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The origin of the David and James Traynham Cemeteries

Written by Wayne S. Traynham September 22, 1991

(David Traynham is Wayne’s great-great-great-great grandfather)

Added to by J. Carroll Traynham

NOTE:

In the spring of 1985 the Bowater Paper Company pulp wood workers had pushed all of the brush

in the field around the James Traynham Cemetery into the cemetery and set it on fire. I found the man in

charge, James Potts. I “raised hell” and told him it was illegal for him to destroy a cemetery. This same

company had destroyed the Jesse French Cemetery on Saluda River. Jesse’s wife was Aleatha Traynham,

(Clemmon’s sister).

In the fall of 1988 we stopped the same people just before they entered the David Traynham

Cemetery. I thought we, the Traynhams, should try to buy the cemetery from Bowater. I did not know at

the time that the Traynhams still owned the David Traynham Cemetery, which consisted of about an acre

of land. Carroll got a copy of South Carolina laws; called Bowater and explained the law that it was a

large fine to destroy or damage a cemetery.

After Clemmon died, John and Nimrod Traynham, sons of Clemmon, realized Hewlet Sullivan

owned the David Traynham Cemetery. They were farsighted enough to buy the cemetery from Hewlet.

They bought it for $1.00 and got a deed for the land. Carroll and I agreed that he would raise funds to

work on these cemeteries if I would supervise since he lives in Charleston and could not be here all the

time.

As I have said before, I thought Hewlet Sullivan had bought the land and over the years it had

gotten into the hands of Bowater Paper Company.

Katherine Hester, (Katherine’s mother was a Traynham she was our genealogist), and Carroll

Traynham located the deed made to John and Nimrod Traynham in 1885 for the cemetery. Katherine

located the deed in the courthouse in Greenville, she had copies made and mailed it to Carroll. Katherine

and Carroll, who was the president of the Traynham reunion, spent a lot of time in the court house and the

Greenville County Library looking for documents on the Traynhams. Hewlet called the land at the

cemetery “my stone place”. In the deed Hewlet called the David Traynham Plantation “my stone place”

because before he bought it, it was referred to as the Masten and Mary (Traynham) Stone place. James

Potts of Bowater Paper Co called Carroll and said we could not rebuild the road to the cemetery. Carroll

told Potts we have a bull dozer coming tomorrow and I have the deed to the property and that ended that

problem. Carroll ask me to get a survery and he would raise the funds for it and it was completed.

Carroll and I could see the pulp wood company was determined to destroy the James Traynham

Cemetery, across the road from David Traynham’s Cemetery. Bowater had overturned all nine stones in

the cemetery and had broken four of them. I wrote Patti Woods in Tampa, Florida, asking permission to

move the nine graves in the James Traynham Cemetery to the David Traynham Cemetery. I knew Patti’s

husband was a descendent of James Traynham. Carroll filmed both cemeteries while all the head stones

were on the ground.

I mailed pictures of the cemetery with the stones broken and lying on the round. Patti wanted me

to get in touch with Carlisle Phillips in North Carolina, who was also a descendent of James Traynham.

Carlisle came to look at the cemetery and thought it was a good idea to move it, but thought he should

talk to Patti first. Carlisle and Patti did help pay for some of the expenses. Claude Graden and I moved

the nine graves to the David Traynham Cemetery. I think everyone was pleased that we moved the

graves to land owned by the Traynhams.

Carroll and I worked a number of years looking at cemeteries in lower Greenville Co. for David

Traynhams original family members. Carroll’s first book has information on the locations. We have not

located where Mary T. Reid or Elizabeth T. Brownlee are buried. Carroll has some information on

Elizabeth. We put a new stone at Frances’ grave at Rabon Creek Church; she was 89 years old.

2

As work started on the David Traynham cemetery Carroll formed work parties to start clearing

the cemetery a number of Saturdays before the reunion on Sunday. We had lunch planned and the first

Saturday we had about twenty workers, and Claude Graden also was with us. The Medlock family was

always in attendance.

One Saturday we had William Williams and Edward Traynham from Mississippi and help but we

had a smaller group. We had other family members that helped me when it was not a reunion week such

Tommy Sinn, Donnie Woods and Joe Nicholson. Hired help was Claude Graden.

