Reeves_Bennett_3940

Reeves, Bennett

Summary

Father: Thomas Reeves
Mother: Mary Murphy

Birth: 13 Mar 1766, Charles County, Maryland
Birth Source: Trinity Parish Records

Death: probably Wilkes County, Georgia
Death Source:

Spouse1: Anna MNU

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Narrative

Children of Bennett Reeves and Anna:

1. John D. Reeves
2. Thomas Reeves
3. Mary Reeves (probable daughter), b. 1795
4. Margaret D. Reeves (probable child), b. 1804
5. Sophia Reeves

In the 1880 census, Hickerson Reeves and Thomas Reeves, sons of Thomas Reeves and Bethany Stinson, as well as Bennett F. Reeves and John D. Reeves, sons of John D. Reeves, each give information that their father was born in Maryland. This confirms that they were grandsons of Bennett Reeves, son of Thomas Reeves and Mary Murphy of Charles County, Maryland, who migrated to Wilkes County, Georgia around 1800.

According to the 1820 census listing, Bennett had two daughters living at home, one of those daughters is probably Margaret D. Reeves who married John Rich in Wilkes County on 12 Oct 1820. Additionally, John and Margaret Rich named a son Bennett Rich which adds further credence to the belief that Margaret was Bennett's daughter.

Another daughter may be Mary Reeves who married Joseph S. Freeman in Wilkes County; however, there does not appear to be any documentation of that marriage. Like Margaret and John Rich, Mary and Joseph Freeman named one of their sons Bennett. Although the naming of a child is not definite proof of an individual's parentage, it is generally a likely assumption especially with an uncommon given name such as Bennett. Bennett's son Thomas Reeves paid the taxes on one slave for the children of J. S. Freeman in the 1823 and the 1824 Wilkes County, Georgia Tax Digests in Captain Ragsdales District.

The 1790 census of Charles County, Maryland lists the household of Bennett Reeves as containing 1 Male over 16 or Head of household, 2 Males under 16, 1 Female and 2 slaves.

In the 1820 census of Wilkes County, Georgia, Bennet Reeves' household consists of 1 Male 16-26, 1 Male >45, 2 Females 10-16, 1 Female >45 and 5 Slaves.

He moved from Charles County to Wilkes County, Georgia where he purchased 300 acres on the waters of Newford Creek on 2 Nov 1791. Witnessed by John Dyson, Archib. Riddle.

In the records of Wilkes County, Georgia, Bennett is listed among those eligible to draw in the Land Lottery of 1803.

Bennett Reeves is recorded in Wilkes County as a taxpayer in 1824 and in the 1827 Georgia Land Lottery, he drew land in Muscogee and Carroll Counties.

Sources

Records of Trinity Parish, Charles County, Maryland
Charles County, Maryland, Will Book 1777-1780, Pg 212
Charles County, Maryland, Inventories,1791-1797, Pg 186
1790 Census - Charles County, Maryland
Wilkes County GA, Deed Book GG, Pg 518
The Early Records of Georgia, Volume I, Wilkes County, Pg 312 - 1803 Land Lottery
1820 Census - Wilkes County, Georgia
1824 Tax List of Wilkes County, Georgia
1827 Georgia Land Lottery, Wilkes County Residents
1850 Census of Desoto County, Mississippi (John Rich HOH)

Note

Thanks to the research of Beverly Reeves Conley for identifying the connection between Bennett Reeves of Maryland and the Bennett Reeves of Wilkes County, Georgia

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