to be paid out of my personal
Estate immediately after my Decease.
Likewise, I give unto my Son Richard Grantham
part of 200 acres ^ of Lands patented in 1775 all that part
that lies below the Road that leads to fair Bluff
also a part of a tract of 100 acres, on the same
side of said Road, the Road being the dividing line
also a tract of 100 acres lyin in the Isle Island
also 50 acres lying in said Islands entered the
10th day of November 1793.
Likewise I give to my son Joseph Grantham one
hundred and forty Acres of Land patented December            
the 20th. 1795, also 220 acres of Land including
part of Lambert and sandy Ilands, patent granted
to John Grantham and conveyed to me by said
John Grantham.
Likewise I give to my son Joshua Grantham
the ballance or upper part of the 200 acres,
the road being the Dividing line between
said Joshua and Richard also 250 acres.
lying on the south side of Ashpole containing part
of a Tract of Land granted to Josiah Taylor by
patent Novr. 2nd 1774, and part of a survey of
150 adjoining the same, granted to myself and
is bounded as follows. vizt. beginning at a Red
Oak called a white oak in Joseph Grantham's
line, then the various courses of Joseph Granthams
line to the road, then along the road to William
Herrings line, then with Herrings ^ line to Richard
Granthams Junr. line, then with Richard Granthams
line to the Road, then with said road to ashpole
Taylors line, then with said original lines to
the beginning Containing 250 acres more or Less
including the plantation whereon I now live,
furthermore my will, and desire is that my son
Joshua Grantham shall take charge of my negro
boy Peter in care for the support of my wife
during her life.
Likewise I give unto my Daughter Talitha Ammons
200 acres of Land, it being a part of a tract of
Land of 600 acres joining Tabitha Watson's Land.
Likewise. I give to my Daughter Tabitha Watson.
the sum of one Dollars. Also to the Heirs of my
Daughter Sarah Ammons Decd. the sum of one
Dollars.
Likewise. I give To my Daughter Mary Bennet
the sum of one dollar. likewise I give to my
daughter Jane Adams, and her Issue One Hundred
acres of Land, it being part of the six Hundred acres
above named, also I give to my daughter Hannah
Smith the sum of one Dollars. Furthermore, my
Will and desire is, that after the Death of
my wife Sarah, that the remaining part of my Estate
should be Equally divided among my Lawfull
Heirs, or their Representatives.
An I do appoint my sons Joshua Grantham
Richard Grantham, and Jn Grantham, Executors
of this my last will and Testament.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my
hand and seal this 31st day of October A.D. 1813
one thousand eight hundred and thirteen.
Signed Sealed and
Published in the
presence of us as the
last Will and Testament
of the subscriber _____
Richard Garntham
T. L. Haynes
Jesse Legett x
Benja. Lewis

On the corresponding county record copy we see that the will was probated during the November 1817 court term:


November 1817 court term: 394Richard's will is probated. Full page.

Sources Cited:

1: 1800 U.S. Federal Census. Robeson County, North Carolina. Page 724 (handwritten) or 379 (stamped), Richard Grantham household. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GR82-2FZ>, accessed 28 October 2025.

2: Bladen County, North Carolina. Deeds book 23, pages 320-321. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-998M-F9P5>, accessed 28 October 2025.

3: North Carolina revolutionary pay vouchers, reel for Alexander Graham through William Green, voucher #3524 for Richd. Grantham. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9W8-NQLX>, accessed 28 October 2025.

4: North Carolina revolutionary pay vouchers, reel for Alexander Graham through William Green, voucher #2084 for Richard Grantham. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89W8-NQHK>, accessed 28 October 2025.

5: Robeson County, North Carolina. 1784 tax list, page 26, entry for Richard Grantham. North Carolina Archives MARS ID 66.30.4. North Carolina Digital Collections, <https://digital.ncdcr.gov/Documents/Detail/tax-lists-bladen-county-1784/290561?item=290687>, accessed 28 October 2025.

6: 1790 U.S. Federal Census. Robeson County, North Carolina. Page 146, Richard Grantham Sr. household. NARA microfilm publication M637, roll 7. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYY8-3716>, accessed 28 October 2025.

7: Robeson County, North Carolina. Original wills from the years 1663-1978, microfilm reel for Neill Brown through Alexander McBryde, folder labeled "GRANTHAM, Richard   1817." FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9G4-3954-7>, accessed 27 October 2025.

8: Robeson County, North Carolina. Wills book 1 (1787-1847), pages 235-237. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:2:77TG-K6QL>, accessed 19 October 2025. The probate statement is on the last page (i.e., 237), naturally.