Rev. 24 June 2004, Gen. 366

DESCENDANTS OF JOSEPH GRAVES AND ELIZABETH BRAZIER OF TN

GENERATION 1

Joseph Graves (1) was born 24 April 1803 (according to his age at death), and died 27 July 1832 at age 29 years, 3 months, and 3 days. He married Elizabeth Brazier, daughter of James Brazier and Mary (“Polly”) Smith, on 15 Jan. 1824. She was born 18 Aug. 1805 in NC, and died 13 Sept. 1875. After Joseph died, she married second Morgan Garner. Her parents moved from NC to Franklin Co., TN and then to Lincoln Co., TN. (R‑2)

Children - Graves

2. Martha Jane Graves, b. 30 Dec. 1825, d. 3 Sept. 1846.

+3. Thompson Wesley Graves, b. 1 June 1829, m. Louisa Jane Shasteen, 16 Nov. 1852, d. 8 June 1910.

4. Joseph F. Graves, b. 13 June 1832.

GENERATION 2

CHILDREN OF JOSEPH GRAVES (1) AND ELIZABETH BRAZIER

Thompson Wesley Graves (3) was born 1 June 1829 in TN, and died 8 June 1910 in Franklin Co., TN. He married Louisa Jane Shasteen, daughter of William Shasteen, Jr. and Eleanor Travis, on 16 Nov. 1852 in Franklin Co., TN. They were married by Lemeuel Brandon. She was born 14 Nov. 1834 in TN, and died 23 July 1878 in Franklin Co., TN. They were both buried in Marble Plain Cem., Franklin Co. All their children were also buried in Marble Plain Cem., with the exception of William who was buried in Rose Hill Cem., Columbia, TN, and Della whose burial place is not known. Thompson served in the Civil War with the Fourth Confederate Infantry of Tennessee.

The Shasteen Family Cemetery sits atop Devils Steps in the middle of Tims Ford Lake in Franklin Co., TN. When the Tennessee Valley Authority built Tims Ford Lake, the descendants of the Shasteens were notified of the flooding of the land around the cemetery. The family did not want the bodies moved since the cemetery was on a high hill. The hill did not go under water. To get to the cemetery, one must go by boat. It is on a section near Shasteen Bend in the lake.

The 1850 census shows Thompson W. Graves living in Lincoln Co., TN (page 59, dwelling 1042, family 1042, in the second subdivision of Lincoln Co.). He was living with William W. Cobble (30, male, blacksmith), Mary Cobble (32, female), James Cobble (6, male), Spicy A. Cobble (1, female). His occupation was listed as blacksmith, and the record states he was born in Tennessee. Note that Lincoln Co.’s southern border is the Alabama state line. Lincoln Co. borders Bedford and Franklin counties.

It was previously believed that Thompson W. Graves might be descended from Johann Sebastian Graff (genealogy 105). However, the connection was suspected to be by way of William Graves of SC & TN, who has been shown by DNA analysis to be a descendant of Capt. Thomas Graves of VA (genealogy 169). Among the descendants of this William Graves were a number of Graves-Thompson marriages, indicating that the two families were closely associated. Therefore, it is now believed that Thompson W. Graves was probably descended from Capt. Thomas Graves of VA. (R‑1)

Children - Graves

5. Mary Ellen Graves, b. 1856 (Franklin Co., TN), d. 1939 (TN).

+6. William John Graves, b. 1858, m(1) Ella Sarah Tucker, m(2) Fannie B. ‑‑‑‑‑‑, d. 7 Sept. 1933.

7. John W. Graves, b. 1858 (TN), d. 1936 (TN).

8. Martha E. (C.?) Graves, b. 7 Dec. 1859 (Franklin Co., TN), d. 30 June 1889 (Franklin Co., TN).

9. George W. Graves, b. 10 March 1867 (TN), d. 21 Oct. 1894 (Franklin Co., TN).

10. Susan (“Susie” or “Sukie”) D. Graves, b. 13 Dec. 1871 (Franklin Co., TN), m. Thomas J. Wiseman, d. 23 Oct. 1929.

11. Della Graves, b. 1872, d. 1872.

12. Banner Graves, b. 9 Sept. 1874 (TN), d. 22 Feb. 1877 (Franklin Co., TN).

GENERATION 3

CHILDREN OF THOMPSON W. GRAVES (1) AND LOUISA J. SHASTEEN

William John Graves (6) was born in 1858 in Winchester, TN, died 7 Sept. 1933 in Columbia, TN, and was buried 8 Sept. 1933 in Rose Hill Cem., Columbia, TN. He first married Ella Sarah Tucker, daughter of Wesley Wilson (or William?) Tucker and Mary M. Ragsdale, in Decherd, TN. She was born 3 April 1858 in Decherd, Franklin Co., TN, died 30 Sept. 1896, and was buried 2 Oct. 1896 in Decherd, TN. He secondly married Fannie B. ‑‑‑‑‑‑. (R‑1)

Children - Graves, by Ella S. Tucker

+13. William Hughes Graves, b. 1 Aug. 1882, m. Mary Ellen Trumble, d. 5 Sept. 1944.

GENERATION 4

CHILDREN OF WILLIAM J. GRAVES (6) AND ELLA S. TUCKER

William Hughes Graves (13) was born 1 Aug. 1882 in Nashville, TN, died 5 Sept. 1944 in Durham, NC, and was buried 7 Sept. 1944 in Elmwood Cem., Columbia, SC. He served in the U.S. Army for 33 years, retiring as a Master Sergeant, 1 March 1933, at Fort Jackson, SC.. He married Mary Ellen Trumble, daughter of William Warren Trumble and Mary Ellen Butler. She was born 10 Nov. 1889 in Greenleaf, KS, died 1 Jan. 1946 in Columbia, SC, and was buried 3 Jan. 1946 in Elmwood Cem., Columbia, SC. Both their children were born and baptized in Junction City, Geary Co., KS. (R‑1)

Children - Graves

14. Elsie Juanita Graves, b. 3 Feb. 1909, bapt. 8 Oct. 1916, m. Wilbur Rexford Nabors, d. April 1984 (Monroe, Walton Co., GA). Bur. April 1984, Monroe, GA.

+15. William Hughes Graves, Jr., b. 28 May 1916, m. Claudia Pressley Crawford, 18 April 19‑‑, d. 7 June 1967.

Return to Alphabetical Ancestor Listing

Return to Main Page