On another Saturday we had our first burial service of George Ervin Traynham born 1899 lived in

Pennsylvania, and lived in this area as a boy. Carroll did the service from the prayer book. Claude Graden

opened a space in the ground for us and closed his remains. Carroll made a talk about where David’s,

William Williams, James, Clemmon’s and James Jasper’s homes were located; also where John’s store

was located and about his death. He told about William’s family moving to Mississippi. He talked about

his father Jessie, born 1899, and George Ervin, born 1899, walking by these cemeteries when they were

boys. They would be on their way to Hickory Tavern on Saturday night to listen to the music. Carroll and

Jamie, a number of times on their way to Greenville, would meet me at the cemetery and work for short

periods of time or they would come to our house and visit and do some planning.

Written By Wayne S. Traynham

The following is an account of the David Traynham family:

In 1792, David and Kerenhappuch Traynham moved their entire family, except Benjamin, from

Halifax County, Virginia to lower Greenville County, South Carolina. They had bought 160 acres on

Horse Creek, in lower Greenville County near Princeton. This is where David and family settled.

The children that moved with David and Kerenhappuch were: David, Jr., William, James, John,

Mary (“Polly”), Fannie, Elizabeth and Dolly. Dolly had married William Williams before leaving

Halifax.

Shortly after David and family moved to South Carolina, William and Dolly bought 145 acres

across the road from David’s farm. By the year 1817, William and Dolly had a large family of growing

sons and daughters. That same year Will Williams and sons had become restless and were looking for

something better.

Will sold his farm to his brother-in –law, James Traynham. Then Will and family moved to Ruth,

Mississippi. After Will and family moved to Ruth, James and Elizabeth Taylor Traynham and family

started living on the farm they had bought, which was across the road from David and Kerenhappuch

Vaughn Traynham’ s farm.

In 1818 John, the son of David died. As far as we know John was the first Traynham to be buried

in the David Traynham Cemetery. There were some members of the Hamilton family buried there before

John. This was the beginning of the David Traynham Cemetery. David, Sr. died in 1825.In 1826

Kerenhappuch Vaughn Traynham died.

In 1828, Zenus, a great grandson of David died and was buried in the David Traynham Cemetery.

Zenus was the son of Clemmon and Elizabeth Rice Traynham. Clemmon was the grandson of David, Sr.

and the son of William and Rebecca Poole Traynham.

Over the years, Clemmon, his wife Elizabeth, one or two babies, sons Zenus, Clemmon V.,

Waddy and George were buried in the David Traynham Cemetery. William and Rebecca Poole

Traynham are also buried there. The dates are as follows:

Clemmon V. died in 1859

Waddy, son of Clemmon died in 1862

Clemmon died in 1885

Elizabeth died in 1886

In 1834 James and Elizabeth had a baby daughter named Martha to die, James and Elizabeth

buried her on their farm across the road from the David Traynham Cemetery. Martha was the first to be

buried in the James Traynham Cemetery. Through the years James, his wife Elizabeth, six children and a

grandson were buried there. When David Traynham bought the cemetery in 1792, he also bought all of

the surrounding land.

In 1835 Clemmon, Elizabeth and children decided to buy land and move across the creek (Horse

Creek). They bought the land which is now on Flat Rock Road. Four of Clemmon and Elizabeth’s

children were already born when they moved.

In 1847 Rebecca, wife of William died. William and Rebecca were still living on the David

Traynham Plantation near the cemetery. Rebecca was buried in the cemetery. William was left alone at

the age of 68. That same year, William deeded the David Traynham Plantation to his daughter Mary

“Polly” and son-in-law Masten Stone. William did not live with Mary and Master long.

In 1850 the census shows William living with his daughter Aleatha and son-in-law Jesse French.

The 1860 census shows William had moved back to Horse Creek and was living with son Clemmon.

In 1861 William died and was buried near his wife Rebecca in the David Traynham Cemetery.

Three years before Mary Stone, William’s daughter died and was buried near her Mother.

Masten Stone and children were living on the David Traynham Plantation in 1858 after Mary

died. The 1860 census shows Masten had married Mahla Mattison.

In 1865 Masten Stone died. Some of Masten’s children had died before 1865. Micajah, son of

Masten died in the Civil War in 1862. Micajah had married and had children before he died.

