Thomas Graves and Mary Bradshaw of Mecklenburg Co., VA

Rev. 9 Jan. 2018, Gen. 281

DESCENDANTS OF THOMAS GRAVES AND MARY BRADSHAW OF MECKLENBURG CO., VA

GENERATION 1

Thomas Graves (1) married Mary Bradshaw in 1795 in VA. Arthur Dixon (R‑1) has identified him as Thomas Graves, b. Sept. 1747 in Culpeper Co., VA, d. 12 March 1834 in Lincoln Co., MO, but that seems unlikely. That Thomas Graves is part of gen. 270. A Y-DNA test is needed to determine ancestry. A more likely connection is with gen. 152. (R‑1)

Children - Graves

+2. John Y. Graves, b.c. 1814, m. Mahala B. Jeffries, d. 1883.

3. Sallie A. Graves, b.c. 1824.

GENERATION 2

CHILDREN OF THOMAS GRAVES (1) AND MARY BRADSHAW

John Y. Graves (2) was born about 1814 in VA, and died in 1883 in VA. He married Mahala B. Jeffries. She was born about 1813 in VA. Marriage records for their son George give George's parents' names and show John's middle initial as T (but census records consistently show the initial as Y, except the 1840 census which shows T). The 1850 census for Mecklenburg Co., VA shows a John Y. Graves with Mahala and a young George of the right age in the household. John was listed in the census as an overseer. There is a marriage record in Mecklenburg Co., VA for John T. Graves and Mahala, but no parents are listed[1]. Living next door to John Y. Graves in 1850 was James Flinn, 27, Peggy (possibly Peggy Graves, daughter of Phebe), 23, Phebe, 2, and John, 4 months, and Phebe Graves (possibly John’s sister-in-law), Sally, 24, Nancy, 22, Martha, 17, Madison, 12, and William, 10.

The 1860 census for Charlotte Co., VA, page 236, lists Mahala Graves, 48, Howell T., 14, Mary J., 12, and Cornelia S., 9. John was apparently not living with the family at that time. The 1860 census for Regt. 22, Mecklenburg Co., VA, Clarksburg P.O., page 216, lists Miranda Jeffress, 50, Mary Jeffress, 86, and James E. Graves, 16. The 1870 census for Bluestone, Mecklenburg Co., VA, page 260, lists John Y. Graves, 53, Mary A., 22, Sallie A., 46, lives with brother, and Mary F. Collier, 17, lives with uncle. In 1870 there was also a Samuel Graves in Bluestone, age 40, living nearby, who may have been a brother of John. Also in the 1870 census for Bluestone, VA, was Miranda Jeffress, 56, and Mary J. Graves, 21, lives with aunt.

The 1880 census for Bacon, Charlotte Co., VA, lists Ann Vaughn, b.c. 1843, widowed, as head of household, with 5 children, mother Hailey Greaves (clearly Mahala Graves), b.c. 1814, and sister Susan Greaves, b.c. 1852, single (almost certainly Cornelia S. Graves).

According to R‑1, John married Mahala Gibbs, but that does not appear to be correct. The marriage record of John and the census records showing family members living with aunt Miranda Jeffress support Jeffries as Mahala’s surname. The statement by R‑1 that they lived in TN also seems incorrect, since census records show them living in VA.

John Graves was almost certainly descended from Thomas Graves of Lunenburg Co. and Mecklenburg Co., VA (genealogy 152), As discussed in that genealogy, he may have been a son of James Graves and Phoebe Elam, but, if not, was certainly very closely related to them. (R‑2)

Children - Graves

+4. George R. Graves, b.c. 1838, m. Elizabeth Finch Garner, 10 March 1869.

+5. Ann Eliza Graves, b.c. 1842, m. Napoleon W. Vaughan, 17 Oct. 1866.

+6. James Edward Graves, b. 13 July 1844, m. Sarah Frances Coleman, 1875, d. June 1903.

+7. Howell Thomas Graves, b. 1 June 1846, m. Willie Ward, c. 1880, d. 17 July 1909.

