Reeves, Abner

Summary

Father: probably Jonathan Reeves
Mother: Unknown

Birth: 1780 (1776-1794 per 1820 census), North Carolina
Birth Source: 1880 Census gives William C. Reeves' father's birthplace as North Carolina

Death: before 1830 1821, Winchester, Franklin County, Tennessee
Death Source: Wife is widowed and head of household in 1830 census

Spouse1: Elizabeth Russey

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Narrative

Recorded in the 1820 census of Franklin County, Tennessee. Household consists of 1 Male under 10, 3 Males 16-25, 2 Males 26-44, 2 Females under 10 and 1 Female 26-44.

Abner Reeves arrived in Franklin County at the same time that Avery, Mauldin and an unidentified Edward Reeves did. There is no documentation of a definite connection between these individuals but Abner appears to be one of the 6 previously unidentified sons of Jonathan Reeves of Granville and Wake counties in North Carolina. Other probable children of Jonathan Reeves - Avery Reeves and
Ruth Reeves Sanders also settled in the Winchester area of Franklin County, Tennessee.

Known children of Abner Reeves and Elizabeth Russey:

1. Sarah Reeves, b. 1813, m. Latta
2. William C. Reeves, b. 15 Nov 1815 in Franklin County, TN
3. Eliza C. Reeves, b. c1820, m. Anderson Faris in Jul 1840, Hardeman County, TN

The biography of Abner Reeves' son William C. Reeves provides some information regarding both Abner and his wife Elizabeth Russey. Published 1887 by Goodspeed Publishing Company in The History of Fayette County, Tennessee:
William C. Reeves, a well known farmer of Fayette County, was born in Winchester, Franklin Co., Tenn, November 15, 1815, being a son of Abner and Elizabeth (Russey) Reeves. It was thought that the father was born about 1780, in North Carolina or Virginia. He died in Winchester, Tenn., in 1821. The mother was born in North Carolina, March 20,1788, and died in Somerville, Tenn, April 23, 1873. The father was a blacksmith and very successful. The mother remained in Franklin County several years after his death. In 1832 she moved, with our subject and her brother, to Fayette County, where she resided until her death. Our subject was the second of four children. He received a good education, chiefly at Winchester. At sixteen he moved to West Tennessee, and after spending a year in Hardeman County moved to Fayette County, but in 1837 he purchased a farm in Hardeman County, and after living there two years moved gain to Fayette County, which he has since made his home, being one of the most substantial citizens of the county, and owning over 400 acres of valuable land. Mr. Reeves has had the unusual misfortune of losing six wives. He was first married to Miss Sallie Farris, April 18, 1835. She died March 20, 1837; second, to Miss Lucy Farris, a sister of his first wife, December 19, 1839 - she died June 26, 1852; third, to Miss Mary McCarley, December 25, 1852 - she died October 14, 1857; fourth, to Miss Mary A. Reeves, May 6, 1858 - she died January 28, 1860; fifth, to Mrs. Elizabeth (Walsh) Holt, November 22, 1861 - she died February 6, 1874; and sixth, to Mrs. Ann J. (Tyler) Todd, who died October 13, 1884. Our subject is a Democrat and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Mr. Reeves is a man of fine character and industrious habits.

Sources

The History of Fayette County, Tennessee pub 1887 by Goodspeed Printing Company
1820 Census - Franklin County, Tennessee