Revised 12 Aug. 2008, Gen. 168

THOMAS GRAVES

1645 Settler of Hartford, Connecticut and

Hatfield, Massachusetts

and His Descendants

GENERATION 1

Thomas Graves (1) was born before 1585 in England, and died Nov. 1662. He married Sarah ‑‑‑‑‑‑. She died about four years after he did.

[According to Mrs. Ruth E. Richardson, Mrs. Clara M. Turner, and other sources (although not verified by this author), Thomas was from Gravesend, Kent Co., England, and came to America with Gov. Endicott's Company. He was a member of the Council, on the committee to lay out the town of Woburn, Mass., and one of the first town officers there. His wife's name was Sarah Whiting, and she, 5 children and 2 servants came with him and settled in New Haven, Conn. first, then Hartford. He was one of the founders of Hadley, Mass. in 1645. They came to America on the George Bonaventure which arrived in Salem, Mass. in 1629. Sarah died 17 Dec. 1666.[1]]

The first official record of the family in this country was at Hartford, Conn. in 1645, when the family was located there. Thomas owned three separate pieces of real estate there, one described as being the one "whereon his house standeth." Isaac also took up his residence in Hartford and had land there. John took up his residence in Wethersfield, the adjoining town, and it is probable that the three homes were not far apart. The lands granted to John in 1652 were described as those "whereon his house standeth." Nathaniel also settled in Wethersfield, where he married in 1655.

The family remained together as far as it is known until the removal to Hatfield, Mass. The son Samuel never married, and probably did not live to accompany the rest at the time of removal. The family to which Nathaniel's wife belonged lived near him and were largely interested in lands there, and for the sake of remaining near his wife's relations, Nathaniel did not move with the rest of the family to Hatfield.

The family at Hartford and Wethersfield occupied a prominent position and took active part in political and religious matters. They served on juries, acted as surveyors and fence viewers, ran boundary lines between towns, and generally filled those places that stalwart, intelligent and respected citizens usually are called upon to fill. The exception was that Thomas was exempted from "training, watching, and warding" because he was over sixty, which was the age limit for that kind of service.

From all that can be learned, the family was prospering at Hartford as well as any family could in a new country. There must have been some strong reason that would induce them to give up their lands and houses and enter upon a new life in an undeveloped country and suffer the hardships incident to the undertaking, and we find it in the strong religious convictions that impelled the early settlers in this country.

A schism had arisen in the church at Hartford and Wethersfield, and the dissenters from the views entertained by the majority concluded to break away from their homes and found a settlement where their views would prevail.

We find it extremely difficult to express our appreciation of the characteristics of the noble old head of this family, Thomas Graves. His modesty, together with the lapse of time, prevents us from mentioning many things about his daily life that make biography so entertaining. We are therefore compelled to speak of and delineate those qualities of heart and mind that become apparent to us from the standpoint of his well-known ideas upon religious matters, in fact his close adherence to what we now too often stigmatize as puritanism. It, however, hardly becomes us of the present to criticize too closely the views entertained by that noble band of men who held so lovingly to their theories that no conditions or inducements would make them swerve from their conscientious views of the requirements of duty. It was really tantamount to an express "thus saith the Lord" to them, for this was in many instances the cause of their leaving their homes and personal friends in England, and coming to our land that they might enjoy that freedom to worship God in what they deemed the only true way. And so when we find schismatic views of church polity were being advocated, that they deemed destructive to the church of God, we find them again ready to leave their pleasant surroundings in Hartford and seek new homes away on the frontier of civilized life.

Perhaps we shall be excused if we here state briefly the cause of the removal to Hatfield, Mass. A practice had grown up in the churches of allowing persons who had been baptized, if not of a "scandalous character," to consent to the covenant, and this permitted them to have the sacrament of baptism administered to their infant children. On this question hot discussions were held, as well as on some others of minor importance. It was upon this division of sentiment that our ancestors determined to move to Hatfield, animated by what they supposed was their bounden duty. Yet we cannot but be satisfied that these pioneers knew that in their new undertaking they were to enter upon pleasant places. They selected the beautiful and fertile lands of the valley of the Connecticut for their new home, which have more than fulfilled the most ardent expectations of the settlers.

But notwithstanding the advanced age of Thomas Graves, we find him a promoter and organizer in this new country. They left their houses and lands in Hartford and Wethersfield unsold, and uniting themselves in a band of daring emigrants, started for their new home with wives and children. Their household effects were loaded on carts drawn by oxen, and they took with them their domestic animals. The determined cavalcade started out for their new homes. It was not far from the middle of September 1661. The journey, of not over fifty miles, occupied about ten days. Creeks and brooks had to be crossed, swamps and morasses had to be avoided or crossed as best they could be. They reached their destination about the first of October 1661.

Exposed to all the dangers incident to a frontier settlement, amid the habitations of wild beasts and wilder men, the Indians, who lived in their immediate vicinity, and had a fort and village only about two miles from where the settlement was made. Foremost among these hardy emigrants were Thomas Graves, with his aged wife, and his two stalwart sons, Isaac and John, with their wives and families of five children each. And now we find them without a house or place to lay their heads and winter approaching rapidly. They at once set to work to provide homes for their families and barns for their animals. There were no saw mills to manufacture the lumber, and the only method of sawing planks or boards was by making a pit, and by using the cross-cut saw, with one man on the top of the log, and one man in the pit. In this way a few boards were made that would serve for tables and doors. The logs were speedily shaped into convenient homes for the accomodation of these brave people.

