Daniel Reeves Revolutionary War Pension Record

Introduction

According to RW pension file W5687, Daniel Reeves refused to proceed with a pension claim began in Davidson County, Tennessee on 21 Jan 1819 because he was told that he would have to swear to being in reduced financial circumstances and unable to support himself. Since he owned property and was not indigent, he refused to follow through with a claim for the pension.

In 1838, his widow Eleanor Guthrie Reeves, filed a claim for a widow's pension, Daniel Reeves having died 28th of August 1824.

This pension record provides a wealth of clues about the family and movements of John Reeves and his brother Moses Reeves. Since Jessee Reeves was the administrator Moses Reeves in Kershaw County, South Carolina, this solidly connects Moses Reeves to the Lancaster County Reeves families including William Reeves who is named in the record as a son of John Reeves and cousin to Jesse. The South Carolina Jury Lists from 1778-1779 confirms the general whereabouts of John and Moses during this time. These records along with records from Prince William County, Virginia, indicate these were the same brothers, sons of George Reeve who left Prince William County in the early 1770s.

Transcript

State of Tennessee }
Maury County         } Jessee Reeves citizen of the County & State aforesaid made oath before us Joseph Herndon & James Black two of the acting justices of the peace of said County - That some time during the revolutionary war that Daniel Reeves who is now a citizen of Davidson County & State aforesaid, but was at that time a citizen of the State of S. Carolina serviced more than twelve months in the U. States army against Great Britain, That he recollects distinctly, that he came home on furlow & was there a short space of time & being related to sd Daniel Reeves (to wit) Cousins & his Father & sd Daniels residing near to each other & consequently were in each others company frequently enables him to recollect the time better than he would otherwise have done, that when sd Daniel was at home on furlow he was in the garb of a soldier & the connexion & all he heard speak of his absence ___ sd Daniel was in the service of his Country & further this deponent says not. January 21st 1819
Sworn to and subscribed before us the day & year last above stated
Jesse (his mark) Reaves
Test
Jos Herndon
James Black JP
Exhibit "B"

State of Tennessee Maury County, I Joseph B Porter clerk of the court of pleas and quarter sessions for said County do certify that the within named Joseph Herndon and James Black Esquire whose signature appear within are now and were at the tie of signing the same acting Justices of the peace in and for sd County & full faith & credit is and of right ought to be given to all their official acts as such
In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name & offixed the seal of my office at office this 21st day of July 1879
{Joseph B Porter
Exhibit "B"

State of Tennessee Maury County
I James T Sanford Presiding Justice of the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions for the County aforesaid do certify that Joseph B Porter whose name is subscribed to the above certificate is & was at the time of his signing the same acting clerk to said County Court & his certificate is in due form of law. And full faith & credit should be given to all his official acts as such, given and en my Hand & Seal, this 22nd day of January 1819.
James L Sanford Presiding Justice (Seal)

District of West Tennessee
Daniel Reeves, a citizen of Davidson County in the State of Tennessee, aged sixty five, came before me & made oath that he enlisted unto the service of the United States as a soldier, in the revolutionary war, under the command of Captain Eli Cashaw, he believes in the third South Carolina Regt commanded by Col. Thompson that he served about fourteen months, that he enlisted for fifteen months, that he enlisted about a month after the establishment of the Regt therefore was discharged with the others at the end of their time, but he has long since list or mislaid his discharge, that he served his time faithfully, he believes the troop he belonged to were called the Rangers. That he is old and infirm, but possessed of very little property.
Exhibit "A"

