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Benjamin Graves (1645 - aft. 1716)

Benjamin Graves
Born in Concord, Middlesex, Massachusettsmap [uncertain]
Son of [uncertain] and [uncertain]
Brother of [half], [half] and [half]
Husband of — married 21 Oct 1668 in Concord,Middlesex,Massachusettsmap
Descendants descendants
Died after after age 71 in Saybrook, New London, Connecticut Colonymap [uncertain]
Problems/Questions Profile managers: Joann Haines private message [send private message] and Michael Porter private message [send private message]
Profile last modified | Created 8 Apr 2011
This page has been accessed 2,518 times.

Contents

Biography

This profile is part of the Graves Name Study.

Benjamin Graves, twin, son of Richard Graves, was baptized at Salem, Massachusetts August 6, 1645.[1][2]

American Ancestry says that Benjamin was the son of John.[3] Most agree that he was the son of John Graves and Joan Ann (Bird) Graves.[citation needed] However, Benjamin's parents are not certain.[citation needed] The Great Migration, Vol III, p. 138, indicates that this Benjamin Graves was most likely the son of Richard Graves, who came to New England in 1635 on the Abigail. Richard's son, Benjamin, was baptized at Salem 6 Aug 1645.

Benjamin married Mary (Hoar) Graves October 21, 1668 in Concord, Middlesex, Massachusetts.[1][4] The children of Benjamin and Mary were:

  • Mary Graves Ellis (1668-1713)[5]
  • Elizabeth Mehitable Graves Beebe (1671-1730)[6]
  • Ruth Graves Webb Merriam (1674-1755)[7]
  • Benjamin Graves (1677-1752) [8]
  • Joseph Graves (1679-1756)[9]
  • Joannah Graves (1681-1766)[10]
  • John Graves (1683-1766)

Other possible children were:

  • Rebecca Graves Daniels (1685-1743)
  • Thomas Graves (1686-?)

Benjamin Graves was a member of Capt. Thomas Wheeler's company of Concord men who fought against the Indians in July and August 1675. It is also noted that he was a soldier in King Philip's War in Captain Wheeler's Company and was in fights at Wicnaboag Pond and Brookfield, on 16 August 1675. He served in Groton in Feb. 1675-1676, and his name appears again on the payroll 24 August 1676. He served in King Philip's War September 28, 1675, and February 29, 1676.

Benjamin Graves and his brother John Graves of Sudbury, Massachusetts, and others, purchased land at Groton, Massachusetts. The deed reads as follows:

"I, Christopher Hall of the town of Groton in the County of Middlesex...convey...unto Hezekiah Usher of Boston, Caleb Church of Watertown, John Graves of Sudbury, Joseph Dane of Concord, John Ball of Watertown, Daniel Meetup of Watertown, Benjamin Graves of Concord, Joseph Grew of Watertown, Jacob Bullard of Watertown, and Samuell Church of Groton in New England, unto all of them, jointly and severally, their heirs and assigns forever...all the mines and minerals of one kind and another found or that may be found in my tracts or parcells of land in said Groton lying and being at a place commonly called Cold Spring, near William Longley's house, and I do covenant with the same Hezekiah Usher, Caleb Church and the other above named parties that they have liberty to dig, delve, or make use of any part of the above property and to erect buildings, " ...this 25th day of May 1681. signed Christopher Hall, Sarah Hall. Entered May 28, 1681. Benjamin Graves did not move to Groton, but continued to live in Concord until at least 1684. A list of the 2nd order of proprietors of Concord in 1694 lists "David Commee, the living where Benjamin Graves lived in the year 1684".

Benjamin Graves moved to Saybrook, Connecticut, and in 1703, where he purchased from Nicholas Stoughton of Colchester, Connecticut, one-half of the home lot which Stoughton bought with William Shipman at a place called Pottaconk "whenever the division of which ever part is agreed upon is made, Stoughton to have first choice;" also the one-half of eleven acres planting land L18, 10s. The division was recorded October 16, 1704.

Old Saybrook was divided into three parts. The northern part was called Pattaconke (also spelled Pataconke and Pattaquonck). "The committee for highway improvements were to lay out a good and sufficient highway to the 'Great River' at the northward side of ye land formerly owned by Benjamin Graves in Pattaconke", action taken at Saybrook, 5 January 1724/5.

Old Saybrook is on the south shore of Connecticut, on Long Island Sound, at the mouth of the Connecticut River. Pattaconke was about 7 miles north of the mouth of the Connecticut River when a part of Saybrook. It is now the town of Chester, Connecticut.

On March 18, 1715, Benjamin Graves, for love and affection to son Joseph (of Saybrook) deeded one-half of the farm I now dwell upon--the westerly half.

On November 4, 1716, Benjamin Graves, yeoman, deeded to his son John of Killingworth, Connecticut, "for love and good will to his loving son John, now resident of Killingworth, a messuage or tenement at Pottaconk, with all the buildings, etc., bounded westerly by the land of Joseph Graves, it being understood that Benjamin is to retain the life use of the same." John sold this property in 1724.[11]

Note

I have removed the 18 Mar 1715 death date and replaced with after 4 Nov 1716. The March 18, 1715 date, which most sites give, is the date when Benjamin deeded property to his son, Joseph.

Since Benjamin also deeded property at the later date of November 4, 1716, the 1715 date cannot be correct.

