Reavis, Isham

Summary

Father: Edward Reavis, Jr.
Mother: Mary (surname possibly Isham)

Birth: 19 Sep 1748, Northampton County, North Carolina
Birth Source: 1883 Letter from grandson

Death: c 23 Aug 1829, Saline County, Missouri
Death Source: 1883 Letter from grandson, Will probated 10 Sep. 1829

Spouse1: Anne Matilda Jones
Spouse2: Sarah Womack, m. 14 Aug 1805 in Warren County, Kentucky

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Narrative

Children of Isham Reavis and Anne Jones:

1. Edward Reavis, b. 1767, m. Zilpha Parker on 15 Dec 1799
2. Daniel Reavis, b. 1769, m. Lucy Rollins on 20 Jan 1806 (Bond)
3. Mark Reavis, b. 1772
4. Charles Reavis, b. 1774
5. Rebecca Reavis, b. 1778, m. Royal Potter on 8 Mar 1793 in Rutherford County NC
6. Isham Reavis, Jr., b. 7 Mar 1781, m. Tabitha Strickland on 18 Jan 1802
7. Martha Reavis, b. 1782, m. Elisha Strickland
8. William Reavis, b. 13 Jul 1786, m1 Elizabeth Strickland, m2 Catherine Hensley
9. Solomon Reavis, b. 1788

On the 17th of August 1799, Isham Reavis along with his sons Edward, Charles, Mark, Isham Jr. and son-in-law Royal Potter were appointed by the County Court of Warren County, Kentucky to work on a road under overseer Robert Lee.

Although the majority of Isham Reavis' sons, Isham Jr., Mark, Daniel, and William, are recorded as still being residents of Warren County, Kentucky in the 1810 census, Isham Sr. appears to have already left the area and made the move to Illinois.

His grandson a letter to a cousin and had the following to say about him:

My grandfather Isham Reavis (your great-grandfather) was born in North Carolina (County is not known) Sept. 19, 1748. He died in Saline County, Mo., Sept 23, 1835, being 87 years and four days old at the time of his death. He was a most remarkable man. Somehow or other he managed to obtain a very fair English education, was an Old School Baptist preacher, and was noted for his sterling integrity, and for his general good deportment. He was a soldier in the patriot army in the war of the Revolution in 1776, removed to the neighborhood of Bowling Green, Kentucky in the latter part of the 18th century, accumulated some property here, and early in the 19th century he removed to Saline Co., Mo., established some salt works and accumulated some property here, manumitted all his slaves before his death, and now sleeps in an unknown grave near the Saline Spring where he established the salt works.

The following was published in the Kansas City Star on 7 May 1904:

In 1816, Isham REAVIS started from Kentucky to Missouri with his family and slaves. He was one of the first of the multitude of Kentucky and Virginia immigrants who afterwards filled up what are known as the "Bourbon" counties of Missouri. Having heard that an Indian uprising was imminent in the new country, REAVIS remained in Illinois six months. The slavery question was then being agitated, and although he was not aware of it, REAVIS's short residence in Illinois had given his slaves their freedom. He moved on to Saline county, Missouri, where he died some time in the late '20s, leaving his slaves to his heirs...

The information in this newspaper article concerning the slaves of Isham Reavis is questionable for there are court records from 1827 documenting the emancipation of slaves Patience along with her child Elizabeth Jane, Ginger and Lucy. There are also no slaves listed as bequests in the will of Isham Reavis.

In Deed Book A: p.77-179 on 18 Dec 1827, it is recorded that Isham Reavis of Saline County, emancipated his servants: Patience (age 36), her daughter Elizabeth Jane (abt 18 mo), Ginger, and Lucy as follows:

"Know all men by these presents, that I, Isham Reavis, of Saline County in the state of Missouri, do by these presents, for and in consideration the hitherto faithful servitude of my servant woman, Patience, about the age of 36 years, and for the further consideration of the sum of sixty dollars to me in hand paid, in receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, have this day liberated, emancipated and set free and at liberty the said Negro woman, Patience, and her young child, named Elizabeth Jane, about 18 months old, and also all her future increase; and the said woman and child are hereby set free and emancipated from myself and my heirs; and from all persons claiming title to them under me. In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my seal, this 15th day of December, 1827." s/Isham Reavis Wit: Jas. Stevens, Wm. Gleason, Geo Chapman

Isham Reavis wrote his will on 16 Aug 1824 and it was proved in 1829. He mentions his children Edward, Marcurial?, Isham Jr., Daniel, Charles, William Solomon and daughters Rebeckah Potter and Martha "Strickling."

The letter from his grandson states he died 23 Sep 1829. However, the bond for executing the will is dated 10 Sep 1829. It's probably that he got mixed up and the date is actually 23 Aug 1829.

Sources

Marriage1:  FamilySearch - Kentucky, County Marriages, 1786-1965

1790 Census:  Rutherford County, North Carolina
1820 Census:  Bond County, Illinois

1824 Will - Isham Reavis - Saline County, Missouri - Probate Variety Book, p64
1883 Letter - William Reavis to Logan U. Reavis