Rev. 22 Jan. 2010, Gen. 191

DESCENDANTS OF SARAH GRAVES AND MICHAEL ISRAEL

OF VA & NC

GENERATION 1

Sarah Graves (1) was probably born about 1736-40, based on the age of her husband. She may have been a sister of Mary Graves who married Col. Benjamin Cleveland and was a daughter of Joseph Graves who died in 1774. Joseph Graves was a brother of Thomas Graves who married Ann Davenport, and both Joseph and Thomas were sons of John Graves of genealogy 270.

Sarah married Michael Israel. He was born about 1736 and died in early 1820. His father was Solomon Israel and his mother was probably an Owenshire. He is assumed to have been at least 21 years of age in 1758 when he obtained an original grant, number 32, of 82 acres in Albemarle Co., VA.

In the midst of the Revolutionary War, in 1778 or 1779, Michael and Sarah Israel left Albemarle Co., VA and settled in Wilkes Co., NC. In 1805, when Michael was close to 70 years of age, he moved to Buncombe Co., NC.

Michael Israel died intestate, so the courts were involved in the settlement of his estate. In April of 1820, the court appointed Michael Israel, Jr., a son of Michael Israel, and William Israel, a grandson of Michael Israel, as administrators of his estate. Since the courts met quarterly, Michael Israel would have died between January 1820 and April 1820.

Sarah did not live long after 1822. It is not known exactly when she died, but it was before 11 Sept. 1824, when her legatees signed a bill of sale for Sarah’s slaves, Hannah and her child Trudy.

Both Michael and Sarah were buried in a family graveyard on a rolling hillside above the French Broad River on their plantation at Avery’s Creek, Buncombe Co., NC. All their children were born in Albemarle Co., VA, with the possible exception of the last, who may have been born in Wilkes Co., NC.

The similarity of this family to that of John Graves and Margery Harvey of Randolph Co., NC, is striking. The Gilliam and Watkins names are in both, and many members of both families moved to Missouri and Indiana. See also the comments with the record of Sarah Israel (3). (R‑100)

Children - Israel

+2. Mary Israel, b. 1755, m. Thompson Epperson, 22 Sept. 1782, d. 6 Nov. 1843.

+3. Sarah Israel, b.c. 1763, m(1) ‑‑‑‑‑‑ Ballew, m(2) Epaphroditus Gilliam.

+4. John Israel, b. 1765, m. Sarah Edmundson, 12 May 1795, d. 1837.

+5. Johnson Israel, b. 1767, m. Ann (or Anna) Hisaw, d. 1854.

+6. Jesse Israel, b.c. 1769, m. Mary Jones, d. 1806 or 1807.

+7. Solomon Israel, b. 1774, m. Nancy Alloway Strange, 27 Feb. 1797.

+8. Catey Israel, b.c. 1775, m. Robert Edmundson, 1798.

+9. Michael Israel, Jr., b. 1778, m. Sarah Coffey, 26 Feb. 1800, d. 1866.

+10. Isom Israel, b.c. 1780, m(1) Judy Alloway Strange, 22 Dec. 1801, m(2) Neaty Parr, 28 March 1823.

GENERATION 2

CHILDREN OF SARAH GRAVES (1) AND MICHAEL ISRAEL

Mary Israel (2) was probably born in 1755 (although it may have been as late as 1760) in VA, and died 6 Nov. 1843 in Franklin Co., GA. She married Thompson Epperson, son of David Epperson and Hannah Thompson, on 22 Sept. 1782 in Amherst Co., VA. At the time of their marriage they were both living in Albemarle Co., VA, but crossed the line into Amherst Co., and were married at the parson’s house there.

According to his pension papers, Thompson Epperson was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, serving at least 3 tours of duty. He participated in the Battle of King’s Mountain. He moved to Wilkes Co., NC about 1781 (in an area that was later Caldwell Co., NC), lived there about 8 years, and then moved to Franklin Co., GA in 1789. (R‑100)

