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Friday, August 14, 2020

Was David W. Graves Twice Married?

There is no doubt that David W. Graves married Mary Ann Gulledge about 1872 and together they reared a family of five children; 2 sons and 3 daughters. But was he previously married?

I THINK THAT HE WAS PREVIOUSLY MARRIED.

David W. Graves's age varies from Census to Census and among other documents. But, if his tombstone in the Saint Mary's Presbyterian Church Cemetery (old) is correct he was born 22 January 1812.

DAVID W. GRAVES./ BORN/ January 22, 1812,/ DIED/ November 21, 1898./ --/ Blessed are the pure in/ heart; for they shall see/ God./
Burial: Saint Mary's Presbyterian Church Cemetery (old); Patrick, Chesterfield County, South Carolina

Based on this date, from his Tombstone, David W. Graves was 60 years old when he married Mary Ann Gulledge. Mary Ann Gulledge was 30 years of age. It highly unlikely for any man to wait till he‘s 60 for his first marriage. There are other clues.

In the 1850 Census for Chesterfield County, we find David W. Graves, age 32, in the household of Mary Graves, age 55.  


This is the family of David W. Graves in 1850 Chesterfield, SC. Mary is the head of the household and very likely the Mother of David, age 32. Notice that his reported age would make David born in 1818, not 1812 as shown on his tombstone. 

But, who are the parents of Sarah Jane and Thomas? If David is the father of these two whether he was born in 1812 or 1818 either would not rule him out as the Father of the children. It's very unlikely that Mary is the Mother; she was a widow in the 1830 Census.

I think Sarah Jane and Thomas are children of David W. Graves and an unknown wife and that Mary Graves is the children's Grandmother and the Mother of David W. Graves. Based on the age of the children I think David was married about 1833. I have no physical record of David W. Graves until he appeared in the 1850 census for Chesterfield County, SC. If you have information about any of the GRAVES mentioned within the blog post I would love to hear from you. 




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[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] Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database and digital images, (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed 1 January 2008); Memorial page for David W. Graves; (22 January 1812–21 November 1898); Find a Grave memorial # 47922854, Citing Saint Marys Presbyterian Church Cemetery (old); Patrick, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, USA.

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