| 2. | Capt Thomas* Graves, (immigrant) was born on 1 Apr 1584 in Lambourn, Berkshire, England; died on 03 Jan 1635 in Accomack Co, Virginia. Other Events and Attributes:
- Birth: Abt 1575, Lamborne, Berkshire, England
- Immigration: 1608, Jamestown, Virginia
Notes:
He appears to have been the same as "Thomas Graves of Doublin in the Realme of Ireland", to whom a patent was granted in Virginia, Nov. 20, 1622, and who was one of several who had ". . . undertaken to transport 100 persons apiece to Virginia" [Records of the Virginia Company of London, 1906-1934, vol. II, p. 132, by Kingsbury]);d.in the late autumn or early winter of 1636, Accawmacke Co., Va.; m. in either England or Ireland, Katherine (___), who may or may not have been his (1) wife, but she was his last wife, and survived him. (NOTE: Katherine was almost certainly the mother of Thomas' five youngest children, but may not have been the mother of his eldest son, John, who seems to have been b. so much earlier than his other children; however, it is certainly possible that she was the mother of all). She was b. C1586; d. aft. May 20, 1636.
(Capt.) Thomas Graves, "Gent.", was one of those members of the Virginia Company, who actually settled in Virginia, arriving on the Mary and Margrett, as part of the second supply, in Sept., 1608. He came alone, leaving behind him at least one child, and presumably, the child's mother. He was still living alone in Virginia at the time of the taking of the "Musters of the Inhabitants in Virginia", in 1624/25, but since at least five of his six children had been b. by this time, it seems clear that he had made several round trips between Virginia and his homeland, during these difficult years. Beginning about 1616, Capt. Graves seems to have gone home to Ireland for a visit, every couple of years, & leaving Katherine "in a family way" each time he returned to Virginia . . . at least through C1623. It also seems clear that his son Francis, was born here.
One cannot but wonder whether he endured the terrible "starving time", in the winter of 1609/10, and the Indian massacre, led by Opechancanough, in 1622, or whether he missed one or both of these dreadful events, by being out of the country. We do know that about 1621, he was captured by the Indians, who would have killed him but for the intervention of Capt. John Smith, who sent Ensign Thomas Savage to rescue him.
Capt. Graves lived at Jamestown, in the early years, of course, but he was living in Smythe's Hundred by early 1619, when Governor Yeardley " . . . entreated Capt. Graves an Antient officer of this Co[mpa]ny to take charge of the people and the workes". It was from Smythe's Hundred (located at the southernmost tip of Elizabeth City Co., but in what is now called, Charles City Co.), that Capt. Graves was sent as one of two representatives, to the first Legislative Assembly held in America, on July 30, 1619, at Jamestown.
It has been said that Capt. Graves was living "on the Eastern Shore" (Accawmacke Co., Va.), "the following year" (1620), and he was certainly there at the time of the muster of 1624/5; and in Feb. 1627/8, the General Court appointed him "Commander of the Plantation of Accawmacke". He was a member of the Quorum, in Jan. 1632/3, when his name headed the list of Commissioners (Justices), at the first extant court of record, held for Accawmacke. He continued in the latter capacity until about the time of his death, and was also appointed a member of the first vestry of Hungar's Parish, there, in Sept., 1635.
There was a period, during 1633 and most of 1634, when the name of Capt. Graves did not appear on the lists of Commissioners for Accawmacke. It has been speculated that he may, at this time, have been "on a voyage to England". (sic, Ireland) It may well have been during this period that he went to fetch his family to Virginia.
