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Caswell County Genealogy
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 1768 - 1850 (81 years)
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| Name |
Graves, Azariah [1, 2] |
| Title |
General |
| Birth |
29 Oct 1768 |
Caswell County, North Carolina  [2] |
| Gender |
Male |
| Reference Number |
1912 |
| Death |
1 Mar 1850 [2] |
| Burial |
Trinity Baptist Church (Old), Locust Hill, Caswell County, North Carolina |
| Person ID |
I1887 |
Caswell County |
| Last Modified |
23 Sep 2023 |
| Father |
Graves, John, b. Abt 1715, Virginia d. 18 Jan 1792, Caswell County, North Carolina (Age ~ 77 years) |
| Relationship |
natural |
| Mother |
Lea, Isabella, b. 1738, King and Queen County, Virginia d. Aft 20 Apr 1796, Caswell County, North Carolina (Age > 58 years) |
| Relationship |
natural |
| Marriage |
1753 |
Spotsylvania County, Virginia |
| Reference Number |
12140 |
| Notes |
- Query whether the marriage date usually shown of 1753 is accurate. Most believe that John Graves moved to the area that was to become Caswell County in 1754. Accordingly, the marriage date of 1753 may be a year too early. Note also that many believe that Isabella Lea was not the first wife of John Graves. Note also, that some researchers claim that John Graves and Isabella Lea were already married when they relocated from Virginia. Researchers are advised to proceed with caution in this area.
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| Family ID |
F824 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
| Family |
Williams, Elizabeth, b. 15 Oct 1773, Orange County, North Carolina d. 21 Aug 1841 (Age 67 years) |
| Marriage |
3 Jun 1790 |
| Reference Number |
15970 |
| Children |
| + | 1. Graves, John Williams, b. 4 Mar 1792, Caswell County, North Carolina d. 9 Feb 1847, Newton County, Georgia (Age 54 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural] |
| + | 2. Graves, Ann Lea, b. 5 Jan 1794, Caswell County, North Carolina d. 28 Oct 1857, Caswell County, North Carolina (Age 63 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural] |
| + | 3. Graves, Elizabeth Williams, b. 2 Feb 1797 d. 27 Aug 1821 (Age 24 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural] |
| + | 4. Graves, Henrietta Williams, b. 7 Apr 1799, Caswell County, North Carolina d. 1886, Reidsville, Rockingham County, North Carolina (Age 86 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural] |
| + | 5. Graves, Martha Williams, b. 2 Jun 1801 d. Jun 1868 (Age 67 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural] |
| + | 6. Graves, Calvin, b. 3 Jan 1804, Caswell County, North Carolina d. 11 Feb 1877, Locust Hill Township, Caswell County, North Carolina (Age 73 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural] |
| + | 7. Graves, Frances Lea, b. 2 Sep 1807, Caswell County, North Carolina d. 7 Oct 1829, Reidsville, Rockingham County, North Carolina (Age 22 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural] |
| + | 8. Graves, Mary Kerr, b. 15 Apr 1810, James City, Virginia d. Aft 1850, Rockingham County, North Carolina (Age > 41 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural] |
| + | 9. Graves, Rebecca Williams, b. 8 Oct 1812, Caswell County, North Carolina d. 14 Nov 1865, Fairfield, Texas (Age 53 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural] |
| + | 10. Graves, Azariah Jr., b. 10 Aug 1815, Caswell County, North Carolina d. 9 Jul 1896, Caswell County, North Carolina (Age 80 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural] |
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| Family ID |
F1056 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
| Last Modified |
23 Sep 2023 |
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| Notes |
- General Azariah Graves (1798-1850)
(click on photograph for larger image)
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General Azariah Graves was born 29 October 1768 in Caswell County, North Carolina, and died 1 March 1850. He married Elizabeth ("Betsy") Williams, daughter of John Williams who was a Colonel in the Revolutionary War, on 3 June 1790. She was born 15 October 1773 and died 21 August 1841. In the War of 1812, General Graves was in command of the 16th Brigade, 3rd Division, of the N.C. State Militia. He was a prominent and influential man, member of the State Senate from 1805 to 1811. He was taxed in the Gloucester District, Caswell County, N.C. in 1790. They lived in Caswell County, North Carolina. Note that the Gloucester District was the southeast quarter of Caswell County as the borders exist today.
