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Note: Source: 1850 Census for Christian County, KY, lists #817-866: John W. Grissam, 52, Farmer, 330, SC
Sarah, 48, NC
Julia A., 24, KY
Wm. C., 22, KY
Caroline S., 20, KY
John W., 19, KY
Rufus L., 16, KY
Jackey, 14, KY
Micajah W., 13, M, KY
Victoria, 11, KY
Mary E. P., 9, KY
Source: 1860 Census for Christian County, KY, lists #246-246:
J. W. Grisham, 60, Farmer, SC
S. W., 58, Female, SC
R. L., 25, M, Farmer, KY
Jacky, 24, F, KY
M. W., 22, M, Farmer, KY
V., 21, F, KY
Mary E., 19, F, KY
living next door to #247-247, Wm. Grisham, 30, Farmer, KY
A. C., 24, F, KY
S. A. 8, F, KY
Source: Christian County, Kentucky, Vital Statistics, 1852-1861, Births, Marriages and Deaths, Compiled by: Shirley West Cain, 2016 Butler Road, Hopkinsville, KY 42240, pg. 151, "Grissam, John W. died Dec. 7, 1861, age 64 years, son of J. W. and Mary Grissam. Farmer. Married. Born Pendleton District, SC. Died Christian County of measles."
Source: Family History Book of Christian County, KY, 1991, by Turner Publishing Company, Paducah, KY, p. 111, "John W. Grissom Jr., 1797-1861, while employed at Port Gibson, MS, married Elizabeth Walker. His first wife Elizabeth and child died in 1819. So he came back to Christian County where he was employed as a cabinet maker. In 1824 he married for a second time to Sarah G. Wells (1802) a daughter of Micajah and Ann (Collins) Wells. John and Ann settled on a farm on the south side of Pond River between John Hayes Ferry (site of Cary's Bridge) and the Pond River Meeting House.
In John W. Grissom will probated April 4, 1864, WB-S, pages 442-443, Christian County, KY, he mentions wife and children; also, provision for land for a school (Grissom's school) and Methodist Church South (later known as Grissom Chapel); as well as, one acre of land on the Greenville Road as family burying ground."
Source: Cemetery Records Northern Portion of Christian County, KY, Compiled by Anna Hunsaker Meador (1976), p. 279.
Source: Christian County, KY, Deed Book 29, page 15-16: This Indenture made and entered into between John W. Grissom of the County of Christian and State of Kentucky of the lien part and William T. Smith and E. G. Dulin of the County and State aforesaid, Witnesseth that for and in consideration of the sum of Two Hundred Dollars to me in hand paid by the said Smith and Dulin and have this day bargained sold and conveyed unto the said W. T. Smith and E. G. Dulin a certain tract or parcel of land containing Three Hundred and Thirty-Four acres including the place where I now live with all appurtenances those unto ??? situated lying and being in the County of Christian on the Greenville Road near pond also including my cotton gin and premises the right such title and warrant and defend to them the said Smith and Dulin and those heirs against myself my heirs and all and every other person or persons whatsoever with this condition that whose as the aforesaid W. T. Smith and E. G. Dulin are bound as my securities to the Bank of Kentucky at Hopkinsville for the aforesaid sum of Two Hundred Dollars now if the said W. Grissom shall will and truly pay and satisfy the aforesaid debt and interest and pay to the aforesaid Bank so that W. T. Smith and Dulin are exonerated from the aforesaid security ship then the above indenture to be void otherwise to remain in full force and virtue in law. In testimony whom of I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 10th day of March 1845.
John W. Grissom (SEAL)
Witness:
M. P. Wells
H. V. E. Drake
Commonwealth of Kentucky
County of Christian, To Wit: I, Abraham Stites, the Clerk of the County Court of Christian County aforesaid do certify that this deed from John W. Grissom to William T. Smith and E. G. Dulin was on this day produced to me in my office, by the said grantor and acknowledged by the said John W. Grissom to be his act and deed, whereupon the said deed together with the foregoing certificate that been duly admitted to record in my office. Given under my hand the 22nd day of march 1845.
Attest: Abram Stites, C.C.C.C.
Source: Christian County, KY, Will Book S, page 442-444: In the name of God, Amen. I, John W. Grissam of the County of Christian and Commonwealth of Kentucky being sick and weak in body, but of sound mind and disposing manner (for which I thank God) and calling to mind the uncertainty of human life and being desirous to dispose of all such worldly estate as it hath pleased God to bless me with, I give and bequeath the same in manner following that is to say:
First, I desire that so much of the perishable part of my estate may be immediately sold after my decease (if found to be necessary) as will be sufficient to pay all my just debts and funeral expenses.
