Person Page 2,329

Martha Ann ("Patsy") Glass

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Biography

Birth	18 November 1812	Martha Ann ("Patsy") Glass was born on 18 November 1812 in Rockbridge, Virginia, United StatesBGO.
Residence	1820	She lived in Lexington, Rockbridge, Virginia, United StatesBG, in 1820.1
1820 Federal Census	7 August 1820	She appeared in the 1820 federal census on 7 August 1820 in Lexington, Rockbridge, Virginia, United StatesBG.
1830 Federal Census	1830	She appeared in the 1830 federal census in 1830 in Rockbridge, Virginia, United StatesBGO.
Residence	1830	She lived in Rockbridge, Virginia, USABGO, in 1830.2
Name	1836	As of 1836, Martha Ann ("Patsy") Glass was also known as Martha Ann ("Patsy") Graham.
Marriage	1836	James Richard Graham and she were married in 1836 in Coffee, Tennessee, United StatesBGO.
Residence	1840	She lived in Marion, Tennessee, USABGO, in 1840.3
1840 Federal Census (fam)	1840	James Richard Graham and she appeared in the 1840 federal census in 1840 in Marion, Tennessee, United StatesBGO.
Residence	1850	She lived Age: 33 in District 7, Coffee, Tennessee, USABGO, in 1850.4
1850 Federal Census (fam)	8 May 1850	James Richard Graham and she appeared in the 1850 federal census on 8 May 1850 in Coffee, Tennessee, United StatesBGO.
Residence	1860	She lived Age: 46; Occupation: Domes; CannotRead: Y in District 9, Hickory Creek, Coffee, Tennessee, USABG, in 1860.5
1860 Federal Census (fam)	31 July 1860	James Richard Graham and she appeared in the 1860 federal census on 31 July 1860 in Hickory Creek, Coffee, Tennessee, United StatesBG.
Residence	1870	She lived Age: 55; Occupation: Keeping House in District 3, Beech Grove, Coffee, Tennessee, USABG, in 1870.6
1870 Federal Census (fam)	25 June 1870	James Richard Graham and she appeared in the 1870 federal census on 25 June 1870 in Beechgrove, Coffee, Tennessee, United StatesBGO.
1880 Federal Census	14 June 1880	She appeared in the 1880 federal census on 14 June 1880 in Giles, Tennessee, United StatesBGO. Widow
1900 Federal Census	8 June 1900	She appeared in the 1900 federal census on 8 June 1900 in Grayson, Texas, United StatesBGO.
Death	December 1901	She died in December 1901 at age 89 in Collinsville, Grayson, Texas, United StatesBGO.
Burial	December 1901	She was buried in December 1901 at Patton/Graham CemeteryBG in Collinsville, Grayson, Texas, United StatesBGO.
Anecdote		Indian Claim
Anecdote		Find a Grave Comments Birth: Nov. 18, 1812 Rockbridge County Virginia, USA Death: Dec., 1901 Collinsville Grayson County Texas, USA Martha Ann “Patsy” Glass was born 18 Nov 1812 in Rockbridge County, Virginia. Family history says she was of the Cherokee blood line. Of this I am certain. Just one look at her picture and one can see she has all the Indian features. The name of her biological parents, or any vital information about them, has not been documented to date, but speculation is, her Father’s name may have been Will (last name unknown) and her Mother, Chula Camden. They died about 1818, when Martha was 6 years old. Several different stories have been told about the circumstances behind her parents’ death. Some researchers say they died while on the Trail of Tears and Martha and her sibling or siblings were orphaned, but that did not and could not have happened, as the Trail of Tears was 1838-1839. Martha was 26 years old during the Trail of Tears and was already married with a child of her own. There are others that believe her parents were forced from their home, but I’m not sure if I believe that either. One researcher, Leonard Gilmore, made an interesting statement, which I keep coming back to. He said Martha’s parents died “while returning from Rockbridge County, Virginia”. We know Martha’s Grandparents, the Wrights, lived in Amherst County, Virginia, which is the County west of Rockbridge County. Could her parents have died during a trip between the two Counties? All of this is speculation, as we will never know exactly why they were traveling, but one account that all researchers seem to agree on, is that both her parents died by drowning, however, what I read about this, is that they drowned while traveling on the Shenandoah River, but that is speculation also. Another scenario could be they were traveling on the James