Rev. 5 April 2003, Gen. 94

DESCENDANTS OF THOMAS SIMS GRAVES OF CULPEPER CO., VA AND FAYETTE CO. & NELSON CO., KY

GENERATION 1

Thomas Sims Graves (1) was born 13 (or 3) July 1794 in Culpeper Co., Va., and died 6 May 1859 in Nelson Co., Ky. He moved from Va. to Fayette Co., Ky. in 1817. He first married Harriet R. Gist (spelled Guest in one source) on 4 March 1822. He secondly married Mary E. Graves, daughter of his uncle James Graves. It is not presently clear which daughter this is. (It might be the Elizabeth Graves who first married Samuel McCoy.)

The will of Thomas S. Graves was made 25 Dec. 1858 and probated 13 June 1859.

"In the name of God and trusting in him for life and salvation, I Thomas S. Graves of the county of Nelson and State of Kentucky being weak of body though sound of mind and fully admonished of making some disposition of my earthly goods do this day make and declare this to be my last will and testament and desire the same to be received and recorded as such.

First, it is my will and desire that my farm and all the provisions for my family for the ensuing year shall remain for the use and benefit of my family without sale or distribution. Second, at my death, all of my personal and perishable property not otherwise disposed of to be sold immediately and the farm sold at expiration of the incoming year. Third, it is my will and desire that two thousand dollars of the proceeds of the sale of my farm shall be set apart as a fund to rept (receive) interest for the maintenance and support of my beloved wife Mary Graves and that she be fully provided for until said fund and interest becomes available and at her death one thousand dollars of said fund is to be given and paid to my daughter Sarah Ann Hobbs and also all the home furniture that may remain after the death of my wife to be given to my daughter before named all to be given to her and her bodily heirs for their own use and benefit and that the remaining one thousand dollars of said fund after the death of my wife to be equally divided between my two sons James E. Graves and Benjamin F. Graves and my daughter Mary E. Smith her part for the purpose of aiding in the education and support of her children she having the full control of the same.

Fourth, After the payment of all my just debts and one thousand and fifty dollars paid over to my son Thomas B. Graves and a good horse saddle and bridle given to my son Benjamin F. Graves or that will be equivalent when he is twenty one years old then all of my estate that remains and not otherwise disposed of to be equally divided between all of my children to wit -- Edward W. Graves, William F. Graves, Thomas B. Graves, James E. Graves, Benjamin F. Graves, Mary E. Smith, and Sarah Ann Hobbs that part coming to my son Edward W. Graves I wish to be given to his son Thomas Smith Graves and wish him to comply with this request.

Fifth, I wish my wife before any sale of my personal property to give to my sons James and Benjamin a good bead (bed?) and clothing such as I have heretofore given to my children.

Sixth, I hereby appoint my two sons Edward and William Graves as my executors of this my last will and desire them faithfully to comply with and execute all the provisions herein named and I also appoint them as trustees for my two sons James and Benjamin to take care of and manage Benjamin's part of my estate for him and attend to his education and support until he is of lawful age and that part coming to my son James they are to held as his trustee for his proper use and benefit until such time as in their best judgement he has sufficiently studied himself so as to be fully competent for the management of the same without kneedlessly waisting the same. Having duly disposed of all my estate as in my judgement is best so to do I hereby set my hand this 25th day of Dec. 1858.

T.S. Graves

Attest:

E. E. Murphy

Bryant Y. Neal

It was previously believed that Thomas Sims Graves was descended from Capt. Thomas Graves of VA (genealogy 169), and that he was a son of William Graves and Sarah Fisher. Through DNA analysis, it has been proven that he was not descended from Capt. Thomas Graves. Examination of census data has also shown that the Thomas Graves who lived near the descendants of William Graves was the one who was born about 1790 and married Sarah, and not Thomas Sims Graves, substantiating the conclusion from the DNA results. (R‑1, R‑200, R‑201, R‑202)

Children - Graves

+2. Edward Willis Graves, b. 1822, m. Elizabeth Wells, 1851, d. 6 March 1884.

3. William F. Graves, b. 12 Oct. 1824, never married, d. 30 May 1886.

4. Thomas Bushrod Graves, b. 12 Jan. 1828, m. Delia A. Wells, d. 7 Dec. 1886.

5. Mary E. Graves, m. Abraham Smith, Dec. 1848.

6. Sarah Ann Graves, b. 2 Oct. 1832, m. William M. Hobbs, 14 Sept. 1858, d. 20 Nov. 1915.

+7. James Edgar Graves, b.c. 1833, m(1) Martha C. Johnson, c. 1870, m(2) Elizabeth B. Laird, d.c. 1913.

