Rev. 2 Aug. 2011, Gen. 22

 

DESCENDANTS OF JIM GRAVES AND MELVINA ------

OF CASWELL CO., NC

 

 

GENERATION 1

 

James (ÒJimÓ) Graves (1) was born about 1817-1820[1] in NC.  He married Melvina (or Malvina or Melviny or Vina) ‑‑‑‑‑‑.  She was born into slavery in July 1816[2] in NC, and died in 1910 or 1913[3].  They were in the 1870 and 1880 censuses for Yanceyville, Caswell Co., NC.  She was in the 1900 and 1910 censuses for Stony Creek Twp., Caswell Co., NC, as a widow, living with her daughter Ella.  In 1910 she said that 3 of her 14 children were still living.  Only 9 children are listed below.  Another son may have been Alfred (b.c. 1846), since he and his wife Emma lived next to Orange and Gabriel in 1880.  (See gen. 636.)  All their children were born in Caswell Co., NC.  (R‑1)

Children - Graves

+2.   Orange Graves, b.c. 1834, m. Sarah ‑‑‑‑‑‑.

+3.   Gabriel Graves, b.c. 1841, m(1) Edith Carr, m(2) Millie Brown.

    4.  Pledge Graves

    5.  George Graves, b.c. 1849.

+6.   Ella Graves, b. Jan. 1852, m. Joe Marshall Vincent, c. 1890.

+7.   Madison Graves, b.c. 1855, m. Amanda ‑‑‑‑‑‑.

    8.  Hattie Graves

    9.  Ann Graves, b.c. 1859.

    10.   Calvin Graves, b.c. 1862.

 

 

GENERATION 2

 

CHILDREN OF JAMES GRAVES (1) AND MELVINA ------

Orange Graves (2) may have been called Oren.  He was born about 1834 in NC.  He married Sarah ‑‑‑‑‑‑.  She was born about 1845 in NC.  They were in the 1870 and 1880 censuses for Yanceyville, Caswell Co., NC.  All their children were born in NC.  He was a farmer.

Children - Graves

    11.   William (ÒBillieÓ) Graves, b.c. 1860.

    12.   Walter Graves, b.c. 1864.

    13.   Lenora (ÒNoraÓ) Graves, b.c. 1866.

+14.   Orange Graves, Jr., b.c. 1868, m. Florence ‑‑‑‑‑‑, c. 1896.

+15.   Pinkney Graves, b.c. 1872, m. Lula ‑‑‑‑‑‑, c. 1896.

    16.   Benjamin Graves, b.c. 1876.

 

Gabriel Graves (3) was born about 1841 in NC.  He first married Edith Carr.  She was born about 1845 in NC.  He married second Millie Brown.  She was born about 1854 in NC.  He owned two farms, Gabe Place and Malone Place.  He was in the 1870 census for Yanceyville, Caswell Co., NC, with his first wife.  He was in the 1880 census for Yanceyville, NC, with his second wife.  It seems possible that some of the children (perhaps Willie and Joseph) might have been by a previous marriage of his second wife.  All his children were born in Caswell Co., NC.  (R‑1)

Children - Graves, by Edith Carr

    17.   Zeta Graves

    18.   Mary (ÒMollieÓ) Graves, b.c. 1864.

    19.   Hattie (or Pattie) Graves, b.c. 1866.

+20.   Maggie Elizabeth Graves, b. 22 Dec. 1867, m. William Marshall Graves.

    21.   Gabriel Graves, b.c. 1871.

Children - Graves, by Millie Brown

    22.   Willie Graves, b.c. 1870.

    23.   Joseph Graves, b.c. 1873.

    24.   Lula Graves, b.c. 1874.

    25.   George Graves, b.c. 1875.

    26.   Mary Graves, b.c. 1878.

    27.   Martha Graves, b.c. 1878.

    28.   Fannie Graves

+29.   Johnny Graves, m. ‑‑‑‑‑‑.

    30.   Dora Graves

 

Ella Graves (6) was born in Jan. 1852 in NC.  She married Joe Marshall Vincent (or Vinson), about 1890.  He was born in March 1836 in NC.  They were in the 1900 and 1910 censuses for Stony Creek Twp., Caswell Co., NC.  He was called Marshall in the 1900 census and Joe M. in the 1910 census (when their name was spelled Vinson).  He was a farmer.  Lola was the only child they had in 1900.  All of their 3 children were still living in 1910, but only one was still living at home.  According to the 1910 census, this was the second marriage for both of them.

Children - Vincent

    31.   Lola Vincent, b. Feb. 1890.

    32.   Lalar B. Vincent, b.c. 1897.

    33.   child

 

Madison Graves (7) was born about 1855 in NC.  He married Amanda ‑‑‑‑‑‑.  She was born about 1858 in NC.  They were in the 1880 census for Yanceyville, Caswell Co., NC.