Children - Eperson

11. Peter Epperson, b. 1783, m. Rhody Watkins, 29 Oct. 1811.

12. Hannah Epperson, b. 1787, m. Badnet Watkins, Nov. 1811.

13. George Epperson, b. 1790.

14. John Epperson, b. 1793, m. Tabitha ‑‑‑‑‑‑.

15. Catherine Epperson, b. 1795, m. ‑‑‑‑‑‑ Griffin.

16. Thompson Epperson, b. 1797.

17. Charles Epperson, b. 1803.

Sarah (“Sallie”) Israel (3) was born about 1763 in Albemarle Co., VA. She first married ‑‑‑‑‑‑ Ballew (or Boylieu, Ballou, Beilieu, etc.), probably in the late 1770’s or early 1780’s in VA or NC. He may have been Bennet Ballew, since he was listed in a tax record in 1785 in Wilkes Co., NC, the only listing of a Ballew in that county, and he lived in the same neighborhood as her father, Michael Israel. He died, perhaps about 1786, leaving Sallie with two young children.

Sallie secondly married Epaphroditus Gilliam, son of John Gilliam and Elizabeth (Murrell) Fields. Epaphroditus died intestate, and on 8 Feb. 1842 Jesse Gilliam posted a bond as administrator of his estate.

The following verbatim account (from p. 27 of R‑100) is included because of the possibility of a connection with this part of the family with the Graves families of Randolph Co., NC, especially the family of John Graves and Margery Harvey. In that family, Gilliam is used as a first name, and many family members moved to MO and IN.

“Richard Fields married Elizabeth Murrell, sister of Drury Murrell, all natives of Amherst County, Virginia. After marriage, Mrs. Fields became the mother of four children, namely: Thomas, Joel, Elizabeth and Sarah. Mr. Fields died and his widow married the second time. Her second marriage was to John Gilliam, by whom she became the mother of three sons, namely: Epaphroditus, Cornelius and John. Thomas, her oldest son, married Elizabeth Coffee and emigrated to Wilkes County, North Carolina where he lived to an advanced age and died leaving a large and respectable family. Joel died in the twenty-first year of his age leaving no descendants. Sarah married Thomas Coffee, and shortly after the Revolutionary War, they emigrated to North Carolina and settled in Wilkes county where she became the mother of nine children, seven sons and two daughters. Her second son, Rubin, was a distinguished Baptist clergyman. He emigrated with his family and two of his younger brothers and their families to the state of Indiana, near Bloomington, where all three brothers have since died, namely: Lewis, Rubin and Larkin. Epaphroditus Gilliam emigrated from Virginia to North Carolina in Wilkes County and married Sally Israel, daughter of Michael Israel, Sr. He moved with his family to Clay County, Missouri, where he has since died. He was a local Methodist preacher. Cornelius Gilliam married a Miss Wood and moved to Kentucky where he accumulated good property, and died without children.” (R‑100)

Children - Ballew

18. Patsey Ballew, b.c. 1783, m. ‑‑‑‑‑‑ McGee.

+19. Micajah B. Ballew, b.c. 1785, m(1) Rebecca Renfro, m(2) Polly Brooks, 5 Aug. 1831.

Children - Gilliam

+20. Jesse Israel Gilliam, b. Dec. 1790, m. Jeanette McDowell, 25 Dec. 1810, d. 1867.

+21. Elizabeth Gilliam, b. 1793, m. Abraham Collette, 10 Oct. 1822.

+22. Sarah Gilliam, b. 1 May 1796, m. William Shaw, 14 June 1822, d. 9 July 1875.

+23. Cornelius Gilliam, b. 13 April 1798, m. Mary Crawford, 21 Aug. 1821, d. 20 March 1848.

+24. Catherine Gilliam, b.c. 1800, m. Warren Taylor, d.c. 1849-51.

+25. John Gilliam, b.c. 1801 or 1807, m. Nancy ‑‑‑‑‑‑, d. 1852.

26. Anna Gilliam, b.c. 1803, m. Anthony Helms, 27 May 1830.

+27. Robert Gilliam, b.c. 1805, m. Myre Jones, 27 Jan. 1824, d. 1852.

+28. Mary J. Gilliam, b.c. 1807, m. Jesse Moon, 2 March 1828, d. May 1854.

29. Aetie Gilliam, b.c. 1809, m. James B. Harris, 24 Dec. 1823.

+30. Nancy T. Gilliam, b.c. 1811 or 1798, m. John Nichols, 23 Jan. 1831.

+31. Mitchell Gilliam, b. 27 Sept. 1815, m. Henrietta Taylor, 11 Nov. 1833, d. 26 July 1882.

