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Thomas Graves (1605 - 1653)

Rear Adm. Thomas Graves
Born in Stepney, Middlesex, Englandmap
Ancestors ancestors
[sibling(s) unknown]
Husband of — married 1630 in Englandmap
Descendants descendants
Died at age 48 in Aboard the St. Andrew in the Battle of Scheveningenmap
Profile last modified | Created 26 Jan 2013
This page has been accessed 4,355 times.
Easily Confused: See the text for details.
The Puritan Great Migration.
Thomas Graves migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Directory, by R. C. Anderson, p. 138)
Join: Puritan Great Migration Project
Discuss: pgm

Contents

Biography

Thomas Graves is related to US President Calvin Coolidge. Here is the trail.
This profile is part of the Graves Name Study.

"Rear Admiral Thomas Graves of Charlestown, ... was born in Stepney, London, England, and came to this country with his wife and children," according to Eben Putnam's article which is based on his visit to England in 1894 and published in the Essex Institute Historical Collections. His parents, who were married on April 6, 1597, were "John Greaves of Lymehouse shipwright, and Sarah Malter of Ratcliffe[1]Stepney parish baptism records indicate 14 children born to John Greaves and his wife Sarah (Malter) Greaves, one of whom was Thomas, born June 6 and probably baptized on the 16th, 1605,[2][3] about whom this biography is written. His siblings baptized there were William, Feb. 1, 1597/8; John, Aug. 20, 1600; Sarah, Dec. 13, 1602; Rebecca, Dec. 13, 1607; Matthew, Mar. 5, 1608; William, Mar. 18, 1609; Henry, Mar. 15, 1611; Anne Apr. 11, 1613; Susanna, June 19, 1614; Samuel Oct. 15, 1615; Abraham Jan. 17, 1616-17; Nathaniel June 7, 1618; Robert bap. not found.[1]

Richard Frothingham in "History of Charlestown" on page 139 says Thomas Graves was born June 6, 1605 in Ratcliff, England and baptized June 16 at Stepney. Page 26 says he died in 1639 and continues on the next few pages with a letter Mr. Graves sent to England in 1629 that gave a flattering description of New England The letter is available to be read here:[4]

Coddington in an article published in The American Genealogist (TAG) says that Thomas Graves (a sea-captain) first came to New England in the George Bonaventure in 1629.[5]It is probable that his wife and children joined him later since they both (husband and wife) became members of the First Church of Charlestown on August 7, 1639.[6]He became a freeman of Charlestown on May 13, 1640.[7]Prior to 1638 he had no share in any divisions of land; Town Records for him begin in 1638. After that year he was "constantly found on committees, and divisions of land and the names of his chidren are among the list of baptisms in the Church records" (p. 140)[4]

Marriage

Prior to their migration, on June 25, 1627, Thomas Graves & Katherin Gray were married at Tower Hamlets, St Mary, Whitechapel.[8] Her name is sometimes spelled Katherine, Catherine, or Catheryn Gray. She was born about 1604 and baptized at Sutton, Suffolk, England on June 30, 1605. Her parents were Thomas Gray and Katharine Miles (Myles) Gray of Sutton.[9][3]Thomas Gray (her father), in his will, bequeathed to Katherine, her mother (who later married Coytmore) and sisters Parnell, Susanna, and Mary, lands to sell for their use after his death.[10] Legal documents regarding the sale of this land to Robert Kidd can be found in Lechford's Note-Book on pages 25 - 32 where the owners are listed several times as "Katherine Coytmore, Increase & Parnell, Thomas Graves and Katherine his wife, & Mary - further identity of this family can be found on page 29. Their attorneys were Sir William Wiseman of Canfield Hall in Essex, Gentleman Robert Mather of Sutton, and yeoman Henry Halfin of Sutton.[10]

Children of Thomas and Katherine Graves:

