~ Rear Admiral Thomas Graves
••~════~••~════~••~════~••
Birthdate: 6 June 1605
Birthplace: Radcliffe, Stepney, Middlesex, England
Death: 31 July 1653 - Aboard the St. Andrew in the Battle of Scheveningen
Charlestown, Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts Colony, USA.
Occupation: Shipmaster, Rear Admiral, Thomas was a mariner. For some years he commanded a vessel running between Massachusetts and ports in England. He captured a Dutch ship in the British Channel and was appointed "Captain" in 1632.
Freeman 13 May, Massachusetts Colony, MA
1639
Thomas Graves was born on 6 June 1605 at Ratcliff, England, near London (or at Stepney, England. He was baptized 16 June 1605 at Stepney, part of the city of London, and died 31 July 1653 (old style calendar, 31st day, 5th month, 1653) in a sea battle.
•~••~════~••~════~••~════~••~•
Captain Thomas Graves (1605-1653) was born in Radcliffe, ENGLAND. In 1630 in England he married Katherine Gray (1605-1683). They came to live in Charlestown, Massachusetts circa 1636. Thomas was a mariner. For some years he commanded a vessel running between Massachusetts and ports in England. He captured a Dutch ship in the British Channel and was appointed "Captain" in 1632. "Captain" Thomas Graves died in 1653 in Charlestown, Massachusetts. CHILD: Rebecca (Graves) Adams (1631-1664) Married: Samuel Adams (1616-1688) in Charlestown, Massachusetts in 1653.
Captained frequent voyages across the Atlantic on ships "Reformation", "Desire", "Adventure", and "Talbot" bringing passengers from England. He settled in Charlestown in 1639 but returned to England to participate in the Civil War* in the British Navy, where he attained the rank of Rear Admiral and was the first Admiral at Charlestown, MA. He was killed in action in a battle with the Dutch.
Thomas Graves was born 6 June 1605 at Ratcliff, England, near London (or at Stepney, England), was baptized 16 June 1605 at Stepney, part of the city of London, and died 31 July 1653 (old style calendar, 31st day, 5th month, 1653) in a sea battle with the Dutch in the English Channel. A number of sources say he died in Charlestown, Massachusetts.
He married Katherine (or Katharine or Catharine) Gray before 1635 (probably by 1630) in England. She was born about 1606 in Harwich, England, died on 21 Feb. 1682 old style calendar, 21, 12, 1681, and was buried 23 Feb. 1681/2. She was a daughter of Thomas Gray and Katherine Myles (daughter and coheir of Robert Myles, of Sutton, in County Suffolk. Thomas Gray died in 1607, and his widow married on 23 Dec. 1610 at Harwick, England, Rowland Coytemore, of Wapping next to London, in Middlesex, a widower, who died in 1626; she came to New England in 1636 or 1637 and settled in Charlestown, Mass.; was admitted to the church in 1638, and died 28 November 1659. Her will, dated 28 or 30 April 1658 named 14 grandchildren, including the 5 children of her daughter Katherine. An article in the NEHGS Register gives much more information on the Myles family, and also says that Katherine (Myles) Gray had 6 children.
Katherine Coytemore, mother of Thomas Graves' wife, with her son Thomas and wife and her daughter Elizabeth, also came to America, probably at the same time as the family of Thomas Graves.
Arrival-
arrived on the George Bonaventure Salem, Massachusetts, USA
1629
1630_
Mate of the Arabella, Master of the Plantation
Emigration
Ship 'Arbella'
1631-
Master of the Plough
1632-
Master of the Whale
BET. 1633 - 1634
Master of the Reformation and Elizabeth Bonaventura
1635-
Master of the James
Emigrated_
BET. 1636 - 1637
Charlestown, MA
7 OCT 1639_
Admitted to First Church, Charlestown with his wife
13 MAY 1640-
Made freeman at general court in Boston
1643
Master of the Tryall, 1st American ship built on her second voyage
30 MAY 1652-
Appointed by Parliament captain of the frigate President in the Royal Navy on 30 May 1652
In WiII -
13 JUN 1652
Will was deposited with his brother Abraham in England.