River, which flows between Rockbridge County, where Martha’s was born and Amherst County, where her Grandparents lived. Martha was raised by Richard Glass and Polina Camden Glass. Richard and Polina were married on 23 Jan 1817 in Rockbridge County, Virginia. Their marriage license is on record in that State. Family stories, have been passed down from generation to generation, which say that Martha was the daughter to either Richard’s sister or Polina’s sister. Some stories have also surfaced saying that Richard’s brother, Benjamin Glass, was married to Polina’s sister Chula. I don’t know if I believe Benjamin Glass was Chula’s husband, but after my hundreds of hours of research, I do believe Polina was Martha’s blood-related Aunt and the sister to Martha’s Mother, Chula. If Martha Glass was Cherokee and I have stated that I believe she is, I don’t believe it came through the Camden line. It seems the Camdens were from England. However, Polina and Chula’s Mother, Elizabeth Wright, was born, raised and died in Amherst County, Virginia. Elizabeth Wright’s Father, Benjamin Wright was also born, raised and died in Amherst County. Elizabeth Wright’s Mother was also named Elizabeth and speculation is that her maiden name was Bolling, of the Pocahontas lineage. This information about Amherst, as well as Rockbridge where Martha was born, are very important pieces of information and seem to help establish the Cherokee heritage. Amherst, Rockbridge, Nelson and Augusta were thought to be hunting grounds for the Cherokee. Amherst was well known for having many Cherokee villages. This area had been the home to Indians well before the 1500’s. Source of this information is the book “The Buffalo Ridge Cherokee: Remnants of a Great Nation Divided” by Dr. Horace Rice. If this area of Virginia where Martha was born, was home to the Cherokee Indians for hundreds of years and Martha’s Mother, Elizabeth Wright and her Grandfather, Benjamin Wright were born, raised and died there and her Grandmother, Elizabeth, possible being part of the Pocahontas line, then all would fit for Martha to be Cherokee, but how much, I am not certain. We know Martha was born in Rockbridge County, Virginia and she is living there with Richard and Polina Glass, during the 1820 and 1830 Census. About 1834, the Glass family moved to Bedford County, Tennessee. This part of Bedford County where they settled, would later become known as Coffee County. Coffee County was established the 8 Jan 1836 from parts of Bedford, Warren and Franklin Counties. It’s not known when Martha met James Richard Graham. They may have met right after she moved to Tennessee in 1834. Martha was 22, when they arrived in Tennessee and by most standards during that day and time, it was quite unusual, that a girl had not married by that age. James was a hatter, when they met and we know that hatters and others in the garment business, often traded with the Indians. This is one of the reasons for the intermarriage of white men and Indian girls. White men were always in the Indian villages, so it was not unusually for them to marry an Indian girl. This may or may not have been the way they met. I do not believe the Glass family lived in an Indian village in Tennessee, so they may have met by chance. The exact year Martha and James married is unknown, but it was around 1836. According to their son William Robert Graham’s Cherokee Claim Application in 1908, his parents moved to Lookout Mountain, Tennessee, after they married and lived among the Indians. I find this interesting because this area and the Coffee County area, were well known as the home of Chickamauga Cherokee Indians. This land had originally belonged to the Cherokees before it was taken from them. Even Thomas Glass (aka The Glass, Chief Glass and Tagwadihi) lived in that area in the late 1700’s and early 1800’s, but I find no connection, so far, connecting Thomas Glass with Martha’s Uncle Richard Glass, who raised her. Also in his Application, William Robert Graham stated his parents were married about 1830, but I do not believe that to be true. One reason is because Mothers, more often than not, had their first child within eighteen months after marriage. Martha’s first child was born in April 1838, which would coincide with the