52 Ancestors - #44 William Tubbs Graves - My Double Great Great Great Great Grandfather

According to James McGee who wrote “A Branch of A Tree – A McGee Family in History”, William Tubbs Graves was the only child of Thomas Graves and Lydia Tubbs. He was probably born in Hudson, Columbia County, New York. Thomas Graves died on June 19, 1783 when he was just 51 years of age and a little over one year after the birth of his only child William on April 13, 1782.

William was 23 years old and his bride Maria (Maritje) Herder was 20 years old when they were married on August 1, 1805.The information for Maria is from the records of the Reformed Church, Claverack, Columbia County, New York, under births and christenings: Maritje Herder, born March 27, 1785, and christened March 28, 1785; and her parents were: Peter Herder and Eva Land (spelled Landt for another child's record). Claverack is 4 miles from Hudson.

William and Maria’s first two children can be easily found in church records: From the records of Saratoga Reformed Dutch Protestant Church, Schuylerville, Saratoga County, New York: Peter Herder Graves, born May 12, 1806, christened June 29, 1806; parents: William J. Graves and Maria Herder.  From the records of the Reformed Dutch Protestant Church, Easton, Washington County, New York: Thomas Graves, born June 14, 1808, and christened July 31, 1808; parents: William J. Graves and Maria Heider. Their second child was my ancestor Thomas Tubbs Graves – my great great great grandfather, who became the father of James A Graves.

William and Maria’s first daughter and third child Eefje (Eva) Graves was born August 20, 1810. Getty Maria Graves was born September 23, 1812.

In 1815 William and Maria moved to Jefferson County, New York from Herkimer County, New York.William L. Graves was born February 2, 1815 in LeRay, Jefferson County, New York. Lydia Graves was born on December 21, 1816. A son John Henry Graves was born January 9, 1819 and he died the next day. On March 1, 1820 William and Maria had another son they named John Henry in Pamelia, Jefferson County, New York.

William and Maria were in Clayton, Jefferson County when their daughter Rebecca was born on February 23, 1823. Rebecca would go on to marry Edward McGee and become the ancestor of James McGee, who has provided the information I have on William, Maria and their family.

William and Maria’s youngest and tenth child is also my ancestor.  Henrietta Graves was born on April 6, 1830. Henrietta married Alexander Beaubier and their eldest daughter Effie Beaubier married James A. Graves, her cousin and the son of her Uncle Thomas Tubbs Graves. Henrietta, who was my great great great grandmother died age 25 years 9 months 5 days on January 11, 1856. It was her brother John Henry who either provided or helped provide a headstone for her grave in the Clayton Village Cemetery in Clayton, Jefferson County, New York.

At some point William and Maria moved to Indiana. William Tubbs Graves died October 5, 1838 in Adams Township, 2 miles east of Fort Wayne, Indiana. He was 58 years old.

Great great great great great great great great great grandparents: Samuel Graves/unknown

Great great great great great great great great grandparents: Mark Graves/Elizabeth Knights

Great great great great great great great grandparents: Thomas Graves/Mary Hopson

Great great great great great great grandparents: Mark Graves/Elizabeth Richardson

Great great great great great grandparents: Thomas Graves/Lydia Tubbs

Great great great great grandparents: William Tubbs Graves/Maria Maritje Herder

Great great great grandparents: Thomas Tubbs Graves/Fidelia N. Riggs

Great great grandparents: James A. Graves/Effie Beaubier

Great grandparents: Jefferson Thomas Graves/Martha Matilda Riches

Grandparents: Effa Belle Graves/Alva Ashbury Tucker

Parents: E. Rosalie Tucker/Lionell Burris Mitchell

52 Ancestors - #35 Samuel Graves and his Descendants – First of My Graves Family in America

There is a great website and organization for anyone from the Graves Family. It is the Graves Family Association. They have researched the surname of Graves, Greaves, Grave, Grieve, Greve, and all other variations of that name for all time periods, worldwide.