Will -
13 June 1652
Charlestown, Suffolk, MA
1653-
Appointed rear admiral of the White
31 JUL 1653 -
While onboard the St. Andrew(360 men and 56 guns) he was killed participating in a naval
probate -
1 DEC 1653-
Charlestown, Massachusetts Bay, British Colonial America
••~════~••~════~••~════~••
Spouse:
Katherine (Gray) Graves
Birth: 30 June 1605, Harwich, Essex, England
Death: 21 February 1681/83
Charlestown. Massachusetts,
Suffolk County, New England Colonies the USA
••~════~••~════~••~════~••
Parents
John Henry Graves (1581 - 1637)
Sarah (Malter) Graves
••~════~••~════~••~════~••
Children
of Rebecca Graves Adams; Captain John Graves; William Graves; Thomas Graves; Nathaniel Graves
••~════~••~════~••~════~••
Sources:
FamilySearch, Ancestry, Rootsweb, and family history.Genealogy of the Graves Family: http://archive.org/
NOTE:
I HAVE SPONSORED MY ANCESTOR "Rear Admiral Thomas Graves'~ MEMORIAL.
Rose∼Thomas was baptized June 16, 1605, in Stepney, Essex, England, at St. Dunstan Church, the son of John Graves and Sarah Malter Graves.
He died at sea and was buried 8 AUG 1653 Aldborough Bay, Suffolk, England.
The Battle of Scheveningen, in which Rear Admiral Thomas Graves died from a Dutch fireship attack on his 42-gun vessel, the Painting by Jan Abrahamsz Beerstraaten, 1654. Courtesy Wikimedia Commons.
This was the final naval battle of the First Anglo-Dutch War. It took place on 31 July 1653 between the fleets of the Commonwealth of England and the United Provinces and had no clear victory.
Various accounts of this particular Thomas Graves exist, many erroneous due to careless research and confusion among several men of the same name.
For now, we can safely say the following, based on genealogies and historical accounts.
Thomas Graves, for whom Graves Ledge is named, was born in Stepney, London, England, in 1605. His father was a shipwright and his son Thomas took to sea early.
The following website explains the MANY errors re this ancestor's history
http://graveslightstation.com/about-graves-light-boston/thomas-graves-1605-1653/
"For generations, the descendants of passengers of the Elizabeth Bonaventure have looked for clues as to the origin of the ship's master John Graves... One group of descendants of rear admiral Thomas Graves claims he was the master of the Elizabeth Bonaventure in both 1633 and 34. This is supported by a 19th century manuscript by John Card Graves detailing the family line, and a copy is in my possession. Unfortunately, the source material references weren't included with the manuscript. . . . At the time of the 1633 voyage John would have been in his fifties and his son Thomas would be 28 years old, an experienced mariner, and ships master. I only mention this because of the slight possibility that it was actually John.. . ."
": From the Graves Family website www.gravesfa.org
"Thomas Graves made frequent voyages across the Atlantic, bringing passengers from England. He settled in Charlestown about 1639, and returned to England to participate in the Civil War, where he attained the rank of Rear Admiral [TAG 32:14]."
From Robert Charles Anderson: "The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England, 1620-1633," vols. 1-3. Boston, MA: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1995.
"Thomas Graves sprang from prominent shipbuilding and mariner family of London and came to America as early as 1628. He was a skillful shipmaster and was mate of the Talbot, in which Higginson came to Salem, Mass. in 1629. He was mate of the Arabella, master of the Plantation in 1630, master of the Plough in 1631, of the Whale in 1632, of the Reformation, and Elizabeth Bonaventura in 1633 and 1634, and of the James in 1635. He was master of the first American-built ship, the Tryall, on her second voyage in June 1643, and followed the sea more or less until his death. He brought his family (consisting of his wife and two children) to America about 1636 or 1637 and settled in Charlestown, Mass., probably at the same time that his wife's mother came.•═•
•═• Ninth Great-Grandfather •═•
••~════~••~════~••~════~••
Birthdate: 6 June 1605
Birthplace: Radcliffe, Stepney, Middlesex, England
Death: 31 July 1653 - Aboard the St. Andrew in the Battle of Scheveningen
Charlestown, Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts Colony, USA.
