Revised 7 Jan. 1996, Gen. 92

 

DESCENDANTS OF JOHN GRAVES AND SUSAN ------

OF SC AND CARTER CO., TN

 

 

GENERATION 1

 

John Graves (1) was born about 1746. He married Susan ------. They lived in SC, and then moved to Carter Co., TN.

It is believed that John Graves may be related to other families, as shown on the chart below. Thomas Graves who married Miss Liles is genealogy 57, Archibald Graves is gen. 63, and Hardy Graves is gen. 73. This chart and some pertinent discussion was in The Graves Family Newsletter, 1994, pp. 38, 40, and 41. (R-3)

Children - Graves

+2. Ann Graves, m. Jacob Perkins, 1781, d. 8 Nov. 1842.

+3. Benjamin Graves, b.c. 1767, m. Rachel Asher, d. 1850-1860.

4. James Graves (possible child), b.c. 1770, m. Sarah Hetherly, 18 Nov. 1789 (Washington Co., TN).

 

 

RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN SOME GRAVES FAMILIES OF SC, TN & AL

 

 

 

GENERATION 2

 

CHILDREN OF JOHN GRAVES (1) AND SUSAN ------

Ann ("Nancy") Graves (2) was born in SC, and died 8 Nov. 1842 in Carter Co., TN. She married Jacob Perkins, son of Joshua Perkins and Mary Black, in 1781. He was born in SC, and died 11 April 1819 in Carter Co., TN. They were the parents of 10 children, according to Jacob's will, order of birth not known.

A profile of the Jacob Perkins family on p. 340, History of Johnson Co., Tenn., 1986, submitted by James F. Perkins, also lists all 10 of the children. It states that the will of Jacob also names 2 of his grandsons: William Perkins, born 19 Feb. 1807, married Margaret Clawson, born 6 Dec. 1813 in VA, and Benjamin L. Perkins, born 22 March 1812, married Mary Bunton.

"This Perkins family is said to have discovered the Cranberry Ore by 1821. They had built a forge with all equipment used in that day. Earlier they had been involved in the Dugger Forge on the Watauga River above Butler.

There was much speculation of land and ore at that time. They received a land grant of this property from the State of North Carolina. They had to buy out a previous claim, and soon sold to William and Abe Dugger."

The following documents are among several that support the relationships given in this genealogy.

From National Archives, SC No. R 8105, Perkins, Jacob and Ann (Re: Ann Graves):

State of Tennessee, Washington Co.: Oct. the 16th day 1852 personally appeared Jacob Perkins a citizen of said county before me Wilkin Adkinson an acting Justice of the peas and for sd county and after being duly sworn deposeth and says that he is about fifty three years of age and that he is one of the legal heirs and representatives of Jacob Perkins deceased and that he has often heard his father the said Jacob Perkins deceased say that he served as a soldier in the revolutionary war with the American troops in the State of South Carolina under General Marrien & Col. Horry and their officers & that he had several discharges from his officers & that he gave them to Col. Mcgimsey of Burke county N. Carolina to try to get land for him that Mcgimsey died soon after & he never could get his discharges again. I also heard him said Jacob Perkins deceased say that he served several Tours against the Indians after he removed from South Carolina to this county under Captain Joseph Ford & Capt. Bullard. I have heard him say that he was married to my Mother by Jonathan Mulkey a preacher of the gospel in this county of Washington while it was yet a territory of N. Carolina. My Mothers Name before marriage was Ann Graves and he further states that his father the said Jacob Perkins deceased on the 4th of April 1819 and that his widow lived with me & continued a widow till her death which took place the eighth day of November 1842.

Wilkin Atkinson, Justice of the Peace s/Jacob Perkins

 

State of Tennessee, County of Monrow: On this 12 day of May A.D. one thousan eight hundred and fifty three Personally appeared before me a Justice of the peace within and for the County and State aforesaid Benjamin Graves age 88 years a resident of Monrow County in the State of Tennessee who being duly sworn according to law declared that he was personally acquainted with Jacob Perkins and Anne Perkins his wife in there lifetime. My father moved from South Carolina to the State of Tennessee when I was about 12 years of age and we was there foure years before Jacob Perkins and Ann Graves my sister was married the way I new that they was married is this my father was not willing to the marriage and Jacob Perkins and Ann Graves my sister runaway and was married by a clergyman by the name of Mulkey and my father became uneasy and he went to see Parson Mulkey to see if they was married and when he came back he stated in my prersence Mulkey tolde him that he married Jacob Perkins and Ann Graves and that was near seventy two years ago to the best of my knowledge and recollection. And Jacob Perkins told me that he served in the Revolutionary War. I lived in three miles of Jacob Perkins when he entered the Service and served out his time and was Honorably discharged and I am well satisfied that he did serve in the Revolutionary War but I do not know how long he did serve. Jacob Perkins was a man that could be relied on for truth and verasity in his neighborhood where he lived.

