Census Records
The Presgraves were a simple family of farmers who lived in the Broad Run District of Loudoun County. John Thomas is the head of the family, having 12 children of his own. He would live on an active farm, working as a farmer. Here, his family would grow. His youngest son, Harry, would also live on a farm, but would work as a carpenter. The following census records detail both father and son's lives as their families grew and changed.
10 years later, in 1870, John's family had grown to include, four more children, Ann, Lucy, Sarah and Mary, two laborers and a man listed as living at home. With these additions to the family, John and his wife had also seen the death of their son James who died in 1863 at age 4. John continues to work as a farmer, with Sarah working keeping the house.
Another 10 years and John and Sarah have had another four children, Walter, Osela, Edith and an infant son. At age 52, John is still working on the farm, but also has his oldest son, Eugene, working on the farm as well.
In 1900, John Thomas Presgraves is 78 years old. In that time, two daughters, Edith and Osceola, had died, as well as an infant child who was born and died on the same day.
In 1910, Harry D. Presgrave was 30 years old. He was a farmer in the Broad Run District of Loudoun County. He and his family, his wife, Genevieve, and their three sons, Ralph, Roger and Harry, lived on a farm that they owned.
10 years later, in 1920, Harry was still working as a farmer. He continued to live in the Broad Run District and lived with his wife and sons, who worked on the farm.
At age 50, Harry had begun to work as a carpenter. He now lived in the Dranesville District of Fairfax County. His family had grown to include a daughter, Helen, and a son, Bentley. Two of Harry's sons worked as carpenters, like their father, while another worked as a mechanic.
In 1940, Harry was 59 years old. He continued to live in the Dranesville District of Fairfax County. Here, he was still working as a carpenter and lived on a farm. Two sons, a daughter-in-law and granddaughter lived with Harry and his wife.