Occupation: Shipmaster, Rear Admiral, Thomas was a mariner. For some years he commanded a vessel running between Massachusetts and ports in England. He captured a Dutch ship in the British Channel and was appointed "Captain" in 1632.
Freeman 13 May, Massachusetts Colony, MA
1639
Thomas Graves was born on 6 June 1605 at Ratcliff, England, near London (or at Stepney, England. He was baptized 16 June 1605 at Stepney, part of the city of London, and died 31 July 1653 (old style calendar, 31st day, 5th month, 1653) in a sea battle.
•~••~════~••~════~••~════~••~•
Captain Thomas Graves (1605-1653) was born in Radcliffe, ENGLAND. In 1630 in England he married Katherine Gray (1605-1683). They came to live in Charlestown, Massachusetts circa 1636. Thomas was a mariner. For some years he commanded a vessel running between Massachusetts and ports in England. He captured a Dutch ship in the British Channel and was appointed "Captain" in 1632. "Captain" Thomas Graves died in 1653 in Charlestown, Massachusetts. CHILD: Rebecca (Graves) Adams (1631-1664) Married: Samuel Adams (1616-1688) in Charlestown, Massachusetts in 1653.
Captained frequent voyages across the Atlantic on ships "Reformation", "Desire", "Adventure", and "Talbot" bringing passengers from England. He settled in Charlestown in 1639 but returned to England to participate in the Civil War* in the British Navy, where he attained the rank of Rear Admiral and was the first Admiral at Charlestown, MA. He was killed in action in a battle with the Dutch.
Thomas Graves was born 6 June 1605 at Ratcliff, England, near London (or at Stepney, England), was baptized 16 June 1605 at Stepney, part of the city of London, and died 31 July 1653 (old style calendar, 31st day, 5th month, 1653) in a sea battle with the Dutch in the English Channel. A number of sources say he died in Charlestown, Massachusetts.
He married Katherine (or Katharine or Catharine) Gray before 1635 (probably by 1630) in England. She was born about 1606 in Harwich, England, died on 21 Feb. 1682 old style calendar, 21, 12, 1681, and was buried 23 Feb. 1681/2. She was a daughter of Thomas Gray and Katherine Myles (daughter and coheir of Robert Myles, of Sutton, in County Suffolk. Thomas Gray died in 1607, and his widow married on 23 Dec. 1610 at Harwick, England, Rowland Coytemore, of Wapping next to London, in Middlesex, a widower, who died in 1626; she came to New England in 1636 or 1637 and settled in Charlestown, Mass.; was admitted to the church in 1638, and died 28 November 1659. Her will, dated 28 or 30 April 1658 named 14 grandchildren, including the 5 children of her daughter Katherine. An article in the NEHGS Register gives much more information on the Myles family, and also says that Katherine (Myles) Gray had 6 children.
Katherine Coytemore, mother of Thomas Graves' wife, with her son Thomas and wife and her daughter Elizabeth, also came to America, probably at the same time as the family of Thomas Graves.
Arrival-
arrived on the George Bonaventure Salem, Massachusetts, USA
1629
1630_
Mate of the Arabella, Master of the Plantation
Emigration
Ship 'Arbella'
1631-
Master of the Plough
1632-
Master of the Whale
BET. 1633 - 1634
Master of the Reformation and Elizabeth Bonaventura
1635-
Master of the James
Emigrated_
BET. 1636 - 1637
Charlestown, MA
7 OCT 1639_
Admitted to First Church, Charlestown with his wife
13 MAY 1640-
Made freeman at general court in Boston
1643
Master of the Tryall, 1st American ship built on her second voyage
30 MAY 1652-
Appointed by Parliament captain of the frigate President in the Royal Navy on 30 May 1652
In WiII -
13 JUN 1652
Will was deposited with his brother Abraham in England.
