Rev. 17 Jan. 2014, Gen. 211
DESCENDANTS OF BENJAMIN
GRAVES AND MILDRED HANCOCK OF VA & WILSON CO., TN
GENERATION 1
Benjamin Graves (1) was born about
1774 in VA, and died about 1857 in Wilson Co., TN. There was a settlement of his estate. His will was signed 13 March 1856. He left everything to his wife Mildred
and children. In addition to his
wife, his will mentioned daughter Ann Jones, and grandsons Fountain and
Suvannah Richard Hester (children of his deceased daughter Mildred who married
Hiram Hester).
He married Mildred Hancock. She was born about 1794 in VA, and died
about 1869 in Wilson Co., TN. They
moved to Wilson Co., TN about 1830 (between the birth of their children Mildred
and Elizabeth). They and their children were listed in the 1850 census for
Wilson Co. Although William and
James weren't living in the same household at that time, since they were living
next door, it is reasonable to assume they were sons. All their children were born in VA except for the last two
who were born in TN. (R‑2, R‑3)
Children - Graves
+2. Williamson Stokes Graves, b.c. 1810, m. Winnifred Lanceford,
29 Jan. 1834, d. 1860-70.
3. Ann Graves, m. ‑‑‑‑‑‑
Jones.
+4. James M. Graves, b. 21 April 1817, m. Elizabeth Maynard, d. 16
July 1874.
5. Benjamin J. Graves, b.c. 1822. He was the administrator of his
father's will, and was still living with his widowed mother in 1860.
+6. John E. Graves, b. 12 Aug. 1823, m(1) Mary Bloodworth, 20 Nov.
1851, m(2) Ariella Anderson, 22 June 1865, d. 24 May 1895.
7. Jane Graves, b.c. 1827, m. James
Bloodworth, 14 Feb. 1858 (Wilson Co., TN).
8. Richard D. Graves, b.c. 1828. Went to TX. His will was probated 18 Nov. 1863 in Wilson Co., TN. He left no wife or children.
+9. Mildred C. Graves, b.c. 1829, m. Hiram G. Hester, 15 April
1846, d. by 1856 (or in 1860).
+10. Elizabeth ("Eliza") Mary Graves, b.c. 1834, m.
Francis Templeton Ligon, 2 Feb. 1854, d. 1880.
+11. Matilda E. Graves, b. 6 Aug. 1835, m. James P. Wright, 11 Feb.
1855, d. 6 Sept. 1886. He d. 8
Feb. 1870. Both bur. in Hollis
Wright Cem., Wilson Co., TN.
GENERATION 2
CHILDREN OF BENJAMIN GRAVES (1)
Williamson Stokes Graves[1]
(2), usually referred to as William, was born about 1810 in VA, and died
between 1860 and 1870 in Wilson Co., TN.
He married Winnifred (or Winfred) ("Winny") Lanceford (or
Lansford or Lundsford) on 29 Jan. 1834 in Wilson Co. She was born about 1813 or 1814 in TN, and died after
1880. Supposedly one of their sons
went to KY and the rest stayed in TN.
There is an old family story that
three Graves brothers came up by way of the river to the Wilson Co.- Davidson
Co. areas (the vicinity of Nashville, TN). Two of the three stayed in TN, and
the other went to KY. It is not
known whether this story refers to Rufus and his brothers (probably not), or
whether it was William and his brothers, or whether it was William's father and
his brothers.
The information on this family is
from the 1850-1880 censuses for Wilson Co., TN, and Wilson Co. marriage
records. (R‑1, R‑2, R‑3)
Children - Graves
12. Rebecca Ann Graves, b.c. 1836.
13. John W. Graves, b.c. 1840.
14. Malinda Jane Graves (called Jane), b.c.
1841-44, never married. Living
with her brother Rufus in 1900 in Wilson Co., TN.
15. George W. Graves, b.c. 1844, m. Martha
------. She was b.c. 1849 in TN. They were in the 1870 census for Wilson Co.,
TN. In their household was Abram
Graves, b.c. 1859 in TN, but it is unlikely that this is a son, since he was only
10 years younger than Martha.
