Reeves, James

Summary

Father: Unknown
Mother:

Birth: 1776 to 1794, North Carolina
Birth Source: Estimate from 1820 Census, place of birth per son James in 1880 census

Death: before 1830
Death Source: Wife is widowed in 1830 Census of Wayne County, TN

Spouse1: Rachel MNU

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Narrative

Children of James Reeves and Rachel:

1. Susannah Reeves, b. 1814, d. before 1860, m. Lorenzo D. Bryant
2. Nathaniel Reeves, b. 1818, d. Mar 1869 in Baxter County, Arkansas, m. Priscilla Caroline Baker
3. Elizabeth Reeves, b. 1818, m. Noah L. Baker
4. John Reeves, b. 1821-1825
5. Jesse Reeves, b. 1823
6. James Reeves, b. 1826

An 1843 Wayne County, Tennessee deed documents the identities of the children of James and Rachel Reeves:

Deed, Dated Sept 2, 1843, Filed: Sept 12, 1843, Record Book E, Page 401; Rachel Reeves, Trustee for Susannah Reves, now Susannah Bryant, Nathaniel Reves, Elizabeth Reves, Elizabeth Baker, John Reves, Jesse Reves and James Reves Jr heirs of James Reves, decd and the said Nathaniel Reves and John Reves heirs of aforesaid Rachel Reeves also signs by her mark to Lorenzo D Bryant; Consideration: $160, Conveys: undivided interest in 80 acres; ref west line of a 160 acre survey granted to William F Scott; s/ Rachel Reves by mark, s/John Reeves, s/Nathaniel Reeves

A history of Wayne County, Tennessee states that James Reeves settled on Green river in 1816¹.

From: Wayne County, Tennessee Abstracts of Deed Records 1820-1839 by James A Gray -

• P 38 - James Reeves to William Rose, Instrument: Deed, Dated Jan 25, 1826, Record Book A, Page 226; Consideration: $400; Conveys: 20 acres on Green River refers to Thomas G Harvey’s occupant survey. (CGM Note: no witnesses shown)
• P 49 - James Reaves to William Rose, Instrument: Deed, Dated March 26, 1827, Record Book A, page 291; Consideration $200; Conveys: Tract in 8th District Rage 9 Section 1; Witnesses: Vachel Rose, James Ross
• P 51 - James Reeves to John Hill, Instrument: Bill of Sale, dated April 20, 1827, Record Book A, Page 301; Consideration: $125, Sells: a certain Negro woman named Clary aged about forty years which negro woman I warrant to be sound and healthy and a slave for life. James C Alderson

Research Notes

Based upon the data from the 1790 census, it is unlikely that this is James Reeves of Wilkes County, North Carolina, son of Isaac Reeves as commonly believed. James Reeves of Wilkes County in 1790 is recorded with 1 male over 16, 1 male under 16 and 3 females. The 1820 census of Wayne County lists this James Reeves' household as 1 male ‹10, 1 male 26-44, 2 females ‹10, 1 female 10-15 and 1 female 26-44. In the 1830 census Rachel's age is given as 40-49 or born 1781 to 1790 indicating she could not have been the mother of the children listed in the 1790 census when she would have been approximately 9 years old. The same applies to James for his birth date was 1776 to 1794 per the 1820 census and would have been too young to have 3 children by 1790. Rachel Reeves' household in the 1830 census of 1 male ‹5, 2 males 5-9, 1 male 10-15, 1 female 10-14, 1 female 15-19, 1 female 40-49 and 2 slaves is far more consistent with the household of the younger James Reeves of the 1820 census.

There is also information that supports Isaac Reeves' son James migration to Mason County, Kentucky. The History of Morgan, Monroe & Brown County published in 1884 includes a biography for James' son John Reeves which names Issac and Margery Reeves as James' parents. This further establishes that the James Reeves of Wayne County was another person.

Sources

¹History of Wayne County - 1880 by Thomas Meredith, manuscript in the Tennessee Historical Society Collection, Tennessee State Archives
Wayne County, Tennessee Abstracts of Deed Records 1820-1839 by James A Gray
1820 Census - Wayne County, Tennessee
1830 Census - Wayne County, Tennessee (Rachel Reeves HOH)