Timeline of marriage in 1836. Second reason I believe they married in 1836 is because Martha herself, in the 1900 Census, said she had nine children and all were living in 1900, which means no children were born prior to their first child in 1838. I find it had to believe they married in 1830 and then it took 8 years to have their first child. As stated in the paragraph above, in April 1838, the Graham’s first child was born in Marion County, Tennessee. They named her Mary Elizabeth Graham. She married Thomas Hart Benton Coulston in Coffee County in 1858. They had 7 children. Mary died in 1910 in Collinsville, Grayson County, Texas and is buried in the Patton-Graham Cemetery on Patton Road. This cemetery is now on private property. It is located about 50-75 yards off the road and can’t be seen from the road because of all the trees. In the 1840 Marion County Census, James Graham is head of household, age 30-39, Martha’s age listed as 20-29, but no name was given for Martha, only an age range and their daughter listed as under 5. All Census before 1850, only listed the head of household by name. All other household members were just listed as male or female, with an age range. About 1841, Martha and James moved back to Coffee County, close to the town of Hillsboro. On 1 Jan 1844 in Coffee County, Tennessee, a son, William Robert Graham was born. He married Sarah Jane Faulkner in Grayson County, Texas in 1872. They had 9 children. William died in 1913 in Collinsville, Grayson County, Texas and is buried in the Patton-Graham Cemetery. On 17 April 1845, daughter, Amanda Melvina Graham is born. She married David Oliver Brown in Manchester, Coffee County, Tennessee in 1863. They had 5 children. Amanda died in 1922 in Collinsville, Grayson County Texas and is buried in the Collinsville Cemetery. On 27 Aug 1848, son James Calhoun “J.C.” Graham is born. He married first, Martha L. McBride in Grayson County, Texas in 1882. After her death, he married Amanda M. Pope in Grayson County Texas. He had a total of 13 children with both wives. James died in 1925 in Collinsville, Grayson County, Texas and is buried in the Collinsville Cemetery. In 1849, daughter, Lucinda Jane Graham is born. She married James Charles Crosslin in Manchester, Coffee County, Tennessee in 1870. They had 10 children. Lucinda died in 1933 in Altus, Jackson County, Oklahoma. She is buried in the Hillside Cemetery in Purcell, McClain County, Oklahoma. The 2 Nov 1850 Coffee County Census, finds Martha, James and their five children living in Hillsboro. Martha’s brother Jackson Glass is also living with them. According to the Cherokee Application for Indian Rolls, William R. Graham said his parents lived near Hillsboro, Tennessee in 1851. On 29 June 1853, son Charles Dudley Graham is born. Charles married Mary Francis Adkinson in Giles County, Tennessee in 1880. They had 5 children. Charles died in 1928 in Wichita Falls, Wichita County, Texas and is buried there in Rosemont Cemetery. On 8 March 1856, son Richard Baxter Graham is born. Richard married Armittie Sisk in Giles County, Tennessee in 1880. They had 8 children. Richard died in 1944 in Dallas County, Texas and is buried in the Waxahachie Cemetery, per his Death Certificate. About 1857, the Grahams moved to the area around Manchester, Coffee County, Tennessee, where in Jan 1858, son John Holland Graham is born. John married Aleanor Rose Copeland in Erath County, Texas in 1885. They had 9 children. John died in 1925 in Wichita Falls, Wichita County, Texas and is buried in Rosemont Cemetery, beside his daughter Mattie Graham and his brother Charles Dudley Graham. In 1859, the Grahams make another move and this time it’s to the East of Manchester to a small community known as Hickory Creek. Hickory Creek no longer exist today. The Post Office there, which opened in 1846, was closed in 1866, according to records at the Tennessee State Library Archives. The 31 July 1860 Coffee County Census, finds the Grahams living in Hickory Creek. The family consists of James and Martha and their eight children. On 20 June 1861, daughter Josephine T. Graham is born. Josephine married Jefferson Davis Walker in Giles County, Tennessee in 1883. They had 10 children. Josephine died in 1907 in Collinsville, Grayson County, Texas and