State of Alabama Lauderdale County
On this day to wit 4th day of November 1846 personally appeared Jessee Reeves a resident of the county of Lauderdale and State of Alabama before me John McCorkle one of the acting Justices of the peace in and for the county aforesaid and made oath in due form of law that he is about eighty one years of age having been born in 1766 and was ten years old in 1776 at the time of the Declaration of Independence. This Deponent recollects after the act of 1818 was passed giving the first pensions to the regular soldiers of the Revolution, That he made a statement or affidavit before Esq Herndon in favor of his Cousin Daniel Reeves then a resident of the County of Davidson near Nashville who was trying to be placed on the Pension roll. This affidavit as well as now recolected contained the following statement that the said Daniel Reeves enlisted in the regular service of South Carolina for a period not now recolected but thinks it was twelve ^eighteen months or the time might not have been mentioned int the affidavit It was however the usual period of enlistment of that State and during his enlistment he came home on furlow and stayed some time waring his iniform coat a blue faced with white US on the buttons and stayed until his furlow was nearley out and then returned and served out his time and was honourably discharged Deponent never saw him from the time he was on furlow until discharged. This is what Deponent recolects he stated in his first affidavit but he might stated other particulars as it has been upwards of twenty years ago. But this Deponent recolects verry well that no ___ was asked him in regard to the volunteer or militia service of Daniel Reeves the Judge telling them none but the regular service was necessary and after the Declaration was drawn up by a lawyer by the name of Egnew he told Daniel Reeves that he must swear that he could not live comfortably without the aid of Government which Reeves said he could not do because he had some property so the matter was droped since when Deponent had not heard what was done further Deponent was also never asked anything about the marriage of the said Daniel and now at this day being further asked and enteragated Deposeth and says that the service in the regular line was performed in the years 1779 or 1780 and during the Spring of 1780 the said Daniel Reeves came home on his furlow as above stated. He had before his enlistment engaged himself to marry Ellenor Guthrie and this Deponent believes this was the main cause of his return on furlow. Ellenor Guthrie was an orphan girl and was raid by her near relation Mr Land who lived a close neighbor and the said Daniel Reeves and Ellenor Guthrie were married at the house of Land and on next day took dinner at the house of this Deponents father because the said Daniel did not like his stepmother the second wife of his father who also lived not far off. This same cause of dislike made Daniel Reeves leave his wife at the house of this Deponents father after his furlow above spoken of was nearly out while he went and served out the ballanee of his time and thinks that after this he was at the seige of Charlestown he is certain of his being there but will not say whether before or after the marriage but believes is certain the longest period of service was after the marrige as he never came home until he had served out his time from these circumstances and particularly Daniel Reeves leaving his wife at his fathers during the time of the ballance of service and the militia tours he afterwards served this Deponent has a perfect knowledge and recolection of this transaction. He recolects his saying during the Seige of Charleston the British would throw Dogs heads over to them instead of bomb shells and this Deponent being further asked and interogated Deposeth and says that after Daniel Reeves was discharged from his tour of regular service and had come home some time and lived at Deponents fathers with his wife He served two militia tours of three months each one under Capt Steel and the other under Captain Land one of these was as a volunteer the other was as a draftee militia bothe these tours were served in the latter part of 1780 and 1st of 1781 and the reason was the British had during this time marched up and invaded the whole country and it was safer to be out in the army than at home on account of British and tories. and the reason of these tours was as he heard Reeves say at the time was that as he was a married man he could come home often but if he was not and he had his choice he would rather be a regular soldier as there were better treated fed and clothed.
He also served one other tour of three months but does not recolect the Captains name at this time This he believes the said Daniel served about twelve months in the regular service part of which was after his marriage with Ellenor his wife and three millitia tours of three months each after the regular service in all about two years
This Deponent will state some of the most remarkable circumstances these were the battles of Camden and Sumpters defeat the latter was fought within three miles of this Deponents fathers and this Deponent was there next day or day after and saw the dead and the wounded the latter out of their senses and crawling about. There were a great many dead horses and the wagons were cut to pieces with axes and destroyed in that manner. Daniel Reeves was out in service at that time under Sumpter as he thinks but cannot positively say and this Deponent does not recolect whether he got any of his wound in this battle or not so it was however he was wounded in two places one a cut with a sword and the other a ball piercing his side and coming out again neither of which done him material injury. Daniel Reeves died in Davidson County and this affiant lived in Maury County and afterwards moved to Alabama where he now lives. He knows a great many more circumstances about the Revolution and could relate them having been an eye witness to many of them but is advised the same is not material? affiant is blessed at this time with a good memory a sound constitution and can ride to mill and do his other riding in the neighborhood and has a tolerable history of the Reeves family
Sworn to and subscribed before me the day and year first above mentioned
Jessee Reeves (Seal)
John McCorkle (LS) }
Justice of the Peace

State of Alabama Lauderdale County
I John McCorkle one of the acting Justices of the Peace in and for the State and County aforesaid do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Jesse Reeves and have been for the last fifteen years that he is a man of good Character and a man of truth and veracity and that full credit should be given to his statement and I have heard him frequently talk about the Revolution war and as such have no hesitation in believing the foregoing statements to be true I also know him to be of good memory and now fully able to go about and transact his business
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 4th day of November 1846
John McCorkle (LS)

The State of Alabama}
Lauderdale County}
I Wiley J Hawkins clerk of the County Court of the County & State aforesaid, hereby certify that John McCorkle whose signature appears to the foregoing affidavit of Jessee Reeves & to the above certificate is now or was at the time of subscribing to the same an acting Justice of the peace in & for said County aforesaid, duly commissioned & qualified and that full faith & credit is due to his official acts, and that the foregoing signature purporting to be his are genuine. Given under my hand & seal of office at _ the 5th day of November AD 1846
W J Hawkins clerk said cty cot