  

The information I have on my ancestor, Samuel Graves (genealogy 83), and some of his descendents is from the Graves Family Association. Originally, there was “speculation that Samuel Graves was from King’s Lynn, Norfolk, England based mainly on the supposition that Lynn, MA, was named for King’s Lynn by one or more of the early settlers.  That connection is now supported by the Graves DNA results.  King’s Lynn is about 25 miles southeast of Boston. DNA analysis of descendants has shown that Samuel Graves was from the same family as Herbert Fletcher Graves of Lincolnshire (genealogy 428).  That family lived at Chapel Hill and New York, Lincolnshire, about 8-10 miles northwest of Boston, Lincolnshire.”

“Samuel Graves was born in England.  He came to America about 1630, possibly as part of the Endicott group of 1628 or the Winthrop fleet of 1630.  According to one account, he sailed from Southampton, England in the early spring of 1630 to New England.

He took up residence at Lynn, Mass., on the turnpike west of Floating Bridge, and the neighborhood in which he lived was called "Graves End" or "Gravesend" for more than 200 years.  It is now known as Glenmere.

The first homestead was taken down in 1648 and the present one (as of 1900) erected, which has been from time to time remodeled, but still retains the appearance of old-time architecture.  The house was still occupied by descendants of the original settler, and Mrs. Jane Mansfield, a granddaughter of Rand Graves, celebrated her 99th birthday in the old place on 3 Dec. 1900.

Samuel Graves was a farmer and a man of wealth.  In 1635 he gave about 300 pounds for the support of the Colonial Government.  He had three sons, all born in England between 1620 and 1630.” His sons were Thomas Graves born in about 1620, Mark born in about 1623, and Samuel born about 1628.

My ancestor Mark Graves’ first wife was Amy and they were married in around 1648. He and Amy had nine children. Amy died in 1665. He then married my ancestor next. “He lived in Lynn, Mass. until about 1658, when he moved to Andover.  He secondly married Elizabeth Knights, daughter of William and Elizabeth Knights of Lynn, on 14 Nov. 1667 (according to Marriages in Andover, N.E. Hist. and Gen. Register, vol. III, no. 1, p. 66). She was born 1642 and died in 1705.  She was the widow of John Farrington, a cooper, and at one time a resident of Marblehead, Mass.  Mark Graves lived for a time at Ipswich in 1678, at Andover in 1683, at Manchester in 1686, at Andover again in 1690, and afterwards and until his death at Lynn.”

Mark and Elizabeth had four children. His youngest son, my ancestor, was Thomas Graves. He was probably born at Andover, MA on May 7, 1675.  Thomas moved to Lyme, Conn., where he married Mary Hopson. Thomas and Mary had five children that are known. Thomas “died before 12 July 1726, when his widow was appointed Administratrix of his estate.”

  

Thomas and Mary’s eldest son Mark was my ancestor. “Mark Graves was born 8 (or 4) March 1708 in Lyme, CT, and died 2 Sept. 1760.  He married Elizabeth Richardson "of the Neck" on 10 Dec. 1730 at Marblehead, Mass.  He served in the French and Indian Wars from 3 April to 8 Nov. 1758, and again in 1759.  He died in the hospital at Oswegatche on 2 Sept. 1760 while in service.” Mark and Elizabeth had four known children of which my ancestor Thomas Graves is the only son.

“Thomas Graves was born in 1732 in Marblehead, MA, was baptized 19 Aug. 1733 in Marblehead, and died 19 June 1783.  He married Lydia Tubbs, daughter of William Tubbs and Rebecca Daniels.  She was born 1742 in Lynn, MA.  He and his family apparently lived in NY State.” Their son William Tubbs Graves was a known ancestor and now I am into family history that has been passed down through the various family branches.