  1. Rebecca: "Rebecca Daughter of Thomas and Katharine Graves the 6th." April 1628. Tower Hamlets, St. John of Wapping, London, England.[11] She was mentioned in the will of her father who died July 31, 1653.[1]
  2. John, also mentioned in his father's will,[1]probably lived in England, as a house at Ham, near London, was bequeathed to him.[4]
  3. William: "William Graves Sonne of Thomas and Katherine Graves in (Mrs Quaitmores yard marrimor) was borne the 16th of November and baptized the 20 of ye same." 1635. Tower Hamlets, St. John of Wapping, London, England.[12]Died young.[13]
  4. Nathaniel baptized September 5, 1638 at First Church of Charlestown.[6] He was mentioned in his father's will.[1] He was a mariner, married August 24, 1664 to Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Russell. Children: Nathaniel, Maud, Elizabeth. He died February 12, 1679.[4]
  5. Susanna, mentioned in her father's will.[1] She was born July 8, 1643; married Zechariah Symmes (minister of Bradford) on November 18, 1669. Children: Susanna, Sarah, Zechariah, Katherine, Thomas, William, Rebecca. She died July 23, 1681. Her husband Zechariah died March 22, 1718.[4]
  6. Joseph, mentioned in father's will.[1] He was born April 13, 1645; married January 15, 1666 to Elizabeth Maynard. Children Samuel (1667), Richard (1672), John (1674). Married (2nd) to Mary _____. Children Mary, Ebenezer and maybe additional children.[4]
  7. Thomas, mentioned in father's will,[1] was born in 1637/8: "Thomas Graves sonne of Thomas & Katherine Graves in Mrs Quoitemoros yard Marrimor "12 January. 1637. Tower Hamlets, St. John of Wapping, London, England. [14] He married May 16, 1677 to Elizabeth the widow of Dr. John Chickering. She died July 22, 1679; he then married (2nd) on May 15, 1682 to Sarah the widow of Dr. Samuel Alcock.

Occupation

Graves was a seaman on the following ships, according to Frothingham on page 139:[4]

  1. Talbot, mate in 1629 - coincidentally, Thomas Graves was mate the Talbot the same year Thomas Graves the Engineer migrated to New England. Two different men with the same name on the same ship.
  2. Whale, master in 1632
  3. Elizabeth Bonadventure, master in 1633
  4. James, master in 1635
  5. Trial, master in 1643; Thomas Graves built this ship in Boston; John Winthrop and Nehemiah Bourne were among the investors.[15]

While on a mercantile voyage, Thomas Graves came upon a Dutch privateer (pirate) ship in the English Channel. He captured the ship and was rewarded by the owners with a silver cup. Oliver Cromwell commended him and gave him the command of a ship of war,[4] the President in the Royal Navy on May 30, 1652. In 1653 he was appointed rear admiral of the White.[13][16]

Residences in New England

Admiral Thomas Graves and his family resided in Charlestown. However he was one of thirty two men who on April 13, 1646 or thereabouts, was included on the list for the founding orders of Woburn. His name was recorded using the honorific title "Mr. Thomas Graves." Twenty of the thirty two signers were from Charlestown, as was Thomas Graves. He is also listed on page 23 of the document, dated in the margin April 14, 1640, and it reads:[17]

"A true relation of the proceedings of Edward Convars, Edward Johnson, John Mousall, Mr. Thomas Graves, Samuell Richison & Thomas Richison chosen by the Church of Charlestowne for the erecting of a church and town which accordingly by great labor preserved and now called the town of Woburne."

After five years, on September 8, 1645 the "first country rate" was taken at Woburn. Only twenty nine of the original thirty two who subscribed to the founding orders were on the "first country rate." Thomas Graves was one of those who was NOT a resident at that time. Quoting Robert Charles Anderson who writes on page 21, volume 15 (dated July-September 2006) of The Great Migration Newsletter: "He had returned to England to fight in the Civil War before he ever had a chance to settle in Woburn."[17]

Death, Burial, Will, Inventory

Thomas Graves of Charlestown, Massachusetts Bay returned to England, permanently in 1653.[18]He died July 31, 1653 aboard the St. Andrew (which had 360 men and 56 guns) in a naval battle with the Dutch. Sadly, he was burned to death along with several of his crew. The ship landed in Aldorough Bay, Co. Suffolk, England on August 8, 1653 and he was buried there the same day since his wives family was from that area. Parliament granted his family 1000 pounds.[13][19][20]

John Winthrop commended him as "an able and godly man."[1]