Children - Graves
John Williams Graves, b. 4 March 1792, m. Martha Elizabeth Hinton, 26 Oct. 1814, d. 9 Feb. 1847.
Ann Lea Graves, b. 5 Jan. 1794, m. William Graves, May 1815. See #955 for descendants.
Elizabeth Williams Graves, b. 2 Feb. 1797, m. Lewis Graves 27 Aug. 1821. (According to John Card Graves, he was a son of her uncle James, but that is incorrect, since James had no children. She was also said to have been the first wife of James L. Graves.)
Henrietta Williams Graves, b. 7 April (or 4 July) 1799, m. (Judge) Thomas Settle (of Rockingham Co., N.C.), 21 Sept. 1820. He was b. 1791, d. 5 Aug. 1857. Their son Thomas, b. 23 Jan. 1831, was Speaker of the N.C. Assembly, U.S. Minister to Peru, and U.S. Dist. Judge for the Northern Dist. of Florida, and father of Hon. Thomas Settle, M.C.
Martha W. Graves, b. 2 June 1801, m (1) John W. Dick, m (2) Dr. John L. Graves (#990), 1824, d. June 1868.
Calvin Graves, b. 3 Jan. 1804, m (1) Elizabeth Lea, 9 June 1830, m (2) Mary L. Lea, 4 Feb. 1859, d. 11 Feb. 1877.
Frances L. Graves, b. 2 Sept. 1807, m. Josiah Settle, 8 June 1826, d. 7 Oct. 1829.
Mary K. Graves, b. 15 April 1810, m. Alexis Howard, 7 Dec. 1842.
Rebecca Williams Graves, b. 8 Oct. 1812, m. Henry Lee Graves, Feb. 1836, d. 18 Nov. 1865. See #2169 for descendants.
Azariah Graves, Jr., b. 10 Aug. 1815, m (1) Meekey Harden Slade, 26 June 1844, m (2) Elizabeth Neal, 1 July 1846, m (3) Isabella Howard, 17 March 1858, d. 8 July 1897.
Source: Graves Family Association
Note that there is another Azariah Graves, the son of John Herndon Graves and Nancy Slade. Be careful not to confuse them.
Both Azariah Graves and Elizabeth Williams are buried in a small family cemetery at what was the Colonel John Williams plantation, near Locust Hill, on the road to Yanceyville from Reidsville. Source: Louise Graves. [Note: What Louise Graves describes as a small family cemetery actually is the Trinity Baptist Church (Old).]
General Azariah Graves commanded the 16th Brigade, 3rd Division, North Carolina Militia, and was very prominent and influential as a state senator from 1805-1811. His wife died August 21, 1841.
The second picture is of Charles Iverson Graves seated. Inscribed: "Col. C. I. Graves in uniform of Egyptian Army." The third picture is of Solomon Lea. The fourth picture is of General Azariah Graves. Inscribed: "Husband of Elizabeth Williams (daughter of Col. John Williams--Revolutionary ancestor) Caswell County, NC. Great-great grandfather of Marguerite Bryant Graves--daughter of Charles Iverson and Josephine Nicholes Graves." Source: Charles Iverson Graves Papers
General Azariah Graves m. Elizabeth Williams
John Willimas Graves m. Martha Eliza Hinton
Charles Iverson Graves, Sr. m. Margaret Lea
Charles Iverson Graves, Jr. m. Josephine Nicholes
Marguerite Bryant Graves
Will Abstract: Katharine Kerr Kendall at 41.
Note the following from When the Past Refused to Die: A History of Caswell County North Carolina 1777-1977, William S. Powell (1977) at 424-425:
Many such landscaped settings may still be seen in the county. Others which disappeared are remembered, however. The Milton News of June 8, 1916, commented on a particularly interesting site on "Gentleman's Ridge" in the western part of the county near Ashland. A mammoth oak tree, 35 feet around at the ground, marked the site of the ante-bellum home of Azariah Graves. Graves was said to have "displayed his love of the beautiful by laying off the grounds symmetrically and beautifying them by planting lovely flowers and ornamental shrubs everywhere around them." In his work Graves created a number of especially attractive settings. One of the most striking and best remembered things that he did, however, was to plant boxwoods in the shape of a large perfect heart. "Squarely across this big heart Mr. Graves spelled his name 'AZARIAH GRAVES' in large letters in evergreen boxwoods, and directly at the apex of this big heart was the open door of Mr. Graves' palatial and hospitable home." The house was burned about 1899 but some of the boxwoods are still living.