Will -
13 June 1652
Charlestown, Suffolk, MA
1653-
Appointed rear admiral of the White
31 JUL 1653 -
While onboard the St. Andrew(360 men and 56 guns) he was killed participating in a naval
probate -
1 DEC 1653-
Charlestown, Massachusetts Bay, British Colonial America
••~════~••~════~••~════~••
Spouse:
Katherine (Gray) Graves
Birth: 30 June 1605, Harwich, Essex, England
Death: 21 February 1681/83
Charlestown. Massachusetts,
Suffolk County, New England Colonies the USA
••~════~••~════~••~════~••
Parents
John Henry Graves (1581 - 1637)
Sarah (Malter) Graves
••~════~••~════~••~════~••
Children
of Rebecca Graves Adams; Captain John Graves; William Graves; Thomas Graves; Nathaniel Graves
••~════~••~════~••~════~••
Sources:
FamilySearch, Ancestry, Rootsweb, and family history.Genealogy of the Graves Family: http://archive.org/
NOTE:
I HAVE SPONSORED MY ANCESTOR "Rear Admiral Thomas Graves'~ MEMORIAL.
Rose∼Thomas was baptized June 16, 1605, in Stepney, Essex, England, at St. Dunstan Church, the son of John Graves and Sarah Malter Graves.
He died at sea and was buried 8 AUG 1653 Aldborough Bay, Suffolk, England.
The Battle of Scheveningen, in which Rear Admiral Thomas Graves died from a Dutch fireship attack on his 42-gun vessel, the Painting by Jan Abrahamsz Beerstraaten, 1654. Courtesy Wikimedia Commons.
This was the final naval battle of the First Anglo-Dutch War. It took place on 31 July 1653 between the fleets of the Commonwealth of England and the United Provinces and had no clear victory.
Various accounts of this particular Thomas Graves exist, many erroneous due to careless research and confusion among several men of the same name.
For now, we can safely say the following, based on genealogies and historical accounts.
Thomas Graves, for whom Graves Ledge is named, was born in Stepney, London, England, in 1605. His father was a shipwright and his son Thomas took to sea early.
The following website explains the MANY errors re this ancestor's history
http://graveslightstation.com/about-graves-light-boston/thomas-graves-1605-1653/
"For generations, the descendants of passengers of the Elizabeth Bonaventure have looked for clues as to the origin of the ship's master John Graves... One group of descendants of rear admiral Thomas Graves claims he was the master of the Elizabeth Bonaventure in both 1633 and 34. This is supported by a 19th century manuscript by John Card Graves detailing the family line, and a copy is in my possession. Unfortunately, the source material references weren't included with the manuscript. . . . At the time of the 1633 voyage John would have been in his fifties and his son Thomas would be 28 years old, an experienced mariner, and ships master. I only mention this because of the slight possibility that it was actually John.. . ."
": From the Graves Family website www.gravesfa.org
"Thomas Graves made frequent voyages across the Atlantic, bringing passengers from England. He settled in Charlestown about 1639, and returned to England to participate in the Civil War, where he attained the rank of Rear Admiral [TAG 32:14]."
From Robert Charles Anderson: "The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England, 1620-1633," vols. 1-3. Boston, MA: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1995.
"Thomas Graves sprang from prominent shipbuilding and mariner family of London and came to America as early as 1628. He was a skillful shipmaster and was mate of the Talbot, in which Higginson came to Salem, Mass. in 1629. He was mate of the Arabella, master of the Plantation in 1630, master of the Plough in 1631, of the Whale in 1632, of the Reformation, and Elizabeth Bonaventura in 1633 and 1634, and of the James in 1635. He was master of the first American-built ship, the Tryall, on her second voyage in June 1643, and followed the sea more or less until his death. He brought his family (consisting of his wife and two children) to America about 1636 or 1637 and settled in Charlestown, Mass., probably at the same time that his wife's mother came.•═•
•═• Ninth Great-Grandfather •═•
~ Rear Admiral Thomas Graves
••~════~••~════~••~════~••
Birthdate: 6 June 1605
Birthplace: Radcliffe, Stepney, Middlesex, England
Death: 31 July 1653 - Aboard the St. Andrew in the Battle of Scheveningen
Charlestown, Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts Colony, USA.