Children - Graves

    34.   Dilcie F. Graves, b.c. 1877.

 

 

GENERATION 3

 

CHILDREN OF ORANGE GRAVES (2) AND SARAH ------

Orange (ÒOrenÓ) Graves, Jr. (14) was born about 1868 in NC.  He married Florence ‑‑‑‑‑‑ about 1896.  She was born about 1879 in VA.  They were in the 1910 census for 606 Gilmer Alley, Greensboro, Ward 2, Guilford Co., NC., with his nephew, John Harrison, living with them.  In 1910, he was a laborer and she was a laundress.  All their children were born in NC.

Children - Graves

    35.   Marion Graves, b.c. 1897.

    36.   Bennie Graves (daughter), b.c. 1903.

    37.   Mary E. Graves, b.c. 1906.

 

Pinkney Graves (15) was born about 1872 in NC.  He married Lula ‑‑‑‑‑‑ about 1896.  She was born about 1877 in NC.  They were in the 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930 censuses for Philadelphia, PA, living at 3633 North Sydenham St. in 1900, 3619 North Smedley St. in 1910 and 1920, and at 3972 Germantown Ave. in 1930.  A niece, Lula Minor, 23, was living with them in 1920.  He was a laborer in 1900, and after that a foreman for the street railway (later called the rapid transit company).  Lula was a restaurant overseer in 1930.  All their children were born in PA.

Children - Graves

    38.   child, b.c. 1896, d. by 1900.

    39.   William Graves, b. March 1897.

    40.   child, b.c. 1901.

+41.   James Graves, b.c. 1903, m. Katie ‑‑‑‑‑‑, c. 1928.

    42.   Helen Graves, b.c. 1906.  She was a music teacher in 1930.

    43.   Eleanore (or Elenora) Graves, b.c. Jan. 1910.

    44.   Benjamin Graves, b.c. 1912.

    45.   Pinkney Graves, b.c. 1914.

    46.   Ruth Graves, b.c. March 1920.

 

CHILDREN OF GABRIEL GRAVES (3)

Maggie Elizabeth Graves (20) was born 22 Dec. 1867 in Caswell Co., NC.  She married William Marshall Graves, son of Bural Graves and Henrietta ‑‑‑‑‑‑.  (See genealogy 455 for more information about that family.)  He was born 4 March 1865 in NC.  He believed in a father-dominated family with the wife and daughters being subservient.  The sons provided the labor for their father's farm operation and later became business partners in his sawmill operation.  The strong religious influence in the family may have led two of the sons, Gabriel and Henry, to become ministers.  They both were active in leadership roles in Graves Chapel, as was their father Marshall.  They were in the 1900 census for Yanceyville, Caswell Co., NC.  They were in the 1920 census for Anderson Twp., Caswell Co., NC.  All their children were born in Yanceyville, Caswell Co., NC.  They were in the 1930 census for Anderson Twp., Caswell Co., NC.  He was a farmer.  All their children were born in Caswell Co., NC.  (R‑1, R‑3)

Children - Graves

+47.   Preston Graves, b. 1886, m. ‑‑‑‑‑‑, c. 1908.

+48.   William Albert Graves, b. 3 Dec. 1888, m. Hannah Watkins, d. 17 Aug. 1932.

+49.   Gabriel Parker Graves, b. 5 Sept. 1890, m. Genevieve Brown, d. 16 May 1993.

    50.   Edith Henrietta Graves, b. 1892, d. 13 April 1924 (Yanceyville, NC).

+51.   Johnny Pleasant Graves, b. 30 June 1894, m. Bessie ‑‑‑‑‑‑, c. 1920, d. 5 May 1976 (Yanceyville, NC).

+52.   Henry Thomas Graves, b. 4 May 1896, m(1) Lucille Watkins, 19 Jan. 1919, m(2) Annie Watlington, d. Aug. 1986.

+53.   George Abriel Graves, b. May 1898, m. Mary E. ‑‑‑‑‑‑, d. 11 March 1940.

+54.   Burley (or Burlie) Owen Graves, b. 15 Sept. 1900, m. Mary F. ‑‑‑‑‑‑, c. 1920, d. 19 Sept. 1971 (Chapel Hill, NC).

