John Graham

1718 (age 77)

Disappointed in his expectations, Graham engaged in trade in Savannah for a dozen years and was in “great business” in 1760, when he first met Gov. James Wright. He was appointed a member of the Council in August 1763, on Wright’s recommendation, and soon became the receiver of money from the sales of lands out of the 2, 500, 000 acres ceded by the Creeks and Cherokees. His income from this source averaged £2, 000 a year. Quitting business for agriculture, by 1776 he had developed three large plantations, had accumulated 262 slaves, and was deriving from his property gross produce of £2, 700 annually. His troubles began with his opposition in August 1775 to sending delegates to the Continental Congress. On January 19, 1776, the governor and Council were arrested but were paroled the next day. Fearing rearrest, Graham hid in the swamps until he escaped to the man-of-war Scarborough in the Savannah River. In March, he received his commission as lieutenant-governor, a new office without salary. His vessel, Inverness, and its cargo were burned by revolutionists, who also destroyed 400 barrels of his rice and his house in Savannah. By releasing three Whig prisoners he obtained permission from the Council of Safety on May 1 to leave Georgia with the privilege of returning, but he had to give a bond of £10, 000 and pledge his property as security for his creditors. On May 13, he sailed for England. In his memorial to Lord George Germain after his arrival, he stated that he had left at the mercy of his enemies a fortune of £50, 000 sterling, chiefly in slaves, and requested that he be given a salary from the beginning of his lieutenant-governorship. The King granted him £300 without back pay. With other fellow officials, he remained in England until after the British reduction of Georgia. Returning to Savannah in July 1779, Graham witnessed d’Estaing’s siege. With Gov. Wright, he lived in a tent outside of the town. A year later, he was at Augusta with 100 men, enforcing the disqualifying act by disarming Whigs and exacting security for their good behavior. In January 1782, he personally received from Lieut. - Gen. Alexander Leslie at Charleston the superintendency of Indian affairs for the Mississippi region with a salary of £500 per annum, £110 a year for rents and office supplies, and perquisites of about £500 annually. The appointment was confirmed by the Crown. When the British and Loyalists evacuated Charleston in July 1782, Graham removed with more than 200 slaves to East Florida, where he received five grants of land of 500 acres for himself and each of his four sons. Clearing and settling three plantations, he placed Lieut. -Col. John Douglas, a fellow refugee from Georgia, in charge, obtained Leslie’s permission to go to England for his health’s sake and named Douglas deputy-superintendent of Indian affairs. Graham sailed about November 1, 1782. A year later his claim for his losses in Georgia was heard in London and he was allowed £400 a year. In order to supplement this income, he became a merchant in London. In November 1786, he presented his East Florida claim and was awarded something more than a thousand pounds. He served as an executor for his brother James, who had plantations in both Georgia and Florida, and as a joint agent in London of Georgia Loyalists for prosecuting their claims. He died at Naples, Italy.

John Graham

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loyalist

Background

John Graham was born in Scotland and emigrated to Georgia in 1753 expecting to inherit a relative’s fortune.

Career

Disappointed in his expectations, Graham engaged in trade in Savannah for a dozen years and was in “great business” in 1760, when he first met Gov. James Wright.

He was appointed a member of the Council in August 1763, on Wright’s recommendation, and soon became the receiver of money from the sales of lands out of the 2, 500, 000 acres ceded by the Creeks and Cherokees.

His income from this source averaged £2, 000 a year. Quitting business for agriculture, by 1776 he had developed three large plantations, had accumulated 262 slaves, and was deriving from his property gross produce of £2, 700 annually.

His troubles began with his opposition in August 1775 to sending delegates to the Continental Congress. On January 19, 1776, the governor and Council were arrested but were paroled the next day.

Fearing rearrest, Graham hid in the swamps until he escaped to the man-of-war Scarborough in the Savannah River. In March, he received his commission as lieutenant-governor, a new office without salary.

His vessel, Inverness, and its cargo were burned by revolutionists, who also destroyed 400 barrels of his rice and his house in Savannah.

By releasing three Whig prisoners he obtained permission from the Council of Safety on May 1 to leave Georgia with the privilege of returning, but he had to give a bond of £10, 000 and pledge his property as security for his creditors.

On May 13, he sailed for England. In his memorial to Lord George Germain after his arrival, he stated that he had left at the mercy of his enemies a fortune of £50, 000 sterling, chiefly in slaves, and requested that he be given a salary from the beginning of his lieutenant-governorship.

The King granted him £300 without back pay. With other fellow officials, he remained in England until after the British reduction of Georgia. Returning to Savannah in July 1779, Graham witnessed d’Estaing’s siege.

With Gov. Wright, he lived in a tent outside of the town. A year later, he was at Augusta with 100 men, enforcing the disqualifying act by disarming Whigs and exacting security for their good behavior.

In January 1782, he personally received from Lieut. - Gen. Alexander Leslie at Charleston the superintendency of Indian affairs for the Mississippi region with a salary of £500 per annum, £110 a year for rents and office supplies, and perquisites of about £500 annually.

The appointment was confirmed by the Crown. When the British and Loyalists evacuated Charleston in July 1782, Graham removed with more than 200 slaves to East Florida, where he received five grants of land of 500 acres for himself and each of his four sons.

Clearing and settling three plantations, he placed Lieut. -Col. John Douglas, a fellow refugee from Georgia, in charge, obtained Leslie’s permission to go to England for his health’s sake and named Douglas deputy-superintendent of Indian affairs.

Graham sailed about November 1, 1782. A year later his claim for his losses in Georgia was heard in London and he was allowed £400 a year.

In order to supplement this income, he became a merchant in London. In November 1786, he presented his East Florida claim and was awarded something more than a thousand pounds.

He served as an executor for his brother James, who had plantations in both Georgia and Florida, and as a joint agent in London of Georgia Loyalists for prosecuting their claims.

He died at Naples, Italy.

Achievements

John Graham was appointed a member of the Council in August 1763, on Wright’s recommendation, and soon became receiver of moneys from the sales of lands out of the 2, 500, 000 acres ceded by the Creeks and Cherokees. His income from this source averaged £2, 000 a year. Quitting business for agriculture, by 1776, he had developed three large plantations, had accumulated 262 slaves, and was deriving from his property a gross produce of £2, 700 annually.

Connections

Probably, in 1755, Graham married Frances Crooke, a grand-daughter of Robert Cunningham of South Carolina.

Wife:: Frances Crooke

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John Graham

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