Francis Graves

Children of James Graves and Mary Copeland:

5. Francis Graves, b. by 1763, m. Rebecca Spinks, d. 1839 (Amite Co., MS). She d. 1847.

Francis Graves (5) was born 1763 or before, and died before 27 May 1839 in Amite Co., Miss. In the 1830 census for Wilkinson Co., Miss., Francis was listed as between 40 and 60 years old (which would indicate a birth date of 1770-1790). The Personal Tax Rolls for Amite Co., Miss., 1813, show that Francis Graves paid no poll tax, apparently exempt because of having reached age 50, therefore born by 1763.

On 27 May 1839, James J. Graves, son of Francis Graves, requested administration of his father's estate, then deceased. James stated that Rebecca Graves, widow of Francis Graves, and Martha Graves, daughter, and he himself should share in the division of the estate of Francis; that other children, Richard W. Graves, Alfred B. Graves and Zachariah Graves, had already received equitable advancement from their father. James asked that a guardian for the children of Zachariah Graves, decd., be appointed (Amite Co., Miss., Granted Bk. 3, p. 4.). The eldest son of Francis Graves, Benjamin Graves, had already provided for himself.

Francis married Rebecca Spinks, daughter of John Spinks. She had an uncle Enoch Spinks (2134-1842), son of Enoch Spinks and Amey Pearce, and brother of John Spinks. The fact that Enoch was a Methodist preacher in Randolph Co., N.C., may have given emphasis to the Methodism of Francis Graves.

On 27 Dec. 1820, Francis Graves, Justice of the Peace of Amite Co., Miss., performed the marriage ceremony for his brother-in-law, Baker Spinks, and Joanna Johns. The marriage bond was signed by William Spinks and Baker Spinks.

Francis owned large holdings of land which he acquired by land grant and purchase. He was active in civic affairs and in supporting legislation advantageous to pioneer settlers. He was active in the affairs of the Methodist church, a friend of Rev. William Winans. Francis advanced the welfare of family members. He served in the Mississippi legislature from 1820 to 1830, almost continuously.

Rebecca was born in 1771, and wrote her will 28 April 1847. It was recorded in May 1847 in Amite Co., Miss., witnessed by Jarrot Caston and Benjamin Graves. Rebecca was not listed in the 1850 census; therefore, she died between these dates. She left bequests to her son Alfred B. Graves and grandson John Graves, son of J. J. Graves.

File no. 70, Amite Co., contains the petition of John F. Graves, minor heir of James J. Graves, deceased, naming his uncle Benjamin Graves as guardian. There is also the petition of Benjamin Graves that he be appointed the guardian of John F. Graves; also his final statement of account. Benjamin was appointed 12 Dec. 1854 and made final settlement 13 Jan. 1857, Amite Co., Miss. This John F. Graves, son of J. J. Graves, is the grandson named in Rebecca's will. The item proves that Benjamin Graves was the son of Francis and Rebecca Graves, corroborated by the associations found in the many other legal documents concerning the activities of these people and by the fact that the legacy to John F. Graves by his grandmother Rebecca Graves is the same as that enumerated in his petition that his uncle Benjamin Graves be his guardian, effected 12 Dec. 1854.

Francis Graves was the executor of his brother Robert's will in 1819. He stayed in Amite Co. and became a wealthy planter. (R‑2, R‑8)

Children - Graves

+18. Benjamin Graves, b. 1790, m. Elizabeth O. Nesmith, 3 April 1810, d. 6 July 1870.

+19. James J. Graves, m(1) Charlotte Ayers, 29 Dec. 1833, m(2) Mary Araminta Anderson, 3 Oct. 1838, d. 1846-47.

   20.   Martha W. (?) Graves, m. Joseph W. Shannon, 20 Sept. 1843.

+21. Richard W. Graves, b.c. 1804, m(1) Harriet Eliza Briggs, 7 April 1829, m(2) Ann Ophelia Bass, 1847, probably d. before 1870.

+22. Alfred B. Graves, b. 1810, m. Henrietta ‑‑‑‑‑‑, d. 1870.

+23. Zachariah Graves, b.c. 1800, m. Sarah E. Morris, 4 July 1826, d. by 1839.

http://www.gravesfa.org/gen150.htm

Francis Graves (5) was born 1763 or before, and died before 27 May 1839 in Amite Co., Miss. In the 1830 census for Wilkinson Co., Miss., Francis was listed as between 40 and 60 years old (which would indicate a birth date of 1770-1790). The Personal Tax Rolls for Amite Co., Miss., 1813, show that Francis Graves paid no poll tax, apparently exempt because of having reached age 50, therefore born by 1763.

On 27 May 1839, James J. Graves, son of Francis Graves, requested administration of his father's estate, then deceased. James stated that Rebecca Graves, widow of Francis Graves, and Martha Graves, daughter, and he himself should share in the division of the estate of Francis; that other children, Richard W. Graves, Alfred B. Graves and Zachariah Graves, had already received equitable advancement from their father. James asked that a guardian for the children of Zachariah Graves, decd., be appointed (Amite Co., Miss., Granted Bk. 3, p. 4.). The eldest son of Francis Graves, Benjamin Graves, had already provided for himself.

Francis married Rebecca Spinks, daughter of John Spinks. She had an uncle Enoch Spinks (2001-1842), son of Enoch Spinks and Amey Pearce, and brother of John Spinks. The fact that Enoch was a Methodist preacher in Randolph Co., N.C., may have given emphasis to the Methodism of Francis Graves.

On 27 Dec. 1820, Francis Graves, Justice of the Peace of Amite Co., Miss., performed the marriage ceremony for his brother-in-law, Baker Spinks, and Joanna Johns. The marriage bond was signed by William Spinks and Baker Spinks.

Francis owned large holdings of land which he acquired by land grant and purchase. He was active in civic affairs and in supporting legislation advantageous to pioneer settlers. He was active in the affairs of the Methodist church, a friend of Rev. William Winans. Francis advanced the welfare of family members. He served in the Mississippi legislature from 1820 to 1830, almost continuously.

Rebecca was born in 1771, and wrote her will 28 April 1847. It was recorded in May 1847 in Amite Co., Miss., witnessed by Jarrot Caston and Benjamin Graves. Rebecca was not listed in the 1850 census; therefore, she died between these dates. She left bequests to her son Alfred B. Graves and grandson John Graves, son of J. J. Graves.

File no. 70, Amite Co., contains the petition of John F. Graves, minor heir of James J. Graves, deceased, naming his uncle Benjamin Graves as guardian. There is also the petition of Benjamin Graves that he be appointed the guardian of John F. Graves; also his final statement of account. Benjamin was appointed 12 Dec. 1854 and made final settlement 13 Jan. 1857, Amite Co., Miss. This John F. Graves, son of J. J. Graves, is the grandson named in Rebecca's will. The item proves that Benjamin Graves was the son of Francis and Rebecca Graves, corroborated by the associations found in the many other legal documents concerning the activities of these people and by the fact that the legacy to John F. Graves by his grandmother Rebecca Graves is the same as that enumerated in his petition that his uncle Benjamin Graves be his guardian, effected 12 Dec. 1854.

Francis Graves was the executor of his brother Robert's will in 1819. He stayed in Amite Co. and became a wealthy planter. (R‑2, R‑8)

Children - Graves