Reeves, Jordan Jr

Summary

Father: Jordan Reeves, Sr
Mother:

Birth: 1773, North Carolina
Birth Source:

Death: 1845-1850, Independence Co, Arkansas
Death Source: Deeds to sons Drury and Jonathan R in 1845. Not in 1850 census

Spouse1: Mary Magness

Narrative

Children of Jordan Reeves and Mary Magness:

1. Jonathan R Reeves, b. 1805 in Tennessee
2. Cynthia Reeves, b. 1805, m1. Eli Akin, m2. Francis McGovern
3. Drew/Drury Reeves, b. 1806 in Tennessee, d. bef Jan 1846 Independence County, Arkansas
4. David Reeves, b. 1807 in Tennessee, married Isabella Gilbreath
5. Elias Morgan Reeves, b. sep 28 1816 in Tennessee
6. James M Reeves, b. 1822 in Tennessee, married Anna Crooks
7. Felix W Reaves, b. 11 Nov 1825 in Morefield, Independence, Arkansas

Jordan Reeves Jr, was born about 1773 in NC probably at Watauga settlements to Jordan Reeves Sr. (# 1927, p 325, Reliques of the Rives, by James Rives Childs.) and unknown wife.

Jordan Reeves Jr's father Jordan Reeves Sr is known to have been in Pendleton District SC from no later than 1791 (probably sooner) until about 1795 through land transactions. Jordan Jr probably lived in his father's household until his 1799 marriage.

Davidson County TN

The first record found of Jordan Jr is his marriage to Mary Magness in Davidson Co TN on 7 November 1799. Bondsman was Elisha Garland. On May 31, 1799, also in Davidson Co TN, George Reeves married Mary Land with Elisha Garland as bondsman. This supports a view that George might be Jordan Jr's brother.

Jordan Jr. next appears as a signer of this petition in Davidson County: 1802 petition to form a new county. His father Jordan Reeves Sr and some of his brothers also signed.

Estate sate in 1803
Jordan Jr was still in Davidson County TN in 1803 per this reference.
From Davidson County, Tennessee, wills & inventories, Vol. 1, 1783-1816/compiled by Helen C. Marsh & Timothy R. Marsh., Greenville S.C.: Southern Historical Press, 1990-[v.2 1989]-
(Page 105)
Page 282 Appraisement of estate of George Stenate, deceased
Jan. 8, 1803
Delivered into Court. Several items listed. Signed by Eldridge Nusom, Jordan Revis, ? Baldwin, William Reaves, Charles Kelly and Jordan Reaves, Jr.

Wilson County

Records of Jordan Reeves Jr in Wilson County TN start about 1805.

Tax lists
We next find Jordan Reeves on the 1805, 1806, and 1807 tax lists of Wilson County TN where his father-in-law Jonathan Magness also lives and appears on the same tax lists. The names of William Reeves and George Reeves are also found on these lists although their identity has not been determined. There were other Reeves lines in the area. These tax records and other early records of Wilson County are available on ancestry.com at this location.

We also know that Jordan's brother Drury Reeves witnessed the marriage of Beniah Bateman and Sally Magness on 7 June 1810 in Wilson County. Sally was a sister of Jordan's wife Mary Magness. Beniah Bateman also went to Independence County Arkansas before 1830. Drury Reeves ultimately settled in Madison County AR.


Jordan Reeves Jr was in Wilson Co TN approximately 1805-1816 and arrived Humphreys Co TN about 1816 or 1817.

Humphreys County

Deeds
Based on deed information in Humphreys and Wilson Counties, Jordan Reeves and his brother Drury Reeves arrived in Humphreys county no later than 1816/1817.

Two Wilson Co TN deeds establish Jordan Reeves and Drury Reeves presence in Humphreys Co in 1816/1817:
P 89
Jordan Reeves and Drewry Reeves to Perry Underwood 116 acres on Hurricane Creek. 25 June 1816 P 328 Deed Book F.
P 99
Jordan Reeves and Drewry Reeves of Humphreys County, Tennessee to Peter Leeth 147 acres on Spring Creek. 29 January 1817. P 452 Deed Book F

Deed references in Humphreys County TN could also be Jordan Sr., but Jordan Jr seems more likely, especially when his name appears with his brother Drury Reeves. Jordan Reeves Sr. also moved to Humphreys County per the 1820 federal census.

He was in Independence Co AR by 1825. We know this because of mail held at the Batesville post office for him and by the birth locations of his children.

Sons Drew/Drury and David were somewhat mysterious. Drew is in the Independence County 1840 census but David is not; David is in the 1850 census but Drury is not. Adding to the mystery, a D. H. Reves is in the 1860 census with similar characteristics to both Drew and David. Both Drury Reeves and David Reeves have been found in Independence County probate records, so their existence as two distinct sons is not in doubt. David Reeves appears in an 1840 Independence County probate record as being owed money by the estate of Henry Perry. Drury Reeves is listed in probate records of Richard Holderby and William Engles as owing uncollectible debt to both estates in the January 1846 session of the probate court. This likely means that Drury has died. Thus, the D H Reeves of the 1860 census is most likely David Reeves with his own and his brother's children in the household.

Sources

Childs, James Rives. Reliques of the Rives, p325
Davidson County, Tennessee, wills & inventories, Vol. 1, 1783-1816/compiled by Helen C. Marsh & Timothy R. Marsh., Greenville S.C.: Southern Historical Press, 1990-[v.2 1989]-
1820 Census - Humphreys County, Tennessee
1830 Census - Independence County, Arkansas
1840 Census - Independence County, Arkansas