Reaves, Isham
Summary
Father: possibly William ReevesMother: possibly Margaret Floyd
Birth: 1791, North Carolina
Birth Source: 1850 Census of Bedford County TN
Death: 1 Jan 1871, Bedford County, Tennessee
Death Source: Goodspeed's History of Benton County TN
Spouse1: Chaney Coggens
Spouse2: Rachel Morgan
Narrative
Children of Isham Reaves and Chaney Coggens:- Chaney Coggin Reaves, b. 3 Dec 1812
- William Reaves, b. 4 Jun 1814
- Lucinda, m. Mr. Cross
Children of Isom Reaves and Rachel Morgan:
- Benjamin Reaves, b. c1826
- John Reaves
- Robert Reaves, b. 1833
- Frances Marion Reeves, b. 1836
- Jane Reaves, b. 1840, m. Mr. Arnold
The above children of Isom Reaves and Rachel Morgan are all listed in the 1850 Census of Bedford County TN with the exception of John who may have been deceased by that time. All eight of his children are mentioned in his will from 1859. He also mentions (but doesn't name) the children of his deceased daughter Lucinda Cross.
His name sometimes appears as "Isom" and other times as "Isham."
Biography from Goodspeed's History of Bedford County, Tennessee
Robert Reaves, a farmer and stock raiser, of the Twenty-third District of Bedford County, was born November 14, 1833, and is the son of Isom and Rachel (Morgan) Reaves. The father was a native of North Carolina and when a young man immigrated to Bedford County, Tenn., and settled in the Twenty-third District. He was a farmer and stock raiser, and was successful in all his undertakings. He was worth considerable property at the time of his death, which occurred January 1, 1871. He was the father of five children: Benjamin, John, Robert, Frances M. and Jane. Isom Reaves was twice married, his first wife being a Miss Chaney Coggens; three children were born to them, all dead but one, named William. Our subject was reared on the farm and received a limited education in the common schools. In 1855 Miss Martha Morgan became his wife and this union resulted in the birth of five children: Bettie F., Mary J., Robert A., Dulcenia and Emmet. Mary J. died in 1869 and Robert A. died the same year. When the war broke out our subject acted as escort to Gen. Forrest. He was under Capt. Little and participated in all the battles in which his command was engaged. He owns a fine track of land and is one of the leading citizens of the county.
Both this biography and the 1850 census indicate that Isham was born in North Carolina. Although he is listed as a son of William Reeves in the Bedford County, Tennessee: Family History Book there doesn't appear to be any evidence to back this up. Rather, we find Isham living next to Tobias Reeves, also from North Carolina, in Bedford County in 1830. Both of these men bought land from Joshua Ham in 1823, which suggests a close connection, probably brothers. This indicates that Isham was probably not a son of William Reeves but rather descends from a North Carolina Reeves family, a possibility that needs further research.
Sources
Census: 1830 Census - Bedford County, Tennessee (List as Isum Reaves)1840 Census - Bedford County, Tennessee (List as Isham Reaves)
1850 Census - Bedford County, Tennessee
History: The Goodspeed History of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford, Marshall TN 1886
Will of Isham Reaves, Bedford County, Tennessee, Will Book 1, p3