Thomas Graves was now an aged yet honored member of this community, and from this time forward lived with the family of his son Isaac. He was then past his 76th birthday. He remained, with his wife, in Isaac's family until his death in November 1662, a little more than a year from the time of their moving to their new home.

It is very probable that a few of these settlers at Hatfield had located there before the general removal. A committee had been appointed Jan. 1, 1661, to lay out house lots in Hatfield, and it appears that Richard Fellows was there early in 1661. It is quite probable that each engager knew the number of his house lot. Thomas Graves was not assigned any lands, but was counted in with Isaac, his oldest son, whose estate was thus increased to 150 pounds, while his brother John's was voted at 100 pounds. This did not affect the size or location of their respective house lots, as they were contiguous, but did in the division of common lands. After the death of Thomas Graves, his son Isaac administered upon his estate in Massachusetts, while his son Nathaniel performed the same service upon his estate in Connecticut. His wife, Sarah, survived him for four years, and Isaac administered upon her estate. A very curious inventory of her effects is spread upon the probate records at Northampton. Views of the lots on which Thomas and his son Isaac located their house in Hatfield and the lot on which John placed his new home there, together with general views of the beautiful village of Hatfield, which the settlers had shown so much wisdom in selecting, appeared as illustrations in the 1896 book by John Card Graves (R‑200).

All the children of Thomas were born in England, and were all of mature age when they came to this country, the youngest of the sons being about 16 years old. There may only have been one daughter, rather than the two listed below. (R‑200, R‑206)

Children - Graves

+2. Isaac Graves, b.c. 1620, m. Mary Church, d. 19 Sept. 1677.

+3. John Graves, b.c. 1622, m(1) Mary Smith, c. 1652, m(2) Mary (Bronson) Wyatt, probably 20 July 1671, d. 19 Sept. 1677.

4. Samuel Graves, b.c. 1625, never married.

+5. Nathaniel Graves, b.c. 1629, m. Martha Betts, 16 Jan. 1655, d. 28 Sept. 1682.

6. Elizabeth Graves, b.c. 1625.

+7. Mary Graves, m. Moses Ventrous, 14 Jan. 1647.

GENERATION 2

CHILDREN OF THOMAS GRAVES (1) AND SARAH ‑‑‑‑‑‑

Isaac Graves (2) was born probably as early as 1620 in England, and died 19 Sept. 1677, killed in an Indian attack on the Hatfield settlement. He married Mary Church, daughter of Richard and Anna Church. She came from England in 1637, and died 9 June 1695.

He came to New England with his father and settled in Hartford, Conn. before 1645. He was made freeman at General Court, Boston, Mass. 16 May 1669, was Sergeant in the Colonial Militia, and Clerk of the Writs for Hatfield, to which he moved in 1661. He was a prominent man in his time, and one of the representatives of that portion of Hadley (later Hatfield) who appeared before the General Court at Boston in favor of separate church and town rights for Hatfield.

Isaac was a carpenter, and was a resident of Wethersfield, Conn. before 1645. He "keyed down" Goffe's Bridge in Wethersfield in 1648.

During the continuance of what is usually called "King Philip's War", the inhabitants of these isolated frontier towns were naturally filled with forebodings of danger to their homes and families. For their own protection and safety, the inhabitants of Northampton, Hadley and Hatfield practically united for mutual defense and assistance. These three town were occupied by troops from the eastern portion of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay. At Northampton 26 soldiers were located, at Hadley 30, and at Hatfield 36. This was the most exposed, as it was the frontier town. Then they had a committee, called a council of war, chosen from the several towns. Among the members was Sergeant Isaac Graves. The object of this council of war was to provide better security to the inhabitants of the several towns. They counselled with the commander, Major Appleton, relative to the ways and means best to be used for the protection of life and property.

On August 25, 1675, a scouting party of ten was sent out and fell into an ambuscade, and nine were killed. Then on the 17th of September, Captain Lathrop and his company and several teamsters from Deerfield were attacked and massacred. Only a few escaped. Sixty-four were buried in one grave as the result of the "Bloody Brook" fight. Seventeen of the sixty-four were Deerfield men. In consequence of the numerous attacks by the Indians, the people, to better protect themselves, built a stockade, probably in the atumn of 1675, composed of posts of timber set in the ground, and about ten feet high. This stockade was built on both sides of Main Street, some twelve or fifteen rods from the east and west lines of the street, extending north from the Northampton road, not far from 100 rods. This stockade enclosed the bulk of the village. The houses of Isaac and John Graves were within the stockade. Unfortunately for them, on September 19, 1677, they were both employed in building a house for John Graves, Jr., about half a mile above the northerly end of the stockade, on a lot adjoining that of Sergeant Benjamin Waite. Without any warning or thought of danger, they were attacked by the Indians, and Isaac and John were shot down while engaged, as one tradition has it, "in laying shingles on the roof of the house," and with them were likewise two other men who were working with them, John Atchinson and John Cooper. Eight others were killed, and we presume scalped, as the account speaks of them as being disfigured, and seventeen were made prisoners. All but one, Obadiah Dickinson, were women and children.