His last will and testament bequeathed to the following: wife, Katharine Graves; daughter Rebecca and her child; John, Nathaniell, Susanna, Joseph, Thomas, Rebecca. His wife and son John were to be executors. His will was sealed up and given to his Bro: Abraham Graves then presented to the Deputy Governor and magistrates by his widow. Approved October 1, 1653.[1][21] An inventory was entered and recorded on October 25, 1655, included his dwelling house with orchard and garden, hay lot, plus 3 acres in the necke; 352 acres of land at Woburne; as well as household objects. "Katherine Graves the Relict widow of Thomas Graves Deceased, & sole Executrix of his will will sollemly affirm that this is a true Inventory of her husband's estate according to the best & present knowledge, and that when any more shall apeare shee will truly and timely discover the same to be added here unto." Thomas Danforth, Recorder.[1][22]

His widow Katherine (Gray) Graves died at Charlestown on February 21, 1682.[9]

Research Notes

NOTE: This profile is for the Thomas Graves who was a rear admiral/seaman/mariner and who migrated to New England in 1629. Please do not confused or muddled it with Thomas Graves the farmer of Hatfield and Hadley or Thomas Graves the Engineer.

  • Fac-similes of the signatures of two men, Thomas Graves the Rear Admiral and Thomas Graves the Engineer, can be seen on page 140 of "History of Charlestown." Thus proving that they were two different men.[4]
  • Frothingham was wrong when he said "Thomas Graves married Catharine Coitmore."[4] Catharine Coitmore was Thomas Graves' mother-in-law; see biography and legal documents here:[10] and she also migrated, as a widow, to New England in about 1636 and was an inhabitant of Charlestown.[5]
  • The full will of Rear Admiral Thomas Graves of Charlestown has been transcribed and can be read on pages 171 & 172 of "Notes on the Ancestry of Thomas Graves" at Essex Institute. Many additional records of Thomas Graves' ancestors and descendants can be found at this site.[1]
  • A short paragraph about a different Thomas Graves, the one known as the "Engineer" can be read on p. 26 of Frothingham's "History of Charlestown." Also the footnotes on p. 140.[4]

Sources

  1. 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 Essex Institute Historical Collections. Salem, Mass. 1894 - 1895. "Notes On The Ancestry And Connections of 'Read Admiral' Thomas Graves, of Charlestown, Mass." by Eben Putnam. Vol XXXI. 31:166-180.see at hathitrust
  2. Baptism 16 June 1605: "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NPHF-9JY : 11 February 2018, Thomas Graves, 16 Jun 1605); citing , index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 595,417.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Genealogical Notes "Myles of Sutton, Suffolk" contributed by Elaine C. Nichols. Vol. 138, pp 40,41. [1]
  4. 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 Frothingham, Richard. "The History of Charlestown, Masachusetts" Boston, 1845. Charles C. Little & James Brown. pp. 139 - 141 (script & footnotes)see at archive.org
  5. 5.0 5.1 The American Genealogist. New Haven, CT: D. L. Jacobus, 1937-. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009 - .) "The Royal Descent from King Edward III of England to Thomas Coytmore of Charlestown, Massachusetts., Elizabeth Wife of William Tying of Boston, Sarah Wife of Ralph Eddowes of Philadelphia Co., PA, John Quincy Adams, Neville Chamberlain, and Others" by John Insley Coddington. (1956). [2]
  6. 6.0 6.1 J. F. Hunnewell. "Records of the First Church in Charlestown, 1632-1789. David Clapp & Son, Boston, 1880., p. 9 & 48.see at googlebooks.
  7. Shurtleff, Nathaniel B. "Records of the Governor and Company of the Massachusetts Bay in New England" Press of William White, Boston. 1853. Vol. 1, p. 376see at archive.org
  8. London Metropolitan Archives; London, England; Reference Number: P93/MRY1/001 Church of England Parish Registers, 1538-1812. London, England. Ancestry.com. London, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812
  9. 9.0 9.1 The New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Boston, MA: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1847-. (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2018.) "Gray and Coytmore" by Wm. S. Appleton. (Jan. 1880) Vol. 34, p. 253.subscribers$
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 Lechford, Thomas. "Note-Book Kept By Thomas Lechford, Esq., Lawyer." University Press. Cambridge: John Wilson & Son. 1885. p. 26ff.see at archive.org
  11. London Metropolitan Archives; London, England; Reference Number: P93/JN2 Church of England Parish Registers, 1538-1812. London, England: Ancestry.com London, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812/002
  12. London Metropolitan Archives; London, England; Reference Number: P93/JN2/002 Church of England Parish Registers, 1538-1812. London, England: Ancestry.com London, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 "Greaves Family of Stepney, London, England, and Descendants of Rear Ramiral Thomas Graves of Charlestown, Massachusetts" Ken Graves founder and administrater of Graves Family Association.link
  14. London Metropolitan Archives; London, England; Reference Number: P93/JN2/002 Church of England Parish Registers, 1538-1812. London, England: Ancestry.com London, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812
  15. Moore, Susan Hardman. "Abandoning America" The Boydell Press (2013). p. 124.
  16. "Thomas Graves (1605-1653)" at Three Decks - Warships in the Age of Sail website. Retrieved 5.3.2023
  17. 17.0 17.1 Great Migration Newsletter, V.1-20.(Online Database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2018.) Vol. 15, pp 20, 21."Woburn Settlers"subscribers$
  18. Anderson, Robert Charles. "Great Migration Directory" New England Biographic and Genealogical Society. 2015. p. 138.
  19. Francis Vere, Salt In Their Blood, The Lives of the Famous Dutch Admirals, 1955, London.
  20. Jacques Mordal, "Twenth-Five Centuries of Sea Warfare, translated by Len Ortzen, Futura Pub., London, 1965, p. 69 & 74.
  21. “Probate records v. 1-3 1654-1673”, database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9D5-BQHD  : 4 May 2023), FHL microfilm 007554513, image 50-51, Middlesex, Massachusetts, Vol 1, 1654-1661, Pages 86-87.
  22. “Probate records v. 1-3 1654-1673”, database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89D5-BQW5  : 2 May 2023), FHL microfilm 007554513, image 47-48, Middlesex, Massachusetts, Vol 1, 1654-1661, Pages 80-82.

