In the year 1740, Patrick Gracey, his sister, Jean Gracey Knox, and her husband, John Knox (not the Reformer), along with others, emigrated from Coleraine, Ireland, to America. { Note: Jean Gracey Knox and husband, John, were great-grandparents of JAMES KNOX POLK (1795-1849), the 11th President of the United States. } The winds being unfavorable, three months were required for the voyage; and food and water ran short. It is said that "when the ship sailed from Ireland, Patrick Gracey wore a pair of new tight-fitting buckskin pants, which lapped over considerably at the time when the vessel reached its destination."
By some, it is thought that Patrick Gracey came first to Pennsylvania and later moved to North Carolina; by others, that he landed in Charleston, South Carolina. After coming to North Carolina, he probably lived for some time in Mecklenburg County, but later established his home near the headwaters of Back Creek, about three miles northeast of Mooresville, in Cool Spring Township, where he lived until his death. Patrick is supposed to have been granted land from Lord Granville in 1750. His homesite of some 640 acres became a part of Anson County in 1749, a part of Rowan County in 1753, and a part of Iredell County in 1788. Patrick Gracey was too old to serve as a soldier in the Revolutionary War, so as a patriot, he furnished a wagon, called "wagoning", to carry supplies.@S7@ |
John Gracey
Jean Sinclair
Birth