is buried in the Patton-Graham Cemetery. In about 1866, Martha and James move again and this time to Beech Grove, Coffee County, Tennessee. If you look at a map, which shows the communities of Hillsboro, Manchester, Hickory Creek and Beech Grove, you will notice that once he moved backed to Coffee County in 1841 from Lookout Mountain, he moved in kind of a triangle. Each time he moved was probably no farther than 15 miles, because these little towns were very close together. The 25 June 1870 Coffee County Census, shows James and Martha and their six children living in Beech Grove. Three of their neighbors were Crosslin families. In 1872, Martha would lose her husband, James Richard Graham. Family stories have been told that James was working in his barn, when someone came in and killed him. Although, I’ve found no proof that the story is true. It’s not known where James is buried, but probably somewhere around Beech Grove or in the Coffee County area. By 14 June 1880, Martha has moved to Giles County, Tennessee. She is listed in the 1880 Census, as being 60 years old and her children that live with her are Richard 22, John 20 and Josie 17. There is also a William Graham, who is 8 years old and the Census says he is her son. This is not true. Look at the 1900 Census. In it she states she is the Mother of 9 children, all living. All 9 children are known by their full names and age of birth and not one of them was born in 1872. Her last child was Josie, who was born in 1861. About 1881, Martha and some of her children move to Collinsville, Grayson County, Texas. Her son William Robert had moved to Grayson County in 1869 and James Calhoun moved to the area in the late 1870’s. A couple of her children stayed in Tennessee several more years, but eventually, they all moved to Texas. The 8 June 1900 Grayson County Census, shows Martha living with her daughter, Cindy Graham Crosslin and family in Collinsville. Martha’s age is listed as 76, but she was actually 87. In this Census, Martha states that she is the Mother of 9 children, all living. In Dec 1901, in Grayson County, Texas, Martha Ann “Patsy” Glass Graham takes her last breathe, at age 89. She is buried in the Patton-Graham Cemetery on Patton Road in the Collinsville-Tioga area. The Cemetery is about 50 or so yards off the road. There are lots of trees, so to visit this Cemetery, you must know where it is because it can’t be seen from the road. This Bio was written by Barbara Jean Bradley Findley Triggs and is dedicated to Martha Ann “Patsy” Glass Graham, my GG-Grandmother. Rest in Peace! Family links: Spouse: James Richard Graham (1804 - 1872)* Children: Mary Elizabeth Graham Coulston (1838 - 1913)* William Robert Graham (1844 - 1913)* Amanda Melvina Graham Brown (1845 - 1922)* James Calhoun Graham (1848 - 1925)* Lucinda Jane Graham Crosslin (1849 - 1933)* Charles Dudley Graham (1853 - 1928)* Richard Baxter Graham (1856 - 1944)* John Holland Graham (1858 - 1925)* Josephine T. Graham Walker (1861 - 1907)* *Calculated relationship Burial: Patton Cemetery Grayson County Texas, USA Plot: aka Patton-Graham Cemetery Edit Virtual Cemetery info [?] Maintained by: Barbara Triggs Originally Created by: Joan Stutsman Record added: Jul 17, 2002 Find A Grave Memorial# 6614638
Anecdote	24 April 1933	Letter re family origin.

Citations

1. [S243] Ancestry.com, 1820 United States Federal Census, 1820 U S Census; Census Place: Lexington, Rockbridge, Virginia; Page: 284A; NARA Roll: M33_130; Image: 518
2. [S244] Ancestry.com, 1830 United States Federal Census, 1830; Census Place: Rockbridge, Virginia; Series: M19; Roll: 199; Page: 304; Family History Library Film: 0029678
3. [S245] Ancestry.com, 1840 United States Federal Census, Year: 1840; Census Place: Marion, Tennessee; Page: 252
4. [S239] Ancestry.com, 1850 United States Federal Census, Year: 1850; Census Place: District 7, Coffee, Tennessee; Roll: M432_875; Page: 66B; Image: 138
5. [S242] Ancestry.com, 1860 United States Federal Census, Year: 1860; Census Place: District 9, Coffee, Tennessee; Roll: M653_1245; Page: 74; Family History Library Film: 805245
6. [S240] Ancestry.com, 1870 United States Federal Census, Year: 1870; Census Place: District 3, Coffee, Tennessee; Roll: M593_1520; Page: 29A; Family History Library Film: 553019