    55.   Joseph Ezra Graves, b. 12 Nov. 1902, d. 28 May 1919 (Burlington, NC).

    56.   Hattie Lou Graves, b. 22 Jan. 1904, m. ‑‑‑‑‑‑ Sellars, d. 7 Feb. 2002 (Burlington, NC).

    57.   Mary Magaline Graves, b. 16 June 1906, m. ‑‑‑‑‑‑ Sellars, d. 18 Feb. 1997 (Sanford, NC).

    58.   Fannie Graves, b. 16 Jan. 1909, m(1) ‑‑‑‑‑‑ Gregory, m(2) ‑‑‑‑‑‑ Brown, d. 10 Feb. 1998 (Burlington, NC).

    59.   Samuel Vincent Graves, b. 18 Nov. 1911, d. Oct. 1976 (Caswell Co., NC).

 

Johnny Graves (29) married ‑‑‑‑‑‑.  He acquired all the schooling he could get in Caswell Co., NC, and graduated from Shaw University in Raleigh, NC around 1904-1905.  He taught school in NC for a while and later migrated to NJ where he also taught.  He died in NJ at the age of 90.  All three of his children graduated from Shaw University, and his daughter taught in Caswell Co. for a while before also moving to New Jersey.  For the rest of his life Johnny donated at least $100 per year to Shaw Univ.  (R‑1)

Children - Graves

    60.   daughter

    61.   son

    62.   son

 

 

GENERATION 4

 

CHILDREN OF PINKNEY GRAVES (15) AND LULA ------

James Graves (41) was born about 1903 in PA.  He married Katie ‑‑‑‑‑‑ about 1928.  She was born about 1907 in VA.  They were in the 1930 census for Philadelphia, PA, living next to his parents.  He was a porter for the transit company in 1930.

Children - Graves

    63.   James Graves, Jr., b.c. 1928.

    64.   Elizabeth Graves, b.c. 1929.

 

CHILDREN OF MAGGIE E. GRAVES (20) AND WILLIAM M. GRAVES

Preston Graves (47) was born about 1886 (or 1881) in NC.  He married ‑‑‑‑‑‑ about 1908.  He was in the 1930 census for Yanceyville, Caswell Co., NC, age 49, married for 22 years, but without a wife.  He was a farmer.  All his children were born in NC.

Children - Graves

    65.   Vida Bell Graves, b.c. 1920.

    66.   Lusterine Graves, b.c. 1922.

    67.   James Ernest Graves, b.c. 1924.

    68.   Preston Graves, Jr., b.c. 1927.

    69.   Bertha May Graves, b.c. 1929.

 

William Albert Graves (48) was born 3 Dec. 1888 in Yanceyville, Caswell Co., NC, and died 17 Aug. 1932 in Caswell Co., NC.  He married Hannah Watkins, daughter of Grant Watkins and Caroline ‑‑‑‑‑‑.  She was born 5 July 1900 in NC, and died 16 Feb. 1982 in Burlington, NC.  They were in the 1920 census for Anderson Twp., Caswell Co., NC, living next to his parents.  They were in the 1930 census for Yanceyville Twp., Caswell Co., NC.  All their children were born in Yanceyville, NC.  After he died, she married second ‑‑‑‑‑‑ Bolden.  (R‑3)

Children - Graves

+70.   William Granderson Graves, b. 31 Oct. 1919, m. Mae Wilma Watlington, d. 21 July 2008.

    71.   Vergil Nathaniel Graves, b. 26 May 1921 (Yanceyville, NC).

    72.   Virginia Adell Graves, b. 29 Dec. 1922, m. Wyatt Victor Gentry.  He was b. 6 Aug. 1915 in NC, and d. 18 March 1971 in Blanch, NC.

    73.   Earnest Julius Graves, b. 17 July 1926, d. Jan. 1980 (Caswell Co., NC).

    74.   Albert Glennie Graves, b. 29 April 1929.

    75.   child

 

Gabriel Parker Graves (49) was born 5 Sept. 1890 in Yanceyville Twp., Caswell Co., NC, and died 16 May 1993 in Burlington, Alamance Co., NC.  He married Genevieve (ÒJennieÓ) Brown, daughter of Lewis Brown and Dora Gwynn, about 1921.  She died before 12 Sept. 2004.  They were in the 1930 census for Anderson Twp., Caswell Co., NC, when he was listed as Able and she was called Genevieve.  He was a farmer.  All their children were born in NC.  (R‑4)

Children - Graves

    76.   Jimmie L. Graves, b.c. 1921, d. before 12 Sept. 2004.

    77.   James Preston Graves, b.c. 1924, d. before 12 Sept. 2004.

    78.   Jasper T. Graves, b.c. 1925, d. before 12 Sept. 2004.

    79.   Jennie I. Graves, b.c. 1927, m. ‑‑‑‑‑‑ Neely, d. before 12 Sept. 2004.

    80.   Dora Graves, b.c. 1929, m. ‑‑‑‑‑‑ Mosby, d. before 12 Sept. 2004.

    81.   Fred D. Graves, b.c. 1930.  Living in Glen Burnie, MD.

    82.   Hubert G. Graves, d. before 12 Sept. 2004.

+83.   Lorene Graves, b. 26 Dec. 1939, m. James Alvin Allen, d. 12 Sept. 2004.