We wanted to give a brief resume of what is known of Capt. Thomas Graves and Catherine, his wife, and at least their children and identified grandchildren for those of our readers who were unfamiliar with the family, and particularly for those of them who are descendants. However, so much research has already been done on the line, and so much has already appeared in print on it (with the exception that little has appeared concerning the descendants of Thomas and Katherine (Graves)-Roper Sprigg, and we give this under the Sprigg chapter), that it seems pointless & repetitious to again go into it all in great detail here, and so, we refer our readers to the following books and articles dealing in varying degrees with Capt. Graves and his children: "Captain Thomas Graves And Some Of His Descendants", by William Montgomery Sweeny [William and Mary Quarterly, 2nd Series, Vol. XV, pp. 385-394];"The Graves Family of Essex. Co." by Mrs. P.W. Hiden [Ibid., Vol. XVI, pp. 650-668];"Three Rectors of Hungar's Parish And Their Wife", by Mrs. P.W. Hiden [Ibid., Vol. XIX, pp. 34-41]; and "Addenda" [Ibid., pp. 291-301]; "The Graves Family of York County", by Mrs. P.W. Hiden [Ibid., Vol. XXI, pp. 157-171, & 256-270]; "The Graves Family of Spotsylvania County", by Mrs. P.W. Hiden [Tyler's Quarterly Magazine, Vol. XIX, pp. 176-185 & Vol. XX, pp. 54-64]; The Stones of Poynton Manor, by Harry Wright Newman (1937); and the Graves chapter in Adventurers of Purse and Person, Virginia 1607-1625, by Annie Lash Jester, pp. 188-193.] Needless to say, we found Ames, op. cit., extremely useful in regards to this as well as other of our early Virginia ancestors and collateral kin.
Following are chronologically listed, documented abstracts of records concerning Capt. Thomas and Katherine (___) Graves.
Sept. 1608--(Capt.) Thomas Graves, "Gent", arrived in Va., in the Mary and Margaret, Capt. Thomas Newport, Master. (He was probably 25 to 30 years of age.) [Travels and Works of Captain John Smith (1910), Vol. 1, p. 2, p. 445; also, Jester, op. cit., p. 188.]
after Apr. 29, 1619--Capt. Thomas Graves put in charge of Smythe's (later, Southampton) Hundred, which was apparently located in what is now the southernmost portion of Charles City Co., Va. [Rec'ds of the Va. Co., op. cit.,
Vol. 3, p. 121; also, Jester, Ibid.]
July 30, 1619--Capt. Thomas Graves sent as one of two Representatives from Smythe's Hundred, to the very first Representative Assembly, which convened at Jamestown, this date. [Virginia Magazine of History, Vol. II, pp. 60, 70.; Brown, Genesis of the United States, Vol. II, p. 904; Meade, Old Churches & Ministers & Families of Virginia, Vol. I, p. 130; Wm. & Mary, op. cit., Vol. XV, p. 385.]
1620--"Captain Thomas Graves . . . had come to Virginia in 1608 and in 1619 was burgess of Smythes Hundred. The following year he was on the Eastern Shore." [Ames, op. cit., p. xxvi.]
Nov. 20, 1622--"In 1622, a Thomas Graves is recorded as receiving the following patent for land: 'At a Quarter Court held for Virginia in the Forenoon the 20th Nov. 1622 . . . A Patente to Thomas Graves of Doublin in the Realme of Ireland, Gent. . . [and others] All of which have undertaken to transport 100 persons a piece to Virginia'." [Given in Wm. & Mary, op. cit., p. 386, but from, Rec'ds of the Va. Co., op cit., Vol. II, p. 132.] Jester, op. cit., p. 188, gives the identical reference as that immediately above, and says, "As a member of the Virginia Company, Captain Graves had agreed to transport 700 persons to Virginia and accordingly was allowed a patent for land, 20 November 1622." Jester therefore identifies Capt. Thomas Graves, and the "Thomas Graves of Doublin . . .", as one and the same person.
1624-5--Capt. Thomas Graves was listed (without family), on the Eastern Shore, in the "Musters of the Inhabitants in Virginia". Here it was erroneously stated that he had arrived in the Mary and Margrett in 1607. [Jester, op. cit., p. 67.] (NOTE: John Camden Hotten, in Lists of Emigrants To America, 1600-1700, p. 187, lists Thomas Graves on the Eastern Shore, at thhe time of this muster, but gives the date, February the 16th, 1623 [1624].)
Feb. 8, 1624/5--Capt. Graues mentioned, with regard to some tobacco. . . Wm. & Mary, op. cit., Vol. XV, p. 386, but from, Minutes of the Council and General Court of Colonial Virginia, Ed. by H. R. McIlwaine, pp. 46-7.]
