The Seagraves Family

This is A Work in Progress Jim Seagraves and Louanne Seagraves Love are working on this. Contact us at louanne.love@yahoo.com or jfsea@hotmail.com

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Maxwell C. (Gil 2) SEAGRAVES

Male Abt 1823 - 1867  (~ 44 years)


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  • Name Maxwell C. (Gil 2) SEAGRAVES 
    • Maxwell C., probably a son of Gilbert Seagraves and Sarah Wilson, was born in North Carolina, possibly in either Anson County or Surry County.
    • The Seagraves surname presented for this person is based on the dominant spelling found in the various records researched, but primarily on the name carved on the person's gravestone. HOWEVER, for the common variations of the Seagraves family name of which there are over 20, such as Cegrave(s) Segrave(s), Seagreave(s), Seegrave(s), Segrove(s), Seagrove(s), etc. all of which have been given the Seagraves spelling for clarity and ease of analysis.
      Certain variations are used so consistently within a family that they have been retained in this analysis, specifically, SAGRAVES (which also includes Sagrove(s)) and SEAGRAVE. Sagraves was adopted by the early settlers of eastern Kentucky about 1800. Seagrave was the version brought to Massachusetts by the John & Sarah Seagrave family who settled there about 1725.
      The Seagraves version is the most common found (about 39%) of all those found on the 1940 census.
      A discussion of the name spelling variations can be found on the Home Page of this website.
    Birth Abt 1823  North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2] 
    • His possible birth year is estimated based on his 1850 census age of 28 and his 1860 census age of 37. He does not seem to have lived until the 1870 census. If he was born among his siblings in about 1823, he would have been in his early 20s when he married Emeline Atkerson about 1846 who is shown on the 1860 census as 2 years younger than Maxwell.
    Gender Male 
    Migration Abt 1839  Macon County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Maxwell moved with his parents from Surry County, North Carolina to the area of then Smith County Tennessee which would become Macon County, Tennessee. 
    Marriage #1 Abt 1846  [3] 
    Maxwell married Emeline Atkerson probably in Macon County, Tennessee. 
    Child born 27 Sep 1847  [1, 3] 
    first known child born: Elias Gilbert "Bruce" Seagraves. 
    • Since this child's parents were married in Macon Co., TN about 1846 and were on the 1850 census in Macon Co., it is likely that the child was born in Macon Co.
    Child born 9 Sep 1849  [1, 3] 
    second known child born: Rebecca Elizabeth Seagraves. 
    • Since this child's parents were married in Macon Co., TN about 1846 and were on the 1850 census in Macon Co., it is likely that the child was born in Macon Co.
    1850 US census 1850  Macon County, District #1, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location 
    recorded as Maxwell Seegraves, 28, born in North Carolina, brick-mason with Emeline Seegraves, 23, born in Tennessee; Elias G. Seegraves, 3, born in Tennessee; and Rebecca E. Seegraves, 1, born in Tennessee. 
    Child born 24 Oct 1850  [2, 4] 
    third known child born: William Henry "Jake" Seagraves. 
    • Since this child's parents on the 1850 and 1860 censuses in Macon Co., TN it is likely that the child was born in Macon Co.
    Child born 30 Jul 1852  [2, 5] 
    fourth known child born: Mariah Jane Seagraves. 
    • Since this child's parents on the 1850 and 1860 censuses in Macon Co., TN it is likely that the child was born in Macon Co.
    Child born 19 Aug 1856  [4, 5] 
    fifth known child born: Sarah Florann Seagraves.  
    • Since this child's parents on the 1850 and 1860 censuses in Macon Co., TN it is likely that the child was born in Macon Co.
    Child born 11 May 1858  [4, 5] 
    sixth known child born: Benjamin Mack Seagraves. 
    1860 US census 1860  Lafayette, Macon County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location 
    recorded as M. C. Seegraves, 37, born in North Carolina, brick-mason, with Emeline Seegraves, 35, born in Tennessee, E. G. Seegraves, 13, born in Tennessee; R. E. Seegraves, 10, born in Tennessee; W. H. Seegraves, 9, born in Tennessee; M. J. Seegraves, 7, born in Tennessee; Benjamin Seegraves, 2, born in Tennessee; and Catharine Seegraves, 5/12, born in Tennessee. 
    Child born 14 Jan 1860  [4] 
    seventh known child born: Katherine Evelyn Seagraves. 
    • Since this child's parents on the 1850 and 1860 censuses in Macon Co., TN it is likely that the child was born in Macon Co.
    Residence 1862  Macon County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location  [6] 
    Maxwell resided in Macon County, Tennessee. 
    Child born 20 Jun 1863  Lafayette, Macon County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location  [4] 
    eighth known child born: Maxwell A. "Mack" Seagraves. 
    • Since this child's parents on the 1860 and 1870 censuses in Macon Co., TN it is likely that the child was born in Macon Co.
    Legal actions 9 Sep 1863  Macon County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Max Seagraves is listed on the Register of Political Prisoners Received at Military Prison, Louisville, KY as a resident of Macon Co., Tennessee arrested on 7 September 1863 in Macon Co. charged with being ?A Rebel and a horse thief?. Noted as discharged 12 September 1863 by order of Genl. Boyle. 
    Death notices 8 Dec 1867  Macon County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location  [7] 
    Maxwell C. died at about age 44. Family oral history recites that Maxwell was a merchant and died or was killed on the highway just north of Lafayette in Macon Co. while on his way to pick up merchandise. He is presumably buried in Macon Co., Tennessee, but his gravesite has not been located. 
    Death 8 Dec 1867  Macon County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • Maxwell C.'s death date has not been proven.
      It is based on family stories collected by Louanne Seagraves Love.
      The stories relate that Maxwell C. was a merchant and died (or was killed) along the highway north of Lafayette, Macon County, Tennessee on his way to pick up merchandise. He was supposedly found lying under his wagon along side the road.
      As with many of the early members of this family there is no record of where he might be buried.
    1870 US census 1870  Macon County, District #1, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Emeline Seegraves recorded as keeping house with the following children: Sarah F. Seegraves, 13; Benjamin M. Seegraves, 11; Catherine Seegraves, 8; and Maxwell Seegraves, 6. 
    Church events 23 Sep 1876  Lafayette, Macon County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location  [8] 
    Emeline, widow of Maxwell, is on a list of members of the Christian Church of Lafayette. 
    1880 US census 1880  Oak Bluff Township, Clay County, Arkansas Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Emeline Seagraves, recorded as the 51 year old mother of Elias Seagraves living in his household. 
    Death notices 14 Sep 1903  Clay County, Arkansas Find all individuals with events at this location  [4] 
    Emeline (Atkerson) Seegraves died in Clay County, Arkansas. 
    Person ID I112  Seagraves Database
    Last Modified 20 Dec 2020 