    84.   Lottie Belle Graves, d. before 12 Sept. 2004.

    85.   William P. Graves; living in Yanceyville, NC.

    86.   Huston O. Graves; living in Burlington, NC.

    87.   Aaron R. Graves; living in OH.

    88.   Elijah Graves; living in OH.

    89.   Fannie D. Graves, m. ‑‑‑‑‑‑ Strayborn.  Living in Danville, VA.

    90.   Verna Y. Graves, m. ‑‑‑‑‑‑ Town.  Living in Yanceyville, NC.

    91.   Lottie Mae Graves, m. ‑‑‑‑‑‑ Bigelow.  Living in Washington, DC.

    92.   Mattie M. Graves, m. ‑‑‑‑‑‑ Bigelow.  Living in Mt. Vernon, NY.

    93.   Rebecca Graves, m. ‑‑‑‑‑‑ Saunders.  Living in Yanceyville, NC.

 

Johnny Pleasant Graves (51) was born 30 June 1894 in NC, and died 5 May 1976 in Yanceyville, NC.  He married Bessie ‑‑‑‑‑‑ about 1920.  She was born about 1900 in NC.  They were in the 1930 census for Anderson Twp., Caswell Co., NC.  He was a farmer.  All their children were born in NC.

Children - Graves

    94.   George Graves, b.c. 1920.

    95.   Mary Graves, b.c. 1922.

    96.   Linwood Graves, b.c. 1929.

 

Henry Thomas Graves (52) was born 4 May 1896 in Caswell Co., NC, and died in Aug. 1986.  He first married Lucille Watkins on 19 Jan. 1919.  She died 12 May 1922.  He married second Annie Watlington, daughter of George Watlington and Fannie Totten.  She was born 6 June 1904.  He was licensed to preach in 1924 and ordained in 1933.  He preached regularly at Sellars School in the early days of his ministry.  He began to pastor the Olive Grove Baptist Church in 1948.  (R‑1)

Children - Graves, by Lucille Watkins

    97.   Hattie Mae Sue Graves, b. 1920, d. 1920 at age 4 months.

Children - Graves, by Annie Watlington

+98.   Dolphas Lee Graves, m. Ollie Wimple.

    99.   Lusterene Graves, m. Bennie Rogers.  She attended Winston-Salem State Univ.

    100.    Annie Mae Graves

+101.    Thomas Lorenza Graves, m. Shirley Jefferies.

    102.    Roy Madison Graves

    103.    Ocie Louise Graves, m. James Bigelow.

    104.    Viola Marie Graves, m. James Pruitt, d. Feb. 1969.  She worked as a beautician for the Dept. of Navy, U.S. Govt.  1 daughter.

    105.    Ethel Delois Graves, m. Roy Fuller.   He received a BA from Bennett College, a Master from Howard Univ., and supervised children's services and social workers in Caswell Co., NC.  2 children.

    106.    Gladys Wythene Graves, m. James Blackman.

    107.    Kenneth Matthew Graves, m. Virginia Garland.

+108.    Onzer Aron Graves, m. Gladys Wimple, d. 1958.

 

George Abriel Graves (53) was born in May 1898 in NC, and died 11 March 1940 in Durham, NC.  He married Mary E. ‑‑‑‑‑‑.  She was born about 1901 in NC.  They were in the 1920 census for Anderson Twp., Caswell Co., NC, when his sister, Mary L., 12, and his sister-in-law, Mary F., 18, was living with them.  He was a farmer.

Children - Graves

    109.    Maggie A. Graves, b. 1919 (NC).

 

Burley (or Burlie) Owen Graves (54) was born 15 Sept. 1900 in NC, and died 19 Sept. 1971 in Chapel Hill, NC.  He married Mary F. ‑‑‑‑‑‑ about 1920.  She was born about 1902 in NC.  They were in the 1930 census for Yanceyville, Caswell Co., NC, when his cousin, Charlie Brown, 21, was living with them.  He was a farmer.  All their children were born in NC.

Children - Graves

    110.    Joseph Graves, b.c. 1921.

    111.    Laurer (or Lemer) Graves, b.c. 1923.

    112.    Ruthie Graves, b.c. 1925.

    113.    Hazel Graves, b.c. 1927.

    114.    Claudie Graves, b.c. 1928.

 

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[1] The 1870 census gives his age as 53 (b.c. 1817) and the 1880 census gives it as 60 (b.c. 1820).

[2] R‑1 said she was born about 1800, and R‑2 said she was born in 1797.  However, the 1870 census gives her age as 50 (b.c. 1820), the 1880 census gives her age as 63 (b.c. 1817), and the 1900 census says she was born in July 1816.

[3] She was said to have died at 113 years of age.  However, if the census records are correct, she was probably 93-96 when she died.