Reeves, Ameriah

Summary

Father: probably Jonathan Reeves
Mother: probably Mrs. Hannah Wilson Budd

Birth: 27 Jul 1738 (circa 1740), possibly New Jersey
Birth Source: Estimated

Death: probably Tennessee
Death Source:

Spouse1: possibly Susanna Hays, m. 4 Oct 1762 in Salem County, New Jersey

Narrative

This may be Amariah Reeves, son of Jonathan Reeves and Mrs. Hannah Wilson Budd who married Susanna Hays on 4 Oct 1762 in Salem County, New Jersey. No further records were found of Amariah in New Jersey so he may have migrated to North Carolina and be the same individual.

Ameriah Reaves purchased a steer from the estate of Jacob Baison, which was recorded in Orange County November Court 1774. In Mar 1775, Amariah became indebted to Young, Miller and Co., a British firm, for between 11 and 12 pds.

In 1776, he was on a list of freeholders for Orange County. He is named among individuals recorded in a poll taken at an "Election for Delegates to represent the County of Orange" agreeable to a Resolve of Congress dated 28th of Nov 1776. The actual vote was taken on 10 Dec 1776.

Ameriah was also recorded as a taxpayer in Orange County in 1779 along with George Reeves and John Reeves who are the only other Reeves individuals in the county. That 1779 tax list records Ameriah as being taxed on 400 acres.

In 1776, Ameriah is listed on the roster of officers and private soldiers detached from the first or Southern Battalion of Militia of Orange County, North Carolina under the command of Col. Ambrose Ramsey to march against hostile indians during the American Revolution.

On 20 August 1783, Amariah Reeves submitted a Revolutionary War claim and was paid £12.

1781-- Appears on a tax list of Orange County in Orange District with 148 pds of property. Lived on Stagg’s Creek.

22 Oct 1782--Amariah Rives made claim of 100 pds trespass due Elizabeth Rives as her “next friend.” John Reeves and John Allen witnessed the bond of John and Elizabeth Hughs to answer this claim. Witnesses included Thomas Fossett, John Carriker and Margaret Kercken. (C.R. 073.325.2)

Aug 1783-- Amariah Reeves granted license to keep an ordinary at his dwelling house. William Ansley, Esq. became his surety in his bond.

Jul 1784--Amariah Reeves was discharged from jury service for reasons shown.

William Cummings of Hillsboro made a statement concerning Amariah that he removed to Tennessee, 16 or 17 years prior, and is now dead. while he lived in Orange he had some property, was an honest man industrious and lived well. [Ransom McBride, "Claims of British Merchants After the Revolutionary War," North Carolina Genealogical Society Journal XI.1 (Feb 1985) 31]

19 Aug 1791–Henry Jacobs was accused of making an assault upon Susannah, wife of Amariah Reeves. He pled not guilty. John Lynch was accused of assaulting Amariah on the same day (C.R. 073.326.1) [The Lynches are associated with the John Reeves family.]

15 Oct 1807 in “The Impartial Review and Cumberland Repository” J. Dorris of Robertson Co., TN, advertised that he had lost a note on Amariah Reaves that had been given to Elijah Ferguson and assigned to Dorris by Benjamin Ferguson.

Very little else is known of Ameriah Reeves other than these references to him in the records of Orange County, North Carolina.

Research Notes

It appears that Ameriah may have migrated westward to the New River area as other Orange County residents had done prior to the Revolution. However, there is nothing to document a connection between the Ameriah Reaves of Orange County in the 1770s and Ameriah Reves found in Grayson County in 1796 although his residence there may have just been temporary as he moved from Orange County to Tennessee. Also in Grayson County at that same time, a John Hays Reeves married Nancey Hooten on 24 Nov 1796 and is recorded there as a taxpayer in 1796, 1797 and 1798. He may be the child of Ameriah and Susanna Hays Reeves. John Hays Reeves also migrated into Tennessee and is found there on the 1820 census in Warren County. Based upon his middle name of "Hays", the dates of his residence in Grayson County and removal to Tennessese, it is highly probable that he was the son of Ameriah Reeves.

A TRP researcher has located the following Grayson County VA records for an Amariah Reves:

1796 Grayson County personal tax list
Amariah Reves 1 0 0 0

Grayson 1799 delinquent revenue taxes Library of Virginia , Grayson County Court Records Barcode 1117701
Amariah Revs, no land, 1 horse, not found
Abner Revs, no land, 1 horse, not found

Sources

North Carolina State Archives
A list of the volunteers and drafted men, Halifax return, MCH. 1779
D.A.R. of NC. Durham, NC. 1932. (12,709p.):593
William D. Bennett, Orange County Records, Volume XIII, Inventories & Accounts of Sales, 1758 – 1785, self-published, Raleigh, NC (1994), pp. 129-130
Orange County NC 1779 Tax at North Carolina Digital Collections
Tax Records of Grayson County, Virginia
North Carolina Revolutionary Pay Vouchers, 1779-1782, online database at Ancestry.com
Ransom McBride, "Claims of British Merchants After the Revolutionary War," North Carolina Genealogical Society Journal XI.1 (Feb 1985) 31
Orange County, North Carolina Court Orders