In the early vital records of Hartford, Conn., the first 4 children of Isaac are given as being born there - Mary on 5 July 1647, Isaac on 21 Aug. 1650, Rebecca on 3 July 1652, and Samuel on 5 Oct. 1655. (R‑200)

Children - Graves

8. Mary Graves, b. 5 July 1647, m. Eleazer Frary, 28 Jan. 1665. It was previously believed that this Mary Graves m(2) Joseph Haskell. However, it is much more likely that the Mary Graves who married Joseph Haskell was a daughter of Mark Graves and Amy ‑‑‑‑‑‑ and a granddaughter of immigrant Samuel Graves of Lynn, MA (genealogy 83).

9. Isaac Graves, b. 22 (or 21) Aug. 1650, never married, d. before 1677.

10. Rebecca Graves, b. 3 July 1652 (or 1653), never married, d. before 1677.

+11. Samuel Graves, b. 1 (or 5) Oct. 1655, m(1) Sarah Colton, 31 Oct. 1678, m(2) Deliverance ‑‑‑‑‑‑, 1 Jan. 1690, d. 8 Feb. 1692.

12. Sarah Graves, m. Benjamin Barrett (of Sunderland, Mass.), 27 April 1677, d. Sunderland.

13. Elizabeth Graves, b. 16 March 1661, m. Benjamin Hastings, 1683, d. before 8 Feb. 1697. He was b. 9 Aug. 1659, m(2) Mary Parsons (of Northampton, Mass.), d. 8 Feb. 1697 (Hatfield).

+14. John Graves, b. 1664, m. Sarah Banks, 26 Oct. 1686, probably d. 1746.

+15. Hannah Graves, b. 24 Jan. 1666, m. William Sackett, 27 Nov. 1689.

+16. Jonathan Graves, b. 24 Jan. 1666, m(1) Sarah Parsons, m(2) Mary King, 19 July 1721, d. 12 Oct. 1737.

17. Mehitable Graves, b. 1 Oct. 1671, m(1) Richard Morton (of Hatfield), 29 Jan. 1690, m(2) William Worthington, d. 22 March 1742. She moved to Colchester, Conn. with William.

John Graves (3) was born about 1622 in England, and died 19 Sept. 1677. He first married Mary Smith of Wethersfield, daughter of Lieut. Samuel Smith and Elizabeth Chileab, probably about 1652. She was born about 1630 in England, and died 16 Dec. 1668 (or 1665) in Hatfield, Mass. She came from Ipswich Co., Suffolk, England to Watertown, Mass. in 1634.

He secondly married Mary Wyatt of Haddam, Conn., daughter of John Bronson, and widow of John Wyatt of Haddam, probably on 20 July 1671. (Either the date of his first wife's death is too early or the date of his marriage to his second wife is too late, since his last child was born between these two dates.) Mary thirdly married Lt. Willis Allis in 1678. She married Samuel Gaylord as her fourth husband on 16 March 1681.

John Graves owned land in Hartford and Wethersfield, which he retained when he moved to Hatfield, Mass. in 1661. He was a man of probity and education, and was employed in 1655 and again in 1659 to run the boundary line between Wethersfield and Mattabessett (now Middletown). He exchanged land with John Goodrich about 1645. He bought the land of John Coultmans and also that of Gregory Gibbs.

He and his brother, Sergeant Isaac Graves, were killed by Indians in an attack on Hatfield, 19 Sept. 1677. After his death, his widow thirdly married Lieut. William Allis on 25 June 1678. She fourthly married Samuel Gaylord.

John's first five children were born in Wethersfield, Conn. and his last five children were born in Hatfield, Mass. (R‑1, R‑200)

Children - Graves, by Mary Smith

+18. John Graves, b.c. 1653, m. Sarah White, 12 Feb. 1677, d. 2 Dec. 1730.

+19. Mary Graves, b.c. 1654, m(1) Samuel Ball, 15 Jan. 1671, m(2) Benjamin Stebbins, 10 Sept. 1690, m(3) James Warriner, 29 Dec. 1704, d. 21 May 1727.

+20. Isaac Graves, b.c. 1655, m(1) Sarah Wyatt, 5 April 1679, m(2) Abigail ‑‑‑‑‑‑, m(3) Deliverance Graves.

+21. Samuel Graves, b.c. 1657, m. Sarah ‑‑‑‑‑‑, 30 Oct. 1678, d. 11 March 1731.

+22. Sarah Graves, b.c. 1659, m. Edward Stebbins, 14 April 1679, d. 12 June 1700.

23. Elizabeth Graves, b. 6 Dec. 1662, m. Thomas Jones.

+24. Daniel Graves, b. 7 Dec. 1664, m. Hannah Warriner, d. 18 May 1724.

+25. Ebenezer Graves, b. 20 Nov. 1666, m. Mary Colton, d. 1748 or after.

26. Bethiah Graves, b. 7 Jan. 1668, d. 21 Jan. 1668.

+27. Nathaniel Graves, b. 10 June 1671, m. Rebecca Allis, 30 April 1702, d.c. 1757.