George was in the 1900 census for Wilson Co., TN, widowed, living with
his brother Henry. (R‑2)
16. Henry Thomas (called Tom) Graves, b.c.
1847-48, m. Mattie Jane ------, c. 1895.
No children in 1900.
+17. Rufus William Graves, b. 12 March 1850, m. Mary Elizabeth
Brown, 6 Jan. 1876, d. 13 Nov. 1906.
+18. Mary Elizabeth Graves, b. Nov. 1854, m. Philip Marion Caraway,
26 Nov. 1874, d. 13 June 1931.
James M. Graves (4) was born 21
April 1817 in VA, and died 16 July 1874 in Wilson Co., TN. He married Elizabeth
("Betty") Maynard (according to R‑2 and R‑3) or Elizabeth
M. Conyers, daughter of Thomas Conyers and Sarah (ÒSallyÓ) Aust, in 1845
(according to R‑7). She was
born 18 Aug. 1824 in TN, and died 28 April 1914 in Wilson Co., TN. They were both buried in the Graves
Cem., Laguardo community, Wilson Co., TN.
They were in the 1850 census for Wilson Co., TN, living next to his
brother William. They were in the
1860 census for Wilson Co., TN, living next to his mother. They were in the 1870 census for Wilson
Co., TN. He was a farmer. All their children were born in Wilson
Co., TN. (R‑2, R‑3)
Children - Graves
19. Louisiana (called Lucy A. in the 1850
census) Graves, b.c. 1847.
20. Martha Susan Graves, b. 13 Aug. 1849, d.
22 March 1939 (Wilson Co., TN).
Called Norella in the 1850 census.
21. James Turner Graves, b. 16 June 1851, d.
4 May 1890 (Wilson Co., TN).
22. Sarah Ann Graves, b.c. 1856.
+23. Thomas Rutherford Graves, b. 8 July 1858, m. Agnes Inez
Donnell, 25 Dec. 1884, d. 22 Nov. 1940.
+24. William D. Graves, b. 8 April 1862, m. Sallie J. Warren, 4
April 1885, d. 18 July 1931.
25. Sammy Graves, b.c. 1866.
26. George Ellis Graves, b. 21 Jan. 1868, m.
Mallie Seaborn, d. 10 June 1953 (Nashville, Davidson Co., TN).
John E. Graves (6) was born 12 Aug.
1823 in VA, and died 24 May 1895.
The 1850 census gave VA as his birthplace, but the 1860 and 1870
censuses gave TN. He was listed
with wife Mary, born about 1824 in TN, in the 1860 census and with wife Arilda,
born about 1837 in TN, in the 1870 census. All census records are for Wilson Co., TN, and all children
were born in TN.
He first married Mary Bloodworth on
20 Nov. 1851 in Wilson Co., TN.
She was born 14 April 1825 and died 15 March 1861. He secondly married Ariella (ÒEllaÓ)
Anderson on 22 June 1865. She was
born 11 Sept. 1837 and died 29 March 1890. Ella and John were both buried in the Bass Cem., Wilson Co.,
TN. They were in the 1880 census
for Wilson Co., TN. (R‑2, R‑3))
Children - Graves, by Mary Bloodworth
27. Polevia (or Polivia) C. Graves (dau.),
b.c. 1852-3.
+28. Bernice Bender Graves (son), b. 25 Feb. 1854, d. 4 Dec. 1919.
29. Malkijah (or Malla) Graves (son), b.c.
1856-7.
30. Mary Graves, b.c. 1859. Not shown in 1870 census.
31. Johnella Graves (dau.), b.c. 1861.
Children - Graves, by Ariella
Anderson
32. Ida Graves, b.c. 1866.
33. Joseph Graves, b.c. 1868.
34. Richard Graves, b.c. 1869.
35. Eddie Graves, b.c. 1872.
36. Neva Graves, b. 18 June 1874, m. C. C.
(ÒCaderÓ) Bass, d. 10 Jan. 1905.
He was b. 23 Aug. 1864 in Wilson Co., TN, and d. 10 Jan. 1930, son of
Hugh L. Bass and Almeda Vivrett, and brother of Mary Lucille Bass who m.