Secondly, After the payment of my debts and funeral expenses, I give to my beloved wife Sarah Grissam the whole of my estate both real and personal for and during the term of her natural life and after her death, I give the same to my children hereinafter named equally to be divided among them and their heirs and to be enjoyed by them forever. That is to say to my daughter Amandy H. Wells and Julia A. Cook and Elvira A. Crabtree and my son William C. Grissam and John W. Grissam Jr. and my daughter Sarah E. Ebling and my son Rufus L. Grissam and my daughter Jacky W. Grissam and my son Micajah W. Grissam and my daughters Victoria Grissam and Mary E. P. Grissam.
Thirdly, My further wish is that my seven unmarried children be schooled as far as my wife Sarah may think in her discretion she can without involving herself or exhausting too much of my perishable estate.
Fourthly, My further wish is that my minor children all remain with my beloved wife Sarah during their minority and that she reward their kindness faithfulness and industry as she in her discretion may think each one deserves by allowing them to raise grain or tobacco or stock of any kind and giving them such portions of what may be raised on the farm or made otherwise as she may deem just and rite and that all such property acquired by their industry and set apart by her in her lifetime to any of my children that may remain with her shall be theirs in fact and in deed and not subject to be sold at her death as a part of our estates and be equally divided to all the heirs.
Fourthly, Now whereas Micajah Wells in his lifetime did by deed of gifts which is a matter of record in the Muhlenberg County Court give and convey unto five of my children to wit: Amanda Helen, Julia Grissam, Elvira Grissam and William Grissam and John Grissam some household furniture and one set of cabinet and turning tools together with a small amount of stock, which property was left in my hands and trusted for their use, Now as some of that property still remains, should all of them or any part of them after my decease claim the benefit of said deed of gift, my will is that the amount that each one may realize claiming under that deed may be taken from his or her part of my estate, so as to make each one of my heirs interest an equal amount at the decease of myself and wife as though such deed of gift never had existed.
Fifthly, Whereas in giving the names of my children I perceive to have omitted my fourth daughters name which is Zipporah Carolina, my will is that she be equal with my other children in this my last will and testament.
Sixthly, Now my further wish is that so much of my perishable property be sold as my wife may be advised will be sufficient to inclosed a piece of ground that I have named to my family ten by twelve feet in the clear in the following manner (to wit): Either a substantial cast iron railing will put up or a stone wall of good stone laid in good lime mortar not less than three feet eight inches high nor less than eighteen inches thick the walls with a heavy cap stone that cannot be easily thrown down and this inclosure to have a good substantial iron gate with a good lock all to be done in a plain substantial manner which my will is that it be used as a place of sepeslekin for my self and my wife Sarah.
Seventhly, Now my further will is that after paying my just debts and defraying the expenses of this inclosure and giving myself and wife a decent burial that all my remaining property both personal and Real accept thirteen rod square that I have given to the Methodist Church South to build a church on and to the neighborhood for a standard school house also one acre of land fronting on the Greenville Road on the west side of said road including the highest point of the eminence where I propose to be buried. Both these lots reserved not to be subject to sale or transfer and the last named to be used only for a family burying ground and lastly I do hereby give to my wife Sarah all my property bothly personal and real during her natural life and my will is that she sell off at public venue sufficient to pay my debts or for cash in hand privately to meet any debts where friends have given my security.
I do hereby appoint her my sole executrix to carry out the forgoing will and request the Honorable County Court to require no security from her of any kind and I do hereby revoke all former wills by me made.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this fourth day of February 1834.
John W. Grissam
Witness:
Silas Drake
S. P. Drake
Codicil to the within Will: I, John W. Grissam, deed it best at this time to authorize my beloved wife to sell either publicly or privately any or all my lands to pay my just debts or if need require for her to live on during her lifetime in as full a manner as I could if I were living. As witness my hand and seal this twenty-third day of October 1834.
John W. Grissam (SEAL)
State of Kentucky
Christian County, SCT: I, G. H. Lawson, Clerk of the County Court for the said County, do certify that the foregoing last will and testament and codicil of John W. Grissam, deceased, was on the 31st day of March 1864 produced and read in open court and provided in the manner required by law by the oaths of F. G. Montgomery, Joab Clark, and Samuel Atkinson to be wholly in the hand writing of the testator, with the exception of the signature of Silas and S. P. Drake who were witnesses to the will but not to the codicil nor were they present in court. Whereupon the same was ordered to be recorded which together with this certificate has been duly recorded in my office.
Given under my hand this 4th day of April 1864.
Attest: G. H. Lawson, Clerk
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