Nathaniel Graves (5) was born about 1629 in England, and died 28 Sept. 1682 at Wethersfield, Conn. He married Martha Betts, daughter of John and Mary Betts, on 16 Jan. 1655. She was born in 1625 in England, and died 13 April 1701. He settled in Wethersfield and was made a freeman there 21 May 1657, was surveyor there in 1661, a fence viewer in 1669, and drew lands in 1670. He had a homestead on the east side of Broad Street, Wethersfield, in 1659. In 1662, John Betts of Wethersfield conveyed to him 23 acres of land, and in the deed calls him "his brother." Nathaniel settled the estate of his father in Conn. ("House lot of 3 acres whereon he liveth," and other lands granted to him in Wethersfield) between 1645 and 1652. The inventory of Nathaniel's estate, dated 30 Oct. 1682, amounted to 439 pounds, 2 s., 2 d. (R‑200)

Children - Graves

28. Sarah Graves, b. 4 Oct. 1656, m. Samuel Bradfield. They moved to Branford, Conn. He was probably a son of Lesly Bradfield.

29. Mary Graves, b. 11 Nov. 1658, m. John Deming, 5 Jan. 1684. He was b. 9 Sept. 1658 and d. 25 Nov. 1729. He was called "drummer", and was a son of Sergeant John, and grandson of John Deming.

30. Rebecca Graves, b. Feb. 1660.

31. Nathaniel Graves, b. 1662, d. 5 Jan. 1681.

+32. Martha Graves, b. 15 July 1667, m. John Russell, 9 April 1691, d. 15 July 1740.

33. Abigail Graves, b. 15 Oct. 1669, m. Ebenezer Belden (son of John and Lydia Belden or Belding).

Mary Graves (7) was born in England. She married Moses Ventrous (or Ventris or Ventres) on 14 Jan. 1646/7 in Hartford, Conn. There is some uncertainty about Mary's name, and even whether she is a Graves. The Hartford Times, 18 July 1966 states: Moses Ventrous married Grace ‑‑‑‑‑‑ on 14 Jan. 1647. A marriage record at Hartford states the same thing.

Judd's History of Hatfield, Mass. says Moses Ventrous married 14 Jan. 1647 Mary Graves, daughter of Thomas Graves who married Sarah ‑‑‑‑‑‑. Another source mentions a possible daughter of Thomas Graves named Mary or Elizabeth.

A note from the Gates-Dawes Memorial says Moses, William and Elizabeth Ventrous were probably children of William Ventrous.

Moses Ventrous was born about 1625 in Farmington, Conn. His will was dated 1693, and the inventory of his estate was dated 12 April 1697 in Hartford, Conn. (R‑3)

Children - Ventrous

34. Sarah Ventrous, b. 1649, bapt. 29 July 1653 (Farmington, Conn.), m. John Brownson (or Bronson), d. 6 Jan. 1711/12.

35. Grace Ventrous, b. 1652, bapt. 29 July 1653, m. John Blakesly, c. 1683 (or c. 1675).

36. Moses Ventrous, b. 1654, bapt. 18 Feb. 1655, never married, d. 20 Sept. 1721 (Farmington, Conn., Vital Records).

37. Mary Ventrous, b. 21 Feb. 1656/7, bapt. 16 Nov. 1662.

GENERATION 3

CHILDREN OF ISAAC GRAVES (2) AND MARY CHURCH

Samuel Graves (11) was born 1 Oct. 1655 and died 8 Feb. 1692, both in Hartford, Conn. He first married Sarah Colton, daughter of George Colton and Deborah Gardner, on 31 Oct. 1678. She was born 24 Feb. 1652, and died 11 July 1689. He secondly married Deliverance ‑‑‑‑‑‑, possibly on 1 Jan. 1690 in Hartford (although this raises a question about the birthdate of Elizabeth, born 8 Nov. 1689.) On 8 Feb. 1678, he took an oath of allegiance at Hatfield. After his death, Deliverance secondly married Isaac Graves (#20). They lived in Hatfield. (R‑200)

Children - Graves, by Sarah Colton

38. Rebecca Graves, b. 3 May 1681 (Springfield, Mass.).

39. Samuel Graves, b. 22 March 1684 (Hatfield), d. before 1704.

+40. Joseph Graves, b. 16 Nov. 1685, m. Bridget Scott, 25 Jan. 1717, d. 22 April 1728.

41. Sarah Graves, b. 1 July 1687.

Children - Graves, by Deliverance ‑‑‑‑‑‑

42. Elizabeth Graves, b. 8 Nov. 1689.

+43. Thomas Graves, b. 21 Nov. 1690, m. Sarah Morgan, d. 1713-14.

John Graves (14) was born 1664, and probably died 1746. He married Sarah Banks, daughter of John Banks of Chelmsford, on 26 Oct. 1686 at Chelmsford. His son, Elnathan, was appointed administrator on his estate 12 Nov. 1746. They lived in Hatfield, Mass. (R‑200)

Children - Graves

+44. Isaac Graves, b. 10 July 1688, m. Mary Parsons, 1713, d. 30 May 1781.

+45. Benjamin Graves, b. 12 Aug. 1689, m. Mary Warner, 7 April 1720, d. 1 Oct. 1756.

46. Sarah Graves, b. 1691.

47. Jemima Graves, b. 30 April 1693, m(1) John Graves (#66), 5 May 1715, m(2) Eleazer Allis (of Hatfield), 17 March 1720.

