Thomas Graves

• General Notes
  • Arrived in Virginia on the "Mary & Margaret" with Raleigh Croshaw in October1608, with Capt. Christopher Newport's second supply. Thomas GRAVES was one of the original Adventurers (stockholders) of the Virginia Co. of London, and one of the ver y early planters (settlers) who founded Jamestown, VA, the first permanent English settlement in North America. 'Thomas GRAVE' is listed on pg 364, Records of the Virginia Co. of London, Vol IV. Regarding the title of 'Captain', which is attache d to Thomas GRAVES in Virginia historical records, he had no such designation in the charter of 1609 wherein all the Adventurers of the Virginia Co. are listed, and is shown by Capt. John Smith on his arrival in Virginia simply as 'Thomas GRAVES , Gent.' Thus it appears that he acquired the title of Captain after arriving in Virginia. Thomas GRAVES early b ecame active in the affairs of the infant colony. On an exploring expedition, he was captured by Indians and taken to Opechancanough . Thomas Savage, who had come to Virginia with the first supply on the 'John & Francis' in 1608, was sent to rescue him, which he did successfully. In 1609, the 'starving time' reduced the population of about 500 to no more than 60 men, women an d children.
    In 1609, he returned to England where he married and fathered John and Thomas, then returned to Virginia prior to 1617. By 1616 the colony had a total population of only 351, of whom 81 were farmers or tenants. In 1617, the Virginia Co., hoping t o expand the population and agricultural production in the colony, encouraged private or voluntary associations organized on a joint stock basis to establish settlements in the area of the Company's patent. The Society of Smith's (or Smythe's) Hu ndred (later called Southampton Hundred) was organized in 1617, and Capt. Thomas GRAVES' name appears as a member. Soon after April 29, 1619, Gov. Yeardly wrote to Sir Edwin Sandys: "I have entreated Capt. Graves, an antient officer of this compa ny, to take charge of the people and worker."
    Capt 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 on 30 Jul 1619. The timne of Capt GRAVES' removal to the Eastern Shore is now known. It was, h owever, after Aug 1619, since he was then a representative from Smthe's 100 to the first meeting of the House of Burgesses. It was also prior to 1623, for 'a list of names of the Living in Virginia, 16 Feb 1623' shows Thomas GRAVES 'at the Easter n Shore'.
    His patent for 200 acres on the Eastern Shore is of record 14 Mar 1628 (Patent Book No 1, pg 72, Land Registrar's Office, Richmond, VA). In the Census of Feb 1625, Capt Thomas GRAVES was one of only 51 people then living on the Eastern Shore. H e was put in charge of the direction of local affairs later in 1625. In 1632 he, with others, was appointed a commissioner 'for the plantation of Acchowmacke'. He was one of the Burgesses to the Assembly, representing Accomac, for the 1629-30 se ssion as well as the 1632 session. He attended many of the meetings of the Commissioners, but he was absent from 30 Dec 1632 until 23 Oct 1633. It appears he was out of the country.
    The old Hungars Episcopal Church is located about 7 miles N of Eastville on the north side of Hungars Creek. Hungars Parish was made soon after the county was established and the first minister was Rev. William Cotton. The first vestry was appoi nted 1635, and the first vestry meeting was held 29 Sept 1635 at which Capt Thomas GRAVES headed the list of those present.
    Capt GRAVES died between Nov 1635 when he was witness to a deed, and 5 Jan 1636 when suit was entered against a servant to Mrs. GRAVES. (Adventurers of Purse and Person, pp 188-189). His birthdate is not known, but is believed to be about 1580.
    Since Capt GRAVES had been active in the affairs of Virginia from his arrival, the absence of any mention of him during certain periods indicates that he had returned to England. This also confirmed the patents issued to him and to others in whic h he is mentioned. Mrs. Hiden states, 'even a cursory reading of Northampton (Accomack) records reveals how frequent were the trips to England, Ireland, Holland, and New England' of those living on the Eastern Shore. Mrs. Hiden also states, 'we kn ow from the land patents that Capt. Thomas GRAVES made several trips out of the country, to England presumably, and on one of his return voyages his family accompanied him '.
    After 15 years of studying the early records of Virginia, reviewing the analyses of other researchers, and applying reasoning, Miss Louise GRAVES arrived at the following conclusion: Thomas GRAVES was unmarried when he arrived in Virginia in 1608 . He was young and adventure was probably the reason for him coming to Virginia. He was obviously educated and of some 'social status' and financial means, and a leader. She thinks he returned to England possibly in Oct of 1609, either on the sa me ship as Capt John Smith (who left Virginia for England for treatment of wounds resulting from an explosion), or on one of the other 7 ships which arrived in Virginia in Aug 1609....Her guess is that he then married in England ab out 1610, fathe red John and Thomas GRAVES, remained in England for several years, and returned to Virginia prior to the formation of Smythe's 100 in 1617, or possibly a little later. It is known that he was 'entreated to take charge of the people and workers' a t Smythe's 100 in April 1619, and was there then.
    Also, there is no record of his being in Virginia after the meeting of the Burgesses in Jul-Aug 1619 until he is shown as living on the Eastern Shore in 1623. It seems reasonable that he was in England at the time of the Indian Massacre of March 1 622,, and upon returning to Virginia settled on the Eastern Shore where it was less perilous to live. The fact that he fathered 3 children, the girls, during this period certainly lends support to his being in England. (This information was copi ed from WFT Vol 1, CD)
    He appeared on the census in 1624 in Eastern Shore, VA, which shows 73 persons there.[bar.FTW]
    
