Reaves_Asher_3150

Reaves, Asher

Summary

Father: Unknown
Mother: Unknown

Birth: 1757, Prince William County, Virginia
Birth Source: RW Pension Statement #S17649

Death: 31 Jul 1845, Greene County, Ohio
Death Source: RW Pension File #S17649

Spouse1: Diana Miller, 1780, Sandy Creek, Halifax County, Virginia

Narrative

Only known children of Asher Reaves and Diana Miller:

1. Catherine Reaves, b. 1784, m. Lemuel Cottrell on 7 Jun 1822, Greene County, Ohio
2. Elizabeth Reaves, b. 1787, m. Hiram Cottrell
3. George Reaves, b. 1794, m. Mary Lee on 26 Jul 1817, Greene County, Ohio
4. Sarah Reaves, b. 1802, m. Levi Hadley on 7 Jun 1822, Greene County, Ohio
5. Obadiah Reaves, b. 1803, m. Charlotte Moorman on 10 Jul 1820, Greene County, Ohio
6. Susannah Reaves, b. 1809

Asher Reaves was born in Prince William County, Virginia and joined the revolutionary forces from Halifax County, Virginia in 1778 according to his pension statement given in 1832 in Greene County, Ohio. His pension statement states that he lived in Halifax County, Virginia prior to the Revolutionary War from where he originally enlisted, then his father relocated to Wilkes County, North Carolina, where he was recruited for subsequent tours of service. Asher stated that he moved with his father to Wilkes County in the State of North Carolina about 2 miles from Wilkes Court House on the Yadkin River where he lived until the fall of 1789. Asher's parents are unknown however, the only Reeves individual living in Wilkes County, North Carolina at that time was an Isaac Reeves with wife Margery. The fact that Isaac and Margery Reeves are known to have left Virginia and relocated to Wilkes County NC around the time of the Revolution indicates a possible connection between Asher and Isaac Reeves. Since Isaac Reeves did not name any of his children in his 1807 will, there may be no way to positively identify them.

It should be noted that the DNA of descendants of the known Reeve family of Prince William County, Virginia is a different lineage than descendants of Isaac Reeves of Wilkes County. DNA of the descendants of Asher and George Reaves would be a great help in resolving the identity of these individuals.

After being discharged in Wilkes County, North Carolina, Asher returned to Halifax, Virginia where he married and remained for around 16 years.

In Halifax County VA, Deed Book 14 page 447, Recorded on 22 June 1789 Charles Powell and wife Sarah sold 150 acres on Licking Creek to Ashur Reaves for 100 pounds. This land was sold back to Anthony Powell, son of Charles, in the two following transactions:

• Book 16 page 23, Dated 31 Jan 1792 - Asher Reeves sold to Anthony Powell - 100 acres for 72 pounds on Licking Creek and Deep Bottom Creek - Bounded by Wilies line, John Dickies line, Frances Pellies (Pettys?), and Robert Stanfield line - Signed by William Watkins, William Wood, and Dickie
• Book 16 page 184, Dated 1 June 1793 - Asher Reeves sold to Anthony Powell - 50 acres for 28 pounds on Licking Creek bounded by Elmer Wiley, John Wiley, Faney Turner, and Anthony Powell - Note: This is surely the same land Charles Powell sold to Asher Reeves in 1789 and Reeves sold it in two parts to Anthony for the same 100 pounds he paid for it.

Asher Reaves signed Anthony Powell's marriage consent as a witness. Anthony married Elizabeth Miller who may have been a sister of Asher's wife Diana.

There are two other Reaves listed in the 1800 tax lists of Halifax County - George Reaves and an Elijah Reaves. Their identities are unknown but they may be of the same family.

From the "History of Greene County (Ohio), Jefferson Township" - Asher Reeves, whose son George is yet a citizen of this township, located permanently near the site of what is now known as Blanetown.

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