48. Mary Graves, b. 9 Nov. 1695, m(1) Jonathan Frary , 23 July 1719, m(2) Eliakim King (of Northampton, Mass.).

+49. Elnathan Graves, b. 20 Aug. 1699, m(1) Martha Dickinson, 2 March 1727, m(2) Dorothy Belding, 17 Feb. 1785.

50. Hannah Graves, b. 4 June 1701, m. Eleazer King (of Deerfield, Mass.).

51. Eunice Graves, b. 29 Sept. 1703.

+52. Aaron Graves, b. 2 Feb. 1707, m. Mary Wells, d. 1788.

Hannah Graves (15) was born 24 Jan. 1665/6 in Hatfield, Mass. She married William Sacket (or Sackett), son of John Sackett and Abigail Hannum, on 27 Nov. 1689 in Westfield, Hampshire (now Hampden) Co., MA. He was born 20 April 1662 and died 28 March 1700, both in Westfield, Hampshire Co., Mass. His surname and that of his descendants was spelled with both one and two final t's. (R‑14, R‑112, R‑208)

Children - Sacket

53. Joseph Sacket, b. May 1690, m. Abigail Bigelow, d. 1756.

+54. Hannah Sacket, b. 6 June 1692, m. Samuel Warner, 1 May 1715.

55. Rebecca Sacket, b. 18 Sept. 1694, d. 15 Sept. 1782.

+56. Jonathan Sacket, b. 20 March 1696, m(1) Abigail Ashley, Feb. 1721/2, m(2) Ann Filer, 28 Jan. 1725, d. 1 Sept. 1773 (or 1782).

Jonathan Graves (16) was born 24 Jan. 1666 and died 12 Oct. 1737, both in Hatfield, Hampshire Co., Mass. He first married Sarah Parsons, daughter of John Parsons and Sarah Atherton. She died 15 March 1710. He secondly married Mary King of Northampton, widow of Benjamin King, and daughter of Abel Janes (or Jones) and Mary Judd, on 19 July 1721 in Hatfield. She was born 8 Oct. 1680 in Northampton, Hampshire Co., Mass. He was a tanner, and lived in Hatfield, Mass. (R‑200)

Children - Graves, by Sarah Parsons

+57. Moses Graves, b. 1 Feb. 1700, m(1) Martha Marsh, 24 Feb. 1742, m(2) Catherine ‑‑‑‑‑‑, d. 1785.

+58. Jonathan Graves, b. 6 March 1702, m. Margaret Strong, d. 1787.

59. Joseph Graves, b. 4 June 1704.

60. Perez Graves, b. 26 Nov. 1707, d. 12 April 1728 (Hatfield).

61. Sarah Graves, b. 1709, d. 15 March 1710.

Children - Graves, by Mary King

+62. Mary Graves, b. 20 Aug. 1722, m. Noah Loomis, 1742.

63. Elijah Graves, b. 20 Dec. 1723, d. 1739.

64. Sarah Graves, b. 9 Feb. 1726.

CHILDREN OF JOHN GRAVES (3) AND MARY SMITH

John Graves (18) was born about 1653 in Wethersfield, Conn., and died 2 Dec. 1730 in Hatfield, Mass. He married Sarah White, daughter of John White, Jr. and Sarah Bunce, on 12 Feb. 1677/8. She was born 1661 in Hatfield, Mass., and died 1741, possibly in Deerfield, Mass. They lived in Hatfield, Mass., where all their children were born. (R‑200)

Children - Graves

65. Sarah Graves, b. 15 Feb. 1679, m. Nathaniel Clark (of Middletown, Conn.), 27 Oct. 1702.

+66. John Graves, b. 28 March 1681, m. Jemima Graves, 15 May 1715, d. Aug. 1716.

+67. Mary Graves, b. 24 Feb. 1682/3, m. Jeremiah Waite, 4 April 1706.

68. Thomas Graves, b. 4 July 1685, d. Oct. 1689.

+69. Abigail Graves, b. 29 Oct. 1687, m. Francis Wilcox, 13 Nov. 1711.

+70. Martha Graves, b. 4 Nov. 1689, m(1) John Crafts, 17 May 1716, m(2) Eleazer Allis, 14 Nov. 1734, d. 5 June 1780.

71. Daniel Graves, b. 13 Oct. 1690, d. young.

+72. Thomas Graves, b. 5 June 1693, m. Lydia Graves, 1 Jan. 1719, d. 1784.

+73. Daniel Graves, b. 28 Jan. 1697, m. Thankful Smead, 6 Nov. 1724, d. 12 Aug. 1756.

+74. Rebecca Graves, b. 4 May 1700, m. Moses Nash, d. 6 Oct. 1743.

Mary Graves (19) was born about 1654 in Wethersfield, CT. She first married Samuel Ball, son of Francis Ball and Abigail Burt, of Springfield, MA on 15 Jan. 1671 in Westfield, MA. He was born 16 March 1647 and died 13 Sept. 1689, both in Springfield, MA. All their children were born in Springfield, Hampden Co., MA. She secondly married Benjamin Stebbins on 10 Sept. 1690. He died 12 Oct. 1698. She thirdly married James Warriner on 29 Dec. 1704.

She was an ancestor of Grover Cleveland, President of the U.S. (R‑125, R‑200)

Children - Ball

+75. Mary Ball, b. 12 June 1673, m. John Hitchcock, 24 Sept. 1691, d. 14 Oct. 1760.