    Father Gilbert (Gil 1) SEAGRAVES,   b. Abt 1797, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 27 May 1887, Clay County, Arkansas Find all individuals with events at this location (Age ~ 90 years) 
    Mother Sarah WILSON,   b. Abt 1796, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 31 Dec 1885, Clay County, Arkansas Find all individuals with events at this location (Age ~ 89 years) 
    Marriage Abt 1815 
    • It is not known where Gilbert and Sarah were married, but since he was noted as a resident of Anson County, NC in 1821, she may have been from that county and they may have possibly married there.
    Notes 
    • The Search for Gilbert's Father
      Numerous postings on the internet (and OneWorldTree) boldly state that the parents of Gilbert Seagraves are William and Polly. But the fact is, so far there is no reliable proof of Gilbert's parents. We want to change that. One of the long range goals of this website is to brainstorm and research to find proof of Gilbert's parents, so we would like to open up a discussion about what we know, where we look and how we get there. Here are our initial thoughts about how we begin.
      When was Gilbert Born? On the first census to record actual ages in 1850 Gilbert reported his age to be 53. On later censuses his age was always rounded: on the 1860 census he was 60; on the 1870 census he was 70; in 1880 he was 80. We think that it is more likely that the age he reported in 1850 was accurate which would make his birth year 1797. If that is true then his father, who was not likely to be less than 17 when Gilbert was born, must have been born no later than 1780. Assuming that Gilbert's father would have been no older than 47 (an arbitrary but reasonable date) when he was born, then the earliest date of birth for Gilbert's father would be 1750.
      Where is Gilbert's family most like to be found? Gilbert always reported his birthplace as North Carolina on the census, and everywhere he is found in the public records prior to 1842 is in North Carolina:
      1817 Birth of son William - NC
      1819 Birth of son Lewis - NC
      1821 Birth of alleged out of wedlock son - Wake Co NC
      1821 Bastardy Bond court record stating Gilbert had "removed to Anson County" NC
      1822 Birth of son Maxwell - NC
      1826 Birth of son Samuel - NC
      1827 Purchase of 100 acres of land - Ashe Co NC
      1828 Birth of son Henry - NC
      1830 Gilbert?s first appearance in the census records - Surry Co NC
      1832 Birth of son John Henderson - Surry Co NC
      1840 On census - Surry Co NC

