I became intrigued when I was
assisting the San Patricio Co TX website for USGENWEB with cemetery surveys to
find graves of another family with a similar surname. I haven’t
found a connection to my particular line out of colonial Virginia, but I have
found some remarkable documentation for this family.
VA Grooms Family
Levi Grooms, LTN Virginia Line, REV WAR, VA Stafford County, killed at Battle of Brandywine 1777
John Grooms, VA Stafford
County
Children of John Grooms filed claim for REV WAR bounty land entitled to uncle Levi Grooms who was killed at Battle of Brandywine. They received approximately 2200 acres in KY 7/20/1833. Since they were in the Hickman,Fulton,Grant County areas of KY, I have assumed that the land grant was in that area.
1. Horatio
Grooms, Horatio Grooms, b 2/2/1792 VA died in Travis Co TX; Lt then Major-KY Dragoons see Journal of the executive proceedings of the Senate of the United States of America 1829-1837 for appointment 6/11/1836; Col. Of Texas Militia Independent Republic of Texas.
He served in the 17th Reg. KY Militia, Francisco’s Unit War of 1812, served as constable of Hickman Co KY in 1830s, resided with his family in home of Texas Pres. Mirabeau Lamar at Austin TX in 1846 while his home was being completed (also see reference to historical Grooms annex in old Austin at City of Austin website)
Daughter, Sarah b 1827 married TX Senator Joseph Lee 1841. Their son Horatio Grooms Lee became a notorious marshal of Austin TX during early days of Statehood.
Son, Judge
Alfred Grooms, Son Judge Alfred Grooms, TX, b1821 KY ,died mid 1890s Travis Co TX. See 1880 Travis Co TX census. Served as examiner for General Land Office then president of Grooms Hardware in 1891. Wife Elizabeth T of MO and daughter Bettie b1854 TX. See Grooms and Bettie Sts in Austin TX
2. Elizabeth
Grooms, VA
3. Dr Hiram Butler Grooms, native of Culpepper Co VA, was reared in Scott co KY. Practiced medicine at Vevay, Ind., then at Hickman, KY. Relocated to Elkton, KY about 1838 where he practiced until his death, October 6, 1857. He married Nancy Hanna of Allensville, daughter of Stephen Hanna, Sr., native of PA, and Elizabeth Forman. Early biography of Dr. Stephen Grooms indicated that Dr Hiram was a brother to Col. Horatio Grooms of KY. Dr. Hiram was not one of the petitioners for the land grant.
Son, Dr. Stephen Hanna Grooms of Elkton, Todd Co KY.
4. F Harrison
Grooms, VA, probably the Francis Grooms who served in the 17th
Reg. KY Militia, Francisco’s Unit War of 1812
5. Thornton
Grooms, b1797 VA, d in Travis Co TX in home of nephew Alfred Grooms-- see 1880 Travis Co TX census.
6. Charles H.
Grooms, VA 1799, d in 1850’s Grant Co KY., served in 17th Reg., KY Militia, Francisco’s Unit War of 1812. Wife was Mary. (There was a Benjamin Proctor aged 70 of VA in the household on the 1850 Grant Co KY census which may imply that Maria was a Proctor.)
Children: Susan Grooms b1833, KY; John Grooms, b 1835, KY; Mary Grooms, b1841, KY; Sarah Grooms, b 1843, KY; Benjamin H Grooms, b 1846, KY; James Grooms, b 1849 KY; Charles W Grooms
Son, Charles W.
Grooms, b1839 KY, d in Hays Co TX. Served as a magistrate in Hays Co TX courts. Was married to Mary “Molly” Greenwood, b1848 TX. Probable daughter of William and Caroline Greenwood of GA who were in Hays Co on 1880 census, all of GA.
Children: George Grooms b 1867; Frank Grooms b 1869; Ford Grooms b1873, Emmitt H B 1883, Martin O., b1886, Charles Louis b 1871
Son, Charles Louis Grooms b 1871 Hays Co TX, d 1932 San Patricio Co TX, Mathis TX Cemetery. Wife was Sallie Ada Chesser Grooms, b 1874 TX d 1965 San Patricio Co TX, Mathis TX Cemetery. She was daughter of Drayton A Chesser and Frances Acree Chesser. Their child Lois Grooms b TX 1897-1971 San Patricio Co TX, Mathis TX Cemetery, married Tom Wagnon. Children were Eileen Wagnon and Norma Wagnon.
Son, Martin O Grooms and wife Mattie went to Edwards Co TX. Martin O Jr was born 1911, daughter “Charlie” was born 1916, Howard B was born 1923. Martin O Grooms, Jr 3/28/1911 died in Kent, King Co WA 5/27/2001.
Submitted by
Marvin and Ann Groom Lenz 8/2011
