Nancy Graves

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: 1800, , Oglethorpe, Georgia, USA
• Residence: 1830, , Autauga, Alabama, USA

Notes:

William Graves was born in 1755 in Henry Co VA. He died in 1836 in Lowndes Co AL and is buried at Graves Burying Ground, Mannack Station, Lowndes Co AL. As a Revolutionary War soldier, he served in the Transportation Department as a "wagon conductor". The DAR marker on his grave stone reads:

William Graves
Born in Virginia July 9, 1755
Married Sarah Smith in 1782
Moved to Alabama from Georgia 1817
Died February 24th, 1836

From the DAR Lineage Book, vol. 51, page 261:
"William Graves (1755-1836) signed the Oath of Allegiance, and served as "wagon conductor" in the militia of Henry Co., VA. He was born in VA and died in Manack, Ala."


From Graves Family Association website:
" William served as a wagon conductor of military supplies in John Fontaine's Co of Henry Co Militia, which on 11 May 1781 was ordered from Henry Co to the assistance of General Greene at Hillsborough NC. After the Revolutionary War, he moved to Washington Co, GA and took up land, where he and his family lived until 1817. There is on record in the GA State Archives at Atlanta, the following grant, which may have been his original land grant in GA:

"Graves, William - 287-1/2 acres in Washington Co., 17 May 1784. Warrant No. 1192, pg. 4". (Note: This portion of Washington Co., GA later became Oglethorpe Co.) In the winter of 1817, William Graves and most of his family moved from Oglethorpe Co., GA and settled near Manack Station, Lowndes Co., AL where he died. His will is dated 23 Feb 1836, and is recorded in Book C, vol3, pg 347, 1834-1838, at Prattville, Autauga Co., AL. All of their children were born in GA.".

Alabama Records, Vol 206, Autauga County, Alabama, compiled by Kathleen Paul Jones Ganrud, abstracts William's will. His inheritors are: his grandson, Young William Graves, his wife, Sarah, and his "children and their heirs as follows: viz. to the heirs of the body of Mary Alexander, the heirs of the body of Susan Clark, to Sally Varner and the heirs of her body; to Dorothy Fitzpatrick and the heirs of her body; to Martha Shelton and the heirs of her body; William Graves, Jr. and his heirs, to Charles Graves and his heirs; to David Graves and his heirs, to P.S. Graves and his heirs.....that William Graves, Jr. and David Graves...be my executors...."

Also noted on the Graves website: William Graves was one of two inheritors of his brother, Francis, will...which included approximately 2200 acres of land. Francis had never married and had no children.

William Graves was a successful plantation owner. He also operated a ferry service near his home of Graves Landing, AL.

From the Encyclopedia of Quaker Genealogy, 1750-1930: " William Graves married Sallie Smith 5 Nov 1782 by Nathaniel Shrewsbury" in Book C, vol3, pg 347, 1834-1838, at Prattville, Autauga Co., AL. All their children were born in GA."

We know of twelve children born to William and Sarah.

NOTE: For additional information, read story attached to David Graves (1792-1836) entitled, "Historical Context of the David Graves House".


Graves Burying Ground,, Manack Station, Lowndes Co., AL, Manack Station, Lowndes Co., AL



Name Birth Death Other

GRAVES, Mellora Ann Feb. 6, 1826 Aug. 1, 1869

GRAVES, Sarah Ann Jan 22, 1843 Aged 26 years, 6 months, 7 Days Wife Y.W. Graves, Esqr.

GRAVES, Dorthea Louisa Nov 3, 1829 Oct 8, 1854 Daughter of David and Mary Graves

GRAVES, David May 7, 1792 Sept 10, 1836 Son of William and Sarah Graves

GRAVES, David M. July 2, 1828 Oct 1, 1832 Son of David and Mary Graves

GRAVES, Charles E. Apr 27, 1831 July 27, 1834 Son David and Mary Graves

GRAVES, Infant Daughter of David and Mary Graves

GRAVES, William R. Dec 1, 1818 July 21, 1832 Son of David and Mary Graves

GRAVES, William July 9, 1755 Feb 24, 1836 DAR Marker: Born in Virginia. Married Sarah Smith in 1785.

Moved to Alabama from Georgia in 1817.