Jan. 11, 1626/7--Capt. Thomas Graves mentioned as "then liueing in Virginia". [Ibid., p. 132; and Wm. & Mary, op. cit., Vol. XV, p. 386.]
Feb. 8, 1627/8--Capt. Thomas Graves was appointed by the General Court, as "Commander of the Plantation of Accawmacke". [Mcllwaine, op. cit., p. 165; also, Jester, op. cit., p. 188.]
Mar. 14, 1628/9--"THOMAS GRAIES, (or Graves) Ancient Planter, 200 acs. on the E. side of the Shoare of the bay of Chesepeiacke butting Sly. on land of Capt. Henry Fleete, extending Nly. along the water side & Wly. on the bay. 14 Mar. 1628, p. 72. Due by vertue of an adv. of 25 Lbs. paid to Sir Thomas Smith, late Treasurer for the Co. of Va." [Nugent, op. cit., p. 13; but see also, p. xxii.]
Mar. 24, 1629/30--"Matter of Fortifications was againe taken into consideration, and
Capt. Samuel Mathewes was content to undertake the raysing of a Fort at Poynt Comfort, whereupon Capt. Robert Felgate, Capt. Thomas Purfury [also, Purefoy, Purifye], Capt. Thomas Graies, Capt. John Utey, Capt. Tho. Wiloby, Mr. Tho. Heyrick, and Leu't. Wm. Perry [also, Parry] by full consent of the whole Assembly, were chosen to view the place, conclude what manner of fort shall be erected, and to compound and agree with the said Capt. Mathewes for the building, raysing and finishing the same. . ." [Wm. & Mary, op. cit., Vol. XV, p. 388, but from William W. Hening, The Statutes at Large: Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia, from the First Session of the Legislature to the Year 16T9., Vol. 1, p. 150.]
1629/30-1632--Capt. Thomas Graves served Accawmacke Co., Va., as Burgess to the Assembly. [Ames, op. cit., p. xxvi.]
Nov. 20, 1631--Capt. Thomas Graves' name appears this date in papers concerning the suit of Wm. Clayborne vs. Clobery & Co. [Virginia Colonial Abstracts, Vol. 18, by Beverly Fleet, p. 98; also, Md. Hist. Mag., op. cit., Vol. 28, p. 31.]
Feb. 29, 1631/2--"CAPT. THOMAS PURIFYE, Esqr., 100 acs. Eliz. Citty Co., 28 Nov. 1635, p. 323. N.W. upon a Cr. next upon the fort feild, S. upon the maine river, E. upon Thomas Oldis & N.E. upon land of John Neale. Due by assignment from Capt. Thomas Grayes as by order of court 29 Feb. 1631, to whom it was due for his per. devident as being an Ancient Planter." [Nugent, op. cit., p. 36.]
Jan. 7, 1632/3--Capt. Thomas Graves (of the Quorum), headed the list of Commissioners at the first extant court of record, held for Accawmacke. [County Court Records of Accomack-Northampton Virginia 1632-1640, by Susie M. Ames., pp. xxvi, 2; also, Jester, op. cit., p. 188.]
1633--Capt. Thomas Graves' name did not appear on the list of Commissioners for Accawmacke during this year or most of 1634. "The service of Thomas Graves extended from 1627, beginning probably in July, through the fall of 1636 with, however, an interval in the spring and summer of 1634" [sic, should read, "spring, summer and winter of 1633, and spring and summer of 1634"] . . . "when Obedience Robins served. Graves was probably on a voyage to England." [Ames, op. cit., p. xxxviii.]
Oct. 23, 1634--Capt. Thomas Graves' name once again headed the list of Commissioners for Accawmacke Co. [Ibid., p. 23.]
Nov. 3, 1634--Ditto. [Ibid., p. 24.]
Jan. 5, 1634/5--Ditto. [Ibid., p. 25.] In speaking of the first Clerk of Accomack, Henry Bagwell, there is this: "Captain Graves, the Commander; Captain Edmund Scarburgh [or Scarborough], and Obedience Robins - were men of education and ability. . ." [Ames, op. cit., p. xxi.]
