Reeve, Luther

Summary

Father:
Mother:

Birth: c1759
Birth Source: Pension Record

Death: 13 Dec 1842, of Ashtabula County, Ohio
Death Source: Pension Record

Spouse1: Anna Pierson, m. 31 Jan 1785, Lyme, Connecticut

Narrative

Children of Luther Reeve and Anna Pierson:

1. Benjamin Reeve, b. 23 Feb 1787
2. Rumsey Reeve, b. 18 Apr 1789
3. Sarepta Reeve, b. 13 Jun 1792, m. Mr. Brown
4. Mary (Polly) Reeve, b. 5 Apr 1795, m. Mr. Gee
5. Nancy Reeve, m. Babcock
6. Hannibal Reeve, b. 9 Jan 1797
7. Anne Reeve, b. 1 Oct 1799

The following items were gleaned from Luther's Revolutionary War Pension Record:
-His first statement was made in 1818, at age 59, listed as of Lyme, Conn
-His service was described as:

• 1 Feb 1777 - enlisted in company of Captain Christpher Ely - 1st Conn Reg, Col. Jedediah Huntington
• honorably discharged 8 Jun 1788

-Statement from 1820 mentions:

• wife Anna, age 56 (has been sick 16 years)
• daughter Mary, age 24, weakly constitution
• son-in-law lives with them and "improves the land."

-Anna's pension ended 28 Nov 1843, the day of her death. Certificate of Pension issues 21 Oct 1844 and sent to Elliot & Hathaway, Hampden, Geanga County, Ohio.
-A note attached says "..amount due to be paid to Benjamin, Rumsey & Haninbal, ? & Sareptor? Brown, Mary G? and Nancy Babcock ch?dn of Anna Reaves decd. - Benjm Reeves, May 7 1852"
-In 1843, Anna, widow, appeared in Court in New Lyme, Ashtabula County, Ohio to make her claim of pension as widow.
-"Lyme January the thirty first A. D. one thousand seven hundred and eighty five, then I the subscriber married Luther Reeves and Anna Pierson both of said Lyme to each other. - Test Seth Ely Justice of ye Peace"
-In 1844, son Benjamin Reeves appeared in court in Ashtabula County, Ohio to "obtain for the children of the widow Anna Reeves late of said New Lyme deceased the benefits" of the pension. The six living children are listed as: Benjamin Reeves, Rumsey Reeves, Sarepta Brown, Mary Gee, Nancy Babcock, and Hannibal Reeves.
-The statement on the certificate of pension for Anna states she was widow of "Luther Reeves who was a pensioner under the Act of May 15th 1828 and who died on the 13th December 1842 of Ashtabula Co in the State of Ohio."

Luther Reeve is mentioned a part of a number of men belonging to Col. Smith's Regmt that joined Col Levingston's detachment 1 Nov 1776. (War Rolls)

A number of the children's births are listed in Lyme, Connecticut birth records, listed under the name Reives. Ann might be the same as Nancy.

Luther is listed in New Lyme in Ohio in the 1826 tax list.

Research Notes

Luther is said to be the son of Israel Reeve who is buried in a cemetery in East Lyme, Connecticut. The record states he died 6 Jun 1813, age 83. Israel appears to be the only Reeve prior to Luther in Lyme, Connecticut. There appears to be a son in Israel's household in 1800, although the age doesn't quite match. In 1810, Luther is listed as head of household and no Israel is listed. However, Israel died in 1813 or 1814, so he must have still been living in the area. In Luther's household, there are two adults over 45 listed. It would make sense that this is other individual is Israel and therefore likely his father.

Sources

Marriage1:  Connecticut, Town Marriage Records, pre-1870 (Barbour Collection) (Ancestry)
Death:        Dodgeville Cemetery, New Lyme, Ashtabula County, Ohio

1810 Census:  New London County, Connecticut
1820 Census:  Lyme, New London County, Connecticut
1830 Census:  New Lyme, Ashtabula County, Ohio (L Reeds?)
1840 Census:  New Lyme, Ashtabula County, Ohio

Revolutionary War Pension Record, Luther Reeves, W4570
U.S., Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783 (Ancestry)
Connecticut Births and Christenings, 1649-1906 (FamilySearch)
Ohio, Tax Records, 1800-1850 (Ancestry)