Reