Individual Details

Francis is described in one document as an orphan of Capt Thomas Graves of Accomack, later Northhampton Co., VA.
On 28 Nov 1642, a certificate was granted unto Francis Graves, orphan of Capt. Thomas Graves deceased, for transportation of Richard Cainhoe, Capt. Tho: Graves, Mrs. Fraunces Jefferd, William Deaton and Richard Cox - Northampton Co. Will Book 2, p. 116 (15W[2]390, Marshall12 & 2Ames223)
This has encouraged researchers to place Francis in the family of Thomas & Katherine Crowshaw or Crosher - however, their Frances and youngest child has been thought to have been a female. DNA studies have also suggested that this Francis does not belong to that Thomas of Accomack/Northhampton..

Francis Graves patented land in Rappahanock Co, 10 Oct 1672.

Wife Jane's maiden name unknown - she had children whose surnames were Maguffey and Davenport.

28 Nov 1678 Rappahannock Record Bk 1677-82, p.200
Know all men by these presents that whereas I FRANCIS GRAVES of Rappa County in Virginia, did make a verball PROMISE TO MY NOW WIFE JANE BEFORE MARRIAGE to confirme the gift of two heiffers & a calfe TO HER THREE CHILDREN doe therefore hereby (FOR THE LOVE AND AFFECTION I HAVE AND BEARE UNTO THE SAID CHILDREN JOHN & JANE McGUFFE AND ELIZABETH DAVENPORT) freely give & grant to the said JOHN a certaine heiffer cald Rose marked with two crops & a hole in the right eare and to the said JANE a certaine heiffer called nancy marked with two crops in both eares & swallow forks in both eares and to the said ELIZABETH a cow calfe called tidy marked with a slit in each eare, to them the said John Jane & Elizabeth with the increase of the same (the male onely excepted) & to their heires & assigns forever, & I do warrant the same to be free from the clayme of any person whatsoever, as witness my hand & seal this 28th of Novembr 1678. Wit: Phi. Pendleton & Mary E. Butcher


In 1694, after Francis had died and Jane had remarried John Doughty, this new husband deeded certain property to Jane's sons, Francis, Richard, and Thomas Graves (Essex Deeds and Wills 6, Reverse of book, p. 296). Doughty died between 1704, when he is listed in the Quit Rent Roll (Va. Mag., vol. 33, p. 262), and 1715, when Francis and Thomas Graves (sons of Jane and Francis) appear on the list (Essex Quit Rent Roll 1715, Archives Div.,State Library).

It is also likely that Francis had a son, John, by an earlier marriage. John Graves died 1720, Essex Co VA.

Notes found on FamilySearch:
Francis Graves, long believed to be the youngest son of Capt. Thomas Graves, has now been shown by DNA analysis to not be his son. One of the most disputed issues regarding Francis Graves has been the identity of his parents. It was long believed that Francis was a son of Capt. Thomas Graves of VA (genealogy 169). A record referred to Fra. Graves, orphan of Thomas Graves. This child was originally said by genealogist William Montgomery Sweeny in a published article in 1935 (R‑906) to be a son of Capt. Thomas Graves. This was repeated by Mrs. P. W. Hiden in 1936 (R‑907). However, others provided evidence that the last child of Capt. Thomas Graves was a daughter, and that the male Francis Graves was a son of someone else unknown. After a thorough search and examination of the documentary evidence, Richard Kesler decided that this last child of Thomas probably was a son, as explained in the Appendix at the end of this book. However, the results of the Graves DNA Study indicate that Francis was a son of another Graves immigrant, and the child of Capt. Thomas Graves was a daughter. Since the documentary evidence is ambiguous and the DNA evidence is conclusive, there is now no question that the youngest child of Capt. Thomas Graves was a daughter.
The DNA testing of descendants not only proves that Francis Graves was not related to any of the children of Capt. Thomas Graves, but it also proves that he did share Graves ancestry with Rear Admiral Thomas Graves of Massachusetts (genealogy 28), and it is suspected that he was probably closely related to this other Thomas Graves. The involvement of Richard Graves, son of Francis, in coastal trade with a sloop supports the connection of Francis with a seafaring and shipowning family.
Francis Graves, Sr. (1) was born about 1630 in Virginia, and died about 1691 (before 5 Aug. 1691). The birth date of Francis was inferred from the belief that he was still a minor and described as "orphan of Capt. Thomas Graves decd." in 1642. (Although that date may still be the correct one, we now know that he was not a son of Capt. Thomas Graves.) We have no information about Francis Graves until 1672, and it is possible that he didn’t live in Virginia much before that. According to Mrs. Hiden, it is likely from the associates his family chose that he spent some time in Gloucester Co., VA before settling in Essex Co., VA. It is also probable that he lived in Essex Co. before patenting land there, and that the 714 acres he patented 10 Oct. 1672 (S.L.O. 6, p. 436) "on the south side of the river, part on the branch of Gilson's Creek and part on Hoskins Creek adjoining Mr. Beverley's corner," represented a choice of location rather than just the reward for transporting 14 persons.
He married Jane Maguffey (or McGuffy or Maguffy) before 28 Nov. 1678. Her maiden name may have been Davenport, and she may have first married Mr. Maguffey, secondly Francis Graves, and thirdly John D. Doughty. The marriage of Francis to Jane was his second (according to Mrs. Sue Davis). At the time of his marriage to Jane he gave certain cattle to his step-children, John and Jane Maguffey and Elizabeth Davenport (Old Rappahannock Records, Deeds and Wills 6, p. 57). The original deed is preserved among the loose papers of Essex Co. and shows Francis Graves's firm signature.
In 1694, after Francis had died and Jane had remarried John Doughty, this new husband deeded certain property to Jane's sons, Francis, Richard, and Thomas Graves (Essex Deeds and Wills 6, Reverse of book, p. 296). Doughty died between 1704, when he is listed in the Quit Rent Roll (Va. Mag., vol. 33, p. 262), and 1715, when Francis and Thomas Graves (sons of Jane and Francis) appear on the list (Essex Quit Rent Roll 1715, Archives Div., Va. State Library).

Children - Graves, by first marriage
+2. John Graves, m. Johanna ‑‑‑‑‑‑, d. 1720.
Children - Graves, by Jane Maguffey
+3. Francis Graves, Jr., b. 1679, m. Anne Reynolds (?), 1699, d. 1748.
+4. Richard Graves, m. Hannah Kent, 1715, d.c. 1730.
+5. Thomas Graves, b.c. 1684-5, m. Elizabeth Moody, c. 1708-10, d.c. 1742-3.
http://www.gravesfa.org/gen220.htm

Birth	1630	Jamestown, Virginia
Marriage	Bef 28 Nov 1678	Jamestown, Virginia - Jane ?Davenport
Death	1691	Rappahanock County, Virginia
Marriage		[Graves]

Spouse	Jane ?Davenport (1635 - )
Child	Richard Graves (1673 - 1730)
Child	Francis Graves Jr. (1679 - 1748)
Child	Thomas Graves (1684 - 1743)

Spouse	[Graves] ( - 1678)
Child	John Graves ( - 1720)

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