Captain Thomas Graves
Encyclopedia
Thomas Graves was one of the original Adventurers (stockholders) of the Virginia Company of London
, and one of the very early Planters (settlers) who founded Jamestown, Virginia
, the first permanent English settlement in North America. He was also the first known person named Graves in North America. Captain Thomas Graves is listed as one of the original Adventurers as "Thomas Grave" on page 364, Records of the Virginia Company of London, vol. IV.
Graves arrived in Virginia in October of 1608 on the ship Mary and Margaret with Captain Christopher Newport
's second supply. He paid 25 pounds for two shares in the London Company and thereby was entitled to 200 acre (0.809372 km²).
Captain Thomas Graves settled at Smythe's Hundred, situated on the north shore of the James River ten miles from Jamestown. Governor George Yeardley
placed Graves in charge of Smythe's Hundred on May 30, 1618, after one man killed another in a fight.
Capt. Thomas Graves was a member of the First Legislative Assembly in America, and, with Mr. Walter Shelley
, sat for Smythe's Hundred when they met at Jamestown, Virginia
on July 30, 1619. His name appears on a monument to the first House of Burgesses
which stands at Jamestown today.
Smythe's Hundred was abandoned after the Indian uprising of 1622. The next record of Captain Graves showed him living on the Eastern Shore of Virginia
by February 16, 1624.
On February 8, 1627, Captain Francis West, Governor of Virginia, ordered that Thomas Graves have a commission to command the Plantation at Accomac. Graves was the second Commander. As an "Ancient Planter" he received one of the first patents there on March 14, 1628, consisting of 200 acre (0.809372 km²). He lived on Old Plantation Creek, now in Northampton County, Virginia
, and served as Commissioner for Accomac Shire
in 1629.
Captain Graves and three others represented the Eastern Shore in the Assembly of 1629‑30. He served again as a burgess in 1632. Because he was designated as "Esquire" on January 6, 1635, he may have been a member of the Council.
Captain Thomas Graves, Esquire, was recorded as being a Justice at a court held for Accomac on April 13, 1635.
He died between November 1635, when he witnessed a deed, and January 5, 1635/6, when suit was entered for Mrs. Graves concerning theft by a servant. He was survived by his wife, Katherine, and six children: John, Thomas, Ann, Verlinda, Katherine and Francis.
whose parents died on the Trail of Tears
. His name appears in the Guion Miller rolls along with other Cherokees with the surname Graves. The Graves family was kind enough to adopt the young boy into their family. The full family chronology of this branch of the family is not available on the website of the Graves Family Association which is geared toward the English-Irish heritage. The non-white descendents are not recognized by this group as they do not share the bloodline.
London Company
The London Company was an English joint stock company established by royal charter by James I of England on April 10, 1606 with the purpose of establishing colonial settlements in North America.The territory granted to the London Company included the coast of North America from the 34th parallel ...
, and one of the very early Planters (settlers) who founded Jamestown, Virginia
Jamestown, Virginia
Jamestown was a settlement in the Colony of Virginia. Established by the Virginia Company of London as "James Fort" on May 14, 1607 , it was the first permanent English settlement in what is now the United States, following several earlier failed attempts, including the Lost Colony of Roanoke...
, the first permanent English settlement in North America. He was also the first known person named Graves in North America. Captain Thomas Graves is listed as one of the original Adventurers as "Thomas Grave" on page 364, Records of the Virginia Company of London, vol. IV.
Graves arrived in Virginia in October of 1608 on the ship Mary and Margaret with Captain Christopher Newport
Christopher Newport
Christopher Newport was an English seaman and privateer. He is best known as the captain of the Susan Constant, the largest of three ships which carried settlers for the Virginia Company in 1607 on the way to find the settlement at Jamestown in the Virginia Colony, which became the first permanent...
's second supply. He paid 25 pounds for two shares in the London Company and thereby was entitled to 200 acre (0.809372 km²).
