GRIZZELLA
McKEE (8/15/1768 - 6/26/1857)
There are several slightly different spellings for Adam & Jean's oldest daughter - Grissel, Grizzel, Grizella, Grizzelih, etc. She could not read or write. On her application for a widow's pension it was spelled Grizzella and on bible pages as Grizzalla. Grizzel was born 15 Aug 1768 and on her father's will was mentioned first among living children. From that plus the fact that she rather than Michael served as witness when Adam sold his inherited land, it is pobably safe to assume that she was slightly older than Michael.
.. The name Grissel was encountered for McKees in County Down, Ireland and was fairly common in Scotland, particularly in Perth County [see IGI] There is a strong possibility that Grissel was named after the Grizel Dixon who arrived with Jean, Michael & their father, John Dixon
On 11/20/1785 Grisal was a witness on Adam & Jean's sale of land inherited from Archibald (N5-565). By using her rather than Michael as the witness I assume (rightly or wrongly) that he was still underage and she wasn't. Everything I know of supports her being slightly older than Michael
She married William Milford on 12 Aug 1802. The Justice of Peace was Hugh Wardlaw. Hugh Wardlaw and Adam McKee were charter members of "the congregation of Greenville" which became Greenville Presbyterian Church. Witnesses at the wedding included Grizell's brother John McKee. She was William's second wife. Their daughter Jane Dixon Milford was born 27 Aug 1804 in Anderson Co, SC. I am uncertain why on Adan's will married surnames were not shown for Margaret or Grizell but were for Jean (Lindsey) Following the death of her husband on 8 Nov 1810 in Anderson County, Grizella filed for a pension. William McKay was among the signers of her application..
A typewritten manuscript of "The Milford Family" (Carolyn got extract from Joe Standaert) states
"The pension
records of Grizella Milford, widow of William Milford, Revolutionary War
veteran, show that he was born May 11, 1751, married Aug 12, 1802 and died Nov
8, 1810"
.. The manuscript contained a group sheet showing
William
Milford, born in Ireland, died in Anderson County, born May 11, 1751, Died Nov
8, 1810, Married Aug 12, 1802 to Grizella McKee, Born Aug 15, 1768; then lists 8
children: Catherine, Margaret, a son, Robert, Matthew, a daughter, a daughter,
Jane Dixon Milford"
Linda Bullard of Whitmire Memorial Library found "Grizzelih Millford d.26 June 1857" in Volume 1 of Wayne Bratcher's Abbeville County Cemeteries (covers worn out but still a great resource). She is buried in Bowie Family Cemetery. "Also buried there is Jane D (Dixon) Bowie d June 9 1864 age 59y 4m and 13 days
The name Grissel/ Grizel/ Grizella was encountered for McKees in County Down, Ireland and was fairly common in Scotland, particularly in Perth County [see IGI]
..Grissel was age 26-45 on the 1800C & presumably was the 2nd female over 45 in her mother's household on 1820C. (She was a widow at that time).
..Strong possibility that Grissel was named after the Grizel Dixon who arrived with Jean, Michael & their father, John DIXON/DICKSON.
..On 11/20/1785 Grisal was a witness on Adam & Jean's sale of land inherited from Archibald (N5-565). By using her rather than Michael as the witness I assume (rightly or wrongly) that he was still underage and she wasn't. Everything I know of supports her being slightly older than Michael
She married William Milford on 12 Aug 1802. She was his second wife. Their daughter Jane Dixon Milford was born 27 Aug 1804 in Anderson Co, SC. I am uncertain why on Adan's will married surnames were not shown for Margaret or Grizell but were for Jean (Lindsey) Following the death of her husband on 8 Nov 1810 in Anderson County, Grizella filed for a pension. William McKay was among the signers of her application.. A typewritten manuscript of "The Milford Family" (Carolyn got extract from Joe Standaert) states
"The pension records of Grizella Milford, widow of William Milford, Revolutionary War veteran, show that he was born May 11, 1751, married Aug 12, 1802 and died Nov 8, 1810" The manuscript contained a group sheet showing William Milford, born in Ireland, died in Anderson County, born May 11, 1751, Died Nov 8, 1810, Married Aug 12, 1802 to Grizella McKee, Born Aug 15, 1768; then lists 8 children: Catherine, Margaret, a son, Robert, Matthew, a daughter, a daughter, Jane Dixon Milford" Joe mentioned an email exchange turning up another group sheet showing William's first marriage to Molly Sample with date of 31 Jan 70. None of the material was source referenced but see below for additional details from pension file.
..When Thomas Lindsey died (will dated 5/25/1820 probated12?/1821) his widow's name was Grizel. Noting that Adam's Grizzel was widowed in 1810 and her sister married a Lindsey I considered the possibility that she remarried but this speculation is put to rest by her 1855 pension application "that she was never intermarried since her said husband's death". In any event Thomas & Grizel Lindsey had 3 children -- Joseph, Grizel & Polly and there is a strong possibility she was one of the other Dixon/McKee family members named after Grizzel #1. Quite likely Grizzel was the second female over age 45 listed in her mother's household on the 1820 census...
From her widows pension application the manuscript data is confirmed and it contains her affidavit "That she was before marriage Grizella McKee and married William Milford on the twelfth day of August 1802..that she was married by Hugh Wardlaw, a Justice of Peace" The single entry on the family bible marriages page shows "William Milford and Grizzalla McKee was married August 12th 1802". She signed by mark so evidently had somebody else make the birth, marriage & death bible entries. Affidavits by the oldest daughter from William Milford's first marriage and by his brother add to details she provided about the Milfords.and an affidavit by Grizella's brother JOHN McKEE of Neshoba Co, MS also attests to the wedding.
8/30/1855 widows claim describes his service"William Milford or Millford who was a private in the war of the Revolution..during the war her said husband lived in what was then ninety six and now is part of Abbeville District..entered the militia..under Capt Armstrong Herd(?) in the Stons(?) expedition..in 1779..under the command of Gen Andrew Williamson & Col Richard Richardson and was for the term of three months..that the next year (1780) he again joined the militia of this state in the cavalry..(not all copied but served nine months, then "out on foot some four months"; then more service)
..Family record pages submitted in support of her claim show "William Milford was born May 16, 1751" .."William Milford and Grizzalla McKee was married August 12th 1802" and "William Milford died November 8, 1810". Affidavits by his oldest daughter and other relatives provide additional information.
On the 1800 census for Pendleton District the four Milfords appear on the same page as Archibald McKee, the two William McKees, Pendleton's Francis Cunningham and a Sr/Jr pair of John Dicksons. There seems to be clear evidence that our Abbeville ancesters and these families all knew each other and intermingled extensively as will be discussed at greater length in the segment on the Pendleton District McKees.
Grizzella (McKee) Milford was awarded a widows pension of $50.83 per year to commence on the 3d February 1853. In March 1857 she filed a claim for bounty land.on William's record. That material contains substantially the same information as her pension application. Due to her age and physical condition she was unable to go to the courthouse. I did not find the disposition of the bountyland claim but of course she died in June of that year
(Where they lived) "That her said husband was from the same section of Country with Captains Herd, Calhoun & Freeman & lived near the families of Sauple & Moore near Swandy Ferry on Saluda River in this district". On the 1800 census he was enumerated in Pendleton District but all pension files were in Abbeville District. Both the Saluda and Wilson Creek (where the Pendleton District William & Archibald settled) begin in what is now Anderson Co and flow into Abbeville County. They are perhaps ten miles from each other with two intervening water courses so appears all were neighbors in the broad sense of the word although not adjacent. . . .