Reeves, John

Summary

Father: Unknown
Mother: Unknown

Birth: Before 1755
Birth Source: Estimated from 1790 Census

Death: After 1800, Chesterfield Co., SC
Death Source: Appears on 1800 Chesterfield Co., SC, Census

Spouse1: Unknown

Narrative

South Carolina land records indicate that one John Reeves received a plat for 146 acres on Lynches Creek, Chesterfield County, SC, Cheraws District, on 16 August 1793 (SCDAH Series S213190, Vol. 31, p. 472.) On the same date, he received a plat for 205 acres on Fork Creek, Chesterfield County (SCDAH Series S213190, Vol. 33, p. 306). The plat mentions Ealand and Rutledge as neighbors and Folds Branch, Fork Creek, Jumping Gulley Creek, and Lynches Creek. The same John Reeves appears to have been mentioned on a 2 December 1794 plat issued to William Todd for land on Fork Creek.

Later, on 18 May 1811, one Joseph Reeves received a plat for 112 acres on Fork Creek. Micajah Horse, John Massey, Nicholas Rogers, William Thurston, and Lorick Young were also mentioned as was Lynches Creek. (SCDAH Series S213192, Vol. 43, p.40.)

The 1800 Chesterfield County census showed what appears to be these two men:

John Reeves, 1 male under 10, 2 males 10-16, 1 male over 45; 1 female under 10, 2 females 16-26, 1 female 26-45.

Joseph Reeves, 1 male 0-10, 1 male 10-16, 1 male 26-45, 3 females 0-10, 1 female 10-16, 1 female 26-45.

The enumeration was alphabetical, so only limited inferences about proximity can be drawn. But on the same page were shown:

Reuben Reeves, 1 male under 10, 1 male 10-16, 1 male 26-45, 3 females 0-10, 2 females 10-16, 1 female 26-45.

William Reeves, 3 males under 10, 1 male 10-16, 1 male 16-26, 1 male over 45, 2 females under 10, 2 females 10-16, 2 females 16-26, 1 female 26-45.

The names of John and Joseph are listed adjacent one another, as are those of Reuben and William Reeves. But the two sets of names are not adjacent one another, perhaps suggesting that they did not live in the same neighborhood.

This John Reeves was not found after 1800. Like Lancaster, the Chesterfield probate records were destroyed. Thus it has not bee possible to determine whether this John Reeves was the John Reeves found in Lancaster in 1790. Joseph Reeves was still shown in Chesterfield County in 1810.

Research Notes

One John Reeves was enumerated in Lancaster County in 1790. He appears to be the man who was living in Chester County as early as 1775. That John disappears from Lancaster between 1790 and 1800. He probably died there, but it is possible that he moved in to Chesterfield County and acquired land there. He was born about 1732, possibly in Prince William County, Virginia, and would have been in his sixties during the 1790s.

Based on proximity as indicated in land records and census records, the following Reeves appear to have lived in the same general area between about 1790 and 1810: William Reeves, John Reeves, Reuben Reeves, and Joseph Reeves. West Reeves also appears in the area between 1771 and 1773.

Sources

SC Archives - S213190, vol. 31, p472 - REEVES, JOHN, PLAT FOR 146 ACRES ON LYNCHES CREEK, CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, CHERAW DISTRICT, SURVEYED BY RICHARD BETTIS
SC Archives - S213190, vol. 33, p306 - REEVES, JOHN, PLAT FOR 205 ACRES ON FORK CREEK, CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, CHERAW DISTRICT, SURVEYED BY RICHARD BETTIS
1790 Census - Cheraws County, South Carolina
1800 Census - Chesterfield District, South Carolina