John Graham (born 1810) was the oldest child of William Graham and Sarah Jacobs-Graham. He was married to Mary Jane Little (born 1810) and they settled in Carvers Creek Community of Bladen County, North Carolina. Many of their offspring today continue to live in the communities of Carvers Creek, East Arcadia, Buckhead, Garland, Phoenix, Seabreeze, Bolivia and Council, North Carolina. It is believed that both John and Mary Jane are buried on or near John’s family land. It is also believed that the Graham early stronghold and land purchased in the 1800’s by his mother Sarah Jacobs is now just a wooded area north of the Buckhead Community, south of the Youngstown Community, and west of the East Arcadia. Many of their children and offspring identify themselves as either African-American or Native-American.
Of the 7 Waccamaw Siouan Indian Tribe Chiefs 1 was a great-grand children of John Graham & Jane Little-Graham "Chiefs Priscilla Freeman-Jacobs".
One of their son’s John N. Graham born about 1834 left his wife and three children in Bladen County around the 1860’s and arrived in Robeson County, North Carolina there he married at least twice. First to Gainor Locklear-Graham (1839-1890) and second he married Beadie Locklear-Graham born about 1857 most of their descendants are members of the Lumbee Indian Tribe.
James Graham (1814-1884) married Winniford “Winnie” Blanks (1824–1913). Winnie was the daughter of Alfred Blanks, Sr. (born 1774) and the grand-daughter of John Blanks Sr. (born 1754) whom appeared in Bladen County, North Carolina Tax Lists 1770, 1774, 1775, 1779, 1786,1789 and later in the 1790 United States Federal Census as a free person of color. In 1774, John Blanks purchased and was granted 100 acres of land in Bladen County, North Carolina by the King of England and later he would serve in the American Revolutionary War “Sons of the American Revolution {SAR} certified”. Records indicate that John Blanks Sr. later sold that 100 acres of land and it is believed that he moved to Robeson County, North Carolina where many of his offsprings are part of the Lumbee Indian tribe.
James and Winnie raised their family in East Arcadia/San Domingo, North Carolina. Many of the Grahams’ in East Arcadia, Bolton, Freeman, Whiteville, Chadbourn, Clarkton and Riegelwood, North Carolina descend from them. By trade, James was a noted cooper. As such, Graham Chapel AME Zion Church is believed to have been named after him for his hard work as one of the builders as well as one of the founders and an original trustee member of the church. Their children married many of the local families such as the Lacewells’, Blanks’, Robesons’, Millers, Moores’, and several others. They identify themselves with the Black community or Native American community.
While we have not located James’ official burial site, it is believed that he is buried at Graham Chapel AME Zion Church, the church he pioneered. His wife, Winnie Blanks-Graham is buried in the family graveyard located on the Graham Chapel AME Zion Church property and James is believed to be buried beside her.
*NOTE: One of James and Winnie’s children, Melvin William Graham born in 1865 was named after his grand-father William Graham, Sr. Melvin married Georgian A. Unknown who was born in Georgia. Melvin and Georgian raised their children, Alice, Rosa Lee, Arizona, Theodore & Philip either in Alabama or Georgia.
Elizabeth Graham-Bowen-Freeman (1819–1911) was married at least twice. She first married Henry Bowen born in 1812 and later married an unknown Freeman and settled her family on the family land near East Arcadia/ San Domingo which is located in Bladen County, North Carolina. Elizabeth was one of the major care-givers to her elderly mother, Sarah Jacobs-Graham (age 78 at that time), as the 1860 United Federal Census indicates that she was living with her daughter Elizabeth. Elizabeth’s burial site is clearly marked at the family cemetery at Graham Chapel AME Zion Church. Many of her offspring live in the East Arcadia, Bolton, and Buckhead communities and have married local families such as the Blanks, Jacobs, and several others.
Joseph Graham (born 1827) married Margaret Young (born 1836). Margaret was the daughter of Isaac Young (1797-1860) and Elizabeth Young (born 1793). They settled and raised their family in Bladen County, North Carolina. It is believed that both Joseph and Margaret are buried on Joseph’s homestead and/or in the historical Gum Swamp Grave-yard located in Bolton, North Carolina. Joseph and Margaret’s grand-daughter, Rena Sophia Graham-Freeman married the first chief of the newly formed Waccamaw Siouan Indian Tribe, William James Freeman. Their other daughter Lummie Graham (born 1885-1969) married David James Jacobs (born 1875-1962). Many of their children married and continue to live in the Buckhead community and are part of the Waccamaw Siouan Indian Tribe. Many also identify themselves as part of the African-American Community. Their children married local families such as the Jacobs, Freemans, Patricks, and several others.
Of the 5 Waccamaw Siouan Indian Tribe Chiefs 4 were great-grand children of Joseph & Margaret Young-Graham "Chiefs Clifton Freeman, Priscilla Freeman-Jacobs & Lacy Freeman, William James Freeman was their (2nd great grand son-in-law)".
Margaret “Peggy” Graham-Baldwin(born 1827) married Mathew Baldwin (born 1825). They settled in the Carvers Creek area of North Carolina, Margaret’s homestead. The two of them appear together in the 1900 US Federal Census living in Bladen County, North Carolina. Most of their descendants live in the present day Buckhead Community and are members of the Waccamaw Siouan Indian Tribe. Their children married local families such as the Skippers, Jacobs, Locklears, Patricks, and several others.
