Reeves, Stephen
Summary
Father:Mother:
Birth: 11 Apr 1734
Birth Source: Vital Records & Family Bible
Death: 13 Apr 1820, Palmyra, New York
Death Source: Vital Records & Family Bible
Spouse1: Mary Howell
Narrative
Children of Stephen Reeves and Mary Howell:- Stephen Reeves Jr.
- Elias Reeves
- James Reeves, b. 13 Oct 1762
Stephen Reeves, Stephen Reeves Jr., and Stephen Reeves, 3d signed a covenant dated 30 Dec 1784 to pay Mr. Joshua Williams as pastor of the First Parish in Southampton. (Howell, p112).
We know from the above record there were three Stephen Reeves in Southampton in 1784. This Stephen died in 1820, age 86, according to his obituary, which places his birth around 1734. This would seem to indicate he was a grandson, rather than son, of John Reeves (Sr.). The family Bible of grandson Howell Reeves states that he was a son of John Jr.:
- John Reeves Jr. father of Stephen Reeves died Dec 21, 1779
- Stephen Reeves father of Elias — died Apr 13 1820 aged 86 yrs & 2 days
Stephen had moved to Palmyra, New York by 1800 when he appears on the census there.
James, Stephen, and Elias Reeves begin appearing together in the same section in Palmyra highway taxes in 1805. In 1804, just Stephen and Elias are listed, which likely indicates James was a younger son.
Palmyra Register, 26 Apr 1820
Died, In this town, on the 13th inst. Deacon Stephen Reeves, aged 86 years.
There was an older Stephen Reeves who wrote a will in 1789 who may be the son of John Reeves.
This Stephen Reeves would appear to be the Stephen referred to as Jr., given his age. He is referenced as such not only in the covenant from 1784, but also in the following entry from the Southampton town records:
- Stephen Reeves Jr, crop & slit in left, half penny over each.
- James Reeves, son of Stephen Jr, hollow crop on left, half penny over each. (Records (2nd), p264)
Stephen Jr. is also listed with 3 males and 5 females in the 1776 census. Stephen Jr. is listed next to John Reeves and David Reeves. (Records (2nd), p395). These are likely the nephew John and the David Reeves mentioned in the 1789 will of the older Stephen Reeves.
Stephen Reeves and wife Mary, sell to Nathan Herrick, "A certain tract of meadow lying at a place called Accobcgue, in Long Neck, bounded north by John Reeves east by upland and woods, south by meadow formerly Josiah Goodales, west by creek." April 16, 1792. (Records (6th), p254)
Research Notes
Posted to Findagrave by AboutMe_KeithDavidReeves as transcribed by hand by Martha Matilda Rima Reeves. Original source: Archive.org - Bayles, Richard M., et al. (1882.) History of Suffolk County, New York. p. 566."Stephen Reeves, son of John Reeves, born in Southampton, Long Island, in 1734. ... He was a physician. Sometime prior to 1793, he removed to Palmyra, NY where he and his wife Mary were among the original members of the First Presbyterian Church which was organized in 1793. He became an elder of this church and held this office for the remainder of his life. During the Revolutionary War, while Dr. Stephen Reeves was still living in Southampton, two soldiers called at the Doctor's home and asked for something to eat. Food was given them but while the Doctor's back was turned they stole two towels. Shortly after they left, the articles were missed, so the Doctor ran cross-lots to the Fort and complained to the commanding officer just before the two soldiers returned to the post. They were searched and the missing articles found, whereupon they were tried and flogged so unmercifully that the tender heart of Dr. Reeves was made sorry that he had entered the complaint.
Dr. Stephen Reeves died April 13, 1820, aged 86 years, 2 days."
Sources
Marriage1: Archive.org - Clark, Lewis H. (1883.) Military history of Wayne County, N.Y.: the County in the Civil War. p. 105.Death: Palmyra Register, 26 Apr 1820
10,000 Vital Records of Western New York, 1809-1850 (Ancestry)
Howell Reeves Family Bible
1790 Census: Southampton, Suffolk County, New York
1800 Census: Palmyra, Ontario County, New York
1810 Census: Palmyra, Ontario County, New York
1776 Census - Suffolk County, New York
Howell, George Rogers. The Early History of Southampton, L. I., New York (1887)
Southampton Town Records Liber B
The Sixth Volume of Record of Southampton L. I., N. Y. (1915)
FamilySearch - Palmyra, New York Highway Taxes, 1804
FamilySearch - Palmyra, New York Highway Taxes, 1805
FamilySearch - Palmyra, New York Highway Taxes, 1806
FamilySearch - Palmyra, New York Highway Taxes, 1807
FamilySearch - Palmyra, New York Highway Taxes, 1808