Whether this landscaping was done by General Azariah Graves or his son Azariah Graves, Jr. is not known, but it probably was by the son.
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U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970
Name: General Azariah Graves
SAR Membership: 94544
Birth Date: 29 Oct 1768
Birth Place: Caswell, North Carolina
Death Date: 1 Mar 1850
Death Place: Caswell, North Carolina
Spouse: Elizabeth Williams
Children: Calvin Graves
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For the article on General Azariah Graves in The Heritage of Caswell County, North Carolina, Jeannine D. Whitlow, Editor (1985) go to General Azariah Graves (1768-1850).
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Note that an Azariah Graves was Caswell County Sheriff 1795-1797. However, that this person was the Azariah Graves of this entry has not been confirmed.
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North Carolina Comptroller's Office, August 28, 1798
Pursuant to the 9th section of an act of the Assembly, passed in the year 1796, entitled, "An act to raise a revenue for the payment of the civil list and contingent charges of government, for the year 1797, and to amend the revenue laws in certain cases,"
I hereby certify that . . . Yancey Bailey, Sheriff of Person; Azariah Graves, Sheriff of Caswell . . . have failed to settle and account on oath for the public taxes of their respective counties for the year 1796.
J, Craven, Comptroller
"The North Carolina Journal" (Halifax, North Carolina), 24 September 1798.
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An Azariah Graves was indeed Caswell County Sheriff 1795-1797. However, the full identity of that person has not been confirmed, with the following being most likely.
Azariah Graves (1768-1850), son of John Graves (1715-1972) and Isabella Lea Graves (1738-1796). See photograph. During the War of 1812 he became a general.
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"Three years and more have elapsed since the establishment of the North-Carolina Journal, and many of its subscribers never having made any payment, the Printer now finds himself under the necessity of urging a complete settlement, up to the end of January next, in order to enable him to continue his business; which he presumes will not be tho't unreasonable in the faintest degree, when the heavy expense of carrying on a work of this kind is considered; with the high price of his materials, all of which being cash articles.
"To render it the more agreeable to such who are at a distance, and to prevent any difficulty which might attend a compliance with his request, he has made out all his accounts to the above time, and forwarded them to the respective post-offices, where the papers are delivered (together with an Almanack, gratis, for each subscriber who pays off his account) for collection; except those . . . who will please make payment . . . in Leasburg, to Mr. Lea; and in Caswell to Azariah Graves, Esq."
The North-Carolina Journal (Halifax, North Carolina), 16 November 1795.
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Stamps vs. Graves, North Carolina Supreme Court (1825)
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July 4th, 1812: Caswell County, North Carolina
"In Caswell County, the day [July 4th] was observed in an appropriate manner. A dinner was prepared at the public house of Jethro Brown, Esq., at which General Azariah Graves presided, assisted by Major John Reid. The toasts were truly patriotic, but are necessarily omitted."
Weekly Raleigh Register (Raleigh, North Carolina), 17 July 1812.
Jethro Brown (1766-1828) married Lucy Williamson (1767-1834)
General Azariah Graves (1768-1850) married Elizabeth Williams (1773-1841)
Major John Reid (1748-1826) married Keziah Simpson (1767-1858)
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A Graves Family Affair: 1815
"Married, on the 25th May in Caswell County, by the Rev. Barzilla [sic] Graves, Capt. Wm. Graves, son of John Graves, Esq. to Miss Nancy Graves, daughter of General Azariah Graves."
The North-Carolina Star (Raleigh, NC), 2 June 1815.
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Reverend Barzillai Graves (1759-1827)
Captain William Graves (1780-1845)
Ann Lea (Nancy) Graves (1794-1857)
General Azariah Graves (1768-1850)
The bride and groom are paternal first cousins, their fathers being brothers (General Azariah Graves and Captain John Herndon Graves (1746-1829)).
Presiding at the wedding ceremony was the uncle of the bride and groom: Reverend Barzillai Graves, brother of both General Azariah Graves and Captain John Herndon Graves.
While not stated, the wedding may have taken place at the substantial Locust Hill home of the bride's parents. Her mother is Elizabeth Williams Graves (1773-1841).
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Disclosure: Reverend Barzillai Graves is my fourth-great grandfather, thus making the fathers of those being wed my fourth-great granduncles. The bride and groom are my first cousins, five times removed.