Occupation: Shipmaster, Rear Admiral, Thomas was a mariner. For some years he commanded a vessel running between Massachusetts and ports in England. He captured a Dutch ship in the British Channel and was appointed "Captain" in 1632.
Freeman 13 May, Massachusetts Colony, MA
1639
Thomas Graves was born on 6 June 1605 at Ratcliff, England, near London (or at Stepney, England. He was baptized 16 June 1605 at Stepney, part of the city of London, and died 31 July 1653 (old style calendar, 31st day, 5th month, 1653) in a sea battle.
•~••~════~••~════~••~════~••~•
Captain Thomas Graves (1605-1653) was born in Radcliffe, ENGLAND. In 1630 in England he married Katherine Gray (1605-1683). They came to live in Charlestown, Massachusetts circa 1636. Thomas was a mariner. For some years he commanded a vessel running between Massachusetts and ports in England. He captured a Dutch ship in the British Channel and was appointed "Captain" in 1632. "Captain" Thomas Graves died in 1653 in Charlestown, Massachusetts. CHILD: Rebecca (Graves) Adams (1631-1664) Married: Samuel Adams (1616-1688) in Charlestown, Massachusetts in 1653.
Captained frequent voyages across the Atlantic on ships "Reformation", "Desire", "Adventure", and "Talbot" bringing passengers from England. He settled in Charlestown in 1639 but returned to England to participate in the Civil War* in the British Navy, where he attained the rank of Rear Admiral and was the first Admiral at Charlestown, MA. He was killed in action in a battle with the Dutch.
Thomas Graves was born 6 June 1605 at Ratcliff, England, near London (or at Stepney, England), was baptized 16 June 1605 at Stepney, part of the city of London, and died 31 July 1653 (old style calendar, 31st day, 5th month, 1653) in a sea battle with the Dutch in the English Channel. A number of sources say he died in Charlestown, Massachusetts.
He married Katherine (or Katharine or Catharine) Gray before 1635 (probably by 1630) in England. She was born about 1606 in Harwich, England, died on 21 Feb. 1682 old style calendar, 21, 12, 1681, and was buried 23 Feb. 1681/2. She was a daughter of Thomas Gray and Katherine Myles (daughter and coheir of Robert Myles, of Sutton, in County Suffolk. Thomas Gray died in 1607, and his widow married on 23 Dec. 1610 at Harwick, England, Rowland Coytemore, of Wapping next to London, in Middlesex, a widower, who died in 1626; she came to New England in 1636 or 1637 and settled in Charlestown, Mass.; was admitted to the church in 1638, and died 28 November 1659. Her will, dated 28 or 30 April 1658 named 14 grandchildren, including the 5 children of her daughter Katherine. An article in the NEHGS Register gives much more information on the Myles family, and also says that Katherine (Myles) Gray had 6 children.
Katherine Coytemore, mother of Thomas Graves' wife, with her son Thomas and wife and her daughter Elizabeth, also came to America, probably at the same time as the family of Thomas Graves.
Arrival-
arrived on the George Bonaventure Salem, Massachusetts, USA
1629
1630_
Mate of the Arabella, Master of the Plantation
Emigration
Ship 'Arbella'
1631-
Master of the Plough
1632-
Master of the Whale
BET. 1633 - 1634
Master of the Reformation and Elizabeth Bonaventura
1635-
Master of the James
Emigrated_
BET. 1636 - 1637
Charlestown, MA
7 OCT 1639_
Admitted to First Church, Charlestown with his wife
13 MAY 1640-
Made freeman at general court in Boston
1643
Master of the Tryall, 1st American ship built on her second voyage
30 MAY 1652-
Appointed by Parliament captain of the frigate President in the Royal Navy on 30 May 1652
In WiII -
13 JUN 1652
Will was deposited with his brother Abraham in England.
