- The Will of Thomas Graves of Spotsylvania 1767
I, Thomas Graves of the County of Spotsylvania thru the abundant mercy and goodness of God, though weak in body yet of a sound and of perfect understanding and memory do make ordain and constitute this my last will and testament as follows, primis, I commend myself and the whole of my estate to the mercy and protection of Almighty God, etc. I will and ordain that the funeral of my body be only such as shall beseem a Christian at the discretion of my Executors, hereinafter named. I lend to my wife Anne Graves for and during her natural life two Negro slaves Daniel and Margery. I also lend to her all of my tract of land whereon I now live in Spotsylvania County, likewise a third part of the profits arising from my mill, she paying one third part toward repairing the said mill. I also lend to my wife one third part of the stocks of cattle, horses, pigs, etc. I also lend to my wife all of my stock of household and kitchen furniture during her natural life and after my said wife?s death, my will and desire is that what I have here lent be equally divided amongst all my then surviving children or the heirs of such as shall be dead. Son, Thomas Graves, son in law Wm. Pettus and my nephew Joseph Graves Executors
Thomas Graves
Signed, October 17th in the year of our Lord 1767
Signed, Sealed, Published and Declared by the above named Thomas Graves for and as his last will and testament in presence of us and in his presence we subscribed our names as witness:
Francis Merriwether, James Smith, John Graves Jr., James Smith, Doctor, and William MacGehee.
John Graves Jr., who witnessed the will, is believed to have been John Graves Jr.3, son of Thomas Graves2' brother, John Graves2 and brother of Joesph Graves3. Source: John Graves of Northamptonshire, Revisted By Robert L. Atteberry and Carmen J. Rosado (Last updated February 2011).
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Probated, June 6, 1768
Source: Thomas Sims Graves Website
http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=caswellcounty&id=I1404
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Notes |
- Thomas Graves was born in 1691 (based on a deposition, Caroline O.B. 1746-54, p. 362), and died in 1768 in Spotsylvania Co., Va. Mrs. Hiden states: "in the absence of documentary proof, we can still feel confident that Thomas Graves was the son of a John Graves who had lived in King and Queen Co. but was of the Gloucester Co. family, born about 1670, son of Thomas and Mary Graves, son of Thomas, son of Capt. Thomas." [Note that the connection to Captain Thomas Graves is incorrect based upon DNA testing done by the Graves Family Association.]
Thomas Graves consistently maintained his residence on the Pamunkey in Spotsylvania Co., Va. His wife Ann (or Anne or Sarah Ann) has generally been thought to be a Davenport, daughter of William Davenport and Anne Woodruff, but Mrs. Hiden thought she was more likely a Clark, or of that family connection. Mrs. Taylor says she was born before 1696. She lived until 1782, and during the Revolution she furnished supplies to the Continental troops.
It appears that Thomas Graves first married Mary Perkins by 1715, and had by this marriage only three children, two daughters and one son. His wife then died and he remarried by no later than 1721. The son was John Graves and one of the daughters was Eleanor Graves, based on Thomas Kimbrough's will dated 20 Sept. 1777 in Caswell Co., NC. The source for the former statement is a record from the Bible of Solomon Graves, son of Rev. Barzillai Graves (who died 1827). A copy of the Bible record was made by the NC Archives in 1971.
The will of Thomas Graves (Spotsylvania Co. Rec. Will Book D, p. 318) was dated 17 Oct. 1767, probated 6 June 1768, but final settlement was not until July 1802. Thomas is credited with a total of 16 children. However, the estate settlement plainly states there were only 15 legatees. There were probably other children who died before reaching adulthood. There is some question about some of the following children, and additional proof is needed. Mrs. Ethel Taylor suggests that there may also have been another child named Sarah.
Children by Mary Perkins
1. Eleanor Graves, b. probably by 1712, m. Thomas Kimbrough, d. aft. Sept. 1781.
2, John Graves, b.c. 1715, m (1) ________ Herndon, m (2) Isabella Lea, c. 1752, d. 18 Jan. 1792.
Children by Ann Davenport
3. Thomas Graves, b. by 1721, m. Isabella Susan Bartlett, by 1751, d. 18 Nov. 1801.
4. Solomon Graves, b. by 1723, m. Sarah Winfield, c. 1746, d.c. 1785.
5. William Graves, b. 1720-30, m. Mary ________, d.c. 1791.
6. Richard Graves, b.c. 1725, m. Lucy Davenport, 1750, d. after 1788.
7. Susanna Graves, b. by 1740, m. William Pettus, 1759, d. by 1802.
8. Rice Graves, b.c. 1729, m. Jane Young, 1751-2, d. 1814.
9. David Graves, b.c. 1730, m. Agnes Holloway, d. Jan. or Feb. 1808.
10. Nancy Graves, b.c. 1735, m. William Lea, d. by 1809.
11. Rosanna Graves, m. John Spencer.
12. Louisa Graves, m. Thomas Pulliam. He was son of Thomas Pulliam Sr. who died testate, Spots. Co., 1758.
13. Robert Graves, b.c. 1735-40, m. Jean ________.
14. Jonathan Graves, married, d. by 1768. He probably married a Davenport, since a William Davenport was made guardian of his son William.
15. Mary Graves, m. ________ Campbell (?). John Bostick signed receipts for her in all disbursements from her father's estate.
Source: Graves Family Association.
http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=caswellcounty&id=I1404
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