Reaves, Asher

Summary

Father: probably George Reaves
Mother: probably Anne Webster

Birth: 1757, Prince William County, Virginia
Birth Source: RW Pension Statement #S17649

Death: 31 Jul 1845, Greene County, Ohio
Death Source: RW Pension File #S17649

Spouse1: Diana Miller, 1780, Sandy Creek, Halifax County, Virginia

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Narrative

Only known children of Asher Reaves and Diana Miller:

1. Catherine Reaves, b. 1784, m. Lemuel Cottrell on 7 Jun 1822, Greene County, Ohio
2. Elizabeth Reaves, b. 1787, m. Hiram Cottrell
3. George Reaves, b. 1794 1796, m. Mary (Margaret) Lee on 26 Jul 1817, Greene County, Ohio
4. Sarah Reaves, b. 1802, m. Levi Hadley on 7 Jun 1822, Greene County, Ohio
5. Obadiah Reaves, b. 1803, m. Charlotte Moorman on 10 Jul 1820, Greene County, Ohio
6. Susannah Reaves, b. 1809

Asher Reaves was born in Prince William County, Virginia and joined the revolutionary forces from Halifax County, Virginia in 1778 according to his pension statement given in 1832 in Greene County, Ohio. His pension statement states that he lived in Halifax County, Virginia prior to the Revolutionary War from where he originally enlisted, then his father relocated to Wilkes County, North Carolina, where he was recruited for subsequent tours of service. Asher stated that he moved with his father to Wilkes County in the State of North Carolina about 2 miles from Wilkes Court House on the Yadkin River where he lived until the fall of 1789.

Asher's parents are undocumented however, the following appear to be some of the earliest references to Reeves or Reaves in Halifax, Virginia:

• On 27 Dec 1771, George Reeves witnessed (signed with his mark) a deed from Luke Williams, carpenter, and Catherine his wife of Halifax County to James Ingram, gentlemen of Accomac County for 500 acres near Sandy Creek. Halifax County Deed Book 8, p. 295.
• On 18 Jun 1773, Luke Williams of Halifax County executed a deed of trust to John Lewis, Jr. of Halifax County for 986 acres adjoining William McDaniel, James Henry, Charles Wormack, George Reaves, Joseph Morrosson, George Curry. Halifax County, Virginia Deed Book 9, p. 202
• On 15 Oct 1778, Luke Williams of Halifax County deeded 100 acres on Court house branch to George Reaves of same county. Halifax County, Virginia Deed Book 11, p. 128-129.
• On 21 Oct 1779, George Reeves and Martha, his wife, deeded what appears to be the same 100 acres tract back to Luke Williams, Halifax County, Virginia Deed Book 11, p. 351-352

The only older Reeves' individual living in Wilkes County, North Carolina at that time was an Isaac Reeves with wife Margery. Isaac Reeves did not name any of his children in his 1807 will, but they have been identified through tax and deed records of Wilkes County and do not include Asher. Although at times George Reeves of Grayson County, Virginia was listed in the records of Wilkes NC, it should be noted that the state line between Virginia and North Carolina was in dispute for approximately 20 years. Areas along that boundary were constantly being shifted back and forth between the two states. The area where George Reeves lived along the New River was along that boundary so the state and county changed repeatedly. From 1767 when he arrived on the Peach Bottom Tract until his death in 1811, George Reeves lived on the north side of the New River. The Peach Bottom Tract on the New River is approximately 40 miles from the Wilkes County Courthouse and the Yadkin River as described by Asher Reaves in his RW pension statement and Little Cub Creek adjacent to the Moravian line mentioned in George Reaves' Wilkes NC deed of 1794.

A Halifax County, Virginia marriage bond dated 25 November 1785 for the marriage of Joseph Morrison to Margaret Raney lists Asher Reaves as Surety. From records of Prince William and Fauquier counties, Joseph Morrison appears to be the step-father of George Reeves and would therefore have been Asher's step-grandfather. George Reves was listed as a tithe of Joseph Morrison's as early as 1747 in Dettingen Parish, Prince William County.

The Wilkes County tax list of Capt. Tribble lists a George Reeves in both 1787 and 1788.

The following deed would appear to be by the George Reeves of Halifax, Virginia, selling his property in Wilkes NC when returning to Halifax:

9 Dec 1794 Deed - George Reeves deed to William Petty, Sr. for 200 acres on Little Lick Creek adjacent to the Moravian line. Wilkes County, North Carolina Deed Book B-1, p. 416

After being discharged in Wilkes County, North Carolina, Asher returned to Halifax, Virginia where he married and remained for around 16 years according to his RW pension statement.

In Halifax County VA, Deed Book 14 page 447, Recorded on 22 June 1789 Charles Powell and wife Sarah sold 150 acres on Licking Creek to Ashur Reaves for 100 pounds. This land was sold back to Anthony Powell, son of Charles, in the two following transactions:

• Book 16 page 23, Dated 31 Jan 1792 - Asher Reeves sold to Anthony Powell - 100 acres for 72 pounds on Licking Creek and Deep Bottom Creek - Bounded by Wilies line, John Dickies line, Frances Pellies (Pettys?), and Robert Stanfield line - Signed by William Watkins, William Wood, and Dickie
• Book 16 page 184, Dated 1 June 1793 - Asher Reeves sold to Anthony Powell - 50 acres for 28 pounds on Licking Creek bounded by Elmer Wiley, John Wiley, Faney Turner, and Anthony Powell - Note: This is surely the same land Charles Powell sold to Asher Reeves in 1789 and Reeves sold it in two parts to Anthony for the same 100 pounds he paid for it.

Asher Reaves signed Anthony Powell's marriage consent as a witness. Anthony married Elizabeth Miller who may have been a sister of Asher's wife Diana.

It should be noted that the DNA of descendants of the known Reeve family of Prince William County, Virginia is a different lineage than descendants of Isaac Reeves of Wilkes County. DNA of the descendants of Asher and George Reaves would be a great help in resolving the identity of these individuals.

From the "History of Greene County (Ohio), Jefferson Township" - Asher Reeves, whose son George is yet a citizen of this township, located permanently near the site of what is now known as Blanetown.

Sources

RW Pension Statement #S17649 of Asher Reaves
1790 Tax List of Halifax County VA
Deed Records of Halifax County VA
Deed and Tax records of Wilkes County, NC
History of Greene County (Ohio), Jefferson Township