See Also:

  • New England Marriages to 1700. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) Originally published as: New England Marriages Prior to 1700. Boston, Mass.: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015. [3]
Thomas GRAVES
Marriage 1631
Location Charlestown, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States
Original Text GRAVES, Thomas (1605-1653?) & Katharine [GRAY?] (1604, 1606?-1682); by 1632, by 1635, by 1631; Charlestown {Reg. 57:197, 106:15, 16; NYGBR 47:112; Granberry 231; Sibley's Harv. Grad. 1:480; McIntire Anc. 282; EIHC 31:166+; Tracy (1936) 177, 178; Brett 62;
Spouse Katharine GRAY
Volume Name Volume 1 Page 649
  • Middlesex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1648-1871.Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014. (From records supplied by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives. Digitized images provided by FamilySearch.org) [4]
Thomas GRAVES - GREAVES
Probate Record 1653
Location Massachusetts, United States
Original Text GRAVES, Thomas
Case Number 9673 Note page 1 of 4
Volume Name Middlesex Cases 8000-9999 Page 9673:1




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Comments: 44

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Thomas had siblings Abraham and Nathaniel.

Abraham mentioned here:

http://www.marinelives.org/index.php?title=Special%3ASearch&profile=all&search=Greaves&fulltext=Search

posted by Ann Browning
edited by Ann Browning
According to the GFA there were seventeen siblings and half-siblings by three wives. Those two - and Thomas - were from the first wife, Sarah Malter.
posted by Raymond Miller
This may have some useful info

