Reeve, James, Jr.

Summary

Father: James Reeve
Mother: Hephzibah Moore

Birth: 24 Apr 1761
Birth Source: Pension Certificate from 1788

Death: 15 Jan 1837
Death Source: Son's statement in Pension Application

Spouse1:

Narrative

Children of James Reeve:

1. James H. Reeve, b. c1790
2. Abigail Reeve, m. Jonathan Carpenter

From the History of Orange County, New York:

James Reeve. Jr., was wounded in the battle of Minisink. On the 22d of July, 1778, he settled upon land near Slate Hill, where his grandson, the Hon. John H. Reeve, now resides.

The Battle of Minisink occurred at Minisink Ford, New York, on 22 Jul 1779. More details about James's involvement are given in A history of the Minisink region:

James Reeve, grandfather of John H. Reeve and James M. Reeve, Esqs., of Wawayanda, was in the battle. When the settlers gave way he fled with the rest, but after crossing the Delaware separated from his companions. While making his way through the woods his arm became weary with carrying his gun so long in one hand, and he thought he would carry it with the other awhile. When he made the exchange the gun fell from his hand, and on investigating the matter, he was surprised to find his arm had been broken by a musket ball * his mind having been so occupied that he had not felt the pain.

In a certificate dated 7 Apr 1788 copied into the court documents of his pension application, James Reeve Junior was granted a yearly pension of $36. It states that he was a private in Captain John Lillels company in the Orange County militia commanded by Colonel William Allison and served in battle on 20 Jul 1779 and on the 22nd (which was the Battle of Minisink) and was shot through the upper bone of the left arm above the elbow. It states he was 26 years of age on 24 of April last (1787).

Later, James H. Reeve, age 54 came into court on 5 Dec 1844 further claimed a pension from his father's service. It states "That affiant is one of the surviving children of James Reeve dcd who was a Revolutionary Soldier in the New York Militia that he received a pension of $4.80 per month as an invalid soldier for wounds received in the service in July 1779 that his certificate is dated 6th July 1824, that said James Reeve departed this life on the 15th of January 1837 intestate."

The court later concluded the same day: "It was proven in open court to the satisfaction of the Court that James Reve a Revolutionary pensioner of the United States for wounds recd in service departed this life the 15th day of January 1837 without having an widow but the following children (towit?) James H Reeve of Orange cty NY and Abigail widow of Jonathan Carpenter? decd of Pa the two above are the children of sd James Reeve the pensioner the original pension certificate of whom is here to the court shown all of which is ordered to be certified to the war department."

On 27 Jan 1837, Abigail Carpenter of Northmoreland, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania sold to James H. Reeve of Minisink land in Minisink "being the farm and premises of which James Reeve late of Minisink aforesaid decd died seized, and of which the said Abigail is heir at law."

Research Notes

Sources

Birth:          Pension Application files
Death:        Pension Application files

1790 Census:  Minisink, Orange County, New York
1800 Census:  Minisink, Orange County, New York
1810 Census:  Minisink, Orange County, New York
1820 Census:  Minisink, Orange County, New York
1830 Census:  Minisink, Orange County, New York

Archive.org - Ruttenber, Edward Manning. (1881). History of Orange County, New York, pp. 681
Archive.org - Stickney, Charles E. A history of the Minisink region, p106
Revolutionary War Pension Record, James Reeve, S49273
1837 Deed - Abigail Carpenter to James H. Reeve - Orange County, New York Deed Book 57, p607