Reeves, Reuben

Summary

Father: probably Jordan Reeves Sr
Mother: unknown wife

Birth: 1788, South Carolina
Birth Source: 1860 census

Death: after 1860, Graves County, KY
Death Source:disappears from census

Spouse1: Nancy LNU

Narrative

Children of Reuben Reeves and Nancy:

1. Jesse Reeves, b. 1812
2. Peyton Reeves, b. 1814
3. Reuben Reeves Jr, b. 1822, d. 1864
4. William H Reeves, b. 1823
5. Sophia Winnie Reeves, b. 1828, d. 1909

Reuben is a possible son of Jordan Reeves, but it is equally possible that he is the son of one of Jordan's brothers, Timothy being the most likely. As a result, more data may require shifting Reuben to different parents.

There was another Reuben Reeves who is found in Graves County, KY before this Reuben Reeves appeared there in 1860. Both have wives named Nancy. It is easy to confuse records for the two men.

One of these Reubens served in the War of 1812 under Major William Woodfolk: Separate Battalion of West Tennessee Militia, men mostly from Jackson, Wilson, Overton, Stewart, and Williamson Counties. More information is needed to determine which Reuben this record refers to.

The next record we find of Reuben Reeves is in a list of Reeves Tennessee land grants compiled by Gerald Witt:

• Reuben Reaves assignee of Daniel Smith is granted 55 acres in Hickman Co. in the first district on Bear Creek of Pine (Piney) River. Mentions Burwell Reaves living on same creek. Surveyed 28 Aug 1816. (State of Tennessee #10605 Recorded 16 Mar 1818.

Several Reeves families were in Hickman County TN by the time of Reuben's land grant. Timothy Reeves, Jordan Reeves Sr's brother, was in Hickman County by 1808. Deed records also indicate that George Reeves Jr (b 1767) and some of his sons were also in Hickman County by 1808. Jordan and some of his sons arrived in Hickman and Humphreys counties between 1812 and about 1816 or 1817. Evidence of Burrell Reeves, brother of Jordan, Timothy, and George Reeves Jr appears in the preceding deed. The large Reeves family presence in the vicinity indicates that there are possible fathers for Reuben other than Jordan Sr.

Reuben Reeves witnessed a deed in Hickman County TN in 1818:

• Image #: 378 Old Deed Book E p 440 Date: 8/29/1818 Recorded: 3/29/1822 William Tubb of Hickman Co TN to Willie Saunders of Hickman Co TN - $700- 175 acres - On Tumbling Creek of Duck River - first tract of 100 acres beginning just below the plantation where said Tubb now lives and above where Thomas Barker formerly lived; 2nd tract of 75 acres being another tract William Tubb now lives and bordering the northeast corner of Thomas Barker. Witnesses: James Few, Reuben Reaves. Other names mentioned: Tubb, Thomas Barker, William Tubb. It is worthwhile to note that Jordan Reeves received a land grant in 1797 in Davidson Co Tn as assignee of William Sanders.

After this, we find Reuben in census records:
1820 - Hickman, TN
3 males <10, 1 male 26-44, 2 females < 10, 1 female 26-44
1830 - Hickman, TN
1 male <5, 1 male 5-9, 2 males 15-19, 1 male 40-49, 1 female < 5, 2 females 10-14, 1 female 30-39
1840 - Humphreys, TN
1 male 15-19, 1 male 50-59, 1 female 5-9, a female 10-14, 1 female 40-49
1850 - Humphreys, TN
1860 - Graves, KY

According to researcher Lynn Laster, per records of the Sugar Creek Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Reuben Reeves married Nancy on 28 Feb 1809. If the marriage occurred in Hickman County, no record will be found as Hickman County marriage records burned.

NOTE: Some researchers believe that there was another son named Pleasant. The only appearance of Pleasant Reeves in records is in the 1840 Humphreys TN census where a Pleasant Reeves is next door to Reuben Reeves Sr; Peyton Reeves is, however, missing from the 1840 census. Peyton is in the 1850 census with children whose ages match those of Pleasant in 1840, but Pleasant is gone. Since Peyton is in several other records before and after the 1840 census, it is possible that Peyton and Pleasant are the same person. More records need to be found to confirm Pleasant.

Sources

State of Tennessee Grant #10605, Recorded 16 Mar 1818
Hickman County, Tennessee Deed Book E, p440
1820 Census - Hickman County, Tennessee
1830 Census - Hickman County, Tennessee
1840 Census - Humphreys County, Tennessee
1850 Census - Humphreys County, Tennessee