Reeves, John Morrison

Summary

Father:
Mother:

Birth: c1795, North Carolina
Birth Source: Census

Death: 4 Jun 1876, probably Texas
Death Source: War of 1812 Pension File

Spouse1: Clarissa Crest, m. 13 Dec 1829, Miami County, Ohio

Narrative

Children of John Morrison Reeves:

1. Unknown Son Reeves, b. c1820-1825
2. Unknown Daughter Reeves, b. c1825-1830

Children of John Morrison Reeves and Clarissa Reeves:

1. George W. Reeves, b. c1836
2. Henry Harrison Reeves, b. 24 Apr 1837
3. Clark L. Reeves, b. c1841
4. John W. Reeves, b. 24 Mar 1846

Son's death certificate gives full name and confirms mother's maiden name to match the marriage from Ohio.

Research Notes

This may be the John M. Reeves living in Allen County, Indiana in 1830.

Based on the census records, it appears John probably married twice and had some children by his first wife.

Findagrave claims that Clarissa Reeves is buried in the McLintock Cemetery in Vigo County. Apparently states she died 1 Jul 1863, Wife of John M., aged 55yrs 7m 16d.

There was a John M. Reeves, alias Jonathan Reeves, living in Vigo County, Indiana who applied for a War of 1812 pension in 1871. In 1871, the papers stated he was 74 or 76 (not clear) years of age, resident of Fountain Station, Vigo County, Indiana. It states he is not married, but that doesn't mean he never was. It says he entered the war in Grayson C. H., Virginia. He was honorably discharged at Peoria, Illinois in 1817. In the pension file, he states: "When I enlisted the military service of the US I was then a bound apprentice to John Gullett, of Grayson Co. Va. to learn the trade of a carpenter. My right name is John M. Reeves. Being harshly treated by the wife of my master (Gullett) I ran away and volunteered in the name of Jonathan Reeves to prevent apprehension and reclamation. All of my service is the name of Johnathan Reeves." Note that the name of his master may have been Gullot. The handwriting is difficult. One slip from the record states that the record of his pension for the service was transferred from Indianapolis, Ind. to New Orleans, La. It also states that Johnathan Reeves died the 4th of June 1876. "Respectfully yours from L R Reeves." Jonathan's address is given as Audobon, Wise Co., Texas.

According to Homer King, a grandson of James Weldon Reeves, Morrison was James's father and came to live with the family in Texas before he passed away. The family lore as recorded by Homer King which came to him from Morrison through Homer's mother includes further details about Morrison and his father. This information is currently in need of verification from primary sources. The relevant information is as follows:

John R. Reeves received land near Fort Wayne, Indiana, for services he rendered during the Revolutionary War. He was a drummer boy at one time in the war. One of the stories his son, Morrison, told about him was that in the Invasion of Canada they were badly beaten and retreated in disorder. John R. stopped at a deserted house and found nothing to eat except the cat. He made a meal of it and used its skin to reinforce his moccasins...

James father was Morrison Reeves around 1795 to 1797. He was a veteran of the war of 1812, took part in the invasion of Canada and fought the Indian Wars in the Northwest Territory. He was in the army for perhaps five or more years. His wife was Ann Van Duzen. There is no record of any children other than James. James located Morrison at the end of the Civil War and brought him to Texas. At that time he was living with strangers on a small pension. He married a second time but there is no record of whom he married, when or where or if there were children. The only evidence that he reared James is the fact that James sought him out, brought him to Texas and cared for him. Morrison was buried at or near Gainsville at the time the Reeves family lived near there. Considering his war record and the date of that war he should have been at least 82.

Morrison’s parents were John R. Reeves and a mother of Welch or part Welch ancestry. Her name is now unknown. John R. came to the colonies as a boy of 12 or 13 about 1788. He came from Wales. His mother was already dead when his father was killed in a coal mine disaster. He was sent to a workhouse and then became a cabin boy. He deserted the ship in New York and the sea also. He was in the Colonial Army on the Northwest front. His place of birth and time and place of death are unknown but circumstance points to Indiana. Morrison was born there, however Morrison was not living with his father as a young boy.

Sources

Marriage1:  Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013, Miami Marriage licenses 1823-1834, vol D, p108 (FamilySearch)

1840 Census:  Vigo County, Indiana (J. M. Reeves)
1850 Census:  Vigo County, Indiana
1860 Census:  Marion County, Iowa
1870 Census:  Nevins, Vigo, Indiana (HOH Wilson Parkhurst)

1856 Iowa State Census - Keokuk County

War of 1812 Pension File, Jonathan Reeves, 1871 (Fold3)
King, Homer P. Winston Banner King March 22, 1822-May 10, 1909: An incomplete Record of his Ancestors and descendants, 1959

Indiana Death Certificate #16059 of John W. Reeves