8. Benjamin F. Graves, married. No children.

GENERATION 2

CHILDREN OF THOMAS SIMS GRAVES (1)

Edward Willis Graves (2) was born about 1822 in KY, and died 6 March 1884. He married Lizzie ‑‑‑‑‑‑. She was born about 1831. The family was in the 1860 census of Nelson Co., KY, with the first 3 children and Edward's younger brother Benjamin. (R‑1, R‑202)

Children - Graves

9. Thomas Smith Graves, b.c. 1852, m. ‑‑‑‑‑‑. Had children. He was called Smith in the 1860 census.

10. Anna (or Ann) Graves, b.c. 1855, m. J. C. Thyman.

11. Edward Wells (or Willis?) Graves, b.c. 1859. No children.

12. Willis Yelverton Graves, married. 1 daughter.

13. Charles Lewis Graves, married. 2 dau. and 1 son.

James Edgar Graves (7) was born 18 July 1833 in KY, died 9 June 1913 in Laurel, MS, and was buried in Hickory Grove Cem. He left Nelson Co., KY and, while visiting relatives in Missouri, joined the Confederate Army. He served under Generals Shelby, Marmaduke, and Captain Jepata, enlisting on Jan. 6, 1861 and serving until May 8, 1864 (Missouri Infantry, Company B, State Guard). He was a wagonmaster. He was captured when ordered to dump the wagons in the river, while his comrades were retreating. He was taken to Gratiot Prison where he was exchanged for Union soldiers. He fought in the war until the south surrendered, and was released from active duty in Meridian, MS.

James soon founded a household not far from where he was released, in Newton Co., MS, near Decatur, possibly in Carriet Mills. James first married Martha C. Johnson about 1870. They were listed in the 1870 census for Newton Co., MS. It is believed by the family that she died in childbirth or complications thereof. He married second Elizabeth B. ("Lizzie") Laird (from a nearby farm) on 23 Oct. 1875. She was born 8 May 1853 in MS, died 18 July 1923 in Bernice, LA, and was buried in Weldon Cem. Her parents were Elim Laird (b.c. 1820 in GA) and Sarah ‑‑‑‑‑‑ (b.c. 1821 in GA). The family was listed in the 1870 and 1880 censuses for Newton Co., MS. The 1870 census listed children Benjamin, age 3, and William, age 4/12. Claude and several others of the children moved to Claiborne Parish, LA. All the family members were buried in Weldon Cem., Union Parish, LA, near Bernice, LA. James was listed in the 1900 federal census of Jones Co., MS, with his name listed as George (can we be positive that this is not someone else?). He was listed in the 1910 census of Laurel, Jones Co., MS with his wife Elizabeth Laird and his youngest son Avery Graves. According to a Confederate Grave Registration completed by his daughter Bessie, he was born July 18, 1833 and died June 9, 1913. Ten of the 14 children of James Graves lived to adulthood. (R‑1)

Children - Graves, by Martha C. Johnson

14. Benjamin Graves, b.c. 1867.

15. P. W. Graves

16. William A. Graves, b.c. Jan. 1870.

17. Mary A. Graves

18. Jeff Graves

Children - Graves, by Elizabeth B. Laird

19. Bob Graves

+20. Claude Ervin Graves, b. 14 Aug. 1876, m. Nancy Lenora Flurry, 15 Nov. 1901, d. 14 Aug. 1951.

21. Sarah C. Graves, m. ‑‑‑‑‑‑ Strahan.

22. Virginia Graves, m. ‑‑‑‑‑‑ Tanner.

23. Bessie Graves, b.c. 1894 (MS), m. ‑‑‑‑‑‑ Lawless.

24. Melton Graves

25. Avery Graves, b.c. 1896.

26. Susan Graves, m. ‑‑‑‑‑‑ Hurst.

27. Elizabeth Graves

GENERATION 3

CHILDREN OF JAMES E. GRAVES (7)

Claude Ervin Graves (20) was born 14 Aug. 1876 and died 14 Aug. 1951. He married Nancy Lenora Flurry on 15 Nov. 1901 in Claiborne Parish, LA. They lived in Summerfield and other surrounding towns before settling on a farm in Weldon near Bernice, LA. Claude had a dry goods store and sold farm equipment until his death. He stepped on a rusty nail and died of tetanus in a Ruston hospital. (R‑1)

Children - Graves

+28. Mark Howard Graves, m. ‑‑‑‑‑‑.

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