Shortly after Masten died the David Traynham Plantation was sold to Hewlet Sullivan. Clemmon

and Elizabeth were still living across the creek from the David Traynham Plantation in 1885 when

Clemmon died. Clemmon’s wife and children buried him in the Traynham Cemetery with his

grandparents, his parents, brothers-in-law and his sons.

This section consists of Traynham family pages, family pictures (jpeg or IMG), and past original members of the Traynham Reunion memories. 

I'd like to give special appreciation to the following people responsible for contributing to information found in the "Red Book".

Erskine E. Traynham, Past President

Jasper Carroll Traynham, President

Wayne Shuman Traynham, Vice President

James Anderson Otis Medlock, Historian

Jamie L. Traynham, Secretary/Treasurer

Betty Traynham McConnell, Building & Supplies

Frances Traynham Swanson, Pictorial Directory

Katherine Hester, Genealogist

Bruce T. Traynham

Bobbie L. Woodward

Dora Traynham Armstrong

Debbie Traynham Adams

Mrs. H. V. Traynahm

Mrs. William B. Traynahm

Richard C. Traynham

Palmer Traynham

James & Dorothy Williams

Edward L. Traynham

Betty M. Luce

Robert B. Paslay

Evelyn Traynham Perrymon

Patricia D. Woods

Mrs. James L. Brownlee

Helen Traynham Crisp

Ella P. Traynham

Tiffany Traynham Klappenbach

Mrs. Paul W. Murrill

Fay Traynham Whitehead

Mrs. W. H. Traynham

Mrs. C. M. Jenkins

 IMG 8244-8255

December 2010 at Martin and Janie Traynham home.

Research of family history has been made easier since many exhaustive hours of library and micro fische searches. Building on past researchers leads through networking and collaboration of Genealogy archival societies has been responsible for reconstructing lost or missing records. Mr. Jasper Carroll Traynham in the 2010 Traynham Reunion book, posed a hypothesis that “Could Stephen Trainum be potential father of Charles Traynham? Citing given, “a Stephen Trainum was recorded as “godson relationship” to a Stephen Edward Manwarring”. 

I wrote to Traynham blogs and family boards of both ancestry.com and Virginia Colonial History Society with the phrase “ searching for leads on a Stephen Traynham, “godson “ relationship to Stephen Edward Manwarring” and a hint arrived in February 2023 with a 1699 Will of Stephen Edward Manwarring listing his daughter as Mrs. Susannah Trainum and three other children with wife Jane Manwarring. Confirmation of Stephen Trainum as Charles father is Virginia County Records Book Will of Susannah Manwarring Trainum in 1705. Virginia County Records Book of Will of Stephen Edward Manwarring listed grandson John Jones and “godson” Stephen Trainum and signatures of witnesses Neb. Jones and Rowland Thornton; 6 Oct 1699 Richmond County Wills Book. 

Now we have four generations from Charles Traynham. Virginia Archival Society had been working on reconstructing Colonial Virginia records since 2007 and releasing them to Virginia Archival Records Books in late 2018, after most of the originals were destroyed by fires during 1862-1864 of the War Between the States (Civil War). 

1) Stephen Trainum born 21 Mar 1678- Old Sittingborne Parish, (south of the Rappahannock River)- In 1704, St. Anne’s Parish was formed  from the Essex portion of Old Sittingbourne Parish.  Stephen married Susannah Rebecca Manwarring before March 1699- Old Sittingbourne Parish, Virginia. Stephen died abt 1760-Westmoreland, VA and Susannah died in 1705 at sister Elizabeth Manwarring home Periquimans, North Carolina.

2) Thomas Trainum born 26 Dec 1641- Leake township, Yorkshire County, England, married 01 Oct 1677- Brede near Hastings, East Sussex, England to Elizabeth Webb born 26 Apr 1665- Burwash near Ticehurst, East Sussex, England. Thomas and Elizabeth were the first immigrants to establish in Virginia Colony about 1677. Thomas died 1686- Westmoreland County, VA and Elizabeth died 11 Jan 1688 in Brede near Hastings, East Sussex, England.

3) Robert Trainum born Apr 1619, baptized 10 Nov 1619- Spofforth, All Saints Parish, Yorkshire, England, married 22 Mar 1641 in Saint Andrew the Great Parish, Cambridge county, England to Elizabeth Wright born 1624- Cambridge County, England. Robert died abt 1660 and Elizabeth died abt 1661. Both are buried in Spofforth, All Saints Parish, Yorkshire, England.