8. Mary J. Graves, b.c. 1848.

9. Cornelia S. Graves, b.c. 1851.

GENERATION 3

CHILDREN OF JOHN Y. GRAVES (2) AND MAHALA GIBBS

George R. Graves (4) was born about 1838-1840 in VA. He married Elizabeth Finch Garner on 10 (or 8) March 1869 in Mecklenburg Co., VA[2]. She was a daughter of Samuel R. Garner and Orpha Garner (daughter of James Garner and Mary Smith). George and Elizabeth were listed as the parents on the birth and death certificates of their daughter Louise. Elizabeth was born in Sept. 1848 in VA. The 1870 census for Charlotte Co., VA, roll 1640, p. 23, lists George R. Graves, age 30, farmer, Elizabeth, age 22, and Georgie, age 4/12. They were in the 1880 and 1900 censuses for Bluestone District, Mecklenburg Co., VA. He was listed as a farmer in 1870, a plasterer in 1880, and a brick layer in 1900. George is said to have married a second time, perhaps after his first wife died. All his children were born in Mecklenburg Co., VA.

George R. Graves was a private, promoted and then demoted, in Company E, 14th Virginia Infantry. He mustered in May 12, 1861 at age 21 years, in Clarksville, VA, and was paroled on April 21, 1865 at Burkeville, VA. All records are on file with the National Archives, mirofilm 324, roll 548. (R‑2, R‑3)

Children - Graves, by Elizabeth F. Garner

10. Georgie Graves, b. 1870 (4 months old at 1870 census).

+11. Willie I. Graves, b. Feb. 1870, m. Charles W. Hester.

12. Samuel D. Graves, b. Dec. 1871.

+13. George Finch Graves, b. 26 Aug. 1874, m. Lula Glanville Richards, 24 Feb. 1904.

+14. Marion Ardell Graves, b. Oct. 1876, m. Robert M. Hester.

15. Elizabeth Graves, b.c. 1878, m. Robert Morgan.

+16. Susan D. Graves, b. June 1881, m. Ernest H. Adams.

17. Virginia (“Jennie”) L. Graves, b.c. 1880 (or Dec. 1883, m. Calvin Carden.

+18. Louise Thomas Graves, b. 7 Nov. 1886 (or Nov. 1884), m. Drewry Marshall Brame.

Children - Graves, by 2nd wife

19. H. T. Graves (son)

Ann Eliza Graves (5) was born about 1842 in Virginia. She married Napoleon W. Vaughan, son of John Henry (or Henry T.) Vaughan and Mary Ann Cutts, on 17 Oct. 1866 in Mecklenburg Co., VA. He was born about 1843 or 1844 in Granville Co., NC, and died in Nov. 1877 in Charlotte Co., VA. They were in the 1870 census for Bluestone, Mecklenburg Co., VA, with one child Belle H. Vaughan, b.c. 1869, when he was working on a plantation. Ann was in the 1880 census for Bacon, Charlotte Co., VA, widowed, with 5 children, with her mother and her sister Susan living with her. She was in the 1910 census for Bacon, VA, living with the family of her son Edward. (R‑6)

Children - Vaughan

+20. Isabella Howard Vaughan, b. 1 Feb. 1869, m. Bascom Cabot Dickerson, 1 Feb. 1888, d. 1 Nov. 1938.

21. Simon Vaughan, b.c. 1874.

+22. Edward Washington Vaughan, b. 21 Nov. 1874, m. Maude R. Graves, 29 March 1899, d. 23 Sept. 1944.

23. John Donald Vaughan, b.c. 1877.

24. Mary Nelson Vaughan, b. 9 Sept. 1878 (Bacon, Charlotte Co., VA), m. Robert Lee Reid, 21 Dec. 1898 (Charlotte Co., VA), d. 27 Oct. 1922 (Chase City, Mecklenburg Co., VA).

James Edward Graves (6) was born in 1844 in VA, probably Mecklenburg Co., and died in 1903 in Nutbush, Haywood Co., TN. He married Sarah Frances (“Sally”) Coleman, daughter of Thomas Coleman and Parthenia Pennington Pierce, in 1875 (or in 1871). She was born 15 March 1851 and died 10 April 1916, both in Haywood Co., TN. Their second and third children were born in Tibbs, Haywood Co., TN, and the last 3 in Nutbush, TN. They were in the 1880 census for Dist. 11, Haywood Co., TN, page 271D. He was a farmer. (R‑1)

Children - Graves

+25. Eula Bradshaw Graves, b. 24 Oct. 1877, m. Edward Taylor Dixon, 17 Feb. 1896, d. 15 Oct. 1955.