Sources

  1. 1.0 1.1 Great Migration 1634-1635, G-H. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009.) Originally published as: The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume III, G-H, by Robert Charles Anderson. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2003. Reference page 138 citing Salem Church Records page 20 via $American Ancestors
  2. Massachusetts: Vital Records, 1620-1850 (Online Database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2016). Reference Salem Vol 1, page 380 via $American Ancestors
  3. American Ancestry: Americans Whose Ancestors Settled in the United States Previous to the Declaration of Independence. Albany, NY: Joel Munsell's Sons Publishers. 1899. Volume 12, p. 19.
  4. "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPC7-6T2W : 19 April 2021), Benjamin Graves and Mary Hoar, 21 Oct 1668; citing Marriage, Concord, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America, Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston; FHL microfilm 007011227.
  5. "Massachusetts Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001, database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FCM1-9ZT : 10 November 2020), Benjamin Graves in entry for Mary Graves, 18 Jan 1688; citing Birth, Concord, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America, Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston; FHL microfilm 004198966.
  6. "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VQ6W-XZ7 : 5 January 2021), Benjaman Graues in entry for Elizabeth Graues, 1671.
  7. "Massachusetts Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001, database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FC9M-F4B : 10 November 2020), Benj. Graves in entry for Ruth Graves, 25 Nov 1674; citing Birth, Concord, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America, Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston; FHL microfilm 004198966..
  8. "Massachusetts Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001, database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FC9M-FH9 : 10 November 2020), Benj. Graves in entry for Benj. Graves, 27 Mar 1677; citing Birth, Concord, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America, Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston; FHL microfilm 004198966.
  9. "Massachusetts Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001, database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FC99-W8D : 10 November 2020), Benj. Graves in entry for Joseph Graves, 1 Jul 1679; citing Birth, Concord, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America, Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston; FHL microfilm 004198966.
  10. "Massachusetts Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001, database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FC99-W8X : 10 November 2020), Benj. Graves in entry for Joannah Graves, 2 Dec 1681; citing Birth, Concord, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America, Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston; FHL microfilm 004198966.
  11. Entered by Joann H..
  • "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VQ6W-8WG : 10 February 2018), Bengeman Graues in entry for Mary Graues, 18 Jan 1668; citing CONCORD,MIDDLESEX,MASSACHUSETTS, ; FHL microfilm 0823762 IT 1.
  • "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VQ6W-XZ7 : 10 February 2018), Benjaman Graues in entry for Elizabeth Graues, 25 Apr 1671; citing CONCORD,MIDDLESEX,MASSACHUSETTS, ; FHL microfilm 0823762 IT 1.
  • "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VQ6W-DZH : 10 February 2018), Benjaman Graues in entry for Ruth Graues, 25 Nov 1674; citing CONCORD,MIDDLESEX,MASSACHUSETTS, ; FHL microfilm 0823762 IT 1.


  • Find A Grave memorial #59597473. URL: [1]
  • Himebaugh, Maria Walton, 1913. Hungerford Genealogy: A Genealogical & Biographical Record of the Hungerford Family in England, Ireland, Canada and United States. Privately published, Wichita, Kansas, pages 113-6

See Also

Acknowledgments

  • This profile was created on 08 April 2011 through the import of HOWE(1).ged.
  • Wilfred Vasile. Joann H..
  • WikiTree profile Graves-1259 created through the import of BDM7-7-11.ged on Jul 8, 2011 by Brian McCullough.





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DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships with Benjamin by comparing test results with other carriers of his Y-chromosome or his mother's mitochondrial DNA. However, there are no known yDNA or mtDNA test-takers in his direct paternal or maternal line. It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with Benjamin:

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Comments: 8

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Profile Managers: Considering that the Munsell book, American Ancestry: Giving Name and Descent.... has no citations showing Benjamin was a son of John, and that Salem vital records - as well as Anderson in Great Migration series - both show him as a son of Richard, do you have any objections with removing the parents on this profile and merging it with Benjamin Graves (1645-) which has the same birthdate, both in Massachusetts, with Richard as father?

Thank you.

posted by S (Hill) Willson
edited by S (Hill) Willson
I do not have any objection to removing the parents and merging with Graves-7359.

Thank you for checking, and thank you for the work you’ve done on this profile.

Best, Joann

posted by Joann (H.) Haines
Graves-7359 and Graves-785 are not ready to be merged because: Incorrect parents on -785 need to be removed. Vital Records and Great Migration sources show father was Richard, not John.
posted by S (Hill) Willson
The bio reads that he and John Graves of Sudbury purchased land at Groton in 1681. Yet, his brother, John Graves died in 1645, so therefore the John Graves with whom he bought property was not his brother John.
posted by S (Hill) Willson
I've recently gotten a lot of Ancestry family tree hints claiming that the Joanna who was married to Richard Graves (Graves-4454) is the same Joanna who is the daughter of Benjamin Graves (Graves-785). Is this just wishful thinking, or is there some validity to the claim? I can't find any evidence that it's the same person. The Joanna who is allegedly Benjamin's daughter was born in Concord and her parents eventually move to CT, and although her father's brother John Graves lived in Sudbury and she was the right age to be Richard's wife, there's no documentation. Does anyone have some insight into this?
posted by Raymond Miller
If he moved to Saybrook, did he really die in Concord? Or is that an error? edit: also, he seems to have deed his son property the year after he died. Is this a new style/old style date issue? Or a transfer during probate? Or is there some other explanation?
posted by Daphne Maddox
Graves-785 and Graves-3496 appear to represent the same person because: Same birth and death years; same wife.
posted by Carole Partridge
According to The Great Migration, Vol III, p. 138, this Benjamin Graves was most likely the son of Richard Graves, who came to New England in 1635 on the Abigail. Benjamin was baptized at Salem 6 Aug 1645.
posted by Carole Partridge

G  >  Graves  >  Benjamin Graves

Categories: Concord, Massachusetts | Gen 166, Graves Name Study