GRAVES FAMILY BULLETIN
A Free, Occasional, Online Summary of Items of Interest to Descendants of all Families of Graves, Greaves, Grieves, Grave, and other spelling variations Worldwide
Vol. 6, No. 2, June 17, 2004
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Copyright
© 2004 by the Graves Family Association and Kenneth V. Graves. All rights reserved.
Information
on how to start a free subscription to this bulletin and how to be removed from
the subscription list is at the end of this bulletin. If you received this bulletin directly, then you are already
subscribed.
Visit
the GFA web site at https://gravesfa.org
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CONTENTS:
**
General Comments
**
Receiving this Bulletin and E-Mail Addresses
**
GFA Website Updated
**
Graves/Greaves DNA Study
**
Graves Reunions
**
Queries
**
To Submit Material to this Bulletin & Other Things
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GENERAL
COMMENTS
As
I said in the previous issue of the Graves Family Bulletin, the lack of
publication of the Bulletin for the past year and a half or so was because of
some changes in my personal life. For a more complete explanation, you can read
that issue of the GFA website by going to https://gravesfa.org,
clicking on the link at the top of the page for GF Bulletin, and then clicking
on the link for the March 14, 2004 issue.
Now
that my wife, Sarah, has retired, we are doing things together like traveling,
hiking, and learning how to play golf. I am continuing to do many things other
than genealogy, such as church, other organizations, tennis, long distance
bicycling, and Senior Games.
The
genealogies are continuing to be updated (slower than some might prefer), books
are still being prepared for publication, the DNA program is continuing, and
the website is gradually changing (this will accelerate this summer).
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RECEIVING
THIS BULLETIN AND E-MAIL ADDRESSES
When
you change your e-mail address, please be sure to let us know your new one.
Otherwise, we will lose track of you.
An
increasing number of online newsletters (including this one) cannot be received
because of attempts by service providers such as AOL to reduce spam. The only option
people have now is to read the Bulletin on the GFA website. In the future,
however, we will probably also make the newsletter available from a web log
(usually called a Blog), which should avoid this problem.
To
read this Bulletin or others on the GFA website, go to https://gravesfa.org, click on the link
at the top of the page for GF Bulletin, and then click on the link for the
desired Bulletin.
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GFA
WEBSITE UPDATED
Small
changes have already been made to parts of the website. Many bigger changes
will be happening later this year.
Genealogies
continue to be updated as information is gathered and time permits. If you have
submitted new information and don’t see it in the genealogy on the website,
feel free to let me know. I probably just haven’t had time to add it, but your
reminder may change my priorities.
The
biggest changes have occurred on the DNA pages of the website, as discussed in
the next section.
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GRAVES/GREAVES
DNA STUDY
The
DNA study (testing for male line Y-DNA) has been extremely helpful in
connecting families that were not previously known to be related, finding the
earlier ancestry of American families in America and England, disproving
connections that had previously been believed to be correct, etc. For more
information, look at the DNA pages on the GFA website.
EXPANSION
OF DNA RESULTS TABLE
As
new DNA testing results are received, they are added to the website almost
immediately. The most recent addition was to expand the master DNA results
table to 37 markers. It is recommended that all participants sign up for
25-marker testing. For lines that test as identical on 25-marker tests, increasing
to 37 markers will provide differentiation between some of those lines. For
instance, if we know that a family line may be descended from John Graves of
Concord, MA, if we find a match between a particular branch of this John Graves
family and a Graves family of unknown ancestry, then we may suspect that
unknown family is descended from that branch. Of course, it is also essential
to get test results from all known branches of this John Graves family to be
able to find matches for unknown families.
ADDITION
OF CHART LINKS TO DNA RESULTS TABLE
Links
to graphical charts for each major Graves/Greaves family have been added to the
master DNA results table. Clicking on one of these links will cause display of
a chart of that family, showing which lines have been tested, and giving an
indication of which other branches need participants. With the chart for
genealogy 169 (Capt. Thomas Graves of VA), I have provided a chart in both html
and pdf formats. I would appreciate your input on which you prefer. The most
obvious differences are that everyone with a browser can look at the html
version, but it is not as sharp as the pdf version and it cannot be expanded,
shrunk or as easily printed.
CONFIDENTIALITY
VS DESIRE TO CONTACT OTHER PARTICIPANTS
Although
there was initially some concern about keeping results confidential, most
people now realize that the DNA tests we are conducting don’t reveal anything
about their personal DNA (such as health issues, physical characteristics,
etc.). Instead, all males descended from the same male ancestor in a direct
male line will have the same (or almost the same) DNA result. Many test
participants would like to contact others with the same results to discuss
genealogical research and ancestry. You may notice on some of the charts linked
to the master results table that names (including mine) are displayed. If you
took the test and are willing to have your name included on the appropriate
chart, please let me know. I will not put your name on a chart unless you
authorize me to do so.
MORE
PARTICIPANTS NEEDED
If you have not yet returned your DNA
samples, PLEASE do so as soon as possible.
If
your part of the Graves, Greaves, or other spelling, family is not yet included
in the DNA study, it would be very helpful if you could either volunteer to
participate (if you are a male with the Graves, etc.) surname or find someone
else in your part of the family who would be willing to take part.
HOW
TO SIGN UP FOR THE STUDY & HOW TO GET ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
To
sign up for the study, go to the Graves Family Association website at https://gravesfa.org, click on the DNA
study link at the top of the main page, then click on the link in the large red
box on that page, and complete the requested order information.