Captain Thomas Graves settled at Smythe's Hundred, situated on the north shore of the James River ten miles from Jamestown. Governor George Yeardley
George Yeardley
Sir George Yeardley was a plantation owner and three time colonial Governor of the British Colony of Virginia. A survivor of the Virginia Company of London's ill-fated Third Supply Mission, whose flagship, the Sea Venture, was shipwrecked on Bermuda for 10 months in 1609-10, he is best remembered...
placed Graves in charge of Smythe's Hundred on May 30, 1618, after one man killed another in a fight.
Capt. Thomas Graves was a member of the First Legislative Assembly in America, and, with Mr. Walter Shelley
Walter Shelley
Walter Shelley sailed to the English colony at Jamestown, Virginia before 1619.Walter Shelley was one of the original subscribers to the London Company. He was a member of the First Legislative Assembly in America and sat for Smith's Hundred when they met at Jamestown on July 30, 1619...
, sat for Smythe's Hundred when they met at Jamestown, Virginia
Jamestown, Virginia
Jamestown was a settlement in the Colony of Virginia. Established by the Virginia Company of London as "James Fort" on May 14, 1607 , it was the first permanent English settlement in what is now the United States, following several earlier failed attempts, including the Lost Colony of Roanoke...
on July 30, 1619. His name appears on a monument to the first House of Burgesses
House of Burgesses
The House of Burgesses was the first assembly of elected representatives of English colonists in North America. The House was established by the Virginia Company, who created the body as part of an effort to encourage English craftsmen to settle in North America...
which stands at Jamestown today.
Smythe's Hundred was abandoned after the Indian uprising of 1622. The next record of Captain Graves showed him living on the Eastern Shore of Virginia
Eastern Shore of Virginia
The Eastern Shore of Virginia consists of two counties on the Atlantic coast of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. The region is part of the Delmarva Peninsula and is separated from the rest of Virginia by the Chesapeake Bay. Its population was 45,553 as of 2010...
by February 16, 1624.
On February 8, 1627, Captain Francis West, Governor of Virginia, ordered that Thomas Graves have a commission to command the Plantation at Accomac. Graves was the second Commander. As an "Ancient Planter" he received one of the first patents there on March 14, 1628, consisting of 200 acre (0.809372 km²). He lived on Old Plantation Creek, now in Northampton County, Virginia
Northampton County, Virginia
As of the census of 2010, there were 12,389 people, 5,321 households, and 3,543 families residing in the county. The population density was 63 people per square mile . There were 6,547 housing units at an average density of 32 per square mile...
, and served as Commissioner for Accomac Shire
Accomac Shire
Accomac Shire was established in the Virginia Colony by the House of Burgesses in 1634 under the direction of King Charles I. It was one of the original eight shires of Virginia. The shire's name comes from the Native American word Accawmack....
in 1629.
Captain Graves and three others represented the Eastern Shore in the Assembly of 1629‑30. He served again as a burgess in 1632. Because he was designated as "Esquire" on January 6, 1635, he may have been a member of the Council.
Captain Thomas Graves, Esquire, was recorded as being a Justice at a court held for Accomac on April 13, 1635.
He died between November 1635, when he witnessed a deed, and January 5, 1635/6, when suit was entered for Mrs. Graves concerning theft by a servant. He was survived by his wife, Katherine, and six children: John, Thomas, Ann, Verlinda, Katherine and Francis.
Cherokees named Graves
William Solomon Graves was a full-blooded CherokeeCherokee
The Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the Southeastern United States . Linguistically, they are part of the Iroquoian language family...
whose parents died on the Trail of Tears
Trail of Tears
The Trail of Tears is a name given to the forced relocation and movement of Native American nations from southeastern parts of the United States following the Indian Removal Act of 1830...
. His name appears in the Guion Miller rolls along with other Cherokees with the surname Graves. The Graves family was kind enough to adopt the young boy into their family. The full family chronology of this branch of the family is not available on the website of the Graves Family Association which is geared toward the English-Irish heritage. The non-white descendents are not recognized by this group as they do not share the bloodline.