Reeves, Elisha

Summary

Father: Probably John Reeves
Mother: Probably Mary

Birth: c. 1790, South Carolina
Birth Source: Estimated

Death: 15 August 1840, Washington Co., Indiana
Death Source: War of 1812 Widow's Pension

Spouse1: Mary Meredith, married 8 September 1812, South Carolina

Narrative

Children of Elisha Reeves and Mary Meredith:

1. Eveline Ellen Reeves, b. 9 Aug 1819, m. William Martin
2. Wiley Rufus Reeves, b. April 1826
3. Robert B. Reeves, b. c1833

Some researchers believe John A. Reeves, b. 1821, SC, who lived in Washington Co., IN, and Rapides Parish, LA, may have been another child of this couple.

Elisha first appears on a mortgage from 1816 in Union County. This location suggests he is a son of John Reeves who had died there a few years earlier.

The 1820 Union Co., SC, Census showed this Elisha Reeves as head of household. His family consisted of two males under age 10, one male aged 26-45 (born 1775-1794), two females under age 10, and one female aged 16-26.

As per Mary Reeves's War of 1812 Widows' Pension, Elisha Reeves served in Capt. Charles Gant's Company, SC Militia. A declaration was made in Washington Co., IN, on 8 January 1872 in which Mary A. Reeves, age 78, stated that she was the widow of Elisha Reeves who had enlisted in Gant's company as a substitute
for Thomas Dockers. Elisha enlisted in Union County, SC, in 1813 or 1814 and was discharged at St. John's Island, SC. Mary stated that she was "married under the name Mary Meredith to said Elisha Reeves on September 8, 1812, by Chyn McDougald in South Carolina." She indicated that her husband Elisha died on 15 August 1840 in Lawrence Co., IN. The pension file also contains an affidavit by William Martin of Washington Co., IN, dated 13 January 1872. Martin stated that he was 49 years old and was well acquainted with the widow Mary Reeves and, in his lifetime, with Elisha Reeves. Martin stated that in the family Bible there was a record of the marriage wherein it was written that Elisha Reeves and Mary Meredith were married on 8 September 1812. Martin stated that he was present at the death of Elisha Reeves on 15 August 1840.

Mary was living in Washington County, IN in 1850 with Robert B. Reeves, apparently her son.

Research Notes

Elisha was a fairly uncommon name among South Carolina Reeves families. It appears at least three times in the Lancaster County, SC, Reeves family, with Elisha Reeves who was enumerated in Lancaster County in 1790, Elisha Reeves, son of James Reeves, and Elisha Reeves, son of Daniel Reeves. However, there is currently no known connection to these other Reeves and instead appears to be part of the family of John Reeves from Union County.

Sources

War of 1812 Widow's Pension Application, Mary Reeves, widow of Elisha Reeves, WO 7970.
1816 Mortgage - Union Co., SC, Deed Book N, p389 - Elisha Reaves & Rebekah Redmond to Philip Coleman
1820 Census - Union County, South Carolina