Will -
13 June 1652
Charlestown, Suffolk, MA
1653-
Appointed rear admiral of the White
31 JUL 1653 -
While onboard the St. Andrew(360 men and 56 guns) he was killed participating in a naval
probate -
1 DEC 1653-
Charlestown, Massachusetts Bay, British Colonial America
••~════~••~════~••~════~••
Spouse:
Katherine (Gray) Graves
Birth: 30 June 1605, Harwich, Essex, England
Death: 21 February 1681/83
Charlestown. Massachusetts,
Suffolk County, New England Colonies the USA
••~════~••~════~••~════~••
Parents
John Henry Graves (1581 - 1637)
Sarah (Malter) Graves
••~════~••~════~••~════~••
Children
of Rebecca Graves Adams; Captain John Graves; William Graves; Thomas Graves; Nathaniel Graves
••~════~••~════~••~════~••
Sources:
FamilySearch, Ancestry, Rootsweb, and family history.Genealogy of the Graves Family: http://archive.org/
NOTE:
I HAVE SPONSORED MY ANCESTOR "Rear Admiral Thomas Graves'~ MEMORIAL.
Rose∼Thomas was baptized June 16, 1605, in Stepney, Essex, England, at St. Dunstan Church, the son of John Graves and Sarah Malter Graves.
He died at sea and was buried 8 AUG 1653 Aldborough Bay, Suffolk, England.
The Battle of Scheveningen, in which Rear Admiral Thomas Graves died from a Dutch fireship attack on his 42-gun vessel, the Painting by Jan Abrahamsz Beerstraaten, 1654. Courtesy Wikimedia Commons.
This was the final naval battle of the First Anglo-Dutch War. It took place on 31 July 1653 between the fleets of the Commonwealth of England and the United Provinces and had no clear victory.
Various accounts of this particular Thomas Graves exist, many erroneous due to careless research and confusion among several men of the same name.
For now, we can safely say the following, based on genealogies and historical accounts.
Thomas Graves, for whom Graves Ledge is named, was born in Stepney, London, England, in 1605. His father was a shipwright and his son Thomas took to sea early.
The following website explains the MANY errors re this ancestor's history
http://graveslightstation.com/about-graves-light-boston/thomas-graves-1605-1653/
"For generations, the descendants of passengers of the Elizabeth Bonaventure have looked for clues as to the origin of the ship's master John Graves... One group of descendants of rear admiral Thomas Graves claims he was the master of the Elizabeth Bonaventure in both 1633 and 34. This is supported by a 19th century manuscript by John Card Graves detailing the family line, and a copy is in my possession. Unfortunately, the source material references weren't included with the manuscript. . . . At the time of the 1633 voyage John would have been in his fifties and his son Thomas would be 28 years old, an experienced mariner, and ships master. I only mention this because of the slight possibility that it was actually John.. . ."
": From the Graves Family website www.gravesfa.org
"Thomas Graves made frequent voyages across the Atlantic, bringing passengers from England. He settled in Charlestown about 1639, and returned to England to participate in the Civil War, where he attained the rank of Rear Admiral [TAG 32:14]."
From Robert Charles Anderson: "The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England, 1620-1633," vols. 1-3. Boston, MA: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1995.
"Thomas Graves sprang from prominent shipbuilding and mariner family of London and came to America as early as 1628. He was a skillful shipmaster and was mate of the Talbot, in which Higginson came to Salem, Mass. in 1629. He was mate of the Arabella, master of the Plantation in 1630, master of the Plough in 1631, of the Whale in 1632, of the Reformation, and Elizabeth Bonaventura in 1633 and 1634, and of the James in 1635. He was master of the first American-built ship, the Tryall, on her second voyage in June 1643, and followed the sea more or less until his death. He brought his family (consisting of his wife and two children) to America about 1636 or 1637 and settled in Charlestown, Mass., probably at the same time that his wife's mother came.•═•
•═• Ninth Great-Grandfather •═•
••~════~••~════~••~════~••
Birthdate: 6 June 1605
Birthplace: Radcliffe, Stepney, Middlesex, England
Death: 31 July 1653 - Aboard the St. Andrew in the Battle of Scheveningen
Charlestown, Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts Colony, USA.
