Reeves, John

Summary

Father: Thomas Reeves
Mother: Rebecca

Birth: 15 Jul 1673, Southampton, Long Island, New York
Birth Source: Town Records

Death: 13 Aug 1753, Southampton, Long Island, New York
Death Source: Headstone

Spouse1: Rachel Foster Rachel

Narrative

Children of John Reeves:

1. John Reeves, b. bef 1699
2. Abraham Reeves, b. 1699
3. Stephen Reeves
4. Abigail Reeves, m. Mr. Cooper
5. James Reeves, b. 1715-1720, m. Sarah Garrison
6. Nathan Reeves
7. Charles Reeves

John inherited his father's real estate and smith businesses. He is buried in the North End Graveyard, Southampton, Suffolk County, New York.

The 1698 census for Southampton shows John Reeves, John Reeves, Jr. and Thomas Reeves right next to each other in the list of males. A Rachel Reeves is listed under the females in the same location in the order of families that John's household does. Abigaile Reeves and Hannah Reeves appear later in separate locations. The first John appears to be this individual. His son, John Jr., listed with him. His brother Thomas would be the one listed after that. And then his sisters Abigail and Hannah are spread out in others households, although it's not clear which. Given that Rachell Reeves appears in the same location in the order of families as John's, this is evidence that his wife was named Rachel. This also indicates John was his eldest child.

John was listed in the Southampton Company #2 of the Suffolk Militia in 1715.

John had an earmark registered in 1733 in Southampton Town records. The next entry reads "Abraham Reeves, son of John 1736."

His will names all the above children.

Research Notes

Although the DAR recorded the headstone date as 1763, others have double checked this and read 1753. His will was from 1753 as well. Many of his family appear to be buried in the North End Graveyard in Southampton.

Rachel Wells Reeves, wife of John Reeves, buried at North End Graveyard (d. 24 Aug 1775, age 77) is either the wife of this John or a second wife of his father John. Various online trees give John's wife's name as Rachel Foster. It is claimed that John Reeves married Rachel Foster, daughter of John Foster, on 14 May 1696 in Southampton, Suffolk County, New York. The source of this date is unknown. The John Reeves Family Bible indicates that "Rachel, his wife, born 1675/died Aug. 24, 1751." This was likely a much later entry and needs verification.

The book Thomas Reeves and his Descendants states Abigail married Samuel Cooper. John's will calls her Abigail Cooper. There is a headstone in the North End Graveyard for an Abigail Cooper who died 16 Apr 1734 with inscription: "Here lies the body of Abigail Cooper, ye wife of James Cooper who deceased in ye 33rd year of her age."

Son Stephen was formerly though to be Deacon Stephen Reeves who died in 1820. However, that Stephen was born c1734 which would seem to make him a grandson rather than son. It is more likely that the Stephen Reeves of Southampton who left a will in 1789 was the son of this John.

There was a John Reeves born 1738 who appears to be his grandson and the John Reeves referred to as nephew in the will of Stephen Reeves.

Sources

Birth:          Southampton Town Records Liber A2
Death:        Headstone - North End Graveyard, Southampton, Suffolk County, New York

1698 Census - Southampton, New York
1715 Militia List - Suffolk County, New York
1753 Will - John Reeves - New York Wills and Administrations Book 19 (1754-1756) (Old Liber), p6 (Ancestry)
Thomas Reeves and his descendants Author: Reeves, Emma M. Reeves
Study of the Reeve Family of Southold, Long Island, N. Y., and Southold descendants of the Southampton, L.I. Reeves by Wesley L. Baker, pub 1970