BIBLE RECORD OF SOLOMON GRAVES
DISCUSSING BROTHERS JOSEPH
GRAVES AND THOMAS GRAVES OF SPOTSYLVANIA CO., VA, AND THE FAMILY OF THOMAS
GRAVES
The following information was
previously published on pages 114, 118-119, 1981 Graves Family Newsletter.
Mr. William T. Graves (R‑17)
came across a record from the Bible of Solomon Graves, son of Rev. Barzillai
Graves (who died 14 July 1827 in Caswell Co., NC). The Bible belonged to Mrs. Elizabeth Burke (nee Graves) of
Yanceyville, NC, and was copied by the N.C. Archives in 1971. Although it is not certain, the record (at
least in part) appears to be Solomon Graves’ attempt to recall his ancestry as
of 1817. Someone has added notes
concerning family births and deaths occurring after 1817. Mr. William T. Graves prepared the following
transcription of the Bible record (with a few minor punctuation changes). There are probably errors in this record. For example, the record states that Joseph
and Thomas Graves came to Virginia from England around 1700; that is unlikely.
Ancestry, family, particulars --
according to the best information
that can be at present
collected --- Anno D. 1817
It seems that about the year 1700,
Joseph[1]
and Thomas[2]
Graves emigrated to America from England.
Being brothers, they both settled in the State of Virginia in the County
of Spotsylvania. Each of them married
in that State and from them a numerous connection has descended. Thomas intermarried with one Mary Perkins
and had by this marriage only three children, two daughters and a son, and his
wife died. He then married a second
time and by this marriage he had many sons.
John Graves, his son by the first marriage, removed into the State of
North Carolina about the year A.D. 1755.
He married a daughter of James Lea, formerly of Virginia, whose name was
Isabell Lea. James Lea, her father,
married a Herndon. From the marriage of
John Graves and his wife has sprung an extensive family connection in the State
of North Carolina. Barzillai Graves,
their fifth son, intermarried with one Ursula Wright, the daughter of one
William Wright the son of John Wright who intermarried one Miss ‑‑‑‑‑‑
Parsons and who emigrated to the United States about beginning of the
Seventeenth Century. William Wright
intermarried with one Margaret Johnston, the daughter of a Mr. Johnston who
also emigrated to this Country from England.
From the marriage of B. Graves and his wife there has descended three
sons and four daughters, Solomon Graves, Jeremiah Graves, and Barzillai Graves,
Jun., who died without issue. The
daughters were named Isabella Graves, Elizabeth Graves, Margaret Graves and
Mary Graves. Isabell, the eldest
daughter, intermarried with one Hosea McNeill.
Elizabeth, the second daughter, intermarried with one James Lea. Mary, the fourth daughter, intermarried with
one Thomas W. Graves. Solomon Graves,
the eldest son, intermarried with one Mary C. Franklin who was the daughter of
Jesse Franklin, late a Governor of the State of North Carolina. Jeremiah Graves intermarried with one
Delilah Lea, a daughter of John Lea, called Cainbrake (sic, Canebrake) John
Lea. [NOTE: The handwriting for the
following is different from the handwriting for the preceding. The archivist at the N.C. Archives believes
that the following text was written at a later date by someone other than the
author of the preceding notes.]
Margaret Graves married William Lipscomb. Her descendants are all dead.
James Lea removed to West Tennessee where their descendants now reside (in
1864).
Register of Ages and Deaths
S. [Solomon] Graves born 14th July
1784
Mary C. [Franklin] Graves born the
24 Feby. 1794
They were married 10th April 1817
1. Micky (?)
Ann Graves their first daughter born March 23th, 1819
2. Sarah Emily
their second daughter born the 10th March 1821
3. Mary Ursula
their third daughter born 6th April 1823
4. Elizabeth
Franklin Graves their fourth daughter born 16th June 1825
5. J. Franklin
their first son born the 31st day of August 1829
6. Margaret
Isabella their fifth daughter born 30th day of May 1832
7. Barzillai
Yancy Graves born the 10th October 1835
Mary U. who intermarried with H. M.
Waugh died the 24th of June 1851
Jesse Franklin, father of Mary C.
Graves, born March 24th 1760, died in August 28th 1824 in the 64th year of his
age.
Meeky Franklin, mother of Mary C.
Graves, born 1765. She died the 20th of
Feby. 1835 in her 69th year.
Barzillai Graves, father of S.
Graves, born 1755, died 14th July 1827 in the 67th year of his age.