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Isaac Graves
chr.16 Feb 1623/24 Thundridge, Hertfordshire, England
d.19 Sep 1677 Hatfield, Hampshire, Massachusetts, United States
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m. Est 1621
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m. Bef 1647
Facts and Events
BIOGRAPHY: Genealogy of the Graves Family Isaac Graves (2), son of Thomas, born in England, probably as early as 1620, came to New England with his father settled in Hartford, Conn., before 1645, married Mary, daughter of Richard and Anna Church, who came from England in 1637; he was made freeman at General Court, Boston, Mass., May 16, 1669, was Sergeant in the Colonial Militia, and Clerk of the Writs for Hatfield, to which he had removed in 1661. He was a prominent man in his time; was one of the representatives of that portion of Hadley - that afterwards became Hatfield - who appeared before the General Court at Boston, in favor of separate church and town rights for Hatfield. He was killed in the Indian attack on the Hatfield settlement, Sept. 19, 1677; widow died June 9, 1695. During the continuance of what is usually termed "King Phillip's War," the inhabitants of these islolated frontier towns were naturally filled with forebodings of danger to their home and families. For their own protection and safety the inhabitants of Northampton, Hadley and Hatfield practically united for mutual defense and assistance. These three towns were occupied by troops from the eastern portion of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay. At Northampton 26 soldiers were located, at Hadley 30, and at Hatfield 36. This was the most exposed, as it was the frontier town. Then they had a committee, called a council of war, chosen from the several towns. Among them was Sergeant Isaac Graves. The object of this council of war was to render better security to the inhabitants of the several towns. They counseled with the commander, Major Appleton, relative to the ways and means best to be used for protection of life and property. August 25, 1675, a scouting party of ten was sent and fell into an ambuscade, and nine were killed. Then on the 17th of September we find that Captain Lathrop and his company and several teamsters from Deerfield were attacked and massacred. Only a few escaped; sixty-four were buried in on grave as the result of the "Bloody Brook" fight. Seventeen of the sixty-four were Deerfield men. In consequence of the numerous attacks by the Indians, the people, with the view of better protection, built a stockade, probably in the autumn of the year 1675, composed of posts of timber set in the ground, and about ten feet high. This stockade was built on both sides of Main street, some twelve or fifteen rods from the east and west lines of the street, extending north from the Northampton road, not far from 100 rods. This stockade enclosed the bulk of the village. The houses of Isaac and John Graves were within the stockade. Unfortunately for them, on the 19th of September, 1677, they were both employed in building a house for John Graves, Jr., about half a mile above the northerly end of the stockade, on a lot adjoining that of Sergeant Benjamin Waite. Without any warning or thought of danger they were attacked by the Indians, and Isaac and John shot down while engaged, as one tradition has it, "in laying shingles on the roof of the house," and with them were likewise two other men who were working with them, John Atchinson and John Cooper. Eight others were killed, and we presume scalped, as the account speaks of them as being disfigured, and seventeen were made prisoners. All but one, Obadiah Dickinson, were women and children. We give a view of the beautiful location where these stalwart and honored citizens were killed, feeling that as all of the Thomas Graves descendants trace back to one or the other of these brothers, every one of the great family must take and interest in learning these incidents and viewing the picture we here present. References
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