Reeves, William Jefferson

Summary

Father: John Reeves
Mother: Elizabeth Holloway "Betsy"

Birth: c 1815, Wake County, North Carolina
Birth Source: Guardian Records and Probate of the Estate of John Reeves

Death: after 1880, Wake County, North Carolina
Death Source: Last record was the 1880 census

Spouse1:

Narrative

The only information regarding Jefferson Reeves other than the probate of his father, John Reeves' Estate, is a deed of 25 Nov 1837. In this deed executed in Wake County, NC, Jefferson sold his portion of the land left to him by John Reeves along with his share of the land of his grandfather, Major Holloway of Wake County to his uncle James Holloway. In 1837, Jefferson would have been approximately 21 years old and he may have been preparing to leave the area of Wake County, but to date, nothing further has been discovered of his later life.

It is curious that an unknown Jefferson Reeves appeared in Madison County, Kentucky around 1838 and married Elizabeth Reeves, the daughter of Jeremiah Reeves, who would have been a first cousin to Jefferson. At that time, the only Reeves in Madison County were descendants of William Reeves' sons, William, Jr. and Jeremiah. Much research has failed to yield information as to the identity of the Jefferson Reeves who married Elizabeth. The census enumerators repeatedly list him as being born in Kentucky along with the rest of the family but that may have been based upon assumption.

DNA from this Reeves' line would be beneficial and could someday resolve this mystery.

Sources

Wake County NC Guardian Records
Wake County NC, Will Book 21, Pg 228, online scanned images at Family Search
1840 Census - Bartons Creek, Wake County, North Carolina
1880 Census - Bartons Creek, Wake County, North Carolina