GRAVES, Sarah (Smith) 1761 Oct 7, 1841 ( On same stone with William Graves)

HINKLE, Jimmie June 1861 Oct 5, 1861 Son of J.B. and L.E. Hinkle, Aged 4 Months

HINKLE, Dr. James May 20, 1805 Jan 22, 1854 Our Mother and Father

HINKLE, Martha F.* May 19 1813 Feb 1, 1864 (On same stone with Dr. James Hinkle)

HINKLE, Annie E. Jan 30, 1853 June 27, 1854 Daughter of Dr. James and Martha F. Hinkle

HINKLE, Edwin Eugene June 24, 1832 Aug 11,1835 Son of Dr. James and Martha F. Hinkle

HINKLE, Mary June 12, 1834 June 18, 1836 Daughter of Dr. James and Martha F. Hinkle

JUDGE, Mary Russell Aug 30, 1843 Jan 8, 1844 Daughter of Thomas and Jane Judge

FAGAN, Amelia Feb 2, 1844 Mar 14, 1844 Daughter of S.T. and A.J. Fagan

FAGAN, Amelia Jane** Aug 29, 1822 Oct 18, 1848

FAGAN, George Wimberly Aug 30, 1848 Jan 26, 1849 Son of S.T. and A.J. Fagan

CLARK, William *** Apr 28, 1810 July 13, 1836

CLARK, George **** July 16, 1812 June 2, 1836

* Martha F. Graves Hinkle was the daughter of William and Sarah Graves.

** Amelia Jane Fagan may have been the daughter of Mazy D. Cotton and William Rutherford Russell.....most likely related to Mary Russell Graves.

***William Clark....not yet identified.

****George Clark.....husband of Sarah Ann Graves, daughter of David and Mary Russell Graves.

Note: Source citation below.

~Mary McCall Thompson

Mary Thompsonadded this on 13 Mar 2008Transcription of Graves Burying Ground, Manack Station, Lowndes Co., AL. Generously collected and transcribed by Mrs. Lola L. Daniell, Pensacola, FL. Additional research notes have been added.


William GRAVES was born on 9 July 1755 in Caroline County, Virginia, son of William GRAVES and Dorothy STERN.1,2

While living in Henry County, Virginia William enlisted as a private, conductor of wagons, in the American Continental Line. He served in the quartermaster corps of John Fontain's company of Henry County Militia, which on 11 May 1783 was ordered from Henry County to Gen. Greene at Hillsborough, North Carolina. He was`in command of wagon trains under William McGraw, acting Quartermaster at Petersburg, Virginia. In 1784 he received a land grant for 287 1/2 acres in Oglethorpe County, Georgia in recognition of his military service.3,2

William married Sarah SMITH, daughter of Charles SMITH and Nancy BURKS, on 5 November 1782 in Bedford County, Virginia.4,5

William GRAVES of Oglethorpe County, Georgia and Peyton GRAVES of Franklin County, Virginia on 17 October 1812 sold for $500 to Timothy and Stephen Pate of Smith County and Willoughby(?) Pate of Jackson County, Tennessee, 426 acres in Smith County and Jackson counties, Tennessee, being part of a grant to Francis Graves from the State of North Carolina, and conveyed by William and Peyton Graves, heirs of Francis Graves. Witnesses: William Low, Thomas Draper. Proved and recorded March 1813. [Smith County Deed Book D, pg. 209-10]

William GRAVES and Sarah SMITH moved from Oglethorpe County, Georgia to Montgomery County, Mississippi Territory in the winter of 1817 along with Rev. Britton Capel and settled a few miles below the town of Washington at Manack Station in the upper northeast corner of what is now Lowndes County, Alabama. He established a ferry there across the Alabama River. At that time Alabama was part of the Mississippi Territory. Autauga county wasn't created until 1818 and Lowndes County in 1830. Alabama gained statehood in 1819.3,6

William owned extensive lands on the Alabama River at Graves Landing where he established a plantation and lived until his death in 1836. In 1821 he was appointed together with Edward Moseley, Benjamin Davis, John Hughes, and William Laprade to select a site for the Montgomery county courthouse. When Lowndes county was established by an act of the legislature approved 20 January 1830, his plantation fell within the Lowndes limits, not far from the Montgomery county line.3 He purchased a government land patent 14 April 1825 in Montgomery County, Alabama. At the Cahaba Land Office he bought 78.75 acres of the east half of the northeast quarter of section 10 of township 13-N, range 19-E.10

William GRAVES appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 1830 in Lowndes County, Alabama. The household was listed as Two males under 5, one male 10-15, one male 15-20, one male 50-60 [William], three females under 5, one female 5-10, one female 15-20, and one female 30-40.

