Alexander Graydon and Rachel Marks

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Husband Alexander Graydon ^{1 2 3}

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           Born: 1714 - Longford, Ireland 2
     Christened: 
           Died: Mar 1761 - Bristol, Bucks Co, PA 2
         Buried: 

       Marriage: Abt 1750

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   Other Spouse: [Unk] Emerson (      -      ) 2 - Bef 1730

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Wife Rachel Marks ^{1 3}

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           Born:  - Island of Barbadoes
     Christened: 
           Died: 23 Jan 1807 - Harrisburg, Dauphin Co, PA 3
         Buried:  - Harrisburg Cemetery, Harrisburg, Dauphin Co, PA

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Children

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1 M Alexander Graydon ^{2 4}

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           Born: 10 Apr 1752 - Bristol, Bucks Co, PA 2
     Christened: 
           Died: 2 May 1818 2
         Buried: 

         Spouse: [Unk] Wood (      -      ) 5

         Spouse: Theodosia Pettit (      -Abt 1836) 4 5

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2 F Jane Graydon ¹

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            AKA: Rachel Graydon 2
           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died:  - Harrisburg, Dauphin Co, PA
         Buried:  - Harrisburg, Dauphin Co, PA

         Spouse: Dr. Andrew Forrest (Abt 1754-1818) 6 7
           Marr: 31 Dec 1778 1

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3 M Andrew Graydon ⁵

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

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4 M William Graydon ⁵

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           Born: 4 Sep 1759 - near Bristol, Bucks Co, PA 5
     Christened: 
           Died: 13 Oct 1840 - Harrisburg, Dauphin Co, PA 5
         Buried: 

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General Notes: Husband - Alexander Graydon

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He was a native of Longford, Ireland; at the time of his marriage, he was doing business in the old town of Bristol, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

He was born at Longford, Ireland, was brought under the care of his maternal grandfather in Dublin, and was designed for the pulpit. He received a suitable education therefor, to which having added many of the accomplishments at that time in fashion, he became afterwards distinguished in Philadelphia, both as a scholar and a gentleman. He emigrated to America in 1730, settling in Philadelphia, where he entered mercantile life. About 1740 he removed to Bristol, Bucks County. Here, notwithstanding his Quaker surroundings, he was greatly esteemed and respected-nay, honored and revered-for his many excellent qualities of head and heart. Among the officers first enrolled for the defense of the Province of Pennsylvania we find the name of Alexander Graydon, as captain of a Bucks County company, in 1747, and subsequently as colonel of the county regiment. After the defeat of Braddock, when it was found necessary to raise troops for defensive operations against the marauding Indians, Col. Graydon was offered the position of field-officer in the Provincial corps, but declined the appointment. He was "a man of unquestionable probity, and there was also much of attraction in his character."

He had two children with his first wife, and four children with his second wife.

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General Notes: Wife - Rachel Marks

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Her father was engaged in the West India trade and of German birth. Her mother a native of Glasgow, Scotland. She was the eldest of four daughters. At the age of seven years her parents removed to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where she was educated.
At the time of her marriage, the celebrated Dr. Baird wrote of her that she was "the finest girl in Philladelphia, having the manners of a lady bred at court."
At the opening of the war of the Revolution her oldest sons enlisted in the patriot army-one of whom, Alexander, recorded in the "Memoirs of a Life Passed in Pennsylvania" much concerning the maternal affection, the fortitude and patriotic spirit of an American matron. Taken prisoner at the capture of Fort Washington, the devoted mother, accomplished, by personal appeals, the parole of Captain Graydon.
During the major part of the Revolution, Mrs. Graydon resided at Reading, Pennsylvania, and while there her house was "the seat of hospitality, and the resort of numerous guests of distinction, including officers of the British army who were there stationed as prisoners of war." The Baron de Kalb was often there; and between her own and General Mifflin's family there was a strong intimacy existing. When the county of Dauphin was organized, the appointment of her son, Alexander, as prothonotary, occasioned her removal to Harrisburg. She was a lady much devoted to her family, and yet, in the early days of the city, she was prominent in deeds of love and charity.

1 Wm. H. Egle, Historical Register: Notes and Queries, Historical and Genealogical (Harrisburg, PA: Lane S. Hart, Publisher, 1884), Pg 46.

2 William Henry Egle, History of the County of Dauphin in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA: Everts & Peck, 1883), Pg 496.

3 —, Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania (Chambersburg, PA: J. M. Runk & Company, Publishers, 1896), Pg 167.

4 John W. Jordan, LL.D., Genealogical and Personal History of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1913), Pg 521.

5 William Henry Egle, History of the County of Dauphin in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA: Everts & Peck, 1883), Pg 497.

6 William Henry Egle, History of the County of Dauphin in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA: Everts & Peck, 1883), Pg 545.

7 Wm. H. Egle, Historical Register: Notes and Queries, Historical and Genealogical (Harrisburg, PA: Lane S. Hart, Publisher, 1884), Pg 44.