Statewide County AlArchives Biographies.....Grierson, Robert  September 5, 1735 - October 8, 1823
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
willabelle schultz willie72@comcast.net January 2, 2006, 8:55 pm

Author: Willabelle Schultz

My ancestor, Robert Grierson, a Scots Trader - came from Dumfries, Kirkcudbright
Scotland in mid-1700's to the British Georgia Colony, Augusta. He was licensed 
as a trader by the English, and by Spain, going into the interior of what is 
now Alabama.  (Where the traders went, they made inroads for trade with Creek 
Muscogee, and Cherokee Indians in that area, then the British Military could 
follow.)  Robert G. was descended from Gilbert Grierson who was granted a 
Baronetcy by the Stewart Kings of Scotland in 1400. 
Robert Grierson had three brothers and a sister who came to the colonies the 
same time as he.  They were:  Col. James Grierson, Thomas Grierson, William 
Grierson and Anne Grierson Hopkins.
James remained in Augusta with the Brit Military.  Brother Thomas went into the 
interior with Robert.  Both married Creek Muscogee Indian Women.  Robert 
married Sinogee of the Spanalgee Family, and they had 8 children.  Thomas had a 
son John, born in the Eufaullies, and Robert's were all born in Hillabies. They 
were:  Alexander, Eliza, Katherine, William, Thomas, Sarah, David, and Walter.  
There is no existing marriage or birth dates for any of the above.  Very few 
records exist of these relatives.  Muscogee Creek at that time hadn't any 
written records, except for a few that their white compatriots wrote., or, that 
Indian Agents wrote.  For almost any white and Indian marriage, a momento of 
some kind & living together as a family was normal.
Bro. James G. a Loyalist, was killed by the Continental Army, and Bro. Thomas 
of Eufaullies, a Revolutionary, was killed by a Brit. Soldier.  Both, after 
surrendering . James had 5 children with a white woman,  all of whom died early 
on, except for one who was able to go back to London to claim his inheritance.
Eliza Grierson married William McIntosh (who signed Removal Treaty) and they 
had tow children, Jane and Chillicothe, both born in Coweta.
Sarah Grierson was married to Stephan Hawkins who was killed with William 
McIntosh when he was shot and killed by the Muscogee Creeks for his betrayal.
Katherine (Katy) Grierson was married to Johnie Benson (Tustunnuggee) Red Stick 
Warrior, who was in the party sent to kill William McIntosh. ( Johnie Benson's 
father was a full-blood Creek shaman (magician), and his mother was Mary 
Benson, a white girl captured by the Creek Indians.)  Mary was found living 
with the Creeks after she'd married and had several children.  She did not want 
to go back to civilization with her relatives.  Two of her sons did, and went 
to school. Johnie Benson was wounded with bullets in him at Battle of Horseshoe 
Bend, and lived with them still in him until a ripe old age in the Indian 
Territory of Oklahoma.  
Robert Grierson, the Scots, was a supporter and supplier of goods to the 
Revolutionary Army.  He was a friend of Andrew Jackson and Benjamin Hawkins, 
Indian Agent appointed by George Washington.  Also an acquaintance of Thomas 
Jefferson.  Robert died at Oakfuskee, Alabama and is buried at Pinckneyville, 
Alabama. He died a wealthy man, with many slaves, horses, cattle, and farms. 

In 1833, Robert's children, whose last name became "Grayson" -- their children, 
mother Sinogee, and slaves and expensive belongings went by wagon to the new 
territories of the West, - now Oklahoma, paying their own way.  They were 
wealthy half-breeds, and did very well in straddling two societies.  They were 
big landowners, became educated, and some were  representatives of the Muscogee 
Creek Nation in the new lands when it came to dealing with the Government in 
Washington D. C.     
       

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