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Reeve, Jesse (1768 VA - 1841 TN)

Jesse Reeve

Reeve, Jesse


Summary

Father: George Reeve
Mother: Jane Riddle Durham

Birth: 28 September 1768, Prince William Co., VA
Birth Source: Date supplied by Descendant

Death: July 17, 1841, Greene Co., TN
Death Source: Price, Holston Methodism

Spouse1: Ann (Nancy) Cox, by bond dated 28 March 1795, Fauquier Co., VA



Narrative

Known children of Jesse Reeve and Ann Cox:
  1. Jane D. Reeve, b. 31 Jan 1796, VA
  2. Elizabeth Reeve, b. 5 Dec 1797, VA
  3. William Cox Reeves, b. 19 April 1799, VA, d. 16 Feb 1815, TN
  4. Kittie Reeve, b. 11 Mar 1801, TN
  5. Naricissa Reeve, b. 22 Mar 1803, TN
  6. Brunetta Love Reeve, b. 6 Dec 1804, TN
  7. Mary G. Reeve, b. 14 Oct 1806, TN
  8. Cecilia Reeve, b. 14 Dec 1808, TN
  9. George Washington Reeve, b. 21 Oct 1810
  10. Thomas Jefferson Reeve, b. 2 Jul 1812, TN
  11. Jesse Smith Reeve, b. 9 Jan 1814, TN, "the eleventh and last child."

Prince, in Holston Methodism, indicates that Ann (Nancy) Cox was born 27 September 1772 and died 19 February 1845. Descendants indicate that she was born in Charles Co., MD, and was a daughter of William Cox and Elizabeth Adams.

He was living in the Fauquier - Loudon County area in 1798.

Price, in Holston Methodism, states: "The records of Prince William County, Va., show that Jesse Reeve and Nancy Cox, his wife, sold and conveyed their land in Virginia in the year 1800 and soon afterwards removed to East Tennessee, purchased a farm in what is now Cocke County, and in 1806 built a house in which they resided many years. In that home Thomas and Jesse Smith Reeve were born and brought up. Jesse Reeve, Sr., owned several valuable slaves. After rearing a large family, he moved to Greene County, having sold the Cocke County farm to his son Thomas, who resided at the old homestead about twenty years after his marriage to Rebecca Ann Earnest. Jesse Reeve, Sr., died July 17, 1841; and his wife Nancy Cox, was born September 27, 1772, and died February 19, 1845." Price also describes Jesse Reeve as "Bishop Asbury's friend." Price (I: 187, 298) notes that Bishop Asbury often spent the night at the Reeve home while traveling into the Carolinas; a photograph of the home, which was still standing in 1912, is included (I: 298).

In her Reeves research, Lois Downey has noted that several members of the Asa Reeves family became Methodists. She also notes that Jesse's father George mentioned Adam Fondren, a Methodist minister, in his will and gave property for Fondren's church to meet. One of the witnesses to that will was named Jesse Smith, perhaps the person for whom Jesse Smith Reeve was named.

"Departed this life, on the 14th ult. at his residence in Cocke County JESSE REEVE in the 73d year of his age, leaving a numerous circle of friends and relations, to lament thir deprivation of a good neighbor, a kind parent, an indulgent husband, and a warm friend. Mr. Reeve was born in Prince William County Virginia, and emigrated to Tennessee in 1800;- for the last ten years he has been an upright and worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and died in hope of a sure and blessed immortality. A history of the life of our esteemed friend Mr. Reeve would afford instruction and comfort to many, had we the materials; leasure and space to publish a regular narrative. Of such a biography, from the length of his standing, the general utility of his life, and the excellence of his character, he was highly deserving. Of his standing in the Church, the best testimony is, that the offices he sustained, & the deservedly high compliments paid him by the Ministry, who, collectively and individually, have ever found his house a home and partaken freely of the hospitalities of his kind dwelling. We speak from a personal knowledge on this subject."
The Whig, (Jonesborough, TN) Friday, August 06, 1841; Issue 12; col E.

Note that the transcribed Obituary from The Whig states the 14th. This needs to be verified.

From Tennessee, The Volunteer State, 1769-1923:
Isaac (sic) Reeve, grandfather of Dr. Reeve, was born in 1768 and wedded Ann Nancy Cox, a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Adams) Cox, the former of Virginia and the latter of Massachusetts. Disposing of his Virginia holdings, Jesse Reeve removed to Cocke County, Tennessee, in 1806 and afterward established his home in Greene county, Tennessee, selling his Cocke county farm to his brother, Jefferson, who married Rebecca Ann Earnest and who afterward became a resident of Greene county, Tennessee. To Jesse Reeve and his wife were born a large family, as follows: Jane D., who was born in 1796 and became the wife of Robert Lea; Eliza A., who was born in 1797 and married Armstead Wall; William C, who was born in 1799; Kitty D., who was born in 1801 and became the wife of Colonel Henry Earnest; Narcissa, who was born in 1803 and married Barton L. Earnest; Brunetta, who was born in 1804 and became the wife of Isaac Earnest; Mary G., who was born in 1806 and married the Rev. William Eakin; Cecelia, born in 1808; George W., who was born in 1810 and wedded Mary Ann McNew; Thomas J., who was born in 1812 and married Rebecca Earnest; and Jesse S., the father of Dr. Reeve, who was born in Cocke county, Tennessee, in 1814, and married Naomi Worley.

The children of the last named are: Nathan H. of this review; William J., who married Emma Conway; and Ann Catherine, the wife of Samuel M. Keys.



Research Notes

Many on-line sources erroneously identify this Jesse Reeve as Thomas Jefferson Reeve, although they list correct birth and death information for him, his spouse, and his children.

Sources

Death:      The Whig, (Jonesborough, TN) Friday, August 06, 1841; Issue 12; col E.
Census:    1830 Census - Cocke County, Tennessee (Indexed as Pepe Reeves on FamilySearch)
                   1840 Census - Greene County, Tennessee
History:    Greene County TN Will Book 1, p. 233-234
                   Alcock, Fauquier Families.
                   R. N. Price, Holston Methodism (1913), I: 187, V: 67-71.
                   Tennessee, The Volunteer State, 1769-1923, p188

Birthdates for Jesse's children were posted on-line by Gary McConkey, a reseacher of this line; the dates may have come from the Family Bible mentioned in Jesse's 1841 will.