76. Elizabeth Ball, b. 14 Jan. 1677.

77. Mercy Ball, b. 15 Dec. 1679, d. 14 Sept. 1683.

78. Abigail Ball, b. 18 July 1682, d. 4 Dec. 1760.

Isaac Graves (20) was born about 1655 in Wethersfield, Conn. He first married Sarah Wyatt, daughter of John and Mary Wyatt of Haddam, on 5 April 1679. She died 9 June 1695. Mary Wyatt, when a widow, married his father, John Graves. Isaac secondly married Abigail ‑‑‑‑‑‑. She died 13 July 1697. He thirdly married Deliverance Graves, widow of Samuel Graves (#11). He lived in Hatfield, Mass. (R‑200)

Children - Graves, by Sarah Wyatt

79. Mary Graves, b. 31 Oct. 1682, d. 26 Dec. 1684.

80. Sarah Graves, b. 23 Feb. 1684, m. Daniel Kelsey, 22 Nov. 1705.

81. Elizabeth Graves, b. 23 Oct. 1686, m. Mr. Hull, d. before 1725. No children.

+82. Isaac Graves, b. 3 Nov. 1688, m(1) Dorcas Porter, 14 May 1730, m(2) Mary Graves, d. 19 Sept. 1781.

83. Mary Graves, b. 23 Sept. 1690, m. Samuel Smith, d. before 1 May 1725. No children.

84. Lydia Graves, b. 11 March 1692, m. Thomas Graves, 1 Jan. 1719. See #72 for descendants.

Children - Graves, by Abigail ‑‑‑‑‑‑

85. Abigail Graves, b. 16 Aug. 1696, m. Stephen Crowfoot, 14 March 1717.

Samuel Graves (21) was born about 1657 at Wethersfield, Conn., and died 11 March 1731 (or 15 Oct. 1734) in Sunderland, Mass. He married Sarah ‑‑‑‑‑‑ on 30 Oct. 1678. She died 15 Oct. 1734. He moved from Hatfield, Mass. to Sunderland about 1725, and was one of the first 40 settlers in Sunderland. All their children were born in Hatfield.

It was previously incorrectly stated that this Samuel Graves married Sarah Colton, daughter of George Colton of Longmeadow, MA and Lydia (Wright) Graves. However (as reported in Graves Family Newsletter, 1993, page 127), information from New England Marriages Prior to 1700 by Clarence Ammon Torrey shows that this is not correct. The Samuel Graves who married Sarah Colton was #11, son of Isaac Graves and Mary Church. (R‑200, R‑206)

Children - Graves

86. Sarah Graves, b. 1 July 1687, m. Daniel Smith, 7 April 1709.

+87. Jonathan Graves, b. 27 Oct. 1689, m(1) Mrs. Elizabeth Combs, 2 June 1715, m(2) Hannah ‑‑‑‑‑‑, d. 21 May 1773.

+88. Abraham Graves, b. 12 Dec. 1691, m. Thankful Bardwell, 23 May 1717, d. 28 Oct. 1777.

+89. David Graves, b. 9 Dec. 1693, m. Abigail Bardwell, 6 June 1720, d. 25 Aug. 1781.

+90. Noah Graves, b. 19 Dec. 1695, m(1) Rebecca Wright, m(2) Rachel Newton, 8 April 1754, d. 17 March 1773.

91. Mehitable Graves, b. 19 Dec. 1695, m. John Bardwell (of Hatfield).

+92. Samuel Graves, b. 30 Jan. 1697, m. Grace Hitchcock, 9 April 1728, d. 6 May 1774.

Sarah Graves (22) was born about 1659 in Wethersfield, Conn., and died 12 June 1700 in Springfield, Mass. She married Edward Stebbins, son of Thomas Stebbins and Hannah Wright, on 14 April 1679 in Springfield. He was born 14 April 1656 and died 31 Oct. 1712, both in Springfield. (R‑1)

Children - Stebbins

+93. Thomas Stebbins, b. 7 Nov. 1687, m. Mary Ely, 1 March 1711, d. 4 Dec. 1758.

Daniel Graves (24) was born 7 Dec. 1664 at Hatfield, and died 18 May 1724. He married Hannah Warriner of Springfield, daughter of James Warriner. She was born 15 Feb. 1675 and died 6 Oct. 1711. They lived at Springfield, but later moved to Brimfield. All their children were born at Springfield. (R‑200)

Children - Graves

94. Hannah Graves, b. 17 March 1698.

+95. Daniel Graves, b. 20 March 1700, m. Margaret Miller, 22 Nov. 1727, d. 29 Nov. 1760.

96. Jemima Graves, b. 23 June 1703, m. Jonathan Janes (of Northfield), 19 April 1732, d. 18 June 1790.

+97. John Graves, b. 17 Feb. 1707, m. Mary Bush, 16 Dec. 1729.