Alternatively,
you can go to the Family Tree DNA website at http://www.familytreedna.com, enter
Graves or Greaves in the surname search at the top right of the main page,
click on the link to the Graves project (NOT the “ordering” link), and complete
the ordering form. As long as you use
one of these two procedures, you will get the group discount for the Y-DNA
tests or any of the other tests you choose to order. (When you order, you will see the word GROUP after the
price. If you do not see that, go back
and be sure you have used the correct procedure.)
FINANCIAL
HELP STILL NEEDED
All
contributions toward the DNA study will be much appreciated. Many thanks to those of you who have already
contributed. We especially need funding
for testing of descendants in the British Isles, some of whom will probably be
less apt to pay the cost. You may also
want to consider sponsoring a relative as a way to get a test for your part of
the family.
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GRAVES
REUNIONS
VIRGINIA:
There will be a Graves Reunion in Virginia in 2007, to coincide with the 400th
anniversary celebration of the settlement of Jamestowne. We urgently need
volunteers to plan this. We will need a place to meet, dates, a program,
suggestions for lodging, coordination with other organizations involved in the
celebration, etc. Please let me know as soon as you can how you would like to
help.
People
who have already volunteered include Katrina Luise Everhart, Carol Graves
(Peoria, IL), Ronald Nelson Graves (San Antonio, TX), Kathy James (Benton, AR),
Laura Loding, and Eric James (Danville, KY). If you have already contacted me
and your name is not on this list, please let me know. We really need to get
started. Otherwise, it will never happen!!
TEXAS:
Ron Graves of San Antonio, TX, has offered to organize and host a reunion in
San Antonio next year, possibly in late summer or early fall. This would be for
all Graves families. He would appreciate help with this, and would also like to
know how many attendees to expect. For information and to volunteer to help,
contact Ron directly at gravesronn@cs.com.
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QUERIES
Since
the printed Graves Family Newsletter is no longer being published, queries will
be included in this Bulletin if you submit them to me. I will no longer be creating queries from
the non-query information you send me.
Jeffrey
L. Hall (jeff@designscience.com)
asks:
Does
anyone have a recollection of a Book of Psalms that has a signature and the
ABC's inside written by Richard Hall, dated 1698? More detail:
Richard
Hall Jr. of Bradford, Mass married as his second wife Mehetable Barker of
Andover. Mehetable's brother married Sarah Graves (58) of the Samuel Graves of
Lynn line. Sarah's brother Samuel (60) married Richard Hall's sister, Martha
Hall Bond. Because of this close connection between the Halls and the Graveses
I am hoping that the Book of Psalms passed down through the Graves side of the
family to the present time.
In
1986, a new folder was opened in the Haverhill Public Library Special
Collections room labeled: "Samuel Graves of Lynn / Richard Hall of
Bradford". In that folder was a partial copy of the document
"Descendants of Samuel Graves of Lynn" as well as a photostatic copy
of two pages of the Book of Psalms of Richard Hall. Therefore, we know the Book
of Psalms made it down to the 20th century at least until the photostat was in
use. We also know that a researcher as late as 1986 found the Graves/Hall
connection and left the evidence of it in this folder. However, the name of the
donor is unknown and the location of the Book of Psalms is now a mystery.
It
is likely that the researcher lived in the Haverhill area in the 1980's and was
doing work on either Hall or Graves or both. Any help would be appreciated!
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ABOUT
THIS BULLETIN:
This
bulletin is written and edited by Kenneth V. Graves,
ken.graves@gravesfa.org. Ken Graves is
also editor of the Graves Family Newsletter, the official publication of the
Graves Family Association. This
bulletin will contain announcements and news of special interest to Graves
descendants with Internet access. It
will not contain queries, genealogies, photos, and the kind of in-depth
articles that appear in the Graves Family Newsletter.
TO
SUBMIT MATERIAL TO THIS BULLETIN:
Send
any material you would like to have included in this bulletin to
ken.graves@gravesfa.org. The editor
reserves the right to accept, edit or reject any material submitted.
TO
JOIN THE GRAVES FAMILY ASSOCIATION:
If
you do not already belong to the GFA, you can join by sending $20 per year to
Graves Family Association, 20 Binney Circle, Wrentham, MA 02093 (more details
on GFA website). Payment may also be
sent electronically via PayPal by going to www.paypal.com
and sending payment to gfa@gravesfa.org. Benefits include access to the “members only” section of the
website, membership directory, and help with learning more about your
Graves/Greaves family. The purpose of
the GFA is to bring together as many descendants as possible to work toward
learning more about the Graves/Greaves families, to help other descendants, and
to instill pride in our ancestry.
COPYRIGHTS:
Although
the contents of this bulletin are copyrighted by the Graves Family Association
and Kenneth V. Graves, you are hereby granted rights, unless otherwise
specified, to re-distribute articles to other parties for non-commercial
purposes only. Do not re-distribute the
newsletter in its entirety.
TO
SUBSCRIBE OR UNSUBSCRIBE TO THIS BULLETIN:
To
subscribe to this bulletin, send an e-mail message to
ken.graves@gravesfa.org. Please include
your full name. Your postal mailing
address and information on your Graves/Greaves ancestry would also be
appreciated, although not essential.
To
remove your name from this subscription list, send an e-mail message to
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