Reeves, Samuel
Summary
Father: Thomas ReevesMother: Mary Murphy
Birth: 4 Apr 1749, Charles County, Maryland
Birth Source: Trinity Parish Records
Death: 1801, Rowan County, North Carolina
Death Source: 1801 Rowan County Will, probated May 1801
Spouse1: Mary (Margaret ?) Watson
Narrative
Children of Samuel Reeves and Mary Watson:- Thomas Reeves
- James Reeves
- Mary Reeves, m. Alexander
- John C. Reeves
- Sarah Reeves, m. Owen Harrison
- Samuel Reeves
- Bennett Abner Reeves
- William Reeves
From The History of Rowan County, North Carolina:
About the year 1794, a number of Episcopal families removed from Maryland to the western part of Rowan, among them two families of Barbers, and other families by the names of Gardner, Chunn, Harrison, Alexander, Lightell, Mills, Swan, Reeves, Burroughs, etc.
In searching the deed books of Rowan County, the earliest deed recording Samuel Reeves' presence is dated 1795. There was another Samuel Reeves listed as a taxpayer in Rowan County circa 1770 and a 1789 grant of 150 acres to a Samuel Reaves whose tract was on the Montgomery County line, otherwise there are no records for a Samuel Reeves from 1770 until around 1795.
It appears that Samuel had previously left Maryland around 1790 with his brother Bennett along with a group of Charles County, Maryland residents and settled in Wilkes County, Georgia. On 31 Jan 1791, Samuel purchased a small tract containing 15 acres on Richland Creek a fork of Soap Creek from Benjamin Mosley and James Marony. (Wilkes County GA DB GG, p439-440). Two years later in February of 1793, Samuel Reeves, listed in the deed as “of the county of Abbeville and South Carolina”, sold this same 15 acres to Josiah Stovall (Wilkes County GA DB NN p135-136). It would appear that Samuel was traveling back to Maryland where he would administer the estate of his mother. After administering the estate, Samuel and family apparently joined another group of Marylanders who migrated to Rowan County in North Carolina.
The 1801 will of Samuel Reeves only identified Thomas, James and Mary Alexander but mentioned other unnamed younger children. Sarah Reeves Harrison, John C., Samuel, Bennett Abner and William Reeves are identified as Samuel's children in the deed records when selling their portions of the property of Samuel Reeves.
Samuel makes mention in his will of $50 dollars that was in his possession which had been a legacy left to his son James by his grandfather James Watson. A James Watson left a 1795 will in St. Mary's County, Maryland and mentioned a daughter Margaret Reeves. Research of that family produced a letter written circa 1896 by an elderly descendant who stated that James Watson's daughter Margaret Reeves had moved to North Carolina but no further information was known. There is no proof that this is the James Watson referred to in Samuel's will and since the daughter named in James Watson's will was recorded as Margaret and Samuel Reeves'will gives his wife's name as Mary, it is unclear whether this is the grandfather of Samuel's son James.
Samuel Reeves is listed in the 1800 census of Rowan County with 3 Males under 10, 2 Males 16-25, 1 Male over 45, 1 Female under 10, 1 Female 10-15, 1 Female 26-44 and 3 Slaves.
Sources
Trinity Parish Birth Records, Charles County MDProbate of Estate of Thomas Reeves, Charles County MD Will Book 1777-1780; Page 212
1790 Census - Charles County, Maryland
The History of Rowan County, North Carolina
James Watson 1795 will, St. Mary's County MD WB JJ2 p141
Wilkes County, Georgia Deed Book GG p439-440
Wilkes County, Georgia Deed Book NN p135-136
Rowan County, North Carolina Deed Book 16, p183-184
1800 Census - Rowan County, North Carolina
1801 Rowan County Will of Samuel Reeves, Rowan County NC Will Book D