Occupation: Shipmaster, Rear Admiral, Thomas was a mariner. For some years he commanded a vessel running between Massachusetts and ports in England. He captured a Dutch ship in the British Channel and was appointed "Captain" in 1632.
Freeman 13 May, Massachusetts Colony, MA
1639
Thomas Graves was born on 6 June 1605 at Ratcliff, England, near London (or at Stepney, England. He was baptized 16 June 1605 at Stepney, part of the city of London, and died 31 July 1653 (old style calendar, 31st day, 5th month, 1653) in a sea battle.
•~••~════~••~════~••~════~••~•
Captain Thomas Graves (1605-1653) was born in Radcliffe, ENGLAND. In 1630 in England he married Katherine Gray (1605-1683). They came to live in Charlestown, Massachusetts circa 1636. Thomas was a mariner. For some years he commanded a vessel running between Massachusetts and ports in England. He captured a Dutch ship in the British Channel and was appointed "Captain" in 1632. "Captain" Thomas Graves died in 1653 in Charlestown, Massachusetts. CHILD: Rebecca (Graves) Adams (1631-1664) Married: Samuel Adams (1616-1688) in Charlestown, Massachusetts in 1653.
Captained frequent voyages across the Atlantic on ships "Reformation", "Desire", "Adventure", and "Talbot" bringing passengers from England. He settled in Charlestown in 1639 but returned to England to participate in the Civil War* in the British Navy, where he attained the rank of Rear Admiral and was the first Admiral at Charlestown, MA. He was killed in action in a battle with the Dutch.
Thomas Graves was born 6 June 1605 at Ratcliff, England, near London (or at Stepney, England), was baptized 16 June 1605 at Stepney, part of the city of London, and died 31 July 1653 (old style calendar, 31st day, 5th month, 1653) in a sea battle with the Dutch in the English Channel. A number of sources say he died in Charlestown, Massachusetts.
He married Katherine (or Katharine or Catharine) Gray before 1635 (probably by 1630) in England. She was born about 1606 in Harwich, England, died on 21 Feb. 1682 old style calendar, 21, 12, 1681, and was buried 23 Feb. 1681/2. She was a daughter of Thomas Gray and Katherine Myles (daughter and coheir of Robert Myles, of Sutton, in County Suffolk. Thomas Gray died in 1607, and his widow married on 23 Dec. 1610 at Harwick, England, Rowland Coytemore, of Wapping next to London, in Middlesex, a widower, who died in 1626; she came to New England in 1636 or 1637 and settled in Charlestown, Mass.; was admitted to the church in 1638, and died 28 November 1659. Her will, dated 28 or 30 April 1658 named 14 grandchildren, including the 5 children of her daughter Katherine. An article in the NEHGS Register gives much more information on the Myles family, and also says that Katherine (Myles) Gray had 6 children.
Katherine Coytemore, mother of Thomas Graves' wife, with her son Thomas and wife and her daughter Elizabeth, also came to America, probably at the same time as the family of Thomas Graves.
Arrival-
arrived on the George Bonaventure Salem, Massachusetts, USA
1629
1630_
Mate of the Arabella, Master of the Plantation
Emigration
Ship 'Arbella'
1631-
Master of the Plough
1632-
Master of the Whale
BET. 1633 - 1634
Master of the Reformation and Elizabeth Bonaventura
1635-
Master of the James
Emigrated_
BET. 1636 - 1637
Charlestown, MA
7 OCT 1639_
Admitted to First Church, Charlestown with his wife
13 MAY 1640-
Made freeman at general court in Boston
1643
Master of the Tryall, 1st American ship built on her second voyage
30 MAY 1652-
Appointed by Parliament captain of the frigate President in the Royal Navy on 30 May 1652
In WiII -
13 JUN 1652
Will was deposited with his brother Abraham in England.