"Captain Thomas Graves, also of the quorum of that first commission, had been commander of the Plantation of Accomack since 1627. An ancient planter and one listed as a gentleman, he had come to Virginia in 1608 and in 1619 was burgess of Smythes Hundred. The following year he was on the Eastern Shore, where in 1628 he patented two hundred acres by virtue of an early bill of adventure of £25. He served as one of the burgesses for Accomack in the March 1629[1630] Assembly and in that of September 1632. In 1635 when the vestry of the parish was organized be became a member. By the spring of that year he was called Esquire, a title accorded members of the Council. As he was apparently one of the smallest landholders on the Eastern Shore, his appointment to the Council is of interest as furnishing a contrast to the appointment usually of those having a large landed estate. Certainly as a representative of the gentlemen class there were but few, if any at that time could equal the length of his residence in Virginia." [Ibid., p. xxvi.]
Jan. 9, 1634/5 [?]--"Captain Thomas Graves Esq.", bought a cow and calf from Hanna Scarborough of Accawmacke Co., widow. [Ibid., p. 30.]
Feb. 19, 1634/5--Capt. Thomas Graves' name headed list of Commissioners for Accawmacke Co. [Ibid., p. 26.]
Apr. 13, 1635--"Capt. Thomas Graves Esq.", ditto. [Ibid., p. 31.] (NOTE: The term "esquire", denoted a member of the Council. - Ibid., p. xxvi.]
June 16, 1635--Ditto. [Ibid., p. 36.]
Sept. 14, 1635--Ditto. Also, this date Capt. Thomas Graves was appointed a member of the first vestry for Hungar's Parish. [Ibid., p. 39.]
Sept. 29, 1635--Capt. Thomas Graves, vestryman, was present at the first vestry meeting held in the Parish. [Ibid., p. 43.]
Nov. 16, 1635--Capt. Thomas Graves not listed as a Commissioner at Court this day. [Ibid., p. 40.]
Nov. 1635--Thomas Graves wit. a deed for Mrs. Elizabeth Harmer. [Ibid., p. 43.]
Jan. 5, 1635/6--Capt. Thomas Graves was deceased by this day, when Mrs. Graves, (as feme sole), was sued for a hog killed by her servant, John Culpepper. [Ibid., p. 49.]
"The service of Thomas Graves extended from 1627, beginning probably in July, through the fall of 1636 with, however, an interval in the spring and summer of 1634 [summer and winter, 1633] when Obedience Robbins served. Graves was probably on a voyage to England [Ireland] John Howe served from the death of Graves during the winter of 1637 until his own death the following winter. [Ibid., p. xxxviii.]
Feb. 1, 1635 [1636]--Anthony Wills sued at this board for an execution against Mrs. Graves for a Sow of a yeere and halfe old for default of her man John Culpepper which [was] granted according to an order made 4th of January last.
May 20, 1636--"Haveing taken into consideration the remote liveing of the [members] of this parish from the church. It is agreed that all suc[h persons as live at] the old plantation from the land of Mrs. Graves unto Magoty Bay the head of the said old plantation creeke that they shall have ther bodys to be buried one part of the land of William Blower where William Berriman liveth and likewise that they give notice unto the minister and provide convenient meanes for his coming ther to bury the dead which whosoever shall refuse such decent and christianlike burial, that then they are to stand to the censure of this vestry. Alsoe it is agreed that the Clarke shall have notice of all such dead people [soe that] he may be able to make the graves ready which if any shall refuse to give notice, yet he shall be liable to pay 10 lbs. of tabacco and if upon notice given the said Clarke shall refuse to come and make the graves that then the said Clarke shall stand the censure of the vestry, complaint being m[ade]. [Ibid., p. 54.]
Aug. 9, 1637--"JOHN GRAVES, 600 acs. Eliz. Citty Co., 9 Aug. 1637, p. 443. Neare
1637 unto the upper end of the back river, bounded upon Eastermost side of the land of Capt. Adam Thorogood, beg. to measure the breadth of 300 po. about a pole to the Ewd. of the now dwelling howse of Oliver Van-heck, runing W.S.W. up the river &c. Due in right of descent from his father Thomas Graves, whoe trans. at his own costs: himselfe, Katherine Graves his wife, John Graves the pattentee & Thomas Graves,
Junr. & 8 pers: Henry Singleton, Tho. Edge, Robt. Phillipps, Tho. Griggs, Tho. Phillipps, Franc. White, Wm. Symbee, Jone Packett." [Nugent, op. cit., p. 62.] [NOTE: Capt. Graves had undoubtedly also transported into Va., his three daughters, but, as they were all married by now, as we believe, John presumably was allowing their husbands to claim land for having transported them. This was frequent practice . . . probably in lieu of a dowry. Note also, that this land was in the same area where John's father, Capt. Thomas Graves, had formerly patented 100 a. (although he apparently never lived there), and which he assigned to Capt. Thomas Purifye, on Feb. 29, 1631/2.]