+32. Luhetta Gilliam, b. 24 Nov. 1819, m. Jonas Turner, 16 Aug. 1832.

John Israel (4) was born in 1765 in Albemarle Co., VA, and died in 1837. He served in the Revolutionary War. He married Sarah Edmundson, probably the daughter of Robert Edmundson, on 12 May 1795 in Wilkes Co., NC. They apparently left Wilkes Co. about 1797 and moved to Buncombe Co., NC. Although John stated in his pension application that he moved to Butler Co., OH in 1811, it is believed that he actually moved there in late 1808 or early 1809. He probably also lived for a while in Franklin Co., IN. By 1830, they were living in Johnson Co., IN. The following list of children is not entirely proven. (R‑100)

Children - Israel

+33. Nancy Israel, b. 1796, m. William Norris, 2 March 1820.

34. son, b. 1796-1800.

35. daughter, b. 1796-1800.

36. son, b. 1796-1800.

+37. Abraham Israel, m. Jane Norris, 11 Nov. 1831.

+38. Esther Israel, b. 1805, m. Houston Patton, d. 1854.

+39. Eleanor Israel, b. 1806, m. James Parr, 2 March 1832.

+40. James Patton Israel, b. 18 March 1808, m(1) Marion R. Keturah, 8 March 1832, m(2) Jane Armstrong, 25 March 1841, d. 28 Feb. 1891.

+41. John Edmundson Israel, b. 1812, m(1) Emily Jane Gribbin, 3 Dec. 1835, m(2) Mrs. Lettuice Buford, 15 Nov. 1856, d. 24 Sept. 1862.

+42. Rachel Israel, b. 1815, m(1) William Baugh, 7 Sept. 1834, m(2) Nelson A. Israel, 28 May 1842.

Johnson Israel (5) was born in 1767 in Albemarle Co., VA, and died in late 1853 or early 1854 in Buncombe Co., NC. He married Anna (or Ann) Hisaw. The Hisaw family lived in Burke Co., NC, just across the county line from Michael Israel. Anna was born in 1770 in VA, and died in 1756 or 1757 in Buncombe Co., NC. Johnson was a farmer. He and his family are listed in the 1810 through 1850 censuses for Buncombe Co., NC. The children listed below are not entirely proven. (R‑100)

Children - Israel

43. Sarah Israel, b. 1792 or 1798, m. Edward Stewart.

+44. Jesse Israel, b. 1798, m. Sarah ‑‑‑‑‑‑.

+45. Jane Israel, b. 1800, possibly never married.

+46. James Israel, b. 1802, m. Nancy Mullikin, d. 10 Oct. 1851.

47. William Israel, b. 1804-05, never married.

48. son, b. 1806-09.

49. daughter, b. 1808-09.

+50. Michael H. Israel, b. 1811, m(1) Matilda ‑‑‑‑‑‑, m(2) Muhuldah (Cochran) Ruth.

51. Mary A. Israel, b. 1814, m. Alfred (or Alle R.) Garren. No known children.

52. Frederick Israel, b. 1818, d. 8 Feb. 1846.

Jesse Israel (6) was born about 1769-1771 in Albemarle Co., VA, and died in 1806 or 1807. He married Mary Jones, daughter of Joshua Jones and possibly Elender or Ellen Medley. She was probably born about 1774‑75. After Jesse died, she secondly married John Rogers in 1810 or 1811. There were three children by this marriage: Frances (“Frankie” Rogers, born 1812, married Thomas Russell; Mary (“Polly”) Rogers, born 1814, married John C. Jarrett; Peggie Rogers, married Allen Turner Rogers. Mary was buried in the family graveyard beside her first husband, Jesse. John Rogers continued living in the area until he died about 1845. (R‑100)

Children - Israel

+53. William Israel, b.c. 1796, m. Rachel Jones, d. 1829.

+54. Elizabeth Israel, b. 25 Nov. 1796 (or later), m. Noah Jarrett.

+55. Sarah Graves Israel, b. 1799, m. John Ledford, Jr.

+56. Ellender Medley Israel, b. 1801, m. William Ledford.

57. Lewis Israel, b.c. 1803, d. 1806-1810.

+58. Nancy Jones Israel, b. 16 Nov. 1805, m. Aaron Smith, 23 Feb. 1823 or 1824, d. 16 June 1889.