Will -
13 June 1652
Charlestown, Suffolk, MA
1653-
Appointed rear admiral of the White
31 JUL 1653 -
While onboard the St. Andrew(360 men and 56 guns) he was killed participating in a naval
probate -
1 DEC 1653-
Charlestown, Massachusetts Bay, British Colonial America
••~════~••~════~••~════~••
Spouse:
Katherine (Gray) Graves
Birth: 30 June 1605, Harwich, Essex, England
Death: 21 February 1681/83
Charlestown. Massachusetts,
Suffolk County, New England Colonies the USA
••~════~••~════~••~════~••
Parents
John Henry Graves (1581 - 1637)
Sarah (Malter) Graves
••~════~••~════~••~════~••
Children
of Rebecca Graves Adams; Captain John Graves; William Graves; Thomas Graves; Nathaniel Graves
••~════~••~════~••~════~••
Sources:
FamilySearch, Ancestry, Rootsweb, and family history.Genealogy of the Graves Family: http://archive.org/
NOTE:
I HAVE SPONSORED MY ANCESTOR "Rear Admiral Thomas Graves'~ MEMORIAL.
Rose∼Thomas was baptized June 16, 1605, in Stepney, Essex, England, at St. Dunstan Church, the son of John Graves and Sarah Malter Graves.
He died at sea and was buried 8 AUG 1653 Aldborough Bay, Suffolk, England.
The Battle of Scheveningen, in which Rear Admiral Thomas Graves died from a Dutch fireship attack on his 42-gun vessel, the Painting by Jan Abrahamsz Beerstraaten, 1654. Courtesy Wikimedia Commons.
This was the final naval battle of the First Anglo-Dutch War. It took place on 31 July 1653 between the fleets of the Commonwealth of England and the United Provinces and had no clear victory.
Various accounts of this particular Thomas Graves exist, many erroneous due to careless research and confusion among several men of the same name.
For now, we can safely say the following, based on genealogies and historical accounts.
Thomas Graves, for whom Graves Ledge is named, was born in Stepney, London, England, in 1605. His father was a shipwright and his son Thomas took to sea early.
The following website explains the MANY errors re this ancestor's history
http://graveslightstation.com/about-graves-light-boston/thomas-graves-1605-1653/
"For generations, the descendants of passengers of the Elizabeth Bonaventure have looked for clues as to the origin of the ship's master John Graves... One group of descendants of rear admiral Thomas Graves claims he was the master of the Elizabeth Bonaventure in both 1633 and 34. This is supported by a 19th century manuscript by John Card Graves detailing the family line, and a copy is in my possession. Unfortunately, the source material references weren't included with the manuscript. . . . At the time of the 1633 voyage John would have been in his fifties and his son Thomas would be 28 years old, an experienced mariner, and ships master. I only mention this because of the slight possibility that it was actually John.. . ."
": From the Graves Family website www.gravesfa.org
"Thomas Graves made frequent voyages across the Atlantic, bringing passengers from England. He settled in Charlestown about 1639, and returned to England to participate in the Civil War, where he attained the rank of Rear Admiral [TAG 32:14]."
From Robert Charles Anderson: "The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England, 1620-1633," vols. 1-3. Boston, MA: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1995.
"Thomas Graves sprang from prominent shipbuilding and mariner family of London and came to America as early as 1628. He was a skillful shipmaster and was mate of the Talbot, in which Higginson came to Salem, Mass. in 1629. He was mate of the Arabella, master of the Plantation in 1630, master of the Plough in 1631, of the Whale in 1632, of the Reformation, and Elizabeth Bonaventura in 1633 and 1634, and of the James in 1635. He was master of the first American-built ship, the Tryall, on her second voyage in June 1643, and followed the sea more or less until his death. He brought his family (consisting of his wife and two children) to America about 1636 or 1637 and settled in Charlestown, Mass., probably at the same time that his wife's mother came.•═•
•═• Ninth Great-Grandfather •═•
Gravesite Details
Thomas Graves was killed in an engagement with the Dutch off the Suffolk coast 31 July 1653. His body was brought ashore at Aldeburgh and buried there the same day [NEHGR 57:197].
