Joseph Graves

The Graves Family Association has a lengthy discussion on the origins and family connections of Joseph Graves, who died and left a will in Surry County, North Carolina, in 1774. He named his daughter, Mary Graves Cleveland, and wife Sarah. *jennifer c. *

further reading can be found at:

[http://www.gravesfa.org/gen169app4.htm] quote: "... the will of Joseph Graves, dated 12 July 1774, proved Aug. 1774 [Surry County Wills 1:25, original will at NC State Archives also], from which it appears he was survived by his wife Sarah and his daughter Mary (Graves) Cleaveland... Surry County was taken out of Rowan County in 1770 ..."

[http://www.gravesfa.org/gen270.htm] quote:

"Joseph Graves (4) migrated from Orange Co., VA to Rowan Co. or Surry Co., NC prior to 1771, probably 1763-1769. (Surry Co. was formed from Rowan Co. in 1770.) He married Sarah ‑‑‑‑‑‑. He may only have had the one child listed below, since she is the only one mentioned in his will. His will in Surry Co., NC was dated 12 July 1774 and proved in August Court 1774. In it he mentioned his wife Sarah, his daughter Mary, and his son-in-law Benjamin Cleveland. It leaves portions of his estate to his daughter's two sons, Absalom and John Cleveland, and states that Benjamin Cleveland, husband of his daughter, be executor of his estate.

Joseph lived in Orange Co., VA, and later on Roaring Creek, Rowan (later Surry, now Wilkes) Co., NC. (Wilkes Co. was formed from Surry Co. in 1777.)

Mrs. P. W. Hiden found a 1752 Orange Co. land sale by a Joseph Graves with the consent of his wife Sarah. Mrs. Hiden thought this was Joseph6, son of John5 and Frances, and nephew of Thomas5 who married Ann Davenport, descended from Capt. Thomas Graves of VA. That Joseph Graves was born by 1725 in Spotsylvania Co., VA, died 12 May 1785 in Orange Co., VA, m(1) Sarah ‑‑‑‑‑‑, m(2) Frances Coleman. However, that is not possible, since that Joseph died 1785 in Orange Co., VA, whereas the Joseph Graves of interest died 1774 in Surry Co., NC. The Joseph Graves who died 1785 was also too young to be the father of Mary, since she was born about 1738.

A discussion of the evidence for Joseph Graves as a son of John Graves is in the Appendix to this genealogy.

[Prior to determining the ancestry of this Joseph Graves, the following speculation was being pursued: It does appear possible, however, that the Joseph Graves of this genealogy was related to the Joseph Graves who married Frances Coleman. David Graves, son of Thomas Graves and Ann Davenport, was in Surry Co., NC by 1762, before moving to Shelby Co., KY, and it is likely that other members of this family also lived in Surry Co., NC for a few years. Maybe the John4 Graves who was the father of John and Thomas had another son who had a son, Joseph6 Graves. Perhaps, also, there were two men named Joseph Graves in Orange Co., VA, one who married Sarah, and the other who married Frances Coleman (with no first marriage to a Sarah). These possibilities need to be explored. There was also another John Graves (genealogy 56) who died about 1764-68 in Orange Co., NC, may have had a wife Frances, and could have been the father of Joseph Graves.] (R‑205, R‑210, R‑211)"