Reeve, Bethuel

Summary

Father:
Mother:

Birth:
Birth Source:

Death: c1782
Death Source:

Spouse1: Mary

Narrative

Children of Bethuel Reeve and Mary:

1. Joel Reeve
2. Jeremiah Reeve
3. Silas Reeve
4. Daniel Reeve
5. Zebulon Reeve
6. Keturah Reeve
7. Bethiah Reeve

In 1758, John Jennings sold 26 acres along the north sea to Bethuel, recorded at Southampton. Bethuel is described as cord winder. In 1762, Stephen Jennings sold him 3/4 acre near land Reeves already owned. This record described Bethuel as shoe maker.

Bethuel had an earmark entered in the town records described as "slope over left, half penny each side the same, half penny over right." In 1788, Joel Reeves describes the same mark as his own. "Joel Reeves ear mark, 1788. Slope over left ear half penny each side of same, half penny upper side of right, which was his fathers mark and Recorded to him"

Bethuel Reeve of Southampton in Suffolk County, New York wrote his will on 25 Jul 1776. It was probated 3 Jul 1782. In it he refers to his wife Mary and children Joel, Jeremiah, Silas, Daniel, Zebulon, Keturah and Bethia. Mary was apparently the mother of all his children since he refers to Joel as "my eldest son" and gave him some land "as long as your mother remains my widow."

1776 Census - Suffolk Co., NY

• 2 Males under 50 and over 16 years: Bethuel 1726-1737 (makes him at least 18 when first son born); Joel 1755 (21 birth year known from headstone and Early History of Southampton); Daniel is away fighting in the war he is likely at least 16, birth likely btw 1758-1760
• 3 Males under 16 which means born after 1760:
• 2 Females over 16 years (before 1760): Mary and probably Keturah
• 1 Female under 16 years (after 1760): probably Bethiah

Research Notes

At various times historians have suggested Bethuel belonged either to the Southold Reeve families of Thomas and James Reeve or to the Southampton family of Thomas Reeves. Bethuel appears to have had a grandson named Rumsey. This, along with other circumstantial evidence points towards him being closely related to the family of Solomon Reeve, grandson of Thomas Reeve of Southold. More research is needed to determine if it is possible to prove a connection.

Sources

Southampton Town Records Liber B
1776 Will - Bethuel Reeve - New York Wills and Administrations Liber 35, p88
1776 Census - Suffolk County, New York