Reavis, Mary MNU

Summary

Father: Unknown
Mother:

Birth: 1774, North Carolina
Birth Source: 1850 Census of Surry County, North Carolina

Death: after 1850, probably Surry County, NC
Death Source:

Spouse1: Unknown Gibbins
Spouse2: Jesse Reavis

---

Narrative

Children of Mrs. Mary Gibbins and Jesse Reavis:

1. Jesse Marshall Reavis, b. 1808
2. Joel Reavis, b. 1811

When widowed Mary Gibbins married Jesse Reavis in 1806, she appears to have had several children who were still at home. A probable daughter, Nancy Gibbins born circa 1802, was living in the home her son Joel Reavis along with Mary in the 1850 census.

Jesse Reavis appears to be deceased before 1820 for Mary Reavis is listed as head of a Surry County household that included 3 males 16-25 and 2 females over 45.

The 1830 census of Surry County lists Mary Reavis' household with 1 male 15-19, 1 male 20-29, 1 female under 5 years old, 1 female 15-19, 1 female 20-29 and 1 female 50-59. It appears that some of Mary's children have married and are living in her home with their families.

Research Notes

Various sources give the date of death of Jesse Reavis as 1835 because they believe that he was the Jesse Reavis listed on the Surry County tax list of that year; however, a widowed Mary Reavis is found in the 1820 Surry census as head of household. There were two individuals named Mary Reavis who were widowed heads of household in the Surry County census records circa 1800 to 1850 but they can be differentiated by the presence of slaves in the household. Joseph Reavis owned 3 slaves in the 1800 census and in the 1810 census his widow, Mary, owned 3 slaves. In all subsequent census, Mary Reavis, widow of Joseph, is listed as owning slaves; however, Jesse Reavis did not own slaves and his widow can be identified by that fact.

Sources

1820 Census - Surry County, North Carolina
1830 Census - Surry County, North Carolina
1840 Census - Surry County, North Carolina
1850 Census - Surry County, North Carolina (Joel Reavis HOH)