Source: Richmond S. Frederick, Jr., 1 December 2022 Facebook Post.
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Quinton Anderson (1783-1854)
(for larger image, click on photograph)
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See: The Heritage of Caswell County, North Carolina, Jeannine D. Whitlow, Editor (1985) at 90 (Article No. 18, "Some Grandchildren of John Anderson" by James E. & Sallie P. Anderson).
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May 15, 1927 (Possibly The Caswell Messenger). The Old Home Place of the Anderson's Burned: Was occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Otis Reagan and Family. Fire Occurred Sunday Morning.
A fire, which occurred last Sunday morning during the preaching hour, completely destroyed the old Anderson home, owned by George A. Anderson and located in Anderson Township, together with all the household effects and personal belongings of Otis Reagan and family who have been living at the Anderson place. Both from the financial and sentimental standpoints the fire caused a great loss. The house itself was partially covered by insurance. But the insurance coverage will not begin to replace the large, old 12-room building. It has not been learned whether or not Mr. Reagan had any insurance on his household goods. But it is certain that his loss is great, in which he has the sympathy of many friends. But the destruction of this famous old southern home, built by Quinton Anderson in 1820, and kept in the Anderson family for three generations is irreparable when the sentiment, traditions and historical associations that have gathered about the place are considered.
It is said that Quinton Anderson was a prominent politician and that many distinguished men have been entertained within its portals. So it can be confidently asserted that what is commonly known as history was made about its blazing hearths and around its hospitable table. No amount of money and effort of the skilled artisan or artist can restore such a structure, rich in historic traditions, any more than the old table, benches and flagons used at the "Cheshire Cheese" by Dr Johnson and his contemporaries could be reproduced be modern mechanism and art.
Aside from this the old house had been HOME to three or four generations. This fact has hallowed the house and the memory of it, to every one who has warmed himself and herself by its fire places, slept in its beds, played about its doors, eaten at its table, looked out on the landscapes from its windows and sat on its porches on summer nights beneath the star-domed canopy, looking to heaven, dreaming of the ages, past, present and to come. In this home the youngsters were cuddled in the arms of the mother who rocked them to sleep as she sang the old plantation melodies or crooned to them the eternal songs of mother love. The problems of all homes were entertained and settled there as the growing children trooped in and out of its open doors. The old fashioned parlor was the scene of many a courtship. Matches were made and unmade there. Gala days filled with high spirited romance {and} adventure come both ceremoniously and un-ceremoniously, to that home. Mother(s) hearts were torn in that sacred place called home, and mothers heads were bowed in agonizing grief when the fledglings of the house spread their wings and flitted from the old home and left father and mother to sit with empty hands about a lonely hearth. And it was from the front door of the old home place that the still forms of the sacred dead were borne by sympathizing neighbors and placed tenderly under the cedars in gods acre.
It is true that a fire cannot destroy all the hallowed association and memories of a home. But the house about which they have clustered comes in time, to be a sacred place. And the disappearance of such an ancient edifice is sometimes next akin to tragedy to those who for several generations have known it as home.
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Quinton Anderson was the first U.S. Postmaster at Anderson's Store, Caswell County, North Carolina, which operated from 1 April 1815 until 29 April 1892, when it became known as Anderson Post Office. Source: Caswell County, North Carolina Post Offices.
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It appears that Anderson's Store was demolished around 1920. However, it obviously was a focal point for the community, being the post office, and a polling (voting) site. Other postmasters were Miss Mary A. McNutt and George Anderson. The stage from Milton to Greensboro probably stopped there. In 1984, M. Q. Plumblee wrote: "Anderson's Store was one of the early ones built in Anderson township. It was located across the road from the Quinton Anderson residence. The west end of the present James W. Tate's residence is located over a part of the old store site."
Source: From Rabbit Shuffle to Collins Hill: Stories of Southern Caswell County, North Carolina, Millard Quentin Plumblee (1984) at 20.
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July 4th Company Muster, Celebration, and Vote: 1828
"At a company muster, and celebration on the fourth of July, at the store of Quinton Anderson, esq. in Caswell County, where between 250 and 300 of the citizens were assembled, and after the company was addressed at some length by Barzillai Graves [probably General Barzillai Graves], in favor of the Administration [of President John Quincy Adams], and Bedford Brown, in favor of General Andrew Jackson, the vote on the presidential election was taken when the whole of the company declared themselves in favor of General Jackson with the exception of three."