Bernice Bender Graves.
37. Nannie Graves, b.c. 1879.
Jane Graves (7) was born about 1827
in VA. She married James
Bloodworth on 14 Feb. 1858 in Wilson Co., TN. He was born about 1827 in TN. They were in the 1860 census for Robertson Co., TN.
Children - Bloodworth
38. M. R. Bloodworth (female), b.c. Jan.
1860.
Mildred C. Graves (9) was born
about 1829 in VA, and died in 1860 in TN.
She married Hiram G. Hester, son of John Alfred Hester and Frances H.
Bates, on 15 April 1846 in Wilson Co., TN. He was born about 1828 in Wilson Co., TN, and died in Aug.
1880 in Portland, Sumner Co., TN.
All their children were born in TN. Hiram married second Surenia (or Lavinia)
about 1861 and had at least 2 more children. (R‑3)
Children - Hester
+39. Fountain E. Hester, b. 21 Jan. 1847, m(1) Margaret Elizabeth
Crudup, c. 1867, m(2) Sallie L. Graves, 22 Oct. 1884, d. 1900.
40. Lavinous Hester (daughter), b.c. 1848.
41. Mary Elizabeth (ÒBettieÓ) Hester, b.c.
1849, d. 14 Oct. 1929 (Madison, Davidson Co., TN).
42. Sarah (or Suvannah) Richard Hester, b.c.
1851.
43. Marshall Hester, b.c. 1854.
44. Eliza J. Hester, b.c. 1857.
45. Melcijah Hester, b.c. 1858.
Elizabeth (ÒElizaÓ) Mary Graves
(10) was born about 1833 or 1834 in TN, and died in 1880. She is sometimes called Mary Eliza
Graves. Eliza was in the 1850
census for District 3, Wilson Co., TN, with her parents. She married Francis Templeton Ligon,
son of James Housen Ligon and Elizabeth Thompson, on 2 Feb. 1854. He was born about 1830 in Wilson Co.,
TN, and died in 1891 in Weakley Co., TN.
He was in the 1850 census for Wilson Co., TN, living with his widowed
father. Mary and Francis were in
the 1870 census for Weakley Co., TN, but they havenÕt been found there in 1860
or 1880. Various spellings of
their surname were found in censuses and other records. All their children were born in TN,
probably all in Weakley Co. There
is some question about whether Porterfield was their son, since his date of
birth seems to be prior to their marriage.
Children - Ligon/Legons/Legens
+46. Porterfield Legons, b. 6 Dec. 1850, m(1) Caroline Frances
Westbrooks, 23 May 1876, m(2) Martha Ann Hawks, 29 Feb. 1896, d. 6 June 1919.
+47. Mary Mildred J. Legons, b.c. 1857, m. Nelson Bartholomew Reed,
14 Feb. 1875, d. 1887.
48. Elizabeth Legons, b. 7 Jan. 1860, m.
Susan E. Hawks, 2 Jan. 1888, d. 26 Nov. 1940.
+49. Fountain B. Legons, b.c. 1862, m(1) Delia A. Hawks, 14 Feb.
1882, m(2) Susan E. Hawks, 2 Jan. 1888, d. 1940.
50. Susan (or Sarah) E.Legons, b. 13 March
1863, m. Washington A. Reed, d. 29 Oct. 1885 (Weakley Co., TN). He was b. 12 Aug. 1860 in TN, and d. 27
Aug. 1938 in Obion Co., TN.
51. Nancy Olivia Legons, b.c. 1865, d. 8
Sept. 1937 (Weakley Co., TN).
52. John Legons, b.c. 1867.
53. James F. Legons, b.c. 1868.
Matilda E. Graves (11) was born 6
Aug. 1835 in TN, and died 6 Sept. 1886.
She married James P. Wright on 11 Feb. 1855. He died 8 Feb. 1870.
They were both buried in Hollis Wright Cem., Wilson Co., TN. She was in the 1860, 1870, and 1880
censuses for Wilson Co., TN. All
their children were born in TN.