+26. Mary Bradford Graves, b. 21 Feb. 1879, m. Robert Moore Dixon, 1 Jan. 1899, d. 19 Feb. 1975.

+27. Thomas Edward Graves, b. 1881, m. Harriet Jane Sangster, d. 20 June 1952.

28. Howell George Graves, b. 1885, d. 1953 (Nutbush, TN).

+29. Carrie Louise Graves, b. 28 Feb. 1885, m. Dunaway Rooks, 6 Dec. 1912, d. 11 Sept. 1976.

+30. Ruth Cleveland Graves, b. 2 June 1893, m. William Bradin Leggett, 10 Sept. 1913, d. 20 Nov. 1950.

+31. Eddie W. Graves, b. 1 June 1896, m. Cliffie Irene Parrish, 18 Dec. 1910, d. 1911.

32. William Bradshaw Graves, b. Aug. 1896.

Howell Thomas Graves (7) was born 1 June 1846 and died 17 July 1909, both in Mecklenburg Co., VA (although the census records show them in Charlotte Co.). They may have lived very close to the boundary line between the two adjacent counties. Howell married Willie Ward about 1880. She was born in April 1862 in VA. They were in the 1880, 1900, and 1910 censuses for Bacon, Charlotte Co., VA, with their first 2 children in 1880, their last 6 children in 1900, and their last 3 children in 1910 (without Howell, since he had died). The 1900 census stated she had 7 children, all living. All their children were born in VA, probably all in Bacon.

The census records are confusing. It appears possible that Howell had two different wives or that there were two men named Howell. It is also possible that Howell really had the 9 children listed below, or that the first two were by a previous marriage of his wife Willie, or that the first two were nieces and not daughters. The names of Howell and Willie and their ages are the same in both the 1880 and 1900 censuses, and the location is also the same. However, the 1880 census spells his surname Greaves and lists two children born before 1880. Since the 1900 census shows their marriage date as about 1880 and states that the wife has 7 children, that makes the 1880 census seem like it could be showing another wife. The discrepancies need to be resolved. (R‑1, R‑4)

Children - Greaves, by first wife?

33. Delia Greaves, b.c. 1872.

34. Sarah Greaves, b.c. 1875.

Children - Graves, by second wife?

35. Maude R. Graves, b. 9 Feb. 1881, m. Edward Washington Vaughan (#22), 29 March 1899, d. 28 March 1946. See #22 for descendants.

+36. Mary Willie Graves, b. 5 Sept. 1883, m. Fletcher Elmer Spain, 26 Nov. 1902, d. 17 Aug. 1960.

37. Elizabeth (“Lizzie”) Graves, b. Feb. 1886.

38. Mattie Graves, b. April 1888.

+39. James Hailey Graves, b. 23 Jan. 1889 (or 1890), m. Rosa Mae White, 4 Nov. 1914, d. 1971.

40. Dayton Ward Graves, b. April 1892.

41. Roberta (“Bertie”) Rice Graves, b. May 1894.

GENERATION 4

CHILDREN OF GEORGE R. GRAVES (4) AND ELIZABETH F. GARNER

Willie I. Graves (11) was born in Feb. 1870 in Mecklenburg Co., VA. She married Charles W. Hester. He was born in Nov. 1865 in NC. All their children were born in Mecklenburg Co., VA. (R‑3)

Children - Hester

42. Gladys Hester, b. April 1891.

43. Hazelwood Hester, b. March 1893.

44. Inez Hester, b. July 1897.

45. Nat Hester, b. May 1900.

George Finch Graves (13) was born 26 Aug. 1874 in Chase City, Mecklenburg Co., VA, and died 10 Aug. 1954 in Wendell, Wake Co., NC. He married Lula Glanville Richards, daughter of Albert Mason Richards and Hettie Alice (“Allie”) Greer, on 24 Feb. 1904 in Chase City, Mecklenburg Co., VA. She was born 14 March 1885 in Chase City, Mecklenburg Co., VA, and died 18 July 1959 in Wendell, Wake Co., NC. They were in the 1910 census for South Hill, Mecklenburg Co., VA, when he was a bookkeeper (as he had been in 1900). They may have been the family in the 1930 census for White Hall, Albemarle Co., VA, but that is not certain. (R‑3, R‑5)

Children - Graves

+46. Elizabeth Finch Graves, b. 26 June 1905, m(1) Frank Harris, 25 June 1925, m(2) George Robert House, 6 June 1959, d. 3 Dec. 1989.