Tennessee
Eleanor Reeves deceased widow of Daniel Reeves who died on the 28 of August 1824 of Davidson in the State of Tennessee who was a private in the cavalry commanded by Captain Cashaw of the 3 Regt commanded by Col Thompson in the South Caroline line for 14 mos cavalry 3 mos infantry
Inscribed on the Roll of Tennessee at the rate of 80 Dollars 00 cents per annum, to commence on the fourth day of March 1831 and ending 22 April 1838
Certificate of Pension issued the 13 day of January 1852 and sent to WE Jonse of Tenn Present
Recorded by AVanW???
Book D Vol. 2 Page 416

State of Tennessee }
Davidson County } On this 3d day of February in the year 1838 personally appeared before me Jonathan Garrett one of the acting Justices of the peace in and for the county of Davidson aforesaid Elenor Reaves a resident of Davidson County and State of Tennessee aged seventy eight years in next month who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the pension made by the act of Congress passed July 4th 1836 that she is the widow of Daniel Reeves who was a soldier of the Revolution and served his first tour of service was in the third South Carolina Regiment Commanded by Col Thomson his Captains name was Eli Cashaw and served 14 months under an enlistment
This Declarant would here refer to an affidavit drawn by a Justice of the peace at Nashville in order to obtain his pension made under the act of Congress 1818 but which was never signed by her husband now sworn to upon the ground and for the reason that he was possessed of more property than was contemplated by the then pension laws marked Exhibit "a" and prays may be taken as part of her declaration and proof. She would further refer to the proof when in Maury County and duly authenticated from Jessee Reeves who it appears was well acquainted with the time of the service and recolects his service all of which is contained in said affidavit marked Exhibit "B", and pray may be taken as part of this Declaration and proof this proof marked and here iwth annexed bearing date 21st January 1819 was considered sufficient to enable her husband to obtain his pension but after he came to consider that he was possessed of more property than was allowed to soldiers to possess he abandoned the idea of obtaining his pension. He was at the battle of Sulivans Island now Charleston after this he enetered this service in (blank) and was at the battle of Camden and was wounded in the body he served this tour 3 months he entered the service again as a militia and was drafted for a tour of (blank) months and served in the company commanded by (blank) he was at the battle of (blank) and there received a wound in the arm by a cut of a sword he entered the service again and served as a drafted militia man for the term of (blank) but this affiant cannot recolect the names of his officers and must rely on other proof. This affiant has the record of her children and those as her husband and herself kept in the family Bible which is here annexed marked Exhibit "C" and prays may be taken as part of this Declaration and proof.
She further declares that she was married to the said Danel Reeves on the 17th day of March 1779 and that her husband the aforesaid Daniel Reeves died on the 28th day of August 1824 and that she the said Eleanor Reeves has remained a widow ever since that period as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed
Sworn to and subscribed before me this day and year first above written
J R Garrett }Elener (her mark) Reaves
Justice of the peace for Davidson County

State of Tennessee }
Davidson County } Jonathan R Garret one of the acting justices of the Peace in and for said County hereby certifies that I am well acquainted with Eleanor Reeves who has this day appeared before me and made oath to the foregoing Declaration that she is a woman of truth and that full faith and credit are due to her statements I further certify that she is now very old and helpless and from sickness old age and bodily infirmity she cannot appear in open court to make this Declaration and I hereby certify the same
Given under my hand seal this 3d February 1838
J R Garrett (Seal)

State of Tennessee }
Davidson County } I Jonathan R Garret one of the acting Justices of the Peace in and for the county and State aforesaid do hereby certify that the annexed record of the ages of Daniel Reeves and Eleanor his wife and their children was taken from the family Bible in my presence and attached to this declaration and that I believe the same to be genuine
Sworn under my hand and seal this 3d February 1838 J R Garrett

State of Tennessee }
Davidson County } On this day personally appeared Ormand A Simkins before me Jonathan R Garrett one of the acting Justices of the Peace in and for said County and made oath that he has been acquainted with Daniel Reaves for the space of thirty years past that he was a soldier of the Revolution and served both as a regular soldier and a militia man and has heard him say that he was married during the first service or enlistment in 1779 when at home on furlow. In 1819 Judge McNairy made out his declaration and when the said Daniel Reaves was informed that he must swear that he was not able to live without the assistance of a pension he could not because he was then possessed of property the said Daniel Reaves was wounded in the war of the Revolution in the side and in the arm.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 4th day of February 1838 O A Simpkins (Seal)
J R Garrett (JP)

