I am trying to locate any information I can on Robert and Margaret Graham, and especially on Robert’s and Margaret’s parents. Robert and Margaret came from Rockland Township. I was hoping you may have some leads for me or know someone who may.
Here is what I know so far:
Robert appears to have been born somewhere around 1801 in Venango county, probably Rockland twp. He married a woman named Margaret. I do not know Margaret’s last name but I am certain that she is not Margaret Gordon who married a Robert Graham in the same vicinity. They are definitely a different Robert and Margaret based on their ages and their children’s names.
The Robert and Margaret I am referring to had a son Wm Raymond (oft referred to as Raymond) and it is from his obit that I base my assumption that Robert came from Rockland Township.
Robert and Margaret apparently moved to Whig Hill in Forest County in the early 1850s where they lived until their deaths
Here are the obits for them: (They are all buried in the Whig Hill Cemetery)
Robert Graham
1801-24 November 1881
Robert Graham dropped dead while splitting some wood at his home near Fork Run, Kingsley Township, on Thursday morning. The cause was suppose to have been heart disease. Mr. Graham was noted as a great joker, and his many witty and laughable remarks often provoked much merriment among his acquaintances, and made him a jolly companion up to the time of his sudden death. He was aged 80 years.
Mrs. Graham (I have determined her name was Margaret)
1814-23 November 1884
Mrs. Graham, the aged mother of Raymond and Alpheus Graham, residing on Whig Hill, died Sunday evening at the home of her son, Alpheus. Burial was in Whig Hill Cemetery.
William Raymond Graham
19 October 1845-14 May 1911
William Raymond Graham was born in Rockland Township, Venango County, and died at his home on Whig Hill, aged 65 years, 6 months and 14 days. He came to this county in the early fifties and spent all of his life in this county. He had lived 31 years on the farm where he died. In 1866 he was married to Miss Lucy Ann Berlin and to that union there were born eleven children, of whom the following survives: A.A Graham, Mrs. William Patterson and Mrs. A.A. Shaffer of Sheriff, Pa; Mrs. Herman McKay of Hastings, Pa; F.M. and H.R. Graham of Kelletville, Pa; W.E. Graham of Salmon Creek; E.E. and E.A.L. Graham at home. Twenty-five grandchildren and one great-grandchild also survive. The deceased worked at lumbering in his younger days. He was ill six weeks before he passed away. Funeral was conducted by Rev. W.E. Frampton. Burial was in the Whig Hill Cemetery.
According to census data here is what I have come up with: (I am tracing backwards from 1870 to 1840)
9 JUL 1870 Forest County, Pennsylvania
Robert Graham (57)
Margaret (56)
Alpheus (15)
It appears that by this census Milton, Juliann, Raymond (see below) and Perry have either married, moved away or both or died. The ages are right these events to have happened.
a couple of visits down I find:
Raymond (24) (Wm. Raymond)
Lucy (25)
Alonzo (3)
By 1870 it looks like Raymond has married Lucy and moved out of Robert and Margaret’s home. They have had their first son Alonzo
11 May 1860 Forest County , PA
Robert Graham (46)
Peggy (44) – the age is off by a year – go figure
Milton (20)
JA (16) (Juliann ??) (The only oddity here is that JA is listed as Male, probably a clerical error)
Raymond (15) (Wm. Raymond?)
Perry (13)
Stephen (6) (Alpheus ? Stephen Alpheus or perhaps Alpheus Steven)
24 NOV 1850 Venango County, PA
Robert and Margaret are listed on the page previous to the one I have but the kids are present.
Robert would be 36 and Margaret 35
Milton (10)
Juliann (8)
Raymond (6)
Perry (4)
Alpheus has not yet been born
1840 Census (no date) Venango County, PA
unfortunately this census does not list individuals but only counts of various ages in the household all under the head of household name
Robert Graham 1M under 5, 1M 20 but under 30, 1F 20 but under 30
This must be
Robert (26)
Margaret (25)
Alpheus (new born)
I also see two other Grahams listed in the 1840 Census I am not sure of the relationship to Robert. Perhaps Father and uncle, or Father and brother, or two brothers, or maybe none. Hopefully someone out there will know more.
James Graham 2M 1F und 5, 1M 5 but und 10, 1M 10 but und 15, 1F 20 but und 30, 1M 30 but und 40, 1M 70 but und 80
William Graham 1M und 5, 2M 1F 20 but und 30, 1F 30 but und 40, 1F 60 but und 70
I have to believe that they are somehow related living so close to each other especially in 1840 in western PA.
Any help that anyone may have or any advice would be greatly appreciated, I am trying to figure how to proceed from this point further back. It looks like the census data does not list names or relationships from 1840 and earlier????
