Sarah SMITH

     
     Sarah SMITH was born in 1761 in Virginia, daughter of Charles SMITH and Nancy Burks.
     Sarah married William GRAVES, son of William GRAVES and Dorothy STERN, on 5 November 1782 in Bedford County, Virginia.^3,1
     Sarah SMITH and William GRAVES moved from Oglethorpe County, Georgia to Montgomery County, Mississippi Territory in the winter of 1817 and settled at Manack Station in the upper northeast corner of what is now Lowndes County, Alabama. At that time Alabama was part of the Mississippi Territory. Autauga county wasn't created until 1818 and Lowndes County in 1830. Alabama gained statehood in 1819. William operated a ferry across the Alabama River from Autauga to Lowndes county.⁴
     Sarah SMITH died on 2 October 1841 in Lowndesboro, Alabama. She was buried in Graves Burying Ground.
     Her obituary appeared an unknown date in a Lowndes County newspaper, which said: "Departed this life on the 2nd of October last, Mrs. Graves, in the 81st year of her age. She had been a professor of the Christian religion and a member of the Methodist-Episcopal Church for 54 years. Sarah Graves had lived to a good old age, and left behind her a numerous progeny. It is said, that up to the time of her death, her descendants, including children, grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, and great-great-great grandchildren, numbered in all 181.".²