David Graves (abt. 1730 - abt. 1808)

Born about 1730 in Spotsylvania, Virginia [uncertain]

Ancestors

Descendants

Died about Feb 1808 at about age 78 in Shelby Co, Kentucky

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Biography

This profile is part of the Graves Name Study.

David Graves was in Surry Co., NC by 1762, when his son Edmund was born, and moved to Shelby Co., KY as one of the early settlers. He is said to have served in the Revolutionary War.

In the Louisa Co., VA Loose Papers, there is a bond dated Oct. 22, 1766 from John Day to David Graves. On Sept. 20, 1779 in Surry Co., NC, David witnessed a deed. In Fayette Co., KY, a David Graves is listed with 2 tithables, and in the first tax list of Shelby Co., KY, David is listed with 220 acres on Buck Creek.

The Shelby Co., KY Grantor Deeds, 1789-1838, records that David gave a "deed of Gift" to Thomas Martin, his son-in-law, on May 25, 1807, 196 acres on Guist. Then on Feb. 8, 1808 there is an agreement from Thomas Martin marked "division."

David's will, on record in Shelby Co., was written 9 Jan. 1808, and was produced in court on 8 Feb. 1808. His children are not listed in the will by name, but his granddaughter, Agnes Conely, is given a "two-year old mare and saddle and a bed and furniture such as his wife Agnes shall give her."

David also states that his wife, Agnes, shall have the possession of his estate during her natural lifetime. He wills that his daughter, Elizabeth Leatherman, shall receive an equal portion but it is to be lodged in the hands of Richard Graves for her use and under his direction. His son Richard is to be the executor.

On June 18, 1819 the heirs of David are mentioned in a court order about a certain tract of land in Shelby Co. on Beech Creek containing 248 acres. (R‑70, R‑148, R‑910) ^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ Graves Family Association, Gen 270, #21, David Graves https://graves-fa.org/gen-histories/gens/gen270.html

• Rootsweb: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=grantpinnix&id=I000263

A Summary of the status of the study of the relationship between Graves families and Tilley families.

I will post this to the Graves Group as well, and include it to the relative profile in Tilley Family Genealogy tree.

David Graves 1730-1808 and his widow Agnes

Status and summary of the identity of Agnes

Introduction:

David Graves (1730-1808) was a prominent figure in the early history of the Graves family and the Tilley family in America. Despite considerable research and dedication over the past decade by this author and other researchers, the identity of David Graves' widow, Agnes, remains a subject of debate. This report will review the research status regarding who Agnes was and present a summary or status of the evidence that has been gathered to date.

Background:

David Graves was named as a legatee in the will and probate records of Henry Tilley Sr. (1714-1790). This provides clear evidence that at the time, David Graves was married to a daughter of Henry Tilley Sr. However, the daughter's name or other documentation relative to her birth, marriage, or other sources has not been discovered, except for DNA.

DNA Results:

The DNA results from Ancestry and Gedmatch, along with genealogy and lineage, indicate that there is matching DNA between the descendants of David Graves and those of Henry Tilley Sr. This evidence proves that certain lines descending from David Graves and the daughter of Henry Tilley Sr. However, it has not been possible to identify descendants of each line of descent and compare the DNA.

Further DNA comparison:

If there is adequate interest, a new Tilley/Graves Ancestor Project will be created in Gedmatch to accept any Graves descendants. One outcome would be to better identify and share the location of the shared DNA. Another outcome would be to study the hypothesis that there may be other Tilley/Graves marriages prior to that between David Graves and Agnes Tilley. That is explained in more detail in the following segment.

Children of David Graves:

All of David Graves' children were born prior to the date of Henry Tilley Sr's will and probate records. This provides evidence that they were all children of Henry Tilley Sr's daughter.

Agnes Holloway:

Many researchers show Agnes to be Agnes Holloway, and a few have written their arguments, supposition, or reasoning for supporting that. However, this researcher concludes that without any form of documentation, any argument or reasoning is circumstantial.

Conclusion:

Based on the few facts of Henry Tilley Sr's will and probate records, along with the results of DNA comparison and genealogy, it is this researcher's summary that until further discovery, Agnes is determined to be the daughter of Henry Tilley Sr. As such, she will be shown as such on the tree and Gedcom of Tilley Family Genealogy. Further research and documentation may help to definitively confirm Agnes' identity, but for now, this conclusion represents the best available evidence.

The hypothesis of earlier Tilley/Graves marriages or connections

In the process of everything involved in gathering DNA results, considering lineages associated with those results, and related research, there seems to be other earlier connections between the Tilley families and Graves families of Colonial Virginia. Perhaps even going back to Jamestown and even possibly associated with the Burgess families or Chew families.

Background:

Prior to 1770, the majority of the Tilley family descending from Lazarus Tilley d 1744 and wife Margaret Burgess d 1764, migrated from the region of Orange, Spotsylvania and Albemarles Counties in Virginia. Two Tilley brothers, Henry Tilley Sr and James Tilley Sr. and their families that have been accounted for settled in then Surry County in the area that later formed Stokes County. David Graves migrated with these families. The sons of Henry Tilley Sr, Edmund Tilley 1740-1835 and Lazarus Tilley 1737-1814, as well as David Graves1730-1808 settled on Grants along the Dan River.

EDMUND TILLEY AND DAVID GRAVES RELATIONSHIP

The Grants of Edmund Tilley and David Graves adjoined each other and lay on both sides of the Dan River, just downstream of Double Creek. In 1770, Edmund Tilley’s first known son was born and named David, being the first known record of the Christian name David in the Tilley Family Genealogy. Prior to that in 1762, David Graves and his Tilley wife name a son Edmund.

LAZARUS TILLEY AND DAVID GRAVES RELATIONSHIP

Lazarus Tilley settled on a Grant on the Dan River just upstream of Double Creek and within 3 miles of David Graves. There is documentation that by 1780, David Graves and two of his sons are in Shelby County, Kentucky as well as being documented during that time still in Surry County, North Carolina, apparently traveling back and forth establishing a final move to Kentucky. Then after the death of Henry Tilley Sr, Lazarus, who had inherited his Snow Creek Plantation, began selling out to his son Joel Tilley and by 1800 had resettled in Shelby County, Kentucky within 3 miles East of David Graves. About that time Children of David Graves and Lazarus Tilley marry.

These are not the only Tilley’s to migrate to Kentucky and there may be other facts relative to them and David Graves.

The wife of Henry Tilley Sr is known only as Ann. The identity of the wives of Lazarus Tilley and Edmund Tilley are yet undiscovered. But in the study of DNA, there appears to be enough evidence in the comparison to suggest the hypothesis that Henry Tilley Sr’s wife, Ann, or the wives of his sons Lazarus Tilley and Edmund Tilley, especially Edmund Tilley, may have been Graves’ or somehow connected through DNA. There are daughters and granddaughters of Thomas Graves 1691-1768 and his brother John Graves 1685-1772 who also their spouses go unknown.

DNA:

It will take careful study of DNA to determine how much that hypothesis may be pursued.

Any information regarding relations between the Tilley and Graves families will be welcome.

P David Tilley

Tilley Family Genealogy