Reeve, James, Esq., Capt.

Summary

Father: James Reeve James Reeve
Mother: Mary Purrier

Birth: c1672, Long Island, New York
Birth Source: Headstone, Salmon Records

Death: 14 Mar 1732, Southold, Long Island, New York
Death Source: Headstone, Salmon Records

Spouse1: Deborah Satterly

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Narrative

Children of James Reeve and Deborah Satterly:

1. Hannah Reeve
2. Deborah Reeve
3. James Reeve, b. 25 Apr 1709
4. Daniel Reeve
5. Mary Reeve
6. Sarah Reeve

According to A history of Mattituck, Long Island, N.Y. by Charles E. Craven published in 1906, “James Reeve was born in 1672 and had established his own household before 1698, the year in which his father died...James Reeve, like his father, was a man prominent in the town, frequently serving the town in official position, and for years being one of the Town Justices. He died in 1732, and in the ground which he consecrated to the use of the parish his grave is marked with a stone on which is this inscription : "Here lyes buried ye Body of ye Hono'ble James Reeve Esqr who Departed this life March 14th Anno Domi 1732 in ye 60th Year of His Age." Beside him is his wife, Deborah, who survived him twenty years, living with her son, 3d James, in the old homestead. In all the life of the parish their descendants have held prominent part up to this day."

In 1707, Jabez & Elizabeth Mapes sold James thirty acres of land in Mattituck. The deed mentions that it was bounded by "land between the said James Reeve and his brother Isaac Reeve."

In 1712, Thomas Turrill sold James some land in Southold.

James was listed as the Captain of Southold Company #2 in the Suffolk Militia in 1715.

This James and his son James may be the James Reeve Junior and James Reeve who witnessed a deed between Matthias Corwin and Thomas Terrel in 1724. However, if it is, this likely indicates his son was born earlier than 1709 as his headstone implies.

James Reeve's 1731 will only mentioned his wife Deborah, his sons James and Daniel and “kinswoman” Deborah (undoubtedly his sister) wife of David Howell, Jr. He named none of his daughters. The will of his widow Deborah was not recorded, but thankfully mention of it is made by Mather in The Refugees of 1776 as follows: "The will of his Wid., Deborah, dated Feb. 9, 1736-7, mentions sons, James and Daniel; daughters, Hannah, Deborah, Mary and Sarah; and grandson, Joshua Wells. (Original owned by Mr. Charles Gildersleeve)." This will is also included in the abstracts of various records made by Stuart Terry. Besides daughters Hannah and Deborah, Terry states that it "Names also son James, son Daniel, daughter Mary, daughter Sarah, Grandson Joseph Wells, son Joshua Tuthil, dau. Deborah & son James to take upon them & see this my mind fulfilled after my decease &c."

The Salmon records record the death on 14 Mar 1732 of "Capt James Reeve. 59" and on 5 Feb 1754 of widow Deborah Reeve, Relect to Cap. James Reeve at age 78. Note that James's headstone states he died age 60.

Sources

Death:        Findagrave - Old Bethany Cemetery (Mattituck Parish Cemetery Section), Mattituck, Suffolk County, New York
Death - Wife: Findagrave - Deborah's Headstone - Old Bethany Cemetery (Mattituck Parish Cemetery Section), Mattituck, Suffolk County, New York

Stuart Tuthill Terry Manuscripts - Southold Record Abstracts
1712 Deed - Thomas Turrill to James Reeve - Suffolk Historical Society, Grathwohl Collection #214.79.7
1715 Militia List - Suffolk County, New York
A history of Mattituck, Long Island, N.Y. by Charles E. Craven, pub. 1906
1732 Will - James Reeve - New York Wills Liber 11, p492
Archive.org - Mather. Frederic Gregory. (1913). The Refugees of 1776 from Long Island to Connecticut, p518
The Salmon Records