Of the 5 Waccamaw Siouan Indian Tribe Chiefs 2 were great-grand children of Margaret Graham & Mathew Baldwin "Chiefs Priscilla Freeman-Jacobs & Lacy Freeman".
Henry Graham Sr.b. 1830 married Lucy Blanks b. 1831, who was also a daughter of Alfred Blanks, b. 1774. Alfred Blanks Sr. is credited to being the patriarch of nearly all of the Blanks in both Bladen County and Columbus County, North Carolina. Henry Graham and his family lived in an area between the Cape Fear River and Buckhead, in a community then known as Zara, and that is currently known as Youngstown. In the early 1900s Henry Graham’s son Clifford Graham and Henry’s son-in-law Owen Young joined together and purchased land in this area from the Sarah Jacobs estate. The Sarah Jacobs estate as it was known, was once 100 acres of land owned by Henry’s parents William Graham Sr. and Sarah Jacobs-Graham that was confiscated in 1911 by the Bladen County Sheriff.
This land included a family cemetery, and according to Clifford’s son Ottis Edward Graham, this cemetery is where Henry Graham and Lucy Blanks Graham are buried. For many years Clifford Graham maintained the cemetery, which was very near his home. Family members who worked in the fields in this area remember that there were at least 15 graves in the cemetery. The graves all had glass or wooden markers that over the years were scattered or buried. In 2020 some of Clifford Graham’s grandchildren installed a permanent marker at this site and registered it with the County as a cemetery.
Many of Henry and Lucy children married local families such as the Freemans, Jacobs, Youngs, Blanks, Rhodes, Lacewell’s, and several others. Their son, William Graham (1851-1924) married Isadora Jacobs (1888-1938) and raised his family in the Waccamaw Siouan Indian Community of Buckhead, North Carolina. Their other offspring also identify with either their Native- American or African American origin.
*Note: Alfred Blanks, Sr. is also the father of Winniford "Winnie" Blanks. Winnie Blanks is the wife of Henry’s brother James Graham.
*Note: Henry Graham Jr. born 1872, one of Henry and Lucy’s children, moved to Florida and married Victoria Porter who was born in 1884 in Florida. Henry and Victoria raised their children, Cora Lee, Henry, Dessie, Robert, Clifford, John, Willie, and Walter in the Flemington, Marion area of Florida.
William “Jack” Graham Jr. born in 1836 was the youngest of William and Sarah Jacobs-Graham’s children. He married Ann Eliza Moore who was born in 1834 and they settled their family in the Carvers Creek area of Bladen County, North Carolina. As the state of North Carolina was changing its’ county boundaries, the family ended up on the Columbus county side in what is the present day St. James community. The vast majority of Jack and Ann Eliza’s offspring continue to identify with their Native American origin and are part of the Waccamaw Siouan Indian tribe of Bladen County and Columbus County, North Carolina. Many of their descendants moved to New Jersey and were instrumental and pioneers in the development of the Whitesboro, NJ Community. Whitesboro, New Jersey was named after their cousin United States Congressman George Henry White (1852-1918) who was born in Bladen County North Carolina. It is believed that both William “Jack” Jr. and wife, Anne Eliza’s final resting place is located at one of the oldest graveyards in Bladen County for free persons of color known as Blanks Graveyard which is located in Council, North Carolina. It is also believed that the Blanks Graveyard is an original Blanks-Mitchell cemetery named after Alfred Blanks Sr. son, Elijah Blanks born in 1808 and his wife Elenorah Mitchell-Blanks born in 1815. It is also home to many of the early free families of color prior to the Emancipation Proclamation such as the Spauldings, Freemans, Jacobs, Mitchells, Youngs and several others. Jack and Anna Eliza’s children married many local families from both Bladen County and Columbus County , North Carolina such as the Spauldings, Mitchells, Blanks, Meares, Burneys, Thompsons, and several others.
Their Children
Elizabeth Graham-Bowen-Freeman (1819-1911) Headstone
Courtesy of Kevin E. Graham all right reserved
Winnie Blanks-Graham (1824-1913) Headstone
Courtesy of Kevin E. Graham all right reserved
The Descendants of William Graham Sr. and Sarah Jacobs
Between (1898-1915) Southern States implemented an illegal policy violating the United States Fifteenth Amendment called Grandfather Clause. The Grandfather Clause was used in North Carolina in the wake of Reconstruction (1865-1877) that allowed whites to circumvent literacy tests, poll taxes, and other tactics designed to disfranchise persons of color.
Our forefathers did not allow this illegal action to keep them from voting. One of them was John N. Graham of Bladen County, NC who later moved to Robeson County, North Carolina. Below is John N. Graham 1902 Robeson County voter registration listing which he had to indicate his grandfather's name and where he voted. (William Graham Sr. (1790)
Martha G. Graham was the seventh child born to William Graham, Sr. and Sarah Jacobs Graham. Martha was born in 1834 in Bladen County, North Carolina and had only one child. In the 1850 US Federal Census, Martha is listed in a household with Armstrong Webb, and his sister, Mary Webb, all classified as Mulatto
After extensive research to locate Martha in additional records, like several of her other siblings, little was discovered.
In March 1868, Martha’s only known daughter, Joanna Josephine Graham, was born. Joanna appeared in each of the following US Federal Census Records: 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930.