Children - Wright
54. Missouri Jane Wright, b.c. 1857.
55. William Ulexus Wright, b.c. 1861.
56. James Davis Wright, b.c. 1864.
57. Robert Lee Wright, b.c. 1867.
GENERATION 3
CHILDREN OF WILLIAM GRAVES (2)
AND WINNIFRED LANCEFORD
Rufus William Graves (17) was born
12 March 1850 in NC or SC or TN, and died 13 Nov. 1906 in Wilson Co., TN. He married Mary Elizabeth Brown on 6
Jan. 1876 in Wilson Co., TN. She
was born 15 Jan. 1852 in the Cairo Bend section of Wilson Co., and died 26 Aug.
1890 in Wilson Co. They were both
laid to rest with others of the family at the Old New Hope Cem., Wilson
Co. (R‑1)
Children - Graves
+58. John William Graves, b. 19 Oct. 1877, m. Delia Davis, d. 28
Aug. 1953.
59. Joseph Robert Graves, b. 13 Dec. 1880, m.
Maude Ballinger, d. 20 Nov. 1935.
60. Unnamed infant, b. and d. 24 Oct. 1883.
+61. Thedosia Graves, b. 30 Aug. 1885, m. Claude Stewart, d. 7 July
1960.
62. Mattie Adeline Graves, b. 5 May 1887, m.
------ Valuzette, d. 2 March 1973 (Lebanon, Wilson Co., TN). No children.
+63. Oddie Lennon Graves, b. 12 Jan. 1889, m. Katherine Louise
Shepherd, 11 Dec. 1909, d. 1979.
Mary Elizabeth ("Mollie")
Graves (18) was born in Nov. 1854 and died 13 June 1931, both in Wilson Co.,
TN. She married Philip Marion
Caraway, son of Samuel Clemmons Caraway and Nancy Catherine Smart, on 29 Jan.
1834 (date of bond) in Wilson Co.
Philip, called Marion on some records, was born in July 1853 in TN or MS
(both shown on the census), and died 31 Oct. 1928 in Wilson Co., TN. He was a grandson of Willis Caraway and
Susannah Clemmons. (R‑2)
Children - Caraway
+64. Nancy J. Caraway, b. Dec. 1877, m. James Sanders, c. 1894.
65. Nora R. Caraway, b. March 1883, never
married, d. 8 June 1964.
CHILDREN OF JAMES M. GRAVES (3)
AND ELIZABETH MAYNARD
Thomas Rutherford Graves (23) was
born 8 July 1858, and died 22 Nov. 1940, both in Wilson Co., TN. He married Agnes Inez Donnell on 25
Dec. 1884. All their children were
born in Wilson Co., TN. (R‑3)
Children - Graves
+66. Edgar Allen Graves, b. 22 Dec. 1884, m. Essie Lee Philpot, 22
Dec. 1908, d. 21 Dec. 1946.
67. Roscoe Graves, b.c. 1888, m. Ruby Foutch,
d. 12 June 1933.
68. Isla Graves, b. 1891.
69. Marie Inez Graves, b. 26 Nov. 1895, m.
John E. Wright, (Wilson Co., TN), d. 1 Sept. 1919.
William D. Graves (24) was born 8
April 1862 in TN, and died 18 July m1931 in Lebanon, Wilson Co., TN. He married Sallie J. Warren, daughter
of Elija E. Warren and Maria Louise Oliver, on 4 April 1885 in Wilson Co.,
TN. She was born 25 Sept. 1864 in
Lebanon, Haywood Co., TN, and died 26 Jan. 1948 in Lebanon, Wilson Co., TN. They were in the 1920 census for Wilson
Co., TN. They were in the 1930
census for Wilson Co., TN, with only son Hershell still living with them. All their children were born in TN.
Children - Graves
70. B. Hershell Graves, b. Jan. 1887, not
married in 1930.
71. H. Golda Graves. b. Feb. 1889.
+72. Wilburn Graves, b. April 1890, m. Sula ‑‑‑‑‑‑.
+73. Luther Warren Graves, b. 31 Aug. 1893, m. Frances Willard
Clinard.