Great great great great great great great great great grandparents: Samuel Graves/unknown

Great great great great great great great great grandparents: Mark Graves/Elizabeth Knights

Great great great great great great great grandparents: Thomas Graves/Mary Hopson

Great great great great great great grandparents: Mark Graves/Elizabeth Richardson

Great great great great great grandparents: Thomas Graves/Lydia Tubbs

 Great great great great grandparents: William Tubbs Graves/Maria Maritje Herder

Great great great grandparents: Thomas Tubbs Graves/Fidelia N. Riggs

Great great grandparents: James A. Graves/Effie Beaubier

Great grandparents: Jefferson Thomas Graves/Martha Matilda Riches

Grandparents: Effa Belle Graves/Alva Ashbury Tucker

Parents: E. Rosalie Tucker/Lionell Burris Mitchell

52 Ancestors - #31 Thomas Tubbs Graves - He Was Smitten

My great great great grandfather Thomas Tubbs Graves was born on June 14, 1808 in New York State.  Thomas was christened on July 31, 1808 at the Reformed Dutch Protestant Church in Easton, Washington County, New York.

Thomas was the son of William Tubbs Graves who was born April 13, 1782 and Maria Maritje Herder (or Harder) born March 27, 1785.  This information is from the family Bible of William Tubbs Graves, dated October 8, 1854, at one time in the possession of James Graves.

Thomas married my great great great grandmother Fidelia N. Riggs (born in Woodbridge, Connecticut on April 21, 1812) in 1830 in Dexter, Jefferson County, New York. Fidelia was the daughter of James Riggs and Pamela Carrington. A story that has been passed down from one generation to another is about how Thomas and Fidelia met. Fidelia was a noticeably pretty girl and as a young lady she went visiting in Herkimer, New York. One Sunday she went to church there wearing a "scoop bonnet" with the entire front filled with roses. Thomas Graves was also there that morning and upon seeing Fidelia among those pink roses, he was so smitten by her beauty that he never looked at another woman. 

 Thomas Tubbs Graves

Thomas and Fidelia’s first child Henrietta M. was born in January 17, 1831 in New York. Their second Pamelia Fidelia was born January 1833 also in New York State along with Cynthia Elizabette in 1835 at Dexter; Lydia I. in March 10, 1837; Lafayette William on April 21, 1839 at Dexter, Jefferson County, New York; Sarah Frances in 1841; Thomas Jefferson in 1843; Ann Eliza on April 10, 1847 in Clayton, Jefferson County, New York; and my great great grandfather James born January 2, 1850.

Sometime in 1850, Thomas and Fidelia went west, traveling through the Great Lakes to Horicon, Dodge County, Wisconsin.  By August 2, 1850 they were living in Hubbard. They bought a farm near Oak Grove, Dodge County, near where Morrison and Diana Barott later settled. Thomas and Fidelia built a beautiful, brick house there that still stands.

Thomas and Fidelia’s daughter Pamelia Fidelia Graves married Eliphalet Burgess Crawford in Horicon on December 19, 1850; daughter Henrietta M. married Mortimer S. Sayles also in Horicon on April 12, 1852; daughter Cynthia Elizabette married Alfred Barott, (from the neighboring farm) on September 24, 1852 in Mayfield, Wisconsin; daughter Sarah Frances married Henry M. Dubois on July 4, 1857; daughter Lydia married first Hugh Devlin and then after eight children she divorced Hugh and married his brother Robert and moved to Round Lake, Minnesota; and son Lafayette William married Emily Powers Stratton on November 22, 1861 in Juneau, Wisconsin.

Thomas and Fidelia’s son Thomas Jefferson Graves never married and enlisted in the 14^th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry in November 1861. Thomas’ 14^th Infantry fought at the Battle of Shiloh, TN and the Battle of Vicksburg, MS. Their eldest son Lafayette William also enlisted in September 1862 in the 21^st Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry and fought in a number of major battles.

Two-thirds of the 14^th Infantry reenlisted including Thomas who was then assigned to the 29^th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. Shortly after a battle in Alabama, Thomas was returned to Madison, Wisconsin where he died in the hospital of disease on April 26, 1865 at age 22. My great grandfather Jefferson Thomas was named for him. On October 21, 1867 my great great grandfather James married Effie Beaubier. (Thomas Tubbs Graves’ sister Henrietta married Alexander Beaubier and then their daughter Effie married her cousin James.)

