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Site of Magothy Bay Church on the Eastern Shore (Possible Burial Site for Captain Thomas Graves)
Feb 27th, 2018
We have located the site of Magothy Bay Church on the Eastern Shore of Viginia. We are exploring the possibilty that this is in fact the burial site of Captain Thomas Graves. Old Patent and deed records appear to indicate that the site lines up at or near the land of Thomas Graves and William Blower. Descriptions of the burial site in the records show that the burials occured at the site of Magothy Bay Church. This was the second of three churches involving Captain Thomas Graves. At our Third Annual Graves gathering we visited the vicinity of the site as well as viewed the 1618 Silver in the possesion of St. John's Church. The silver was given to St. Mary's (first Church) and used by Captain Thomas Graves and others for Communion. We believe that (according to old records) his death occured during and prior to completion of Hungars Church (Third Church linked to Captain Thomas Graves) We will provide updates as our research continues.
May 20, 1636--"Haveing taken into consideration the remote liveing of the [members] of this parish from the church. (They are describing Hungars Church several miles away) It is agreed that all suc[h persons as live at] the old plantation from the land of Mrs. Graves unto Magoty Bay the head of the said old plantation creeke that they shall have ther bodys to be buried one part of the land of William Blower where William Berriman liveth and likewise that they give notice unto the minister and provide convenient meanes for his coming ther to bury the dead which whosoever shall refuse such decent and christianlike burial, that then they are to stand to the censure of this vestry. Alsoe it is agreed that the Clarke shall have notice of all such dead people [soe that] he may be able to make the graves ready which if any shall refuse to give notice, yet he shall be liable to pay 10 lbs. of tabacco and if upon notice given the said Clarke shall refuse to come and make the graves that then the said Clarke shall stand the censure of the vestry, complaint being m[ade]. [Ibid., p. 54.]
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