ARIANA STANFORD-GRAVES, born 19 June 1792 in Orange Co, North Carolina, was the daughter of US Congressman, Hon. Richard Stanford (1767-1816) and Jeanette Meabane (1768-1798).

Ariana married Rev. Elijah Graves on 05 May 1812 in Orange County, North Carolina at her Father's house, The Stanford Plantation. Elijha's father gave the couple one of his farms which was named Rockhouse located about two miles from where Ralph Graves lived in Granville County, North Carolina. When Ariana's father, Hon. Richard Stanford, passed away in 1816, he gave the couple his Stanford Plantation in Orange County, North Carolina. Elijah & Ariana had ELEVEN children of record:

Eliza Jeanette Graves-Morrow (1813-1880),
Cornelia Mebane Graves-Morrow (1814-1890),
Richard Stanford Graves (1816-1887),
Ralph Lewis Graves (1818-1903),
Elijah Morrison Graves (1820-?),
Henry Scott Graves (1821-1906),
Ariana Stanford Graves-Milton (1825-1869),
Mary Annabella Graves-Graham (1827-1852),
Julia Caroline Graves-Leigh (1830-1907),
William Paisley Graves (1831-1881),
and
one Daughter who died at birth (dates unknown).

After a richly varied life as a pastor's wife and business partner spanning fifty-two years across several states, Ariana met a beautiful and peaceful passing into the Christian afterlife, and on 2 April 1864, her body was laid to rest at the Clinton Cemetery in Clinton (Present Day Cuero), DeWitt County, Texas.

©Mark Morrow

REFERENCES:

1. 30 September 1850 Southern Division, Carroll County, Mississippi Census, (Stamped 231, Sheet 475, Family #538, Line 15), In Son-in-Law (#537): Robert & Daughter: Annabella Graham's Household, Arianna Graves.

Double Posted this Year:
2a. 20 June 1860 Kemper City, Victoria County, Texas Census (Sheet 20, Line 21), (in Refugio DeLaGarza Ranch Household, next door to W.P. Graves, her Son's Household where her husband was living). Elijah & Arianna may have lived here temporarily to take care of their Grandson, Elijah Morrow, who left medical studies in Alabama because he contracted Yellow Fever.

2b. 17 July 1860 Saluria PO, Precinct 4, Calhoun County, Texas Census, (Sheet 57, Family #442, Line 17), Anna Graves, living in Grand-Son-in-Law's Household: H. W. "Sessins."

3. Lester, Alderidge & Shields, Ruth. (1958). North and South Carolina Family Records: Graves, Mebane, Morrow, Stanford Families of Granville and Orange Counties, North Carolina. Chapel Hill, NC: Davie Poplar Chapter DAR, Dixon, Kay (Publisher), 19.

Elijah Graves Biography written on 11 Feb 1867 (transcribed and published in this book).

4. O'Neil, Terri Bradshaw. (2007). The Honorable Richard Stanford, Congressman. 8.
Posted on the website for the cemetery where her Father, Richard Stanford is buried:
http://www.congressionalcemetery.org/
select the "Genealogy" Tab - select "Lists/Rosters" - select "Family Histories" - a frame of alphabetical listings will become active on the main page - scroll down to "S" - select "Stanford - The Honorable Richard Stanford."

5. Clinton Cemetery Headstone: About 5 miles Southwest of Cuero; take 87 East / 183 / 77A (Alternate) South, There is a sign that says Historical Marker 1 Mile, Cross over the bridge, Pass 87 east intersection, The Historical Marker is on the right & Old Clinton Road is on the left, drive about a 10th of a mile further and take the next left, Clinton Cemetery Road. The Cemetery is a 10th of a mile down the road on the right. There is a long dirt driveway to a metal gate (the newer section of the cemetery is up front), further back is an open wood-post fence with a Historical Marker for Elizabeth Wilson-Rice. About 25 yards straight past the marker is Arianna's burrial site. It is boardered by a short rock wall in about a 10 foot by 13 foot square next to a large tree. The area was completely covered with thorn vines, wildflowers, some small trees, and brush; I cleaned it out on 21 May 2004.

6. O'Neil, Terri Bradshaw. (2007). The Honorable Richard Stanford, Congressman. 8.

7. Lester, Alderidge & Shields, Ruth. (1958). North and South Carolina Family Records: Graves, Mebane, Morrow, Stanford Families of Granville and Orange Counties, North Carolina. Chapel Hill, NC: Davie Poplar Chapter DAR, Dixon, Kay (Publisher), p. 4.

©Mark Morrow