Sworn to and subscribed before me on the Benjemon Graves

(continued on the next page, but too dim to read) (his mark)

(R-4, R-5, R-6)

Children - Perkins

5. Joseph Perkins

6. John Perkins

7. Joshua Perkins, b.c. 1796, m. Elizabeth Kite.

8. Esther Perkins; ancestor of Mrs. Mary E. Darrah, Mr. James F. Perkins, and Mrs. Jeanne F. Thomas. Said to have married James Graves.

9. Jacob Perkins, b.c. 1798-99.

10. Kiziah Perkins

11. Lydia Perkins, b. 1803.

12. Susanna Perkins

13. Sarah Perkins

14. Amos (or Amons) Perkins

 

 

Benjamin Graves (3) was born about 1767 in SC, and died 1850-1860, probably in Monroe Co., TN. He was a basket maker, according to the 1850 census. He married Rachel Asher. She was born 1766-70 in TN, and died 1860-1870, probably also in Monroe Co., TN. The children listed as theirs are from the census records.

Another person who was believed to be a possible child is Abraham Graves, born 1816, who married Margaret Snider. However, that person is a descendant of Thomas Graves of Hartford, CT (genealogy 168), and there seems to be no connection between this family and that one. (R-3)

Children - Graves

15. Elizabeth ("Betty") Graves, b.c. 1802, m. Mike Perkins.

16. James Graves, b.c. 1803.

+17. Solomon Graves, b.c. 1804, m. Nancy Kinnick.

+18. Millie Graves, b.c. 1805, never married.

19. Mary Graves, b.c. 1808, m. ------ Braden.

+20. William R. Graves, b.c. 1810, m. Anna L. McGinty Starnes, 12 March 1837, d. 1898.

21. Joseph Graves, b.c. 1813. His mother, Rachel, was living with him in the 1860 census.

22. Jacob Graves (possible child), b.c. 1814, m. Jane Rogers.

 

 

GENERATION 3

 

CHILDREN OF BENJAMIN GRAVES (3) AND RACHEL ASHER

Solomon Graves (17) was born about 1804 in TN. He was a farmer. He married Nancy Kinnick. She was born about 1804 in NC. The 1850 census for Monroe Co., NC listed them and the following children. All their children were born in TN. (R-4)

Children - Graves

23. Granville Graves, b.c. 1828. He was a carpenter.

24. Eliza Graves, b.c. 1831.

25. Rachel Graves, b.c. 1840.

26. Sarah Graves, b.c. 1842.

27. John Graves, b.c. 1844.

28. William Graves, b.c. 1848.

 

Millie Graves (18) was born about 1805. She never married, but was the mother of at least 5 children. (R-3)

Children - Graves

29. James Graves

30. Alfred Graves

31. Samuel Graves

32. Harrison Graves

33. daughter, m. ------ Thompson.

 

William R. Graves (20) was born about 1810 in Carter Co., Tenn., and died in 1898 in Cherokee Co., NC. He married Anna (or Anne) L. McGinty Starnes on 12 March 1837. Her g-granddaughter, Mrs. Mamie Stevens, says Anna's last name was McGinnis (or McGinish). Anna was born in Jan. 1804 or 1811 in Washington Co., TN, and died 16 March 1914 in Cherokee Co., NC. She was listed as one of the original charter members of the Hanging Dog Baptist Church which was located in the Hanging Dog section of Murphy, NC.

Anne was either married to a Mr. Starnes before she married William Graves, or her maiden name was Starnes and she had at least two children before her marriage. These first two children, both born in Washington Co., TN, were: Mary Starnes, b.c. 1833, and Martha Jane Starnes, b.c. 1835, m. James F. Ellis. Martha Jane gave her mother as Anna Graves on her marriage license.

William Graves was listed in the Cherokee Co. census, 1850-1880. His occupation was listed as coalier or collier (coal miner). There was an iron ore mine then in that area, owned and operated by George W. Lovingood and his brother Harmon Lovingood. Perhaps that is where William worked. Anne was listed as widowed in the 1900 census for Cherokee Co.

In the 1850 and 1860 censuses for Cherokee Co., NC, there were other Graves families that may have been related, including possible brother Jacob, also a coalier, born about 1822 in Carter Co., TN. The 1850 census also showed a Jackson Graves, born about 1775 in VA, farmer, and his wife Elizabeth, born about 1780 in NC. Could these be William's parents?

There was a Lewis Graves, born about 1750, who married Rebecca Starnes or his son Lewis married Rebecca Starnes. They lived in NC and SC, and later in Wilson Co., TN, and were descended from Capt. Thomas Graves of VA. They may be connected with William Graves.