Apr. 30, 1640--Nathaniel Oldis, Gent. & William Parry, both of Kecoughton [Elizabeth
City Co.], assumed the administration of the Estates of John Graves and Thomas Graves, deceased, from William Cotton, Clerk [Cleric], Capt. William Stone & Capt. Wm. Roper, who had previously administered the Estates, jointly. Given in full, infra. [Northampton Co. Orders, Deeds, Wills #2, p. 281.]
Nov. 28, 1642--"A certificate granted unto Francis Graves, orphan of Capt. Thomas Graves, deceased. . ." Llbid., p. 187 - Given in full, infra.]
http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=frostinaz01&id=I9167
Capt. Thos. Graves, an "antient officer" of the Virginia Company who came to Va. in the fall of 1608. After living for some years near Jamestown, he moved to Eastern Shore, establishing himself in what later became Hungar's Parish, Northampton Co. We know from the land patents that Capt. Thomas made several trips out of the country, to England presumably, and on one of his return voyages his family accompanied him. This was after 1623, as the Muster taken that year shows him the only one of the name on Eastern Shore (Wise's "Early History of the Eastern Shore of Va.," p. 38). Of his known children, Francis (W. & M. Quar., 2nd series, vol. 16) and Thomas (Tyler's Mag. vols. 19 & 20) have been elsewhere discussed, an article on John is in preparation, and the daughter Ann is the heroine of these notes.
http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=frostinaz01&id=I9166
Name: Thomas Graves, Capt.
Sex: M
Birth: ABT 1580 in Lamborne, Berkshire, England
Death: 3 JAN 1635 in Accomack Island, VA
Fact 1: Represented Smythe's Hundred at House of Burgesses.
Fact 2: Represented Accomack 1629-30 & 1632
Fact 6: Virginia Co. of London.
Fact 7: "Ancient Planter," one of the very early planters who founded Jamestowne.
Fact 8: First person named Graves in N. America
Fact 9: 1608 Arrived on "Mary and Margaret" (the "second supply" of settlers).
Fact 10: The second supply was mostly "gentlemen," and few or no tradesmen.
Fact 11: 1619 Member of the first House of Burgesses (1st legislative body in the colonies).
Fact 12: Captured by Indians and taken to Opechancanough.
Fact 13: Thomas Savage was sent to rescue him.
Event: Note Possibly from Derbyshire, England.
Event: Note GRAVES: British surname meaning "Stewart,
manager of property."
Event: Note Original "Adventurer" (charter member and stockholder) of the
Event: Note Possibly died in Jamestowne.
Note:
MEMBERS
1619
Assembled July 30th
James City: Captain William Powell, Ensign William Spense
Charles City: Samuel Sharpe, Samuel Jordan
The City of Henricus: Thomas Dowse, Samuel Jordan
Kicoughtan: Captain William Tucker, William Capp.
Martin-Brandon (Captain John Martin's Plantation); Thomas Davis, Robert Stacy
Smythe's Hundred: Captain Thomas Graves, Walter Shelly
Martin's Hundred: John Boys, John Jackson
Argall's Gift: Thomas Pawlett, Mr. Gourgainy
Flowerdieu Hundred: Engisn Rossingham, Mr. Jefferson
Captain Lawne's Plantation: Captain Christopher Lawne, Ensign Washer
Captain Ward's Plantation: Captain Ward, Lieutenant Gibbes
Source: A manuscript copy of the Journal of this session is in the Public Record Office, London, and has several times been printed.
__________
1629-30
Assembled March 24th
The Plantations of the College and Neck of Land: Captain Thomas Osborne, Thomas Farmer.
