Thomas Graves and Elizabeth

    

Generation No.  6

 

     125.  Thomas⁶ GRAVES (John⁵, John⁴, Thomas³, John², Captain Thomas¹) was born by 1724 in Spotsylvania County, VA, and died 1792 in Culpeper CO.  VA, (will dated December 11, 1788 and proved June 18, 1792).  He married Elizabeth ???.  She died before 1792.

     Thomas Graves was born by 1724 since he was given 200 acres of land on Muddy Run in Orange County, VA in 1745[1] by his father and should have been at least 21 to have legal ownership.  Since records exist in Orange County detailing the ownership of this land by John⁵ and then Thomas⁶ in 1745, this establishes the relationship between father and son.  He, along with his wife Elizabeth, sold this land on Apr 22, 1757 but now it had become Culpeper County.[2] The maiden name of his wife is unknown but it may have been Sims or Lewis. 

     He died between February 1792 when a codicil to his will was added and June 18, 1792 when his will was proved.  He was the first of our ancestors to have left a known will and lists the children below.  [ed.  Note: Other sources include additional children: William Graves m.  Sarah Fisher, John Graves, Charles Graves m.  Ellender ???, and Richard Grant Graves.] His wife Elizabeth had died by this time since she was not mentioned.  We know from his will he was a cooper (barrel-maker) and a slave owner.  [ed.  Note: Lewis Graves, Elizabeth Sims, and Anne Jones are listed as heirs and each listed as heads of household in the 1790 Federal census of Laurens County, SC.  Since Lewis is characterized as acting for the other "legatees in Carolina" we can conclude that our Lewis Graves of Laurens County, SC is the son of this Thomas Graves.  Further proof is provided by the will of Dr.  John Creecy of Laurens County which names his wife Elizabeth Creecy and her children by Zechariah Sims.[3]]

 

The Will of Thomas Graves of Culpeper County, VA[4]

 

     In the name of God, Amen.  I, Thomas Graves of County of Culpeper, being weak in body but of sound mind do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following.  After my just debts are paid, my negroes shall be valued and equally amongst my children be divided as follows:

 

     To Thomas Graves one equal part to him and his heirs, to Lewis Graves one equal part to him and his heirs, James Graves one equal part to him and his heirs, Philip Graves in like manner, Joseph Graves the same (that is to him and his heirs), Henrietta Hudson one equal part to her and her heirs, Elizabeth Sims one equal part during her natural life then be equally divided amongst her children, Mary Haynes one equal part to her and her heirs, Lewis Graves one equal part in trust for the benefit of my daughter Ann Jones during her natural life, then to be equally divided amongst her children (by her first husband Richard Waite) or the survivors of them, Francis Wait one equal part to her and her heirs forever.

 

     Item 1:    I give my tract of land on Crooked Run to my two sons, Philip and Joseph Graves to be equally divided between them and their heirs forever.

 

     Item 2:   I give unto my son Philip the choice of my horses, also my coopers tools.

 

     Item 3:   I give unto my son Joseph the second choice of my horses with my riding saddle, also one bed and furniture and my wearing clothes.

 

     Item 4:   I desire that the residue of my estate shall be sold to the highest bidder or bidders on twelve months credit and the monies arising therefrom be equally divided amongst all my children in the same manner as my negroes are to be divided after paying my son Lewis ten pounds which I give him for the extraordinary trouble he may be in acting for Ann Jones and the other legatees in Carolina.

 

     Lastly do I appoint Col.  Henry Hill, Joseph Stewart, and my sons Thomas, Lewis, and Philip Graves executors of this my Last Will and Testament.  In witness thereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this Eleventh day of December one thousand seven hundred and eighty-eight.

 

     Presence of:      William Powell                                    Thomas /s/ Graves

                             William Pratt

                             Obed Wait

 

CODICIL

 

     It is my will that the tract of land on Crooked Run given as within to my sons Philip and Joseph shall be sold and the money arising therefrom applied to the payment of my just debts.  It is my further will that my negro woman Fanny shall not be appraised among the rest but on my decease shall have her liberty and receive the benefit of her own labor.  Further that Elizabeth Simms share equally with my other children and I do hereby discharge my son Lewis as trustee for her as within and I do revoke the legacy of ten pounds to him.  Given under my hand and seal this (blank) day of February 1792.

 

     Presence of:      Elijah Beckham                                    Thomas /s/ Graves

                             Jas.  Simms, Jr.

 

     At a Court held for Culpeper County the 18th Day June 1792

 

     This Last Will and Testament of Thomas Graves, decd., was exhibited to the court by Thomas and Philip Graves, two of the Executors therein named and was proved by the oaths of William Powell and Thomas Pratt, two of the witnesses thereto and together with the codicil thereto annexed which was proved by the oaths of Elijah Beckham and James Simms, Jr., Witnesses thereto and is ordered to be recorded.  And on the motion of the said Executors, Certificate is granted them for obtaining a probate thereof in due form having made oath thereto and given bond and security according to Law, Liberty being reserved to the other Executors therein named to qualify when they think fit.

 

 

 

Children of Thomas GRAVES and Elizabeth ???

164 Thomas⁷ GRAVES, born September 1747 in Culpeper CO.  VA; died March 12, 1834 in Lincoln CO, MO.

+165 Lewis GRAVES, Esq., born by 1751 in Culpeper CO, VA; died May 11, 1810 in Laurens CO, SC (Wait Family Bible).

166 Elizabeth GRAVES, born about 1752 in Culpeper CO.  VA; died 1839.

167 Philip GRAVES, born about 1760 in Culpeper CO.  VA.  He married Elizabeth JONES September 25, 1785 in Culpeper CO.  VA.

168 James GRAVES, born about 1765; died December 1811 in New Madrid, MO.  He married (1) Elizabeth PRATT 1782 He married (2) Elizabeth PARNELL September 08, 1809.

169 Joseph GRAVES, born about 1767 in Culpeper CO.  VA.  He married Nellie BRANHAM January 01, 1800 in Culpeper CO.  VA.

170 Henrietta GRAVES, born about 1769 in Culpeper CO.  VA.  She married ??? HUDSON

171 Mary GRAVES, born about 1770 in Culpeper CO.  VA.  She married ??? HAYNES

172 Anne GRAVES, born about 1755 in Culpeper CO.  VA; died before 1850 in Abbeville District, SC.  She married 1^st.  Richard Waite, 2^nd.  ? Jones.  She had at least two children by Richard Waite, Elizabeth and James.  It is unknown whether she had children by Mr.  Jones.

173 Frances GRAVES, born about 1762 in Culpeper Co.  VA; died about 1844 in Laurens CO, SC.  She married John Waite of Culpeper Co.  VA on December 11, 1781 in Culpeper Co.  VA (Wait Family Bible).

174 William Thomas GRAVES, born 1755 in Culpeper CO, VA; died 1833 in Mackville, Washington CO, KY (not mentioned in father's will).

175 John GRAVES, (not mentioned in father's will).

176 Charles GRAVES, died March 1798 (not mentioned in father's will).  He married Ellender ???

177 Richard Grant GRAVES, (not mentioned in father's will).

 

Notes for #s 174, 175, 176, & 177: More research and DNA studies indicate that these four men were not sons of Thomas Graves & Elizabeth.   As of yet these men cannot be placed correctly.   However, Michael Graves has much on his site about Thomas Sims Graves at www.tsgraves.com.

 

 

Main researcher is Thomas Graves.   If you have any information to share, please contact Amanda Dicken at tdicken@cswnet.com.

 

 

 

This page was last updated October 30, 2005.