“The Grayson Family,” an unpublished family history, has proven to be a valuable primary source document. Copies in our possession consist of 47 8 ½” x 14” sheets, typed and double-spaced. The history was compiled in 1877 with additions through the early/mid 1890s. John Breckenridge Grayson Jr. (1835-1897, Grayson reference #3311) is the inferred author, relying heavily on the ca. 1840s papers of Lund Washington (1767-1853, ref. #25) with additional input from Peter G. Washington (1798-1872, ref. #254) and Frederick William Spence Grayson Jr. (1818-1901, ref. #2221). So what do their reference numbers mean?
Genealogy Numbering Systems
The Grayson manuscript includes hundreds of Christian names and dozens of matrimonial surnames, many re-used/re-ordered for succeeding generations. A precise family relationship, therefore, is often a puzzle. After spending some months trying to unscramble connections, I decided I needed some sort of system to precisely identify each individual in the family tree.
“Why in the world would anyone want to assign ID numbers to a bunch of dead relatives?”
William Dollarhide
Bill Dollarhide dedicates his 44-page genealogy numbering guidebook1 to “genealogists, family historians, and obsessive dead relative seekers,” clearly including himself among the obsessives. He answers his introductory “why” question thusly: “I.D. numbers can act as part of a 12-step program, not to cure, but to ease the addiction.” Within the booklet, Bill names, explains, and provides examples of common genealogy numbering systems and organizing techniques, and examines the benefits and limits for each.
The Henry System
The more expansive Henry System seemed to answer best for my purposes, albeit with some minor tweaks. It begins with a particular patriarch, then assigns each descendant a unique number based on birth order, each succeeding digit indicating a new generation.
Our American family patriarchs are Benjamin Grayson (1684-1757) and Susannah Monroe Grayson (1695-1742) of Prince William County, Virginia. The couple had four children – Benjamin II (1730-1768, ref. #1), future Anglican minister Spence Monroe (1734-1798, ref #2) future Revolutionary War patriot and U.S. Senator William (1736-1790, ref #3), and Susannah Monroe (Orr, 1743-1822, ref. #4.)
As examples, Lund Washington, author of the 1840s papers referenced above, married Susannah M. Grayson 25, 5th child of Rev. Spence M. Grayson #2. Peter G. Washington 254 was the 4th child of Lund and Susannah, and the grandson of Rev. Spence. Manuscript author J.B. Grayson Jr. 3331 is the great-grandson of Sen. William Grayson #3. Our beloved grandfather Leon Harman Grayson 2(10)1115 (1906-1993) descends from Rev. Spence’s 10th child John Robinson Grayson 2(10), patriarch of the Georgia Graysons. The system can become somewhat cumbersome, especially where 10 or more children are involved as in the last example, but thus far it has helped immensely in my family research journey. A partial genealogy of Benjamin Grayson 1 follows.
Digital Manuscript Copy
I have transcribed the 1877 Grayson Family manuscript into a digital word document. If it can be of help to you, you may download it below. The Grayson genealogy is a work in progress, though certain portions are as complete as I intend them to be. Please leave a comment or use the “Contact Us” form for additional requests, questions, or just to let me know what you think.
1 Dollarhide, William, Genealogical Identification Numbering: Ancestors, Descendants, Collaterals, 2023, Family Roots Publishing, Orting, Washington
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