Shirley Hundred Main: Thomas Palmer, John Harris.
Shirley Hundred Island: Cheney Boyse, Walter Aston.
Jordan's Journey and Chaplaine's Choice: Walter Price.
Flowerdieu Hundred: John Flood.
Westover: None appeared.
Weyanoke: John Trahorne.
Pace's Paines and Smythe's Mount: William Perry.
Pashbebay: Bridges Freeman.
James City Island: John Southerne, Robert Barrington.
The Other Side of the Water: Captain John West, Captain Robert Felgate.
Hog Island: Captain John Utie.
The Neck of Land in the Corporation of James City: Richard Brewster.
Archer's Hope and Glebe Land: Theodore Moyses, Henry Coney.
Harrap, and the plantations between Archer's Hope and Martin's Hundred: John Browning,
Thomas Farley.
Martin's Hundred: Robert Scotchinore, Thomas Fossett.
Mulberry Island: Thomas Harwood, Anthony Barham.
Warwick River: Thomas Flint, John Brewer.
Denby: Thomas Ceely, Christopher Stokes, Thomas Key.
Nutmeg Quarter: Joseph Stratton.
Warrosqueake: John Upton, John Atkins, Robert Savin, Thomas Burges.
The Upper Part of Elizabeth City: Captain Thomas Willoughby, William Kempe, Thomas
Hayrick.
The Lower Part of Elizabeth City: Captain Thomas Purifoy, Adam Thoroughgood, Lancelot
Barnes.
Accomac: Captain Thomas Graves, Edmund Scarsborough, Obedience Robins, Henry Bagwell.
Source: Hening I, 147-149.
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The old Hungars Episcopal Church is located about seven miles north of Eastville, on the north side of Hungars Creek. Hungars Parish was made soon after the county was established, and the first minister was Rev. Francis Bolton, who was succeeded by Rev. William Cotton. The first vestry was appointed in 1635. The first vestry meeting was on Sept. 29, 1635, at which Capt. Thomas Graves headed the list of those present. The first church edifice was erected in 1690-95 and was still standing around 1900, one of the oldest churches in the country. In addition to Capt. Thomas Graves, the other persons named by
the court as vestrymen of Hungars Church were William Cotton, minister, Obedience Robins, John Howe, William Stone (first Protestant Governor of Maryland), William Burdett, William Andrews, John Wilkins, Alexander Mountray, Edward Drews, William Beniman and Stephen Charlton.
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The First Colony (consisting of knights, gentlemen, merchants and others of the city of London) made a settlement at Jamestown on May 13, 1607, which became permanent. The Plymouth grantees (from the English cities of Bristol and Exeter, the town of Plymouth, and other places) established the Second Colony at Sagadagic (on the coast of what became Maine) in August 1607, but abandoned it in the spring of 1608.
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Thomas Graves early became active in the affairs of the infant colony. On an exploring expedition he was captured by the Indians and taken to Opechancanough. Thomas Savage, who had come to Virginia with the first supply on the John and Francis in 1608, was sent to rescue him, in which
he was successful.
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In 1617 the Virginia Company, hoping to expand population and agricultural production in the colony, encouraged private or voluntary associations organized on a joint stock basis to establish settlements in the area of the Company's patent. The Society of Smith's (or Smythe's) Hundred (later called Southampton Hundred) was organized in 1617. In addition to Captain Thomas Graves, the Adventurers included Sir Thomas Smith, Sir Edwin Sandys, and the Earl of Southampton. Soon after April 29, 1619, Governor Yeardley wrote to Sir Edwin Sandys: "I have entreated Capt. Graves, an antient officer of this company, to take charge of the people and workes."
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Immigration:
1608 Arrived on "Mary and Margaret" (the "second supply" of settlers)
The second supply was mostly "gentlemen," and few or no tradesmen.
Thomas* married Katherine* Croshaw (Crosher), (immigrant) in 1610 in Dublin, Ireland. Katherine* (daughter of Joseph* Croshaw) was born in 1586 in Gravesend, Kent, England; died on 24 May 1636 in Accomack Co, Virginia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
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1620 - Bef 1683 (63 years)