There is no doubt that my 2nd great grandmother is the Sarah Jane Graves enumerated in Household 110 of the 1850 Census[1] for Chesterfield County. Sarah Jane Graves married William A. Purvis prior to the 1860 Census. I also have no doubt that the other young boy in this household is her brother, William Thomas Graves. However, for years I have search for clues as to the relationship of the other individuals in this household. The household consist of:
Mary Graves, female, age 55, born in SC
David W. Graves, male, age 32, born in SC
Sarah J. Graves, female, age 16, born in SC
Thomas Graves, male, age 14, born in SC
At first my thoughts were that this is a Mother with her three children and based on the age of the children she had to be married twice.
Further research turned up the burial of David W. Graves. David W. Graves is buried in the Saint Marys Presbyterian Church Cemetery (old)[2] Patrick, Chesterfield County, South Carolina and his tombstone read – David W. Graves, b. Jan. 22, 1812 – d. Nov. 21, 1898. Now we have a conflict. The 1850 census says David is 32 years of age; thus, he was born about 1818, but his tombstone says 1812. If Mary is his Mother, then in 1812 she would have been 17 years of age so it's possible David was born in 1812.
Now I have reached a point where I believe that Mary is the Mother of David W. Graves and the two children are grandchildren of Mary and the children of David and an unknown deceased wife. If David was born in 1812 or any year between 1812 and 1818 this also is very practical and possible.
At this time (1850) only two GRAVES families are listed in 1850 Chesterfield District, SC. Mary Graves, age 55 with David age 32; Sarah J., age 16 and Thomas, age 14, Dwelling/Family #110 and Thomas, age 30 & Eliza, age 29, Dwelling/Family #1196.
Thomas Graves is of the correct age to be David's brother. I believe that David and Thomas were brothers and the sons of Mary Graves, age 55 in household #110.
Further research turns up a Mary Ann Graves married Andrew Jackson Wallace that is the correct age to be a sibling of David and Thomas. This is an assumption that needs to be verified but fits data presented in 1840 Census.
The 1840 Census[3] for Chesterfield shows Mary Graves, age 30-39, along with 2 males and 2 females. One male (W. Thomas) is between 5-9 years of age, the other male (unknown) between 10-14 years of age. One female (Sarah J. ) is between 5-9 years of age, the other female (Mary Ann) between 15-19 years of age.
In the 1840 Census, Sarah J. Mary Ann and W. Thomas matches the age of the males and females listed in Mary Graves's household. One Male, age 10-14 is unaccounted for but, David W. Graves and Thomas J. Graves does not match any of the males and females in Mary household. Nor, are they listed elsewhere as heads of household.
There are only 9 GRAVES individuals found in the County in 1850. They are:
Mary Graves, age 55
David W. Graves, age 32
Sarah J. Graves , age 16
Thomas Graves, age 14
Thomas J. Graves, age 30
Eliza Graves, age 29 (wife of Thomas
Mary GRAVES, age 12, daughter of Eliza & Thomas
Eliza GRAVES, age 10, daughter of Eliza & Thomas
Mary Ann Graves, age 25, wife of Andrew Jackson Wallace.
Going back one additional Census to 1830[4], we find only one household for the surname GRAVES. That household is Mary Graves. In her household are:
Mary Graves, Female, age 20-29
1 male 0-5,
2 males 5-9,
1 male 10-14,
1 female 5-9.
Except for the one male age 10-14, all these children are of age consistent with being children of Mary Graves.
Compounding this problem is a major lack of per-civil war records. About 1872, David W. Graves married Mary Anne Gulledge. Based on the two dates for his birth (1812, 1818) David was either 54 or 60 years old when he married Mary Anne Gulledge. I just don't believe this was his first marriage. David and Mary Anne had 5 children born between 1873 and 1881; three daughters and 2 sons.
ii. Margaret I. Graves was born on 18 May 1875 in Chesterfield County, South Carolina. She died on 2 Sep 1883 at the age of 8 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina, United States.
iii. Daniel G. Graves, born 27 Jan 1877, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina; married Eula Lee Holley, Georgia; died 17 May 1955, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.
iv. Archibald James Graves was born on 12 Apr 1878 in Chesterfield County, South Carolina. He died on 25 May 1947 at the age of 69 in Chesterfield, Chesterfield, South Carolina.
v.. Mary Hannah Graves was born on 22 Oct 1881 in Chesterfield County, South Carolina. She died on 23 Mar 1953 at the age of 71 in Lynchburg, Lee County, South Carolina.
If you have any information concerning the families listed herein please contact me by posting comments in the "Comment" block below or write me at my e-mail.
[1] 1850 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page 106A, Line 8, Dwelling 110, Family 110, Household of Mary GRAVES; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 20 November 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm M432 Roll 851.
[2] James C. Pigg, Chesterfield County Cemetery Survey; Self-Published, 1995, page 943. Tombstone of David W. GRAVES; 22 January 1812–21 November 1898, Old St. Mary's Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina.
[3] 1840 U S Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, Page 347, Line 15, Household of Mary Graves; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 15 January 2011); citing National Archives Microfilm M704_Roll 510.
[4] 1830 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, page 243, Household of Mary Graves; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 2008); citing National Archives Microfilm M19_172.
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