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FROM THE BOOK: Genealogies of the Families and
Descendants of the Early Settlers of Watertown, Massachusetts,
Including Waltham and Weston. by Henry Bond 1855
FROM THE BOOK: The family of Graves is one of the most ancient in England. It went in with the Norman army, and its members have been De Grevis, De Greves, Greve, Grave, Greaves, Greeves, and Graves. In the portion of Doomsday Book for Lincolnshire it is recorded: The family lived in early days in that part of England now known as counties Lincoln, Nottingham, Derby and York, occupying the northern part of the three first named and the southern part of York. The first recorded family seat was known as Greves or Greaves, in the parish of Beeley, near Chatsworth, in the northern part of Derbyshire, and a few miles from the southerly boundary of York, where the family resided as early as the reign of Henry III (1216-1272). John Greaves, a descendant, in the reign of Elizabeth (1558-1602), became a purchaser of "Beeley," a quaint old house with an enclosed court, on the hill above Beeley, and now known as "Hilltop," and it was occupied as a family seat until about 1664, when it was sold to John, Earl of Rutland. In the little church at Beeley, within the altar rails, is a fine flat stone on which are cut the coat of arms of the family, the motto "Suprema Quaero," and the following inscription: "This marble stone doth presse but not oppresse the body of John Greaves of Greaves, Esq. The 13th day of October in the year of our Lord (page XI) 1694. Ann his wife, b. of Geo. Bird, of Stenley Hall, Gent, ob. May 25, 1700." JOHN GRAVES1, born in England, came to the American Colonies with his wife in 1635 and settled in Concord, Mass. He soon after became a member of the church of which Rev. Peter Buckley was teacher. He was one of the signers of the petition to the General Court in 1643 in favor of Ambrose Martinmand; in 1644, his name was attached to a document pledging to signers nearly every head of a family in Concord, to the support of the Government. One of these signatures, probably the first, is now in the New England Historical Society in Boston. He had two sons, Benjamin and John. Benjamin, born in Concord, Mass.; married Mary Hoar, daughter of John Hoar2 was a member of Captain Wheeler, Vs. Co. John1, of Concord, against the Indians, in Vol. 38, "New England Genealogical and Historical Register." He was given credit September 28, 1675, and again February 29, 1676, for service in King Philip Vs War. He and John Graves, of Sudbury, Mass., with others purchased on May 20, 1681, from Christopher Hall, "all the mines and minerals of one kind and another, found or that may be found on his land in Groten, Mass., at a place called Cold Spring, near William Longley Vs. house with Liberty to dig, delve or use the land and to errect buildings, etc. He moved to Saybrook, Conn., in 1703 when he purchased January 25, 1703, of Nicholas Stoughton by consent of William Shipman at a place called Pottaconk, whatever the division of whichever part is agreed upon is made, Stoughton to have first choice." Also the one-half of eleven acres of planting land, 10 pounds, 10 shillings. "Now a resident of Killingworth, a messanger or tenament at Pottaconk with all the buildings, etc., bounded westerly by land of Joseph Graves, it being understood that Benj. is to retain the life use of the same." March 18, 1715, Benjamin Graves "for love and affection, to son, Joseph" deeded "one half the farm I now dwell upon the Westerly half." BENJAMIN GRAVES2 (John1), married October 21, 1668, Mary Hoar, daughter of John1.
Their children were: Benjamin2 moved to Saybrook, Conn., where he
died between 1716 and 1724. FROM THE BOOK: Nebraska and Midwest Genealogical Record, 1927 EDITOR: Miss Mabel Lindly, 1715 South Twentieth Street, Lincoln, Nebraska BENJAMIN
GRAVES (John) was born in Concord in
1645. He married Oct. 21, 1667, Mary Hoar, daughter of John Hoar of
Concord, who was the son of Charles Hoar, alderman from 1632 to 1638 of the "Cittie of Gloster" (City of Gloucester), England, sheriff in 1634, died in 1638, and grandson of Charles Hoar, mayor of the "Cittie of Gloster", who died in 1636. John Hoar and his wife were of Scituate in 1643 to 1655, removed to Concord about 1700 and died April 2, 1704. He was a lawyer of prominence in the colony and his son Daniel, brother of Mary, was great, great grandfather of Hon. George F. Hoar, United States Senator from Massachusetts. Benjamin Graves was a member of Captain Wheeler's Company of Concord against the Indians in 1675. In volume 38 of New England Genealogical and Historical Register he was given credit September 28, 1675, for services in King Philip's War, and again February 29, 1676. He and John Graves of Sudbury, Mass., with others, purchased May 20, 1861, from Christopher Hall "All the mines and minerals of one kind and another found or to be found, or that may be found on his land in Groton, Massachusetts, at a place called Cold Spring, near William Lingley's house, with liberty to dig, delve or use the land and to erect buildings, etc." He moved to Saybrook, Conn., in 1703 where he purchased January 25, 1703, of Nicholas Stoughton by consent of William Shipman of Colchester, Conn., one-half of the home lot which Stoughton bought with Shipman at a place called Pottaconk "whenever the division of which ever part is agreed upon is made, Stoughton to have first choice"; also the one-half of eleven acres of planting land. Benjamin Graves signed his mark "B". October 16, 1704, division of above recorded. November 4, 1716, Benjamin Graves yoeman for love and good will to loving son, John, now resident of Killingworth, a messuage or tenement at Pottaconk, with all the buildings, etc., bounded westerly by land of Joseph Graves, it being understood that Benjamin is to retain the life use of the same. John sold the above property in 1724. March 18, 1715, Benjamin Graves for love and affection to son Joseph deeded one-half of the farm I now dwell upon-the westerly half. Benjamin Graves died before March 23, 1724, leaving the following named children:
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