+47. Grace Ardell Graves, b. 14 Feb. 1910, m. Joseph Buchanan, 11 Jan. 1930.

+48. George Richards Graves, b. 19 Dec. 1918, m. Dorothy Leah Hamilton, 7 Nov. 19‑‑, d. 3 July 1993.

+49. Arthur Glanville Graves, b. 2 May 1929, m(1) Lois Lucille Cole, 25 Oct. 1952, m(2) Dorothy Francis Parker, d. 7 April 1964.

Marion Ardell (“Dell”) Graves (14) was born in Oct. 1876 in Mecklenburg Co., VA. She married Robert M. Hester. He was born in Aug. 1868 in NC. (R‑3)

Children - Hester

50. George F. Hester, b. Sept. 1898 (Mecklenburg Co., VA).

Susan (“Sudie”) D. (or E.) Graves (16) was born in June 1881 in Mecklenburg Co., VA. She married Ernest H. Adams. He was born about 1877 in VA. All their children were born in Mecklenburg Co., VA. (R‑3)

Children - Adams

51. Willie E. Adams, b.c. 1902.

52. Marion A. Adams, b.c. 1905.

53. Sam R. Adams, b.c. 1908.

Louise (or Lula) Thomas Graves (18) was born 7 (or 1) Nov. 1886 in Mecklenburg Co., VA, and died 5 May 1944. She was called Lucy on her birth certificate (Mecklenburg Co., VA, p. 392, line 55) that gives her birth date as 7 Nov. 1886 and her mother and father as E. F. and G. R. Graves. She was listed as Lula in the 1900 census. She married Drewry Marshall Brame, son of James T. Brame and Pattie Susan Loafman (both of Mecklenburg Co., VA). He was born about 1878 in VA. They lived in Mecklenburg Co., VA. (R‑2)

Children - Brame

54. Margaret Graves Brame, b. 27 Oct. 1906 (Skipwith, Mecklenburg Co., VA), m. ‑‑‑‑‑‑ Williams.

CHILDREN OF ANN E. GRAVES (5) AND NAPOLEON W. VAUGHAN

Isabella (“Belle”) Howard Vaughan (20) was born 1 Feb. 1869 in Charlotte Co., VA, and died 1 Nov. 1938 in Richmond, Glen Allen Co., VA. She married Bascom Cabot Dickerson on 1 Feb. 1888 in Charlotte Co., VA. He was born 3 Nov. 1860 and died 4 April 1940, both in Charlotte Co., VA. All their children were born in VA. (R‑6)

Children - Dickerson

55. Kenneth Ira Dickerson, b. 1888, d. 1893.

56. Grayson Alvin Dickerson, b.c. 1891, d. 1968.

57. Alma M. Dickerson, b.c. 1894.

58. Other (or Otha) M. Dickerson, b.c. 1896.

59. Annie K. Dickerson, b.c. 1901.

60. Wilton B. Dickerson, b. 22 March 1901, d. Sept. 1963.

61. Donald (“Donnie”) Dodd Dickerson, b. 22 Aug. 1903, d. 2 Nov. 1989 (Richmond, Henrico Co., VA).

62. Mary Esther Dickerson, b.c. 1906.

63. Roy E. Dickerson, b.c. 1908.

Edward (“Ned”) Washington Vaughan (22) was born 21 Nov. 1874 and died 23 Sept. 1944, both in Charlotte Co., VA. He married Maude (“Maudie”) R. Graves (#35), daughter of Howell Thomas Graves and Willie Ward, on 29 March 1899 in Charlotte Co., VA. She was born 9 Feb. 1881 in VA, and died 28 March 1946 in Red Oak, Charlotte Co., VA. They were in the 1910, 1920 and 1930 censuses for Bacon, Charlotte Co., VA. All their children were born in VA. (R‑6)

