John Graham

John Graham (the elder) is said to have been born at Morrisania, Westchester County in 1756. We seek information on his origins and road to Albany.

A number of John Grahams were living in New York and its environs during the era of the American Revolution. The future early Albany resident was an officer in the Revolutionary army - reaching the rank of Major in the "Albany Regiment" of the New York Line. He is said to have participated in the expedition against the Iroquois in 1779.

From the beginning of the war, Captain and then Major John Graham seems to have been on duty in the vicinity of Albany and serving the needs of the Albany Committee and then the Commissioners for Detecting and Defeating Conspiracies.

In November 1778, at the Albany Dutch church he married Debora Staats, the daughter of a prominent businessman and landholder. Beginning in 1780, the marriage began to produce children.

In March 1779, his personal property was valued under the second ward house of Jochem Staats. A decade later, his house and lot received a separate assessment. In 1790, his household was configured on the census for the third ward.

After that, he appears to have left Albany. Perhaps they re-located to Schuylerville.

Major John Graham is said to have died in Schuyler, Herkimer County on May 7, 1832. Perhaps he was the John Graham who is buried in the family cemetery on Staats Island.

Sources: The life of John Graham "the elder" is CAP biography number 8219. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.