William GRAVES, Sarah GRAVES, Charles GRAVES, Mrs. Louisa Jane GRAVES, Stephen SHELTON and Martha SHELTON, John M. McLeans and Elizabeth McLeans sold a tract of land to James Huie on 5 December 1832 in Autauga County. The deed proclaimed that John M. McLeans and Elizabeth McLeans, his wife, and Charles Graves and Louisa, his wife, and William Graves and Sarah, his wife, and Stephen Shelton and Martha, his wife, for $2100 paid by James Huie sold him the east half of fractional section 24 on the Alabama River, township 16, range 15, being the land where Stephen Shelton now lives, except for the part of the said fractional section as lies on the south side of Long Pond, also part of the said fractional section 24 lying in the North half of said fractional section and on the sorth side from the middle of the Long Pond being part of the section in the possession of William Graves and afterwards in the possession of Stephen Shelton, containing 303 acres. Signed by Charles Graves, Louisa J. Graves, Stephne Shelton, Martha Shelton, William Graves, Sarah Graves, John M. McLean and Elizabeth McLean.12

William GRAVES sold the following parcels of land to his son, Charles GRAVES, on 20 February 1835 in Autauga County, Alabama. It was described as fractional section 26 in township 16, range 15, lying north of the Alabama River. Also the northeast quarter of section 22 in the same township and range, and fractional section 25 north of the Alabama River containing 150 acres together with all property belonging with the rights of the ferry landing including the landing on both sides of the Alabama River. However William Graves and Sarah Graves, his wife, were to retain use of said lands, tenements and outbuildings during their natural lives. The deed was signed by William Graves and Charles Graves, and witnessed by Warren Stone, George Clark, John D. Hall, and Robert Russell.13

William GRAVES died on 24 February 1836 in Manack Station, Lowndes County, Alabama, at age 80.14 He was buried in the Graves Burying Ground. The cemetery is located a short way south and west of the old Manack Station on the old road from Montgomery to Selma. The cemetery is now on property owned by GE Plastics.

William GRAVES left a will that was written on 23 February 1836 in Autauga County, Alabama. Recorded in Reports Book C, 1834-1838, on page 347, his inhertors were: his grandson, Young William Graves; his wife, Sarah, and his "children and their heirs as follows, viz. to the heirs of the body of Mary Alexander; the heirs of the body of Susan Clark; to Sally Vaner and the heirs of her body; to Dorothy Fitzpatrick and heirs of her body; to Martha Shelton and the heirs of her body; William Graves, jr. and his heirs; to Charles Graves and his heirs; to David Graves and his heirs; to P. S. Graves and his heirs... that William Graves, Jr. and David Graves... be my executors..."

Children of William GRAVES and Sarah SMITH
Mary GRAVES+ b. 3 Oct 1783, d. 21 Jun 1835
Susan GRAVES b. 15 May 1785
Francis GRAVES b. 25 May 1787, d. 28 Dec 1798
William GRAVES III+ b. 27 Dec 1788, d. 11 Nov 1854
Sarah GRAVES+ b. 7 Nov 1790
David GRAVES+ b. 7 May 1792, d. 10 Sep 1836
Nancy GRAVES b. 28 Dec 1793, d. Aug 1794
Charles GRAVES+ b. 11 Aug 1796, d. 27 Mar 1849
Rev. Peyton Smith GRAVES b. 3 Mar 1799
Dorothea GRAVES b. 20 Feb 1801, d. 1855
George GRAVES b. 9 Apr 1803, d. 16 Mar 1810
Martha GRAVES+ b. 9 Sep 1805, d. 15 Jul 1875