    Arrived in Virginia on the "Mary & Margaret" with Raleigh Croshaw in October1608, with Capt. Christopher Newport's second supply. Thomas GRAVES was one of the original Adventurers (stockholders) of the Virginia Co. of London, and one of the ver y early planters (settlers) who founded Jamestown, VA, the first permanent English settlement in North America. 'Thomas GRAVE' is listed on pg 364, Records of the Virginia Co. of London, Vol IV. Regarding the title of 'Captain', which is attache d to Thomas GRAVES in Virginia historical records, he had no such designation in the charter of 1609 wherein all the Adventurers of the Virginia Co. are listed, and is shown by Capt. John Smith on his arrival in Virginia simply as 'Thomas GRAVES , Gent.' Thus it appears that he acquired the title of Captain after arriving in Virginia. Thomas GRAVES early b ecame active in the affairs of the infant colony. On an exploring expedition, he was captured by Indians and taken to Opechancanough . Thomas Savage, who had come to Virginia with the first supply on the 'John & Francis' in 1608, was sent to rescue him, which he did successfully. In 1609, the 'starving time' reduced the population of about 500 to no more than 60 men, women an d children.
    In 1609, he returned to England where he married and fathered John and Thomas, then returned to Virginia prior to 1617. By 1616 the colony had a total population of only 351, of whom 81 were farmers or tenants. In 1617, the Virginia Co., hoping t o expand the population and agricultural production in the colony, encouraged private or voluntary associations organized on a joint stock basis to establish settlements in the area of the Company's patent. The Society of Smith's (or Smythe's) Hu ndred (later called Southampton Hundred) was organized in 1617, and Capt. Thomas GRAVES' name appears as a member. Soon after April 29, 1619, Gov. Yeardly wrote to Sir Edwin Sandys: "I have entreated Capt. Graves, an antient officer of this compa ny, to take charge of the people and worker."
    Capt 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 on 30 Jul 1619. The timne of Capt GRAVES' removal to the Eastern Shore is now known. It was, h owever, after Aug 1619, since he was then a representative from Smthe's 100 to the first meeting of the House of Burgesses. It was also prior to 1623, for 'a list of names of the Living in Virginia, 16 Feb 1623' shows Thomas GRAVES 'at the Easter n Shore'.
    His patent for 200 acres on the Eastern Shore is of record 14 Mar 1628 (Patent Book No 1, pg 72, Land Registrar's Office, Richmond, VA). In the Census of Feb 1625, Capt Thomas GRAVES was one of only 51 people then living on the Eastern Shore. H e was put in charge of the direction of local affairs later in 1625. In 1632 he, with others, was appointed a commissioner 'for the plantation of Acchowmacke'. He was one of the Burgesses to the Assembly, representing Accomac, for the 1629-30 se ssion as well as the 1632 session. He attended many of the meetings of the Commissioners, but he was absent from 30 Dec 1632 until 23 Oct 1633. It appears he was out of the country.
    The old Hungars Episcopal Church is located about 7 miles N of Eastville on the north side of Hungars Creek. Hungars Parish was made soon after the county was established and the first minister was Rev. William Cotton. The first vestry was appoi nted 1635, and the first vestry meeting was held 29 Sept 1635 at which Capt Thomas GRAVES headed the list of those present.
    Capt GRAVES died between Nov 1635 when he was witness to a deed, and 5 Jan 1636 when suit was entered against a servant to Mrs. GRAVES. (Adventurers of Purse and Person, pp 188-189). His birthdate is not known, but is believed to be about 1580.
    Since Capt GRAVES had been active in the affairs of Virginia from his arrival, the absence of any mention of him during certain periods indicates that he had returned to England. This also confirmed the patents issued to him and to others in whic h he is mentioned. Mrs. Hiden states, 'even a cursory reading of Northampton (Accomack) records reveals how frequent were the trips to England, Ireland, Holland, and New England' of those living on the Eastern Shore. Mrs. Hiden also states, 'we kn ow from the land patents that Capt. Thomas GRAVES made several trips out of the country, to England presumably, and on one of his return voyages his family accompanied him '.
    After 15 years of studying the early records of Virginia, reviewing the analyses of other researchers, and applying reasoning, Miss Louise GRAVES arrived at the following conclusion: Thomas GRAVES was unmarried when he arrived in Virginia in 1608 . He was young and adventure was probably the reason for him coming to Virginia. He was obviously educated and of some 'social status' and financial means, and a leader. She thinks he returned to England possibly in Oct of 1609, either on the sa me ship as Capt John Smith (who left Virginia for England for treatment of wounds resulting from an explosion), or on one of the other 7 ships which arrived in Virginia in Aug 1609....Her guess is that he then married in England ab out 1610, fathe red John and Thomas GRAVES, remained in England for several years, and returned to Virginia prior to the formation of Smythe's 100 in 1617, or possibly a little later. It is known that he was 'entreated to take charge of the people and workers' a t Smythe's 100 in April 1619, and was there then.
    Also, there is no record of his being in Virginia after the meeting of the Burgesses in Jul-Aug 1619 until he is shown as living on the Eastern Shore in 1623. It seems reasonable that he was in England at the time of the Indian Massacre of March 1 622,, and upon returning to Virginia settled on the Eastern Shore where it was less perilous to live. The fact that he fathered 3 children, the girls, during this period certainly lends support to his being in England. (This information was copi ed from WFT Vol 1, CD)
    He appeared on the census in 1624 in Eastern Shore, VA, which shows 73 persons there.
    

Click here for details of Thomas' family with Katherine Croshaw

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