Ebenezer Graves (25) was born 20 Nov. 1666 and died in 1748 or after. He married Mary ‑‑‑‑‑‑. He was at Northfield to strengthen the garrison 21 Aug. 1688. They lived in Springfield until 1717, when he sold his property there and moved to Brimfield. He was quite prominent in town affairs, was often one of the Selectmen, and he deeded his daughter, Abigail Sherman, 213 acres and his son, Ebenezer, a farm 5 April 1748. (R‑200)

Children - Graves

98. Ebenezer Graves, b. 8 Jan. 1694, d. 18 May 1749.

99. Mary Graves, b. 22 Aug. 1696, m. Benjamin Morgan (of Brimfield).

+100. Benjamin Graves, b. 15 Feb. 1698, married.

101. Abigail Graves, b. 18 Feb. 1707, m. Bezaliel Sherman (of Brimfield), 4 Feb. 1732.

Nathaniel Graves (27) was born 10 June 1671 and died about 1757. He married Rebecca Allis of Hatfield, daughter of John Allis, on 30 April 1702. She was born 16 April 1683. They lived in Hatfield, Mass. (R‑200)

Children - Graves

102. Rebecca Graves, b. 25 Oct. 1703.

103. Mary Graves, b. 22 Feb. 1706, m. Isaac Graves (#82), d. 18 March 1787.

+104. Nathaniel Graves, b. 16 Nov. 1707, m. Hannah Smith.

105. Ruth Graves, b. 16 Aug. 1709.

+106. Eleazer Graves, b. 12 Dec. 1711, m. Sarah Belding, 1 Oct. 1736, d. 24 Sept. 1756.

+107. Israel Graves, b. 23 June 1716, m. Eunice Waite, 15 July 1756, d. 8 Sept. 1773.

108. Martha Graves, b. 29 Oct. 1718, m. Eleazer Cowles (of Hatfield), 6 Dec. 1739.

+109. Oliver Graves, b. 6 Aug. 1725, m. Rebecca Smith, 24 Jan. 1754, d. 30 Aug. 1810.

CHILDREN OF NATHANIEL GRAVES (5) AND MARTHA BETTS

Martha Graves (32) was born 15 July 1667 and died 15 July 1740. She married John Russell, son of Philip Russell and Elizabeth Terry of Wethersfield, Conn., on 9 April 1691. He secondly married Susannah Nichols. (For other children, see p. 434, vol. 4, P. Valley M. Assoc.) (R‑200)

Children - Russell

110. Elizabeth Russell, b. 12 May 1695, m. Ephraim Williams, 24 Feb. 1715, d. 11 Oct. 1766.

111. Martha Russell, b. 2 March 1701, m. David Deming, 28 Jan. 1725 (Wethersfield, Conn.), d. 7 Sept. 1763 (Wethersfield, Conn.). He was b. 29 Dec. 1696, d. 17 Feb. 1771, son of Samuel Deming.

+112. Jonathan Russell, b. 7 Jan. 1705, m. Mehitable Wolcott.

GENERATION 4

CHILDREN OF SAMUEL GRAVES (11)

Joseph Graves (40) was born 16 Nov. 1685 and died 22 April 1728. He married Bridget Scott, daughter of Edward Scott, on 25 Jan. 1717. She died 1746. (R‑200)

Children - Graves

113. Sarah Graves, b. 13 Nov. 1717, m. Thomas Crafts, 1742, d. 13 Jan. 1803. See #193 for descendants.

114. Miriam Graves, b. 21 Oct. 1719, m. Moses Waite (son of Joseph Waite and grandson of Benjamin Waite).

115. Elizabeth Graves, b. 14 May 1721, m. Timothy Cole, 11 Sept. 1777 (as his second wife).

Thomas Graves (43) was born 21 Nov. (or 22 Oct.) 1690 in Hatfield, Mass., and died about 1 Jan. 1713/14. He died sometime between 11 Dec. 1713, the date of his will, and 5 Jan. 1713/14, the date his widow exhibited an inventory of her husband's estate. His will named his wife and only child.

He married Sarah Morgan, daughter of Thomas Morgan and Rachel Merry. She was baptized 24 May 1696 in Hartford, Conn., and died 3 May 1718. She died before completing the final accounting of Thomas Graves' estate. As a result of Sarah's death, Thomas Morgan (her father) was appointed legal guardian of Deliverance Graves, a minor (Early Connecticut Probate Records, Hartford District, 1635-1750, II, p. 209; original records, vol. IX, p. 78). Sarah secondly married Jobannah Smith on 26 Sept. 1714.

In previous publications (including John Card Graves, Genealogy of the Graves Family in America, vol. 1; and Lucius Boltwood, Genealogies of Hadley Families), this Thomas Graves and his second cousin, son of John Graves and Sarah White, were confused. Lucius Boltwood incorrectly assumed that the records of Thomas, son of John, belonged to Thomas, son of Samuel. It was Thomas, son of John, who married Lydia Graves and later moved to Belchertown, where he died.

The age of Boltwood's Thomas at death (Hadley Genealogy, p. 60, #12) does not agree with the birthdate of Thomas, the son of Samuel, as it should if Boltwood's assumption were valid. It does agree, however, with the birthdate of Thomas, son of John.

Another indication of Boltwood's error is that the Thomas, who moved to Belchertown, sold Hatfield land that came to him originally from John Graves (Hampshire Co. land records). The children of the Belchertown Thomas were named John and Lydia, probably named for Thomas' father and wife. Finally, Thomas, son of John, was alive in Jan. 1730/31, when the will of his father John was proved. Thomas, son of Samuel, had died about 1 Jan. 1713/14.

