Reeve, William

Summary

Father:
Mother:

Birth: Mar 1718
Birth Source: Headstone, Family Bible

Death: 16 Sep 1808
Death Source: Headstone

Spouse1: Mary
Spouse2: Mary

Narrative

Children of William Reeve:

1. Watts Reeve
2. William Reeve, b. 7 Nov 1764
3. Mary Reeve, m. Mr. Smith
4. Sarah Reeve, m. Mr. Hand
5. Albert Reeve, b. c1761, d. 18 Oct 1780
6. Daniel Reeve, d. 1780

New-Jersey Journal, 27 Sep 1808
DIED,
At Springfield, on Thursday the 16th instant, in the ninety-first year of his age, WILLIAM REEVE. - He was not more remarkable for his length of days than for the uniformity and excellence of his character. - His temper was naturally mind, - his disposition amiable, and his integrity inflexible. - At an early period of his life, it pleased God to call him to the knowledge of himself; and for seventy years, he bore an honorable testimony to the truth as it is in Jesus. - Few men, in a private station, ever exercised more diligence and zeal in the cause of his divine Lord, or became more extensively useful in the church of which he was a member: - Through life he seemed almost invariably to enjoy the comfortable presence of his Lord and Master; and at an age when men are generally sunk to a state of second childhood, he possessed a vigor of mind and strength of body which enabled him to go from house to house, visiting the sick, admonishing the thoughtless, and comforting the sorrowful: - His death was such as might be expected from such a life - he who had for so many years been learning to die to the world could not be surprised or dismayed when he was called to die in it: - He bore the pains of expiring nature without a groan; and while he saw his clayed tabernacle dissolving, he rejoiced in the hope that he should inherit a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

His headstone reads: "Here lies/the body of/William Reeve/who died Sep 16 1808/in the 91st Year of his age/He was remarkable for the/length of his day, the simplicity/of his life and his sincere/devotion to God."

The headstone of his first wife Mary reads: "In Memory of/Mary Wife of/William Reeve Esqr/who Departed this/life June 1 1788/in the 63d Year..."

His second wife Mary's headstone reads: "In/memory of/Mary/Widow of/William Reeve/who died Sept 25th/1821 in the 75th year/of her age."

The inventory of his estate denotes William as "Esquire." This is also reflected on his first wife's tombstone.

The will of his widow Mary mentions a granddaughter Phebe Reeve.

Two sons are buried in the Old Springfield Burying Ground identified by their headstones:
"Albert Son of William & Mary Reeve died Octr 18th 1780 In the 19th Year of his age"
"Daniel Son of William & Mary Reeve died June ? 1780 in the ? Year of his age"

Research Notes

Daughter Sarah is probably Sarah Reeve, wife of Jonathan Hand, of Somerset County.

Sources

Birth:          William Reeve Family Bible
Death:        William Reeve Family Bible

Burial:       Findagrave - First Presbyterian Churchyard, Springfield, Union County, New Jersey

1804 Will - William Reeve - Essex County, New Jersey Will Records 10543G
1821 Will - Mary Reeve - Essex County, New Jersey Will Records 11357G
Findgrave - Mary Reeve - First Presbyterian Churchyard, Springfield, Union County, New Jersey
Findagrave - Mary Reeve - First Presbyterian Churchyard, Springfield, Union County, New Jersey
FamilySearch - The Genealogical magazine of New Jersey, Vol. 5, #1, p14
Findagrave - Albert Reeve - Old Springfield Burying Ground, Springfield, Union County, New Jersey
Findagrave - Daniel Reeve - Old Springfield Burying Ground, Springfield, Union County, New Jersey
New-Jersey Journal, 27 Sep 1808