      So, based on Gilbert's movements outlined above, we see that Gilbert spent much if not all of his early years in NC, mainly in western NC. However, we can't ignore the fact that he "removed" to Anson Co when slapped with a paternity suit, since that suggests he had family there.
      Where do we begin looking for Gilbert's Daddy? We believe that the logical place to start looking for Gilbert's parents is the list of Seagraves on the 1800 census for NC who had young male children in their household. If Gilbert were born in 1797, he would have been counted in the census age range of 0-9 years old - and that narrows our initial search to 6 Seagraves households:

      John Segraves of Anson County husband (former?) of Phoebe below
      Daniel Segraves of Montgomery County who was in Wake Co. in 1790
      Stephen Segraves of Wake County who married Prudence Sevils in Wake in 1795
      William Segraves of Wake County who married Leah Sealey in Wake in 1798 and lived in Montgomery Co. in 1840 and 1850
      John Segraves of Wake County several men named John appear in NC in this era
      Phoebe Segrave of Warren County [I believe that Phoebe was the wife (former?) of John Seagraves of Anson Co.]

      Please let us have your thoughts on what we've said here, and share any other information and ideas you might have about how to prove Gilbert's parentage.

      Jim Seagraves and Louanne Seagraves Love
    Family ID F24  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Emeline ATKERSON,   b. 13 Apr 1824   d. 14 Sep 1903, Clay County, Arkansas Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 79 years)  [3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11] 
    Marriage Abt 1846  Macon County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
    +1. Elias Gilbert (Gil 3) SEAGRAVES,   b. 27 Sep 1847, Macon County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 4 Aug 1898, Rector, Clay County, Arkansas Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 50 years)  [Birth]
    +2. Rebecca Elizabeth (Gil 3) SEAGRAVES,   b. 9 Sep 1849, Macon County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 26 Feb 1919, Clay County, Arkansas Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 69 years)  [Birth]
    +3. William Henry (Gil 3) SEAGRAVES,   b. 24 Oct 1850, Lafayette, Macon County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 18 Jun 1943 (Age 92 years)  [Birth]
    +4. Mariah Jane (Gil 3) SEAGRAVES,   b. 30 Jul 1852, Macon County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 13 Sep 1906, Warren County, Kentucky Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 54 years)  [Birth]
    +5. Sarah Florann (Gil 3) SEAGRAVES,   b. 19 Aug 1856, Macon County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 15 Jan 1923, Lafayette, Macon County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 66 years)  [Birth]
    +6. Benjamin Mack (Gil 3) SEAGRAVES,   b. 11 May 1858, Macon County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 3 Jul 1931, Gainesville, Cooke County, Texas Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 73 years)  [Birth]
    +7. Katherine Evelyn (Gil 3) SEAGRAVES,   b. 14 Jan 1860, Macon County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 26 Oct 1932, Macon County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 72 years)  [Birth]
    +8. Maxwell A. (Gil 3) SEAGRAVES,   b. 20 Jun 1863, Lafayette, Macon County, Tennessee Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 19 Mar 1914, Rector, Clay County, Arkansas Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 50 years)  [Birth]
