Migration
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This is an arbitrary and partial list of the houses, buildings and places associated with any of the various families of Graves, Greaves, etc. Let us know if you have any suggestions for additions or changes. If you have already submitted information that should be included on this page, remind me, and I will add it. The buildings and places of interest are in alphabetical order below.
Houses
Places
Ballylickey Manor House in Ballylickey, Bantry Bay, Co. Cork, Ireland
Ballylickey has been the home of this branch of the Graves family (genealogy 68) for four generations. Originally built over 300 years ago as a shooting lodge by Lord Kenmare, this house was carefully restored by the present owner managers, the Graves family, in the late 1940's. It was visited many times over the years by poet Robert Graves, an uncle of the present owners. View more information about Ballylickey Manor House and the Graves family history.
(Information about this Manor House and website from family member Adrian Graves, Essex, England.)
Deacon George Grave House, Madison, CT
This house was built in 1659 by John Grave (or Graves), a son of Deacon George Grave(s) (immigrant to America and 1636 settler of Hartford, CT, genealogy 65). The Deacon John Grave Foundation was incorporated in 1983 to save the Deacon John Grave House from destruction. Since that time the foundation has worked tirelessly to restore and preserve this unique structure.
The Deacon John Grave House is special because its history is the story of seven generations of one Madison family, how they lived and died, their joys and sorrows and their continual struggle to make ends meet in a constantly changing society.
View more information about the Deacon George Grave House and Foundation on their website..
The Erastus Graves farmhouse on Adams Road in Williamsburg, MA
Built by Erastus Graves in 1860. Erastus was born 7 July 1809 and died 8 April 1889. He married Elizabeth Rachel Strong on 18 Sept. 1844. They lived in Williamsburg. He was descended from immigrant Thomas Graves of Hartford, CT & Hatfield, MA, via Isaac2, John3, Elnathan4, Seth5, John6 m. Eunice Porter, Erastus7.
Erastus was an apparently successful farmer whose production ranged from vegetables to dairy to lumber. He was a selectman, assessor and road contractor, and also served in the Massachusetts legislature. His picture is on the left side of this paragraph. He and Elizabeth originally lived in a house on Adams Road that was probably built by his father about 1800.
In late 1859 or very early 1860, Erastus hired local builder Elbridge Kingsley and his son to help build a new house across the street. This house was occupied by Erastus and his children and grandchildren until the 1990's. Grandsons John and Dwight Graves left the contents of the house to the Williamsburg Historical Society and the the farm and its buildings to the Massachusetts Audubon Society. In 2002, Leslie and Benton Cook bought the house, which had fallen into disrepair. After much loving and costly restoration, they now operate it as a bed and breakfast.
A picture of the house before restoration is on the right. The view below is the house after restoration, with the present owners standing in front.
(From an article in Hampshire Life, April 1, 2005, submitted by John F. Skibiski, Jr., Florence, MA.)
The Graves Tavern is at 5023 Old Versailles Road, Lexington, KY
It was built by Thomas Sims Graves in 1834 (genealogy 94). It is now listed on the National Historic Register. View more information about The Graves Tavern.
For anyone wanting to go there, it is directly across from South Elkhorn Baptist Church. It is about three miles east of Bluegrass Airport in Lexington on the Versailles road. Going west toward Versailles from Lexington, make a left turn in front of the church onto Old Versailles Road, and the tavern is about 1/4 mile off the main road on the left. In the early days they made the creek crossing at the narrowest point. This caused a curve in the road, which was taken out when the new road was built. This may be the main reason the tavern is still standing.
(Information and pictures submitted by Michael D. Graves, Montgomery, TX.)
Gravesend, Kent, England
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| Gravesend from the River Thames, near London, 1773 |
Gravesend is a town in northwest Kent, England, on the south bank of the Thames, opposite Tilbury in Essex. It is the administrative town of the Borough of Gravesham and, because of its geographical position, has always had an important role to play in the history and communications of this part of England.
The town was recorded as Gravesham in the Domesday Book in 1086 as belonging to Odo, Bishop of Bayeux: the name probably derived from "graaf-ham": the home of the Reeve, or Bailiff, of the Lord of the Manor. Another theory suggests that the name Gravesham may be a corruption of the words grafs-ham – a place "at the end of the grove". (Source: Wikipedia)
It has been believed by some that the town may have been named for a person or family named Graves, but that does not appear to be correct.
Gravesend, Brooklyn, New York, USA.
The derivation of the name is unclear. Some speculate that it was named after the English seaport of Gravesend, Kent. An alternative explanation suggests that it was named by Willem Kieft for the Dutch settlement of "'s- Gravesande", which means "Count's Beach" or "Count's Sand". (Source: Wikipedia)
Gravesend, New South Wales, Australia.
Gravesend is a town in the New England region of New South Wales, Australia, located on the Gwydir River, 615 kilometres (382 miles) north of Sydney. At the 2006 census, Gravesend and the surrounding area had a population of 276. It was probably named for the place of the same name in Kent, England. (Source: Wikipedia)
Graves County, Kentucky
The county is named for Major Benjamin Franklin Graves, soldier in the War of 1812. He was descended from genealogy 270. As one of Kentucky's largest counties, Graves's history of legends and leaders includes a US Vice President, four US Congressmen, famous and infamous heroes, singers and songwriters, noted writers and a legacy of historic sites. (Source: Wikipedia)
Graves Ledges and Graves Light, Boston Harbor, Boston, Massachusetts
The Graves (or Graves Ledges) is an aggregation of rock outcroppings rising 15 feet above the high water level. The Graves Light was built in 1905 on this rocky ledge. It is the outermost island of the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area, and some 11 miles offshore of downtown Boston, Massachusetts, USA. At 113 feet tall, it is the tallest lighthouse in the approaches to the Port of Boston, and is an important navigation aid for traffic to and from the port. The Graves are generally believed to have been named for Rear Admiral Thomas Graves, of London, England and Charlestown, MA (genealogy 28).
Graveston, Knox Co., Tennessee
Probably named for one of the Graves families descended from John Graves (Johann Sebastian Graff), genealogy 105. According to gen. 105, it was originally called Graves Town.
Gravestown, Iowa
This place was in historical records around 1900, but cannot locate it on current records.
Gravestown, Tippah Co., Mississippi
Haven't found any history for this.
Gravesville, Van Buren Co., Arkansas
Haven't found any history for this.
Gravesville, town of Russia, Herkimer Co., New York
Gravesville is a hamlet west of Russia village, located on County Road 242. It is named after William Graves, an early settler. This is where the ancestors of Peter Graves (the Mission Impossible TV series) and his brother James Arness lived (genealogy 166).
Gravesville, Calumet Co., Wisconsin
Named after Leroy Graves, who settled there between 1849 and 1850, clearing several acres of land, and building a saw-mill in 1850. Possibly part of present-day Chilton, WI.