Best,
Gary Graham
Here is what I know so far:
Robert appears to have been born somewhere around 1801 in Venango county, probably Rockland twp. He married a woman named Margaret. I do not know Margaret’s last name but I am certain that she is not Margaret Gordon who married a Robert Graham in the same vicinity. They are definitely a different Robert and Margaret based on their ages and their children’s names.
The Robert and Margaret I am referring to had a son Wm Raymond (oft referred to as Raymond) and it is from his obit that I base my assumption that Robert came from Rockland Township.
Robert and Margaret apparently moved to Whig Hill in Forest County in the early 1850s where they lived until their deaths
Here are the obits for them: (They are all buried in the Whig Hill Cemetery)
Robert Graham
1801-24 November 1881
Robert Graham dropped dead while splitting some wood at his home near Fork Run, Kingsley Township, on Thursday morning. The cause was suppose to have been heart disease. Mr. Graham was noted as a great joker, and his many witty and laughable remarks often provoked much merriment among his acquaintances, and made him a jolly companion up to the time of his sudden death. He was aged 80 years.
Mrs. Graham (I have determined her name was Margaret)
1814-23 November 1884
Mrs. Graham, the aged mother of Raymond and Alpheus Graham, residing on Whig Hill, died Sunday evening at the home of her son, Alpheus. Burial was in Whig Hill Cemetery.
William Raymond Graham
19 October 1845-14 May 1911
William Raymond Graham was born in Rockland Township, Venango County, and died at his home on Whig Hill, aged 65 years, 6 months and 14 days. He came to this county in the early fifties and spent all of his life in this county. He had lived 31 years on the farm where he died. In 1866 he was married to Miss Lucy Ann Berlin and to that union there were born eleven children, of whom the following survives: A.A Graham, Mrs. William Patterson and Mrs. A.A. Shaffer of Sheriff, Pa; Mrs. Herman McKay of Hastings, Pa; F.M. and H.R. Graham of Kelletville, Pa; W.E. Graham of Salmon Creek; E.E. and E.A.L. Graham at home. Twenty-five grandchildren and one great-grandchild also survive. The deceased worked at lumbering in his younger days. He was ill six weeks before he passed away. Funeral was conducted by Rev. W.E. Frampton. Burial was in the Whig Hill Cemetery.
According to census data here is what I have come up with: (I am tracing backwards from 1870 to 1840)
9 JUL 1870 Forest County, Pennsylvania
Robert Graham (57)
Margaret (56)
Alpheus (15)
It appears that by this census Milton, Juliann, Raymond (see below) and Perry have either married, moved away or both or died. The ages are right these events to have happened.
a couple of visits down I find:
Raymond (24) (Wm. Raymond)
Lucy (25)
Alonzo (3)
By 1870 it looks like Raymond has married Lucy and moved out of Robert and Margaret’s home. They have had their first son Alonzo
11 May 1860 Forest County , PA
Robert Graham (46)
Peggy (44) – the age is off by a year – go figure
Milton (20)
JA (16) (Juliann ??) (The only oddity here is that JA is listed as Male, probably a clerical error)
Raymond (15) (Wm. Raymond?)
Perry (13)
Stephen (6) (Alpheus ? Stephen Alpheus or perhaps Alpheus Steven)
24 NOV 1850 Venango County, PA
Robert and Margaret are listed on the page previous to the one I have but the kids are present.
Robert would be 36 and Margaret 35
Milton (10)
Juliann (8)
Raymond (6)
Perry (4)
Alpheus has not yet been born
1840 Census (no date) Venango County, PA
unfortunately this census does not list individuals but only counts of various ages in the household all under the head of household name
Robert Graham 1M under 5, 1M 20 but under 30, 1F 20 but under 30
This must be
Robert (26)
Margaret (25)
Alpheus (new born)
I also see two other Grahams listed in the 1840 Census I am not sure of the relationship to Robert. Perhaps Father and uncle, or Father and brother, or two brothers, or maybe none. Hopefully someone out there will know more.
James Graham 2M 1F und 5, 1M 5 but und 10, 1M 10 but und 15, 1F 20 but und 30, 1M 30 but und 40, 1M 70 but und 80
William Graham 1M und 5, 2M 1F 20 but und 30, 1F 30 but und 40, 1F 60 but und 70
I have to believe that they are somehow related living so close to each other especially in 1840 in western PA.
Any help that anyone may have or any advice would be greatly appreciated, I am trying to figure how to proceed from this point further back. It looks like the census data does not list names or relationships from 1840 and earlier????
Best,
Gary Graham