    Family ID F66  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 6 Nov 2020 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - Abt 1823 - North Carolina Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMigration - Maxwell moved with his parents from Surry County, North Carolina to the area of then Smith County Tennessee which would become Macon County, Tennessee. - Abt 1839 - Macon County, Tennessee Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - Abt 1846 - Macon County, Tennessee Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google Maps1850 US census - recorded as Maxwell Seegraves, 28, born in North Carolina, brick-mason with Emeline Seegraves, 23, born in Tennessee; Elias G. Seegraves, 3, born in Tennessee; and Rebecca E. Seegraves, 1, born in Tennessee. - 1850 - Macon County, District #1, Tennessee Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google Maps1860 US census - recorded as M. C. Seegraves, 37, born in North Carolina, brick-mason, with Emeline Seegraves, 35, born in Tennessee, E. G. Seegraves, 13, born in Tennessee; R. E. Seegraves, 10, born in Tennessee; W. H. Seegraves, 9, born in Tennessee; M. J. Seegraves, 7, born in Tennessee; Benjamin Seegraves, 2, born in Tennessee; and Catharine Seegraves, 5/12, born in Tennessee. - 1860 - Lafayette, Macon County, Tennessee Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Maxwell resided in Macon County, Tennessee. - 1862 - Macon County, Tennessee Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsChild born - eighth known child born: Maxwell A. "Mack" Seagraves. - 20 Jun 1863 - Lafayette, Macon County, Tennessee Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsLegal actions - Max Seagraves is listed on the Register of Political Prisoners Received at Military Prison, Louisville, KY as a resident of Macon Co., Tennessee arrested on 7 September 1863 in Macon Co. charged with being ?A Rebel and a horse thief?. Noted as discharged 12 September 1863 by order of Genl. Boyle. - 9 Sep 1863 - Macon County, Tennessee Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath notices - Maxwell C. died at about age 44. Family oral history recites that Maxwell was a merchant and died or was killed on the highway just north of Lafayette in Macon Co. while on his way to pick up merchandise. He is presumably buried in Macon Co., Tennessee, but his gravesite has not been located. - 8 Dec 1867 - Macon County, Tennessee Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 8 Dec 1867 - Macon County, Tennessee Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google Maps1870 US census - Emeline Seegraves recorded as keeping house with the following children: Sarah F. Seegraves, 13; Benjamin M. Seegraves, 11; Catherine Seegraves, 8; and Maxwell Seegraves, 6. - 1870 - Macon County, District #1, Tennessee Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsChurch events - Emeline, widow of Maxwell, is on a list of members of the Christian Church of Lafayette. - 23 Sep 1876 - Lafayette, Macon County, Tennessee Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google Maps1880 US census - Emeline Seagraves, recorded as the 51 year old mother of Elias Seagraves living in his household. - 1880 - Oak Bluff Township, Clay County, Arkansas Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath notices - Emeline (Atkerson) Seegraves died in Clay County, Arkansas. - 14 Sep 1903 - Clay County, Arkansas Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • Sources 
    1. [S409] 1850 census for Macon County, Tennessee, (Ancestry.com).

    2. [S431] 1860 census for Macon County, Tennessee , (Ancestry.com).

    3. [S36] Sarah Florann (Seagraves) Crowder, Pages from Family Bible of.

    4. [S39] Louanne Seagraves Love, Parker-Gaulden-Seagraves Family Tree on Ancestry.com, (Ancestry.com).

    5. [S1] FindAGrave.com (FAG).

    6. [S40] U.S. IRS Tax Assessment Lists, 1862-1918, (Ancestry.com).

    7. [S41] Louanne Seagraves Love, Personal History of Louanne Seagraves Love.

    8. [S65] Macon County Historical Society, 2001, Macon County Tennessee History and Families.

    9. [S35] Biographical & Historical Memoirs of Northeast Arkansas, (Goodspeed Publishing Co., Chicago, IL, 1889).

    10. [S37] Thomas J. Bell note dated 1999.

    11. [S38] OneWorldTree, (Ancestry.com).