State of Tennessee }
Smith County } On this day personally appeared William Reeves before me Alfred Bains one of the acting Justices of the peace in and for said County ages seven(?) years of age who being duly sworn according to law makes oath that his brother Daniel Reeves was about fifteen years older than himself that he entered the services of the United States under the command of Cpatain Eli Cashaw in the 3rd South Carolina Regiment and continued to serve for the space of fourteen months This Deponent cannot recolect but very little of the circumstances during the time his Brother was out believes the Battle of Camden or Gates defeat was fought during that time. It was after this a little he cannot say whether it was when Genl Sumter was defeated or some other battle that soon followed but this Deponent distinctly recolects of his Brother coming home wounded from one of the above mentioned battles he was shot through the abdomen and the bullet was cut out near the naval he was also chopped on his arms with a sword and was in that situation taken prisoner but was left in the neighborhood as this affians father lived at that time above Camden about fourty miles who was taken at Sumters Defeat This affiant recolets of his Brother being cured at home. This Brother was married to his present widow Eleanor Reese some years before this and he thinks had one child. This affiant recolects the marriage They were married legally at the time she mentions on the 1?th day of Mar 1770 This deponent further states that his Brothers widow lives at this time about sixty miles from him and has not seen her in three years she must however be very old and infirm his Brother served fourteen months and was regularly discharged but cannot say what became of it and further this Deponent is advised it is not material for him to state
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 30th day of March 1833
A L BainesWillam Reeves
JP for Smith County

State of Tennessee}
Smith County} I John J Burnett clerk of the County Court of said Smith County do truly certify that A L Baines before whom the foregoing affidavit of William Reeves was made was at the time the ? ? to bear date and now is one of the acting Justices of the Peace in and for said County of Smith duly commissioned and qualified and ? ?
In Testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and affixed my seal of office at office the 14 day of April 1838 & 62d year of our Independence
John J Burnett clerk of Smith County Court

State of Tennessee Smith County
I John J Burnett clerk of Smith County Court ? certify, that William Reeves whose affidavit is hereto appended is a citizen of Smith County and that I am well acquainted with him and that he is a man of good character and standing and that full fact and credit are due to his statement. Given under this 14 day of April 1838
John J Burnett clk

State of Tennessee }
Davidson County } On this day personally appeared Thomas Hickman aged 75 years a resident of the county and State aforesaid before me Jonathan R Garret one of the acting Justices of the peace in and for said county and made oath in due form of law that he has been acquainted with Daniel Reeves in his life time for the last forty years past. They lived close neighbors most of that time and were intimately acquainted they had frequent conversations about the war of the Revolution and from these conversations which were frequent say from 1796 the time he moved to the county until his death) he understood from him that he had served more than one term at last had been in the service a considerable ? and thinks he heard him say in the ? but cannot say but it is possible he may have s. in the regular troop. This affiant recolects that when he was out in 1780 say at the time of Gen Sumters Defeat that the said Daniel Reeves was out in the service but was in a different Division of the army he belonged to the Sec South Carolina troops and this affiant was in the North Carolina troops. This affiant cannot particularly state the names of the officers under whom Mr Reeves served nor the particulars of his service but has no hesitation in believing him a soldier of the Revolution and served a considerable time believes part of it must have been with General Marion
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 4th day of February 1838
J R Garrett (jp)Tho. Hickman

State of Tennessee }
Davidson County } I Jonathan R Garret one of the acting Justices of the Peace in and for said county do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Thomas Hickman and Orman A Jenkins that they are men of a Respectability and truth and that full faith and credit are due and of right ought to be given to their statement and I hereby certify the same Given under my hand and seal the 4th day of February 1838
J R Garrett (Seal)

State of Tennessee, Davidson County
I Smith Criddle clerk of the county court of said Davidson County do hereby certify that Jonathan R Garret Esquire whose name is signed to the foregoing certificates is now and was at the time of signing the same an acting Justice of the peace in & for the county & State aforesaid duly commissioned & qualified & as such full faith & credit are due & ought to be given to his official acts.
In testimony whereof I hereunto subscribe my name & affix the seal of said court at office in Nashville this 9th day of April 1838.
Smith Criddle

(pages skipped)

Daniel Reeves the son of John Reeves and Nancy his wife was born October the 10th day 1754
Elener Reeves the wife of Daniel Reeves In(?) March in the year of our lord 1760
James Reeves the son of Daniel Reeves and Elender his wife was born October the 10th day 1788
Daniel Reeves the son of Daniel Reeves and Elender his wife was born March the 2 day 1781
William Reeves the son of Daniel Reeves and Elender his wife was born May the 25th day 1783
Elijah Reeves the son of Daniel Reeves and Elender his wife was born February 20th day 1786
Elisha Reeves the son of Daniel Reeves and Elender his wife was born August 20th day 1788
Sally Reeves the daughter of Daniel Reeves and Elender his wife was born May the 15th day 1791
Nancy Reeves the daughter of Daniel Reeves and Elender his wife was born February 27 day in the year of our lord 1794
Elender Reeves the daughter of Daniel Reeves was born November the 6th day 1796
Hannah Reeves the Daughter of Daniel Reeves was born July the 21st day 1799

(Transcription To Be Continued - JER)

Source

http://www.southerncampaign.org/pen/w5687.pdf
Revolutionary War Pension Application File, Daniel Reeves, W5687 (Fold3.com)