The Hillsborough Recorder (Hillsborough, NC), 9 July 1828.
This most likely was a straw vote (an unofficial ballot conducted as a test of opinion) and in no way binding.
The 1828 United States presidential election was the 11th quadrennial presidential election. It was held from Friday, October 31 to Tuesday, December 2, 1828. It featured a repetition of the 1824 election, as President John Quincy Adams of the National Republican Party faced Andrew Jackson of the Democratic Party. Source: Wikipedia [accessed 7 December 2022]
Quinton Anderson (1783-1854) operated a store in what now is Anderson Township
General Azariah Graves (1768-1850)
Bedford Brown (1795-1870)
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1850 United States Federal Census
Name: Quinton Anderson
Age: 66
Birth Year: abt 1784
Birthplace: Caswell
Home in 1850: Caswell, North Carolina, USA
Gender: Male
Family Number: 1129
Household Members
Name Age
Quinton Anderson 66
Melissa W Anderson 38
John L Anderson 30
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1790 United States Federal Census
Name: Azariah Graves
County: Caswell
State: North Carolina
General Azariah Gravess (father of Calvin Graves) Census Records
1820: 1 white male under 10 (Calvin); 1 white male 16-25 (John); 1 white male 45 and over (Azariah); 2 white females under 10 Rebecca and Mary; 1 white female 10-15 Frances; 1 white female 16-25 (Martha); (The other 2 daughters Ann and Henrietta were married )1 white female 26-55 Elizabeth, wife; 12 slave males under 14; 6 slave males 14-25; 5 slave males 26-44; 3 slave males 45 and over; 13 slave females under 14; 8 slave females 14-25; 7 slave females 26-44; 2 slave females 45 and over. Total slaves 56. Total white persons 8.
1830: General Azariah Graves with a household total of 47. He had 38 slaves and 9 family members.
1840: Azariah Graves with a household total of 46. He had a total of 40 slaves and 6 family members.
1830 United States Federal Census
Name: Gentleman Agnerah Graces [Azariah Graves] [General Azariah Graves]
Home in 1830: , Caswell, North Carolina
View Map
Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 14: 2
Free White Persons - Males - 20 thru 29: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 60 thru 69: 1
Free White Persons - Females - Under 5: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 15 thru 19: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 20 thru 29: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 50 thru 59: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 80 thru 89: 1
Slaves - Males - Under 10: 9
Slaves - Males - 10 thru 23: 9
Slaves - Males - 24 thru 35: 2
Slaves - Males - 36 thru 54: 6
Slaves - Males - 55 thru 99: 1
Slaves - Females - Under 10: 4
Slaves - Females - 10 thru 23: 1
Slaves - Females - 24 thru 35: 1
Slaves - Females - 36 thru 54: 3
Slaves - Females - 55 thru 99: 2
Free White Persons - Under 20: 4
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49: 2
Total Free White Persons: 9
Total Slaves: 38
Total - All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored): 47
U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules, 1850-1885
Name: Azariah Graver [Azariah Graves]
Gender: Male
Marital Status: Widowed
Place of Birth: North Carolina
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1769
Age: 81
Month of Death: Mar
Cause of Death: Old Age
Census Year: 1850
Census Location: (City, County, State)
All, Caswell, North Carolina
Line: 4
Archive Collection Number: M1805
U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules Index
Surname: Ayariah Graves [Azariah Graves]
Year: 1850
County: Caswell CO.
State: NC
Age: 81
Gender: M (Male)
Month of Death: Mar
State of Birth: NC
ID#: MRT51_1940
Occupation: Farmer
Cause of Death: Old Age
New York, Death Newspaper Extracts, 1801-1890 (Barber Collection)
Name: Gen Azariah Graves
Publication Date: 2 Apr 1850
Tuesday, April 2, 1850
Caswell Co., N.C., Aprr. 82y, Gen. Azariah Graves, father of Hon. Calvin Graves and Senator in State Legislature 1898-1812.
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| Sources |
- Details: The Heritage of Caswell County, North Carolina, Jeannine D. Whitlow, Editor (1985) at 237-238 (Article #265, "Colonel Thomas Graves" by Louise Graves).
- Details: Gravestone at Trinity Baptist Church (Caswell County, North Carolina).
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: Address
: Location
: City/Town
: County/Shire
: State/Province
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: Not Set