Solomon Israel (7) was born in 1774 in Albemarle Co., VA. He married Nancy Alloway Strange, daughter of Abraham Alloway Strange and Mary (“Mollie”) Moore, on 27 Feb. 1797 in Wilkes Co., NC. The following list of children contains many uncertainties. (R‑100)

Children - Israel

+59. Michael Israel, b. 1801-1805, m. Leah (Burgin?).

+60. Abraham Israel, b. 1803-1808, m. Mary ‑‑‑‑‑‑.

61. daughter, b. 1800-1810.

62. daughter, b. 1800-1810.

+63. Isom Israel, b. 1812, m. Elizabeth ‑‑‑‑‑‑.

64. son, b. 1800-1810.

+65. Pleasant Israel, b. 16 March 1816, m. Sarah Wolf, 15 Jan. 1842, d. 28 Feb. 1901.

+66. George Nelson Israel, b.c. 1818, m. Indiana Lance, 11 Feb. 1842.

+67. Felix Walker Israel, b. 1820 (or 1811), m. Nancy ‑‑‑‑‑‑.

68. Rebecca Israel

69. daughter, possibly m. Charles Lance.

Catey Israel (8) was born about 1775 in Albemarle Co., VA. She married a neighbor, Robert Edmundson, in 1798 in Wilkes Co., NC. More information is needed for this family. (R‑100)

Children - Edmundson

+70. Michael Israel Edmundson, b.c. 1803, m. Matilda Burgin, d. Dec. 1848.

Michael Israel, Jr. (9) was born in 1778 in Albemarle Co., VA, and died in 1866. He married Sarah Coffey on 26 Feb. 1800 in Wilkes Co., NC. She was a daughter of John and “Polly” Coffey who were neighbors of the Israel family. Their first 3 children were born in Wilkes Co., NC, and at least the next 4 in Buncombe Co., NC. (R‑100)

Children - Israel

+71. James Israel, b. 1802, m. Mary ‑‑‑‑‑‑.

+72. Mary Israel, b. 1804, m. Armstead B. Carland.

73. Elizabeth Israel, b. 1805, never married.

+74. Celia Israel, b. 1807, m. Russell Jones.

75. son, b.c. 1809, died young.

76. John C. Israel, b.c. 1811, never married.

+77. Sarah Israel, b. 27 March 1814, m. Laxton Case, d. 21 Nov. 1898.

78. son, b.c. 1815, died young.

79. son, b.c. 1816, died young.

80. Arminta Israel, b.c. 1818-1819, never married.

81. Caroline Israel, b. March 1819 or early 1820’s, m. William Bishop. She had no children of her own, but raised the 9 children of William by his first marriage to Elizabeth Berry.

Isom Israel (10) was born about 1780 in either Albemarle Co., VA, or in Wilkes Co., NC. He first married Judy Alloway Strange, daughter of Abraham Alloway Strange and Mary (“Mollie”) Moore, on 22 Dec. 1801 in Wilkes Co., NC. After Judy died, Isom secondly married Neaty Parr, daughter of Matthias Parr, on 28 March 1823 in Knox Co., TN. (R‑100)

Children - Israel, by Judy A. Strange

82. Mary (“Polly”) Israel, b. 1801-1804, m. (John?) Goodman.

83. Mahala Israel, b. 1802-1804, m. (Phillip?) Ware.

+84. Archibald Israel, b. 1805, m. Amy Parr, 4 Jan. 1831, d. 1840-1850.

+85. Michael Israel, b. 1810, m. Mary DuBois, d. 1892.

86. son, b. 1810-1820.

+87. Jesse W. Israel, b. 1815, m. Sarah (“Sallie”) A. L. Price, d. 20 March 1867.

88. daughter, b. 1817.

+89. Nelson A. Israel, b. 1819, m. Rachel (Israel) Baugh, 28 May 1842.

Children - Israel, by Neaty Parr

+90. James Harvey Israel, b. 1825, m. Elizabeth K. White, 6 July 1848.

+91. William W. Israel, b. Nov. 1826, m. Mary Ann Hougham, 7 Oct. 1852.

+92. Pleasant R. Israel, b. 1827, m. Catherine Hughes, 13 July 1867.

+93. John Israel, b.c. 1829, m. Marie Calvert.

+94. Francis Marion Israel, b. 1832, m. Jennetta R. White.

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