Children - Vaughan

64. Floyd H. Vaughan, b.c. 1902.

65. Beatrice Ruth Vaughan, b.c. 1905, d. 16 July 1979 (Farmville, Prince Edward Co., VA).

66. Willie C. Vaughan, b.c. 1906.

67. Annie L. (or E.) Vaughan, b.c. 1908.

68. Mary M. Vaughan, b.c. 1910.

69. Bertie Vaughan, b.c. 1913.

70. Howard T. Vaughan, b.c. 1914 or 1915.

71. Edward N. Vaughan, b.c. 1916.

72. Cathrine Elizabeth Vaughan, b.c. 1918.

73. Bessie V. Vaughan, b.c. 1921.

CHILDREN OF JAMES E. GRAVES (6) AND SALLY COLEMAN

Eula Bradshaw Graves (25) was born 24 Oct. 1877 in Tibbs, Haywood Co., TN, and died 15 Oct. 1955 in Brownsville, Haywood Co., TN. She married Edward Taylor Dixon, son of Robert Dixon and Louvenia McGee, on 17 Feb. 1896 in Nutbush, TN. He was born 2 Aug. 1878 and died 22 Nov. 1947, both in Nutbush, TN. (R‑1)

Children - Dixon

+74. Lydia Robertson Dixon, b. 25 June 1898, m. Leonard Samuel Smith, 23 July 1921, d. 28 Dec. 1986.

+75. James Arthur Dixon, b. 22 Feb. 1903, m. Allah Jeanette Waddell, 28 Nov. 1923, d. 1 Oct. 1961.

+76. Graves Edward Dixon, b. 9 Nov. 1913, m. Nellie Louise Poindexter, 15 March 1941, d. 17 March 1984.

77. Louvenia M. Dixon, b. 16 Aug. 1917, m. Gilfred Greaves (#92), 28 Aug. 1935, d. Sept. 1979. See #92 for descendants.

Mary Bradford Graves (26) was born 21 (or 22) Feb. 1879 in Tibbs, Haywood Co., TN, and died 19 Feb. 1975 in Humboldt, TN. She married Robert Moore Dixon, son of William Dixon and Nancy Moore, on 1 Jan. 1899 in Nutbush, Haywood Co., TN. He was born in 1848 in NC, and died in 1917 in Nutbush, TN. All their children were born in Tibbs, TN (with the possible exception of the last one). (R‑1)

Children - Dixon

+78. Dora Lena Dixon, b. 22 March 1900, m. George C. Hood, 21 Oct. 1921, d. 1970.

+79. Chester Moore Dixon, b. 29 Oct. 1901, m. Isabel Drake, 31 May 1925, d. 6 March 1994.

+80. Nolen Dixon, b. 15 May 1904, m. Emma White, d. 22 Sept. 1961.

81. Thomas Dixon, b. 25 June 1908, m. Vera Castellaw, d. 24 July 1985 (Brownsville, TN). She was b. 10 Jan. 1907 in Crockett Co., TN, and d. 7 Dec. 1984 in Brownsville, TN.

+82. Edna Dixon, m. Bradford Brown Thomas.

Thomas Edward Graves (27) was born in 1881 and died 20 June 1952, both in Nutbush, Haywood Co., TN. He married Harriet Jane Sangster. She was born in 1882 and died 1 May 1969, both in Nutbush, TN. Their first child was born in Nutbush, and the others in Brownsville, TN. (R‑1)

Children - Graves

+83. Reuben Edward Graves, b. 1904, m. ‑‑‑‑‑‑, d. 1959.

+84. Marjorie Graves, b. 16 April 1913, m. Luke Banks, d. 30 Sept. 1968.

85. Jeanette Graves, b. 3 Sept. 1916, m(1) Bunk Chaney, m(2) Dorris ‑‑‑‑‑‑, d. 1990 (Gulf of Mexico).

86. Carol Graves, b. 25 Dec. 1918, m. Robert Emerson, d. 1991 (Brownsville, TN).

Carrie Louise Graves (29) was born 28 Feb. 1885 in Nutbush, TN, and died 11 Sept. 1976 in Brownsville, TN. She married Dunaway Rooks, son of John Needam ("Ned") Rooks, on 6 Dec. 1912 in Nutbush, TN. He was born 21 Oct. 1887 in Nutbush, TN, and died 23 Jan. 1974 in Brownsville, TN. (R‑1)

Children - Rooks

+87. Frances Rooks, m. Paxton Ray Mann.