74. Clark C. Graves, b. Aug. 1895.
75. Geppie Graves (son), b. Nov. 1896. In 1900 census, but not in 1910 or 1920
censuses.
+76. William Hayes Graves, b. 27 Oct. 1897, m. Mattie May Buhler, 8
Dec. 1929, d. 25 July 1961. Not in
1900 or 1910 census, but in 1920 census.
77. Jik Graves, b.c. 1899. Not in 1900 or 1920 censuses, but in
1910 census. Maybe the same as
Geppie or William or Safson.
78. Safson Graves (son), b. Dec. 1899. Not in 1910 census.
79. Jack E. Graves, b.c. 1901.
80. B. May Graves, b.c. 1903.
81. John W. Graves, b.c. 1905.
CHILDREN OF JOHN E. GRAVES (6)
Bernice Bender Graves (28) was born
25 Feb. 1854 in Wilson Co., TN, and died 4 Dec. 1919. His name has been spelled various ways on censuses and other
records. He married Mary Lucille
(ÒLucyÓ) Bass, daughter of Hugh L. Bass and Almeda Vivrett. She was born 6 April 1861 in Silver
Springs, Wilson Co., TN, and died 30 Aug. 1919. They ere in the 1900 census for Wilson Co., TN. All their children were born in Wilson
Co., TN. (R‑4)
Children - Graves
82. Willie Hatton Graves, b. 5 Nov. 1882
(Silver Springs, Wilson Co., TN), m. Ida Bell Parish, d. 20 March 1941
(Lebanon, Wilson Co., TN). She was
dau. of William Robert Parish and
Cora Taylor.
83. Nellie Green Graves, b. 16 Oct. 1887, d.
20 March 1915.
+84. Hugh Edwards Graves, b. 27 June 1891, d. 23 Oct. 1963
(Blacksburg, Montgomery Co., VA).
85. Addie Ryan Graves, b. 6 Jan. 1894, d. 24
Dec. 1914 (Asheville, Buncombe Co., NC).
CHILDREN OF MILDRED C. GRAVES
(9) AND HIRAM G. HESTER
Fountain E. Hester (39) was born 21
Jan. 1847 in TN, and died about 1900 in Portland, Sumner Co., TN. He first married Margaret Elizabeth
Crudup, daughter of Josiah Crudup and Louisa Jane Wright, about 1867. She was born 16 June 1849 in TN, and
died 15 Feb. 1933 in Nashville, Davidson Co., TN. He married second Sallie L. Graves on 22 Oct. 1884 in Sumner
Co., TN. She was born 11 Oct. 1855
in TN. Fountain and Margaret were
in the 1870 and 1880 censuses for Wilson Co., TN. He and Sallie were in the 1900 census for Sumner Co.,
TN. He was a farmer. All his children were born in TN, at
least the last 3 in Sumner Co., and the last 3 died in Sumner Co. (R‑5)
Children - Hester, by Margaret
E. Crudup
+86. Robert Lavarius Hester, b. 21 Nov. 1868, m. Lucinda Minnie
Pulley, 28 Jan. 1898, d. 15 June 1917.
Children - Hester, by Sallie E.
Graves
87. Ida Bell Evelyn Hester, b. 15 Oct. 1885,
d. 28 June 1912.
88. Minnie Mae Hester, b. 14 July 1887, d. 19
Jan. 1974.
89. James Ollie Hester, b. 8 April 1890 (or
Oct. 1889), d. 29 Sept. 1983.
CHILDREN OF ELIZABETH M. GRAVES
(10) AND FRANCIS T. LIGON
Porterfield Ligon (or Legons or
Legens) (46) was born 6 Dec. 1850 (although he was listed as 15 in the 1870
census for Weakley Co., TN), and died 6 June 1919 in Latham, Weakley Co.,
TN. He first married Caroline Frances
Westbrooks, daughter of John R. Westbrooks, on 23 May 1876 in Weakley Co.,
TN. She was born about 1858 in
TN. He married second Martha Ann
Hawks, daughter of Bung Hawks and Lucy Winstead, on 29 Feb. 1896 in Weakley
Co., TN. He was in the 1870 census
for Weakley Co., TN, living with the family of William and Mary Brewer. All his children were born in Latham,
Weakley Co., TN.