Thomas Tubbs Graves died December 11, 1868 In Oak Grove Township, Horicon County, Wisconsin at the age of 60.  His daughter Sarah Frances Dubois remarried on December 24, 1868 to Henry Wall after being widowed sometime between 1865 and 1867. His daughter Pamelia and her husband moved to Sioux City, Iowa where her husband opened the largest clothing house in the state - Oak Hall Clothing House.

Thomas’ wife Fidelia died on August 21, 1871 in Horicon, Dodge County, Wisconsin at the age of 59 and is buried at Wruke Cemetery in Horicon with her husband. In May 2001 Thomas and Fidelia’s descendants erected a new headstone for their grave after the previous ones were vandalized and removed.

Thomas’ daughter Henrietta M. Graves Sayles died February 3, 1873 Saylesville, Waukesha County, Wisconsin, at the age of 62.

Their daughter Cynthia Elizabette Graves Barott died January 6, 1890 and was buried in Laurel, Montana. She was 54 years old. Their son James A. Graves was widowed on January 24, 1899 and remarried on July 2^nd of that year to Isabel Norsebo whom he later divorced. He then married Anna Belle Rucker on January 2, 1901. By 1903 James was in Washington State and settled in Stevenson, Skamania County, Washington where he died on July 15, 1915. Daughter Lydia I. Graves Devlin died on January 26, 1916 at Aitkin County, Minnesota at the age of 78, and daughter Pamelia Fidelia Graves Crawford died in approximately 1919 at the age of 76.

Thomas’ son Lafayette William Graves did move to Washington for a number of years and during the 1910 census he was living in Ethel, Lewis County Washington. During the 1920 census he was living in Tacoma as was his daughter Marian and her husband. At some point he returned to Wisconsin where he died on March 6, 1924 in Alma, Wisconsin just six and a half weeks before his 85^th birthday.

I have not been able to determine when Sarah Frances Graves Dubois Wall died or anything about Thomas’ daughter Anne Eliza Graves after 1860.  Some believe that she married John D. Cooley in New York State but I believe that was another Anne Eliza Graves. Some people also believe there was another son after James but I can find no record of one.

(Some of the information here was provided by the great granddaughter of Cynthia Elizabette Graves Barott – Viola Cayo Schnake Walden and also a descendent of Lafayette William Graves – Phil Graves of Wisconsin. I would like to thank previous generations again for writing it down and passing information along.)

Great great great great grandparents: William Tubbs Graves/Maria Maritje Herder

Great great great grandparents: Thomas Tubbs Graves/Fidelia N. Riggs

Great great grandparents: James A. Graves/Effie Beaubier

Great grandparents: Jefferson Thomas Graves/Martha Matilda Riches

Grandparents: Effa Belle Graves/Alva Ashbury Tucker

Parents: E. Rosalie Tucker/Lionell Burris Mitchell

52 Ancestors - #22 James Vernon Graves – A Thoroughly Rotten Relative

Every family has one. What can I say about not so Grand Uncle Vern? Nothing good. I have to say that I never ever had any desire to meet my mother’s Uncle Vern. She didn’t care for him and neither did her sisters. Her brother did not speak highly of him either.

James Vernon Graves was born on May 27, 1899 in Horicon, Dodge Wisconsin, to Jefferson Thomas (JT) Graves and Martha “Mattie” Matilda Riches.  He was named for JT’s father James. Both of his parents absolutely doted on him. In June 4, 1900 at age one the Graves Family including big sister Effa (who was 2 ½ years old) were living at Bridge Creek, Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Three years later the family followed JT’s father James out to Washington State and settled at Jackson Prairie. The closest post office to them at that time was at Forest just south of Chehalis.

JT, Mattie, Effa

Cousin Irma, Vern

According to my Uncle Arnold, Vern was always pampered and became an alcoholic in his early teens. He said that Vern was lazy and never stayed with anything or place for long. Vern was also always good at borrowing money and not paying it back.