The first 2 children of William and Anne were born in Monroe Co., TN, and the others in Cherokee Co., NC. Sarah, John, Caroline, and Emaline were all buried in Hanging Dog Baptist Cem., Cherokee Co., NC. (R-1, R-2, R-3)

Children - Graves

34. Sarah Tabitha Graves, b. 25 Dec. 1839, m. William Riley Dockery, 24 Dec. 1854, d. 28 Sept. 1868.

+35. John Edward Graves, b. 6 Feb. 1841, m(1) Pollie Shackleford, m(2) Harriet Tabitha McDonald, 26 Jan. 1870, d. 5 Nov. 1927.

36. Caroline Graves, b. 30 May 1842, m. John Donley, 27 Dec. 1874, d. 23 Oct. 1935.

37. Emaline Graves, b. 1845, m. William H. Cornwell, d. 1884.

38. Matilda Graves, b.c. 1848.

+39. William R. Graves, b. May 1850, m. Elizabeth Jane Cornwell, 16 Jan. 1867.

40. Eliza Graves, b. Oct. 1854, m. Elisha Frankum.

 

 

GENERATION 4

 

CHILDREN OF WILLIAM GRAVES (20) AND ANNE L. M. STARNES

John Edward Graves (35) was born 6 Feb. 1841 in Monroe Co., TN, died 5 Nov. 1927 in Cherokee Co., NC, and was buried in Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church Cem., Cherokee Co. He first married Mrs. Pollie Shackleford. She was born in 1838, died 22 Dec. 1870 in Cherokee Co., NC, and was buried in Hanging Dog Baptist Church Cem., Cherokee Co.

He secondly married Harriet Tabitha McDonald, daughter of James Lewis McDonald and Jemima Louina Deaton, on 26 Jan. 1870 in Cherokee Co., NC. She was born 4 May 1855, died 1 June 1935, and was buried 2 June 1935 in Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church Cem., all in Cherokee Co.

John was listed in the 1870, 1880, and 1910 censuses of Cherokee Co., NC. All his children were born in Cherokee Co. (R-1)

Children - Graves, by Pollie Shackleford

41. Eliza Jane Graves, b. 1867.

Children - Graves, by Harriet T. McDonald

42. James William Graves, b. 14 March 1871, d. 3 June 1871. Bur. Murphy, Cherokee Co., NC.

43. Octavia Graves, b. 8 Nov. 1872, m. Jesse Humphrey, d. 2 March 1963.

44. Artie Missie Graves, b. 13 March 1875, d. 13 April 1875. Bur. Murphy, Cherokee Co., NC.

45. Sarah Anne Graves, b. 18 July 1876, m. Will Hart.

46. Thomas Luther Graves, b. 10 Sept. 1878, d. 11 May 1913.

47. Tennessee ("Tenny") Graves, b. 10 April 1881, m. John Dockery, d. 26 Dec. 1930. Bur. Murphy, NC.

48. Savannah Graves, b. 27 May 1883, d. 28 July 1885. Bur. Murphy, NC.

49. Texanna Graves, b. and d. 28 July 1885. Bur. Murphy, NC.

+50. Addie Jane Graves, b. 14 Aug. 1887, m. Joseph James Johnson, 11 March 1906, d. 28 Aug. 1976.

51. Robert Edward Graves, b. 20 Aug. 1889, m. Eliza Wilson, d. 26 March 1969.

52. Leoma Graves, b. 11 Aug. 1894, m. J. R. Hembree, 5 May 1924, d. 11 July 1958.

53. Elker Graves, b. 8 Aug. 1898.

 

William R. Graves (39) was born in May 1850 (or 1852 or May 1841) in Cherokee Co., NC, and died in Cherokee Co. He married Elizabeth Jane Cornwell, daughter of Richard Cornwell (born in England) and Mary Freeman, on 16 Jan. 1867. She was born in March 1844, and died 11 March 1919 in Cherokee Co., NC. (R-2, R-3)

Children - Graves

54. Mary Ann Graves, b. 1870, m. San Juan ("Chid") Hunsuckner, 1900, d. 1947. 5 children.

+55. John Alexander Graves, b. 3 March 1872, m. Nancy Maybelle Palmer, 3 Feb. 1895, d. 17 Oct. 1947.

56. Samuel Graves, b. 1874, m. Mary Cornwell, 1895, d. 1945. 1 son and 1 dau. (died).

57. James Graves, b. 1875, m. Minnie McDonald. 4 children.

58. Sarah Graves, b. 1878, died young.

59. Ida Graves, b. 1880, m. John Hunsuckner, 1905. 5 children.

60. Thomas Graves, b. 1882, m. Hattie Carroll, 1907. 7 children.

 

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