Children - Legons (or Legens or
Leggins), by Martha A. Hawks
90. McKinley Howard Legons, b. 3 Dec. 1896,
d. 10 Aug. 1968 (Latham, Weakley Co., TN).
91. Oscar Lee Legons, b. 29 July 1898, d.
Latham, Weakley Co., TN).
92. Arthur Hosea (ÒHocoÓ) Legons, b. 7 Feb.
1902, d. 25 June 1984 (Latham, Weakley Co., TN).
93. Roosevelt Legons, b. 15 March 1905, d. 26
Feb. 1982 (Martin, Weakley Co., TN).
94. Zue Ella Legons, b. 29 April 1907, d. 18
April 1987 (Martin, Weakley Co., TN).
95. Ellis E. Legons, b. 5 Sept. 1911, d. 2
Feb. 1991 (Union City, Obion Co., TN).
Mary Mildred J. Legons (47) was
born about 1857 in TN, probably in Weakley Co., and died in 1886 in Weakley
Co., TN. She married Nelson
Bartholomew Reed on 14 Feb. 1875 in Weakley Co., TN. He was born 9 April 1854 in Cincinnati, Hamilton Co., OH,
and died 25 Sept. 1927 in Obion, Obion Co., TN. He had first married Nancy A. Westbrooks on 12 Jan. 1872 in
Weakley Co., TN, but she died about 1873 after having one child, Mary F. Reed,
born about 1873. All their
children were born in Weakley Co., TN.
Children - Reed
96. Isaac Templeton Reed, b. 14 Nov. 1878, d.
19 May 1933 (Samburg, Obion Co., TN).
97. Dora Etta Reed, b. 23 Sept. 1880, d. 5
Feb. 1933 (Samburg, Obion Co., TN).
98. Georgia E. Reed, b. June 1884.
Fountain B. Ligon (or Legons or
Leggins) (49) was born 7 Jan. 1860 in Crittenden Co., KY, and died 26 Nov. 1940
in Weakley Co., TN. He first
married Delia A. Hawks, daughter of John D. Hawks and Angeline F. Westbrook, on
14 Feb. 1882 in Weakley Co., TN.
She died in 1882. He
married second Susan E. Hawks, daughter of Randall Hawks (brother of John D.
Hawks) and Drucilla Winstead, on 2 Jan. 1888. She was born about 1870 in TN. He was living with the family of Hillman Walker as a laborer
in the 1880 census for Raulston Station, Weakley Co., TN, age 18. All their children were born in TN.
Children - Ligon/Legons, by
Delia A. Hawks
99. Willis Harvie Legons, b. 3 Jan. 1881
(Latham, Weakley Co., TN), d. 19 March 1960 (Latham, Weskley Co., TN).
Children - Ligon/Legons, by
Susan E. Hawks
100. James William Legons, b. 20 Oct.
1888 (Weakley Co., TN), d. 26 May 1912 (Hickman, Fulton Co., KY).
101. Isaac Henry Legons, b. 14 April
1890, d. 16 Aug. 1970.
102. Lillian Gertrude Legons, b. 20
Sept. 1892, d. 18 March 1917 (Weakley Co., TN).
103. Beulah Ida Legons, b. 3 June 1895
(Weakley Co., TN), d. 10 Nov. 1977 (Pisgah, Weakley Co., TN).
104. Auzie (or Auzy) Marion Legons, b. 2
Jan. 1900 (Latham, Weakley Co., TN), d. 19 Feb. 1974 (Latham, Weakley Co., TN).
105. Dewey Osborn Legons, b. 14 (or 28)
April 1903 (Weakley Co., TN), d. 2 Dec. 1997 (or 1987) (Martin, Weakley Co.,
TN).
106. Pearline Legons, b. 30 Oct. 1904,
d. 9 May 1996.
107. Ervin (or Irvine) Legons, b. 1 July
1906, d. 11 July 1906 (Dresden, Weakley Co., TN)
108. Zellie May Legons, b. 22 Aug. 1910,
d. 1920 (Weakley Co., TN).
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