+88. Ned Rooks, m. Eleanor Knee.

+89. John Dunaway Rooks, m. Betty Salmon.

Ruth Cleveland Graves (30) was born 2 June 1893 in Haywood Co., TN, and died 20 Nov. 1950 in Bolivar, Hardeman Co., TN. She married William Bradin Leggett, son of William T. Leffett and Emma ‑‑‑‑‑‑, on 10 Sept. 1913 in Lauderdale Co., TN. He was born 2 Dec. 1876 in TN, and died in Nov. 1973 in Ripley, Lauderdale Co., TN. (R‑1)

Children - Leggett

90. William Bernard Leggett, b. 4 Jan. 1915 (Woodville, TN), m. ‑‑‑‑‑‑, d. 1998. 2 daughters.

91. Graves Cavnar Leggett, b. 5 Jan. 1923 (Woodville, TN), m. Frances Morris, 12 June 1952 (Arp, TN), d. 25 Jan. 2008 (Millington, Shelby Co., TN).

Eddie W. Graves (31) was born 1 June 1896 in TN, and died in 1911 in Lauderdale Co., TN. He married Cliffie Irene Parrish on 18 Dec. 1910 in Lauderdale Co., TN. She was born about 1892 in TN. All their children were born in TN. (R‑1)

Children - Graves

+92. Gilfred Graves, b. 8 Nov. 1911, m. Louvenia M. Dixon, 28 Aug. 1935, d. 13 Feb. 1978.

93. Lizzie F. Graves, b.c. 1916.

94. Louise Graves, b.c. 1920.

95. Eddie W. Graves, b.c. 1923.

96. Frances R. Graves, b.c. 1933.

CHILDREN OF HOWELL T. GRAVES (7) AND WILLIE WARD

Mary Willie Graves (36) was born 5 Sept. 1883 and died 17 Aug. 1960. She married Fletcher Elmer Spain, son of John Spain and Lucy Ann Elizabeth ‑‑‑‑‑‑, on 26 Nov. 1902. He was born 28 Feb. 1878 and died 21 Oct. 1936, both in Mecklenburg Co., VA. (R‑7)

Children - Spain

97. Lucy Viola Spain, b. 21 Sept. 1903, d. 17 March 1907.

98. Elmer Howard Spain, b. 28 April 1905, d. 22 March 1907.

+99. Fletcher Garnett Spain, b. 25 Nov. 1906, m. Nannie Lizzie Howerton, 23 Oct. 1932.

+100. Berkley Spain, b. 12 March 1909, m. Lucille Inge.

101. Edward Hailey Spain, b. 9 May 1909, m. Pearl Harris.

+102. Mary Elizabeth Spain, b. 5 Aug. 1919, m. Harold Benjamin Elliot, 4 Nov. 1939.

+103. Annie Virginia Spain, b. 24 Jan. 1922, m. Herman Tharpe, Jr.

+104. John Howell Spain, b. 28 June 1925, m. Rachel Hicks.

James Hailey Graves (39) was born 23 Jan. 1889 and died 1 Aug. 1971. He married Rosa (“Rosie”) Mae White, daughter of Patrick E. White and Minnie Mae Permelia Cora Hailey, on 4 Nov. 1914. She was born 10 June 1894, and died 31 May 1949 in Keysville, VA. (R‑7)

Children - Graves

105. Audrey Lois Graves, b. 27 June 1915 (Charlotte Co., VA), d. 25 Feb. 1940.

+106. Margaret Alise Graves, b. 3 Sept. 1917, m. Paul Cecil Reynolds, 30 May 1941.

+107. Rosie May Graves, b. 22 July 1920, m. William Mitchell Turner, 30 May 1942.

+108. James Patrick Graves, b. 17 Nov. 1923, m. Betty Jane Hammock, d. 10 Feb. 1984.

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