BIO: Rachel (MARKS) GRAYDON, Dauphin County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JAWB

Copyright 2006.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/dauphin/
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/dauphin/runk/runk-bios.htm
_______________________________________________________________ 

Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, 
Containing Sketches of Representative Citizens, and Many of the 
Early Scotch-Irish and German Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: 
J. M. Runk & Company, 1896, page 167.
_______________________________________________________________ 

  GRAYDON, MRS. RACHEL (MARKS), was a native of the Island of 
Barbadoes, and the eldest of four daughters.  Her father, Mr. Marks - 
engaged in the West Indian trade - was of German birth; her mother a 
native of Glasgow, Scotland.  At the age of seven years her parents 
removed to Philadelphia, where Rachel was educated.  She formed the 
acquaintance and married, about 1750, Alexander Graydon, a native of 
Longford, Ireland, doing business at that time in the old town of 
Bristol, Bucks county, Pa. At this period the celebrated Dr. Baird 
wrote of her that she was "the finest girl in Philadelphia, 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, has 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, and while there her house was "the scat 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 this city, 
she was prominent in deeds of love and charity.  She died at Harrisburg 
at the residence of her son on the 23d of January, 1807, aged 73 years, 
and is interred in the Harrisburg cemetery.