4) Xavier of Xeter Tranum born abt 1595 – Spofforth, All Saints Parish, Yorkshire County, England, married Mary or Marianne of Chelford(unknown maiden name) born abt 1597- Chelford, Cheshire County, England. Both died sometime after 1630 burial in Spofforth, All Saints Parish, Yorkshire County, England.

Next challenge was finding wife and family of Charles Traynham father of our David Traynham, Sr.  In late December 2022, a gentleman named Charles Boetsch answered my email on the find a grave site. He was recording documentation from newly discovered research and ran across a family of Charles Traynham and wife Lydia Griswell buried in unmarked graves since Old Reedy church Burial Grounds are all that remain of area as the Reedy Creek Church burned during Civil War.

Charles Traynham born 1702 St. Margaret’s Parish, Louisa County, Virginia, married 1724- Drysdale Parish, Essex County, Virginia to Lydia Griswell born 1705- Drysdale Parish, Essex County, Virginia. Virginia Property Records Book lists Lydia Griswell inherited as her dowry, property from her father Samuel Griswell originally purchased in 1688 in South Farnham Parish, Essex County, Virginia.

Children are listed as:

1) Samuel Trainum born 1725- South Farnham Parish, Essex County, Virginia

2) John Trainum born 1728- South Farnham Parish, Essex County, Virginia

3) William Trainum born 1731 or 1733- Drysdale Parish, Caroline County, Virginia.

4) Joshua Trainum born 1734- Drysdale Parish, Caroline County, Virginia.

5) Hannah Trainum born 1737- Drysdale Parish, Caroline County, Virginia.

6) Charles Reuben Traynham 1740- Drysdale Parish, Caroline County, Virginia.

7) David Traynham, Sr. 1745-1746- St. Margaret’s Parish, Caroline County, Virginia. In 1741, Charles and Lydia Griswell Traynham purchased 70 acres across Mattaponi River from Essex County property, near Reedy Creek Church.

In 1745-1746, Lydia would have been 39 or 40 years old at her last child David Traynham, Sr. birth. We know Charles Traynham died April 1779 and Lydia was deceased between 1750-to before 1779. Reedy Church Records are reconstructed estimates since original documents were burned in the Old Reedy Church during Civil War.

Lastly, after tracing ancestors of Nancy Olsen Nelson book from her great grandmother Elizabeth Jane Traynham who married William Uriah Roper to her 2nd great grandfather Jeremiah Traynham. Simultaneously I discovered in Roger Hulsey/Robert Glenn Traynham book discovered William Marshall Traynham as their great grandfather. Consequently, it was discovered a label Jeremiah-Willis-Obediah as ancestors. While doing research on Jeremiah Traynham and his children found on census records of Daucusville, SC; discovered William Marshall and Elizabeth Jane were his last two children, making a link of Jeremiah Traynham as common 2nd great grandfather in both books; Nancy Olsen Nelson and Robert Glenn Traynham/ Roger Hulsey.

Here are the ancestry of both Nancy and Robert:

              Nancy Olsen Nelson                       Robert Glenn Traynham

Gr-grand  Elizabeth Jane Traynham                   William Marshall Traynham 

                                                   (both shared common ancestors)

2nd great                                                   Jeremiah Traynham

3rd great                                                   Willis Trainum

4th great                                                   Obediah Trainum

5th great                                                   Samuel Trainum

6th great                                                   Charles Traynham

This closes the question of link relationship of  Nancy Olsen Nelson and Robert Glenn Traynham/ Roger Hulsey books with David Traynham, Sr. family. Our David Traynham Sr. is younger brother to their ancestor Samuel Trainum.

Marlon D. Bourque, Traynham Family Historian

John Trainum and Mary Turner

1. William Trainum b. 1754 (married 1st-Sarah         and 2nd Nancy Noel

2. John Trainum b. 1756 married Martha Owen

3. Reuben Trainum b. 1760 married _____?___

4. Mary Trainum b. 1764 married Reuben Tyler

5. Susannah Trainum b. 22Jun1766 married Francis Griffin

6. Lazarus Trainum b. 15Oct1771 1st Judith Owen, 2nd Frances Taylor

7. Hannah Trainum b. 1774 married 1st ___?__ Hester, 2nd Stephenton Toney

Notes on John Trainum:

On 15 Nov 1755, John Trainum was ordered to repay his debt of 2 pounds, 14 shillings, and 11 pence to John Allmond by the Caroline County Court.