Citations
[S759] Larry W. Nobles, Old Autauga: Portrait of a Deep South County, pg.223-224.
[S651] Lowndes County Heritage Book Committee, Heritage of Lowndes County, William Graves, Pioneer submitted by Robert H. Graves, Ft. Worth, TX.
[S53] Bud Graves, "Graves Family Newsletter (1995), p. 22," e-mail to Jr. John K. Brown, 29 Jan 1997.
[S242] Carrie Scales Evans, "Abney Family Research," e-mail to Jr. John K. Brown, 28 Nov 1998.
[S883] Rev. Anson West, History of Methodism in Alabama, pg. 185-186.
[S754] Daniel S. Gray, Autauga: First 100 Yrs., pg. 90.
[S253] Shadrack Mims, History of Autauga County, Alabama.
[S883] Rev. Anson West, History of Methodism in Alabama, pg. 176.
[S232] Bureau of Land Management, online http://www.glorecords.blm.gov, Cahaba Land Office, #1665, AL0160_272.
[S905] W. G. Robertson, Early Settlers of Montgomery, pg. 147.
[S857] Autauga County Deeds and Mortgages, Book D, Volume 4-B: Book C, page 505.
[S857] Autauga County Deeds and Mortgages, Book D, Volume 4-B: Deed Book D, pg. 406. Note that the township and range are mistakenly reversed in the deed. It shows township 15, range 16 would be well south of the river and so would not match at all the land as discribed in the deed.

William married Sarah Smith on 5 Nov 1782 in , Bedford, Virginia, USA. Sarah was born in 1761 in , Bedford, Virginia, USA; died on 2 Oct 1841 in Lowndesboro, Lowndes, Alabama, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

William Graves of Pigg River 1724-1809

William Graves first appears in public records when he leased 500 acres of land on the Pigg River, Pittsylvania Co., VA on 4 January 1773. At that time he was referred to as "William Graves of Caroline Co., VA" as he was new to the area. On 9 February 1773, William purchased 100 acres of land (most likely) adjacent to the leased acreage. (Pittsylvania Co. Deed Bk. 3, p. 247). Witnesses to these transactions were Peyton Smith, Susannah Daniel, Thomas Potter, William Daniel, Jr., William Graves and James Daniel.

In 1776 this area became a part of newly formed Henry County.

On 13 September 1777, a list of persons renouncing allegiance to Great Britain and swearing allegiance to the Commonwealth of Virginia included William Graves, Senr.......53, David Graves....20, William Graves....22. (The numbers following the names appear to be their age at the time).

On 22 November 1777, William Graves purchased the 500 acres that he had previously leased. This tranaction was duly recorded in Henry Co., VA.

On 18 April 1778, William Graves, Sr. sold the 100 acres now located in Henry Co. to William Graves., Jr., our Fourth Great-grandfather.

William Graves, Sr. and his son, William Graves are both listed on the Henry Co., VA Tax Lists. William Graves, Sr. was appointed to assess property in the district under the command of Frederick Reeves in 1778 and return an amount according to law. In 1778, the only Graves on the Tax Assessor list in Henry Co. was William Graves and William Graves, Jr.

In 1779, the Tax List of Henry noted the following Graves: William Graves, Sr., William Graves Jr. and David Graves. (It is likely that this David Graves was also a son of William Graves, Sr).

William Graves became a resident of Franklin Co., VA in 1785 when that county was formed from the northern half of Henry Co.. part of Bedford Co and part of Patrick Co. He was still living on his 500 acres on the Pigg River.

William Graves, Sr. died intestate in 1809 in Franklin Co., VA. On 4 Dec 1809, John Graves (most likely his son) and Peyton Graves (another son most likely) gave bond for the Letters of Administration of the personal estate of William Graves, deceased.

SOURCE: The Graves Family Newsletter, April 1984, Vol. 9, No. 50.

William married Dorothy Smith in 1750 in , , Virginia, USA. Dorothy was born in 1725 in , Pittsylvania, Virginia, USA; died in , Franklin, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Francis married Ann Reynolds in 1699 in , Essex, Virginia, USA. Ann was born in 1680 in Richmond, Independent Cities, Virginia, USA; died on 21 Oct 1765 in , Essex, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Francis married Jane Davenport. Jane was born in 1650 in , Rappahannock, Virginia, USA; died in 1699 in , Rappahannock, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]