Deliverance, daughter of Thomas and Sarah, may have been named for her grandmother Deliverance, wife of Samuel Graves. (R‑200, R‑205)

Children - Graves

+116. Deliverance Graves, b. 27 Oct. 1713, m. Stephen Hosmer, 18 June 1730, d. 5 July 1758.

CHILDREN OF JOHN GRAVES (14) AND SARAH BANKS

Isaac Graves (44) was born 10 July 1688, and died 30 May 1781 at Sunderland, Mass. He married Mary Parsons of Northampton, Mass., daughter of Jonathan Parsons, in 1713. She was born 8 July 1688, and died 9 March 1769. He moved to Sunderland about 1714. All their children except the first, who was born at Hatfield, were born at Sunderland. (R‑200)

Children - Graves

117. Sarah Graves, b. 22 Dec. 1713, m. Edward Elmer, 4 Oct. 1736.

118. Jerusha Graves, b. 13 June 1717, m. Abner Cooley, 4 July 1736, d. 1801 (Sunderland).

+119. Simeon Graves, b. 20 Jan. 1720, m. Hannah Hubbard, 7 Jan. 1745, d. 20 Dec. 1747.

+120. Phineas Graves, b. 30 April 1726, m. Rhoda Smith, 1 Nov. 1753, d. 20 April 1806.

121. Submit Graves, b. 7 Jan. 1731, m. Isaac Hubbard, 29 Oct. 1752, d. 1774. They lived in Sunderland.

Benjamin Graves (45) was born 12 Aug. 1689 and died 1 Oct. 1756. He married Mary Warner, daughter of Jacob Warner and Elizabeth Goodman, on 7 April 1720. She was born 22 July 1694, and died 10 April 1779. They lived in Sunderland, Mass. (R‑200)

Children - Graves

122. Mary Graves, b. 23 Dec. 1720, m. Jonathan Warner (of Hadley), 20 June 1745.

123. Elizabeth Graves, b. 17 Aug. 1723, m. Orange Warner (of Hadley), 1749.

124. Sarah Graves, b. 16 Sept. 1726, m. (Capt.) Moses Montague (of So. Hadley, Mass.), 22 Sept. 1748, d. 17 Oct. 1810. For descendants, see History and Genealogy of the Montague Family of America, compiled by George William Montague, Williams Press, Amherst, 1886, and also the 1912 book on the descendants of William Shentliff of Plymouth.

+125. Daniel Graves, b. 5 Nov. 1728, m(1) Miriam ‑‑‑‑‑‑, m(2) Maria Mattoon, 30 April 1761, d. 5 Feb. 1793.

+126. Benjamin Graves, b. 29 Feb. 1734, m. Thankful Field, 15 Sept. 1757, d. 17 Aug. 1777.

+127. Moses Graves, b. 10 Oct. 1736, m(1) Sarah Clary, m(2) Experience Oaks, 12 Jan. 1768, d. 30 April 1803.

128. Aaron Graves, b. 10 Oct. 1736, probably d. young.

129. Eunice Graves, b. 25 Jan. 1741, m. (Capt.) Seth Lyman (of Northfield), 23 Oct. 1760, d. 1 Oct. 1801. He was b. 1 Feb. 1736 and d. 14 Oct. 1817.

Elnathan Graves (49) was born 20 Aug. 1699 in Hatfield, and died 17 Feb. 1785. He first married Martha Dickinson, daughter of Nathaniel Dickinson of Hatfield, on 2 March 1727. She was born 25 Dec. 1701, and died 9 Jan. 1756. He secondly married Dorothy Belding, daughter of Ebenezer Morton of Hatfield, and widow of John Belding. She died 9 May 1800, aged 80. He lived in Hatfield until his death. At an early period of the settlement of Williamsburg, Mass., he bought a large tract of land there, and three of his grandsons later settled on it; specifically, Samuel, Perez Jr., and Elnathan, all sons of Capt. Perez Graves. All their children were born in Hatfield. (R‑200)

Children - Graves, by Martha Dickinson

+130. Seth Graves, b. 17 Dec. 1727, m. Mary Dickinson, d. 14 Sept. 1807.

+131. Perez Graves, b. 26 April 1730, m(1) Martha Gillett, 16 May 1754, m(2) Zeruiah White, 19 Feb. 1795, d. 17 Dec. 1809.

+132. Silas Graves, b. 8 Feb. 1732, m. Hannah Field, d. 2 March 1816.

133. Lucy Graves, b. 8 May 1734, m. Benjamin Wells, 28 Dec. 1758, d. 22 Sept. 1815.

134. Martha Graves, b. 26 Feb. 1739, m. John Nash (of Williamsburg), 28 Dec. 1758, d. Dec. 1804. He was b. 20 Oct. 1736 and d. 31 May 1773.

Aaron Graves (52) was born 2 Feb. 1707 and died 1788. He married Mary Wells, daughter of Ebenezer Wells and Mary Waite of Hatfield, Mass., and granddaughter of Benjamin Waite, the famous Indian fighter. She was born 24 Oct. 1707. Her mother, along with other members of the family, was taken captive by the Indians and taken to Canada, but was released through persistent efforts of her father, who lived in the house adjoining the one where Isaac and John were killed in 1677. Aaron was at Fort Massachusetts in the French War of 1