Reeves, Elijah "Eli"

Summary

Father: Unknown
Mother: Unknown

Birth: c1750
Birth Source:

Death: January 1781, Montgomery County, NC
Death Source: Will, Johnston County Will Book L, pg 163

Spouse1: Elizabeth MNU

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Narrative

Elijah Reeves origins are unknown as well as the time of his arrival in Johnston County, North Carolina but by 1778 he is recorded in the following deeds:

• Deed from William Pitman to Eli Reves, 50 acres on south side of the Neuse River, April 25 1778. A second deed, dated the same day, conveyed 60 acres to Eli Reves on the Neuse River, beginning at the Neuse to Watery Branch down to the mouth of the River.
• Eli Reves sold 40 acres on the south side of the Neuse River, to James Lockhart on February 22, 1779, beginning at the mouth of the first small branch.
• Eli Reves, planter, sold 50 acres on the Neuse River, part of 2 tracts, to James Lockhart, January 10, 1780. The land began at the mouth of Wartery Branch on the Neuse, up the Branch and then due east to Deep Branch. Eli Reaves signed by a mark.

Source: Weynette Parks Haun, Johnston County, North Carolina, Abstracts: Deed Books H-1, I-1, K, L-1, 1771-1782, vol. 13, Durham, NC

Elijah died in Montgomery County as evidenced by the deposition given by Capt. Thomas Chiles which serves as the nuncupative will of Elijah Reeves. Capt. Chiles states that Elijah Reeves was a civilian who was sick for some time and during that time gave verbal instructions regarding his wishes for his estate. The original of that deposition given by Capt. Chiles in Montgomery County is in the North Carolina Archives at Raleigh.

The will was then presented in the Johnston County Court by his widow, Elizabeth, in May 1781. The children of Elijah Reeves are not named in this will but these are the only children in Johnston County at that time who are likely children of Elijah and Elizabeth Reeves.

Probable children of Elijah Reeves and Elizabeth:

1. Molley Reeves m. William Rainwater on 16 Nov 1787
2. Betsy Reeves m. William Roberts, Jr. on 12 Oct 1793
3. Levi Reeves m. Elizabeth "Betsy" Norris nee Britt on 23 Aug 1802

It is very probable that Elizabeth remarried in 1783 because there is a marriage recorded in Johnston County for an Elizabeth Reeves to Samuel Baldwin on 13 Jan 1783. Also, when Molley Reeves married William Rainwater in 1787, Samuel Baldwin was the bondsman.

This page has the following file(s) attached:-

•  Marriage bond-Molly Reaves.jpg
•  Will of Elijah Reves-Back.jpg
•  Will of Elijah Reves.jpg

Sources

Johnston County NC Deed Abstracts by Weynette Parks Haun
Will of Eli Reeves, Johnston County WB L:163
North Carolina Archives, Raleigh NC
North Carolina, Marriages, 1759-1979, Database at Family Search
North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979, Database at Family Search