Researching a surname like Graves, particularly in North Carolina in the early days, is fraught with danger--because there are so many of them. I have been led to believe, based on correspondence, and some preliminary personal research, that the Graves family of Granville Co., NC and that Graves family of Caswell Co., NC are not related. Perhaps they had a common ancestor in Virginia, but I think that will be difficult to prove. William Graves of Granville Co., NC - will written 24 Apr 1786 and proved in May court 1786 by oath of Henry Graves and John Wms. Graves. Mary Graves [wife?], William Graves, & Nathaniel Graves qualified as Executrix and Executors. Children named in the will: Dau Mary Hester - land, one male slave, one beast & saddle, one feather bead & Virginia the land purchased of Fagins [should probably read *in Virginia*] Dau Elizabeth Montague - land already in her possession; additional lands etc. Dau Nancy - no land; two slaves; stock; household stuff Son Henry Graves - land he now lives on, two slaves, one beast & saddle; quantity of stock and household stuff Son William Graves - part of the tract of land I now live on, on Spewmarrow, two slaves, one beast & saddle, stock & Household stuff Dau Lidy - two slaves, one beast & saddle, quantity of stock & household stuff Son Nathaniel Graves - remainder of land I now live on, two slaves, one best & saddle, quantity of stock & household stuff Dau Anna two slaves, [same items as others are to receive] Dau Martha - two slaves, etc. Beloved wife Mary Graves - the land I hold in Virginia, stock, household furniture & everything that I have not given away Four youngest children to have 40 pounds each to make equal with my other daus. If any Negroes be judgd to be 60 years of age, they shall be free & a maintenance allowed them out of my Estate My beloved wife & son & my son William Graves & my son Nathaniel Graves executors [Extracted from Timothy W. Rackley, GRANVILLE COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA ORIGINAL WILLS VOL I [Kernersville, NC: Published by author, 2002], p. 38-39) Comment: I suspect but cannot prove at this point that another testator, John Williams Graves of Granville Co., who wrote his will 1 Dec 1788 (proved Feb Court [1789? dt not given by author] may be a brother of William Graves. He names only two sons: John and Ralph. His wife Mary Graves Executrix; *my brother* Henry Graves, Executor. (Rackley, p. 38) Later Henry Graves of Granville Co. wrote his will 12 July 1797. Wife Rachel Graves; dau. Betsey Graves; dau Mary Yancey. sons Ralph Graves, David Graves. Rachel Graves to be executrix; Lewis Yance and Ralph Graves and David Graves, executors. Proved Aug court 1797 (Rackley, p. 37) My comment to you: Vast databases, such as those on the internet, or on CD-ROM, mostly should be used as guides only and not reliable proof. Long ago, in William & Mary Quarterly, some of which is on a CD-ROM, a Mrs. Hiden wrote about a Graves family, but my memory was it was not the one which seems to be linked to those in Caswell Co., NC. Depending on the time period when your Graves family was alive, you might well search the counties just across the Virginia boundary to find associates of your Graves families. Those in Caswell Co. have rather distinctive first names, as I remember, unlike the Henry and Ralphs you find in families whose grandfather probably lived (and probably died) in colonial Hanover Co., VA. Margaret M. Hofmann's books on land grants in the Granville District might help you in that the chain carriers were frequently close associates of the grantee. In a couple of cases I have found that their family members or close associates seem to have come over from Virginia to carry the chain!!! And then returned to Virginia!!! Even as far away as Northern Neck Virginia. E.W.Wallace