Reaves, William

Summary

Father: Unknown
Mother:

Birth: c1730, possibly Prince George's County, Maryland
Birth Source: Estimate

Death: before 1810
Death Source: No census listings after 1800, last recorded signing 1805 petition (see below)

Spouse1: possibly Ann MNU

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Narrative

William Reaves along with Josias Reaves is recorded in early North Carolina census which are based upon tax records as being a resident of Montgomery County in 1780. By 1790, they were joined by Samuel Reaves and a few years later by Jesse Reaves but there is currently nothing to document their relationships.

In 1805 William Reaves signed a petition by inhabitants of Montgomery County asking the Legislature to intervene concerning dams on the Uhary River and cause them to be kept open during the spring season for the free passage of fish up the river.

There may be no way to verify William Reaves' origins, but the birth records of St. John's Parish, Prince George's County, Maryland record the birth of a Josias Reeves to William & Ann Reeves in 1757. In 1759, the same William & Ann Reeves are recorded as parents to Elizabeth Reeves. Those are the last records of that family to be found in Prince George's County.

There is currently no way to be certain, but since many other Marylanders migrated to the Rowan County area of North Carolina before 1800, this may likely be the origins of this family. If this is the same William Reeves of Prince George's County, Maryland, the children of William and Ann MNU whose births are recorded in the records of St. John's Parish are as follows:

1. Josias Reeves, b. 15 Feb 1757
2. Elizabeth Reeves, b. 22 Oct 1759

NOTE - THIS IS CURRENTLY BASED UPON CONJECTURE