https://gravesfa.org/gen028.htm

Ann

posted by Ann Browning
Thank you. I've belonged to the GFA for about twenty years. They have a Facebook page, too, if you're interested. https://www.facebook.com/groups/101598533284124
posted by Raymond Miller
More confusion: Rear Admiral Graves is 14 degrees to me through daughter Rebecca. Was 1944 when my husband had to defend the unruly actions of Wesley who threw stones in the pails of hot water, carried from the mill. Was time for his siblings to have their bath. He set the pails down and proceeded to pummel Wesley who then ran home. Soon after, Wesley's Father had complained to my Father in law, and my future husband, was approached by his father with the leather strap in hand. After the explanation, excuse accepted, but he had to promise not to fight with Wesley or anyone else again. His Father explained life in Europe 1800s, and two world wars. This Wesley is a descendants of Thomas Graves 1605-1653 through son Joseph 1645 sibling Thomas 1638, Samuel1667, James1706, Micah1748, Micah1777. A different Thomas Graves wife, 5 children arrived 1629 on ship George Bonaventure, Thomas Cox, Master with 52 Planters and 20 pieces of ordnance, arrived Salem Jul 1629, destination Charlestown. PP 62,63, Planters of the Commonwealth, private printing. More to this story, for Gen. Wilkinson 1820, Louisiana involved in death 1820 of Captain Azariah Seward and his crew of ship Greyhound. Read book George Seward by Ed Sears, George son of Azariah.
posted by Joan (Stone) Jakubowski
edited by Joan (Stone) Jakubowski
According to his biography on the Graves Family Association site the Thomas Graves who this profile is for brought his family (consisting of his wife and two children) to America about 1636 or 1637 and settled in Charlestown, Mass. It was another Thomas Graves, an engineer who laid out Charlestown and other New England towns, who arrived with a wife and five children in Salem as an employee of the Massachusetts Bay Company in 1629. Here's a good explanation about how they're different men. https://gravesfa.org/gen131.htm
posted by Raymond Miller
Thomas Graves is incorrectly referred to as Rear Admiral Thomas Graves. Admiral Thomas Graves 1st Baron Graves served in the British Navy during the Seven Years war and the American War of Independance. He was born in 1725 died in 1802. No direct relation with this Thomas Graves.
posted by Jean-Michel Doublet
According to one of the sources cited, he was actually appointed rear admiral . See https://gravesfa.org/gen028.htm
posted by Jillaine Smith
These are two different men born more than a century apart. The information on the one born in 1605 is correct and well-cited. You might want to read this for a recap of his career. http://graveslightstation.com/about-graves-light-boston/thomas-graves-1605-1653/
posted by Raymond Miller
edited by Raymond Miller
Okay, thanks. Article read. But it does look like THIS profile (Graves-2090) does now represent the rear-admiral who died at battle on his ship in 1653.
posted by Jillaine Smith
My comment was actually for Jean-Michel Doublet, who made the original comment about Thomas Graves being incorrectly referred to as Rear Admiral Thomas Graves. I made the assumption that he read his WikiTree profile and disagreed with it, so I provided another source for HIM to see Graves' naval history, not YOU. Sorry for any confusion.
posted by Raymond Miller
You're right; I wasn't paying close enough attention. Sorry.
posted by Jillaine Smith
edited by Jillaine Smith
I detached Elizabeth as a daughter, and deleted the original unsourced biography. Thanks for all your assistance and advice!
posted by Raymond Miller
Elizabeth needs to be detached, since this Thomas Graves did not have a daughter by that name. I have left a note on the profile of Elizabeth Graves-7893.
PGM leaders: Perhaps this profile should be PPPd to protect the parents - since there is so much confusion on the internet between the three men who were named Thomas Graves. Thank you.
I look forward to hearing from you, Raymond. Hope you have a safe trip and can spend some time relaxing now.
Jillaine, clarified ship "Talbot." Both men on same ship at same time.

fixed year of his return to Eng... my mistake. But he died on ship and was buried in Eng; while his wife & family remained in Mass Bay.

All: thanks for reviewing bio, I appreciate input.

Beautiful! Thanks, Cheryl! I do see a couple of places that might be referencing a different man or are otherwise confusing. One is the list of ships he was on. The first refers to Thomas the engineer who was apparently a different man. The other thing I noticed was a reference to him returning to England permanently in 1633 but his will was sent to New England where his family was?
posted by Jillaine Smith
Hi, ladies - I've been in a car all week, traveling from FL to Maine. I'll get to it all as soon as I recover! Thanks for your hard work.
posted by Raymond Miller
Thank you Cheryl, It looks great as usual. I will leave it to Raymond to make sure the facts haven't been confused with other Thomas Graves
posted by Anne B
I'm finished with this biography - or I may add additional information found in Abandoning America which I have ordered and will receive in a few days.

Anne B & Raymond, please review and edit if needed. Thanks.

Raymond, the 2nd biography may be deleted now; as well as sources, since I've included valid sources in new biography. Thanks.

Thanks Anne B. I'll integrate.

Thanks also to Raymond. I'll integrate what I received from you in your e-mail.

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