 Vern age 16

 Vern is on the right

On Vern’s September 12, 1918 WW I Draft Registration paperwork, he stated that he was staying at the Arlington Hotel, Hoquiam, Grays Harbor County, Washington and that he was working at the Carlton Dairy. He was described as short, with medium build, light brown hair and blue eyes. In a January 30, 1919 letter to his father, Vern says that he has received a letter from Captain Cameron stating that he has Vern’s passport and turned his papers over to the Sea Service Bureau and he will call Vern as soon as they have a ship assigned. I can find no record of military service for Vern but I do have a picture of him in a uniform.

On July 29, 1919, Vern was married in Chehalis, Lewis, Washington by a Justice of the Peace to Mayme Cheney. He was 20 years old and she was just 16. Their witnesses were his mother Mattie and her father John Cheney. On February 3^rd of the following year, census records show that Vern and Mayme were living next door Mayme’s parents John and Christina Cheney and family in Lewis County, Washington just south of Chehalis and east of Napavine.

In October 1921 Vern’s sister’s husband Alva built a gas station and garage at Mary’s Corner in Lewis County, Washington.  Vern was always trying to stash liquor at the gas station, and Alva was always getting rid of it. In a letter from Alva to Effa, Alva says, “I sure am glad I didn’t pay any down on that house, after the way Vern ended up. I told him to keep that stuff out of the house.” His mother Mattie was frequently bailing him out of jail for his drinking and moonshine busts.

Alva repeatedly found jobs for Vern. In a letter dated April 5, 1927 Alva says, “Vern was going to quit the other day but hasn’t said anything about it so far.” Vern was working with Alva as crew on the Tug Warren. Then on April 15^th, “Vern seems to be pretty well satisfied with his job so far.” Alva repeats that again in his April 20^th letter. A May 7^th 1927 letter from Alva in Seattle to Effa in Aberdeen says, “Will send you a few lines by Vern. He has lasted about as long as he usually does. He will be out of luck for me to ever get him a job for he sure is hopeless.” In Alva’s May 13^th letter he says, “So Vern says we had lots to drink over there (Victoria, BC). He is speaking for himself – he should have added in his letter. If drinking got me in as much trouble as it does him. I’d leave it strictly alone.”

Mayme - May 1927

The Warren left Seattle on Monday, May 23rd at 3:15 pm for Victoria, British Columbia. Alva was not even scheduled to work that night but Vern talked him into taking his shift.  According to family, they had been testing a new type of 170 hp diesel engine. On the return trip to Seattle the Warren sunk during a horrible storm and everyone was lost.

Vern and Mayme divorced and he started seeing Angeline E. (Eva) Coppinger in late 1927 or early 1928. On June 8, 1936 Vern and Eva were married Skamania County, Washington by a Justice of the Peace.

1938 Vern, Eva, Arnold

On March 21, 1940 Vern’s mother Mattie died. She had made her wishes known to everyone including Vern about who was to get various things of hers upon her death. Vern refused to honor a single wish of hers – even if he couldn’t sell it (as he did with most of her things) he threw it in a shed and locked it up so no one else could have it. In the shed pictures rotted and teapots and cups were broken.  I am sure that is where the family bible ended up also. Vern talked his father into signing the property at Jackson Prairie over to him and then Vern sold it.

On April 23, 1940 Vern was living at Amboy, Clark County, Washington.  His occupation was listed as “burning brush.” Vern’s father JT was living with him as was his stepson Howard age 12. Vern was 40 and Eva was 53. When JT became ill Vern sent him to a charity hospital. JT died August 12, 1949. Vern was still living in Amboy in January of 1950.

By September 29, 1962, Vern and Eva are living in Eugene, Oregon according to a letter from his sister Effa.

In a letter from my Aunt Stella dated February 24, 1977, Vern is convalescing from and auto wreck and is a little foggy yet. My Aunt Stella was trying to get some family history from him and he promised to go through his stuff which didn’t happen.

Vern died January 3, 1991 at Long Beach, Washington at the age of 91. He is buried at Mills and Mills Memorial Park, in Tumwater, Thurston County, Washington. It was not a well-attended funeral.