By 1758, John Trainum had relocated to Old Granville County (present day Vance County) North Carolina where he was an overseer on the plantation of John Sims in Nutbush District through 1761.

On 3 Sep 1760, John Trainum and his brother William Trainum were jurors of case (Blagrave vs Townsend) in Lunenburg County VA; which at that time abutted  northern border odf Granville County, North Carolina.

On 7May1761, the Lunenburg County of Virginia Court dismissed the case of George Pitt avs John Trainum. William Trainum served as witness for his brother. Both Trainum brothers also served as witness on jury together same day on case of Brassie vs Wagstaff.

By 1762, John Trainum was working as an overseer  for William Sims of the Nutbush District, Granville County North Carolina.

On 7Mar1762, John Trainum witnessed a deed of sale of land on Great Nutbush Creek in Granville County, North Carolina (present day Vance County, North Carolina) from Luke Waldrup to William Sims.

On 25 Oct 171763, John Trainum witnessed a deed for the gift of property on Little Nutbush Creek in Granville County North Carolina from Luke Waldop to his son James Waldrop.

In 1764, John Trainum was working as an overseer on property of John Williams (son of Daniel Williams) of Nutbush District, Granville County, North Carolina.

Later in the md-1760's, John Trainum is no longer found in Granville County, as possibility, he left for safty of Halifax County Virginia, during period of growing unrest and discontentment with the colonial government of Nutbush Creek District, North Carolina. 

On 18Aug 1772, John Trainum was listed in the account book of John Williams of Williamsborough, Granville County, North Carolina.

In 1774, John Trainum was on Tax Rolls of Granville County, North Carolina.

John Trainum was an overseer at "Montpelier Plantation" of John Williams (son of John Williams, Sr.) for 10 months from Apr 1777 to Feb 1778, while John Williams, Jr. served in the North Carolina House of Commons. John Williams Jr., also was later a member of the 1778 Continental Congress and a State of North Carolina Supreme Court judge from 1779 until his death. John Williams ledger reflects the account of John Trainum property, a saddle, wheat, corn, sugar, molasses, brandy, and cloth; including "1 & 1/2 yrds linen to make your boy a shirt."

On 17 Jan 1778, John Trainum was serving on property of Augustine Davis as overseer when he witnessed a deed for the sale of land on Michael Creek from Augustine Davis and wife (Molly (born Mary Jeter) and Absalom Davis to John Penn in Granville County Court records.

On 22 May 1778, John Trainum took an oath of allegiance to the patriot cause while an inhabitant of the Island Creek District of Granville County, North Carolina.

By 1780, John Trainum had returned to the Nutbush Creek District of Granville county,, soon to be known as Vance County of North Carolina after 1788. John Trainum died in Nutbush District of Ganville County North Carolina in 1788. 

William Traynham 1731-1733 was an older brother of David Traynham Sr.

William Traynham married abt 1759- Lunenburg VA (1) Anne Toombs 1742-1792. 

Children:

1. John Traynham 1760

2. Peter Traynham 1761

3. Sarah Elizabeth Traynham 1763 m. Isaac  Gore

4. Martha Ann "Patsy" Toombs Traynham 1765-1840 m. Daniel Malone- Greene County Georgia.

5. Frances Traynham 1769-1805 ? m. Benjamin Lawson (Rev. soldier) of Charlotte County, VA

The following ?childrten are listed on 1780 census Halifax County, VA (more research is needed to prove- added as temporary)

Bannister Traynum 1778

Jameson Traynum 1778

Nathaniel Traynum 1779- 20 Nov 1819- Dogwood, Harrison County, Indiana

* Anne Toombs died early 1792

William Traynham remarried 10 May 1793-Halifax County VA

Mildred "Milley" Redmond or Redman abt 1763- aft 1812- Halifax County VA

Children: 

1. William Traynham Jr. abt 1794

2. Leannah Traynham Feb 1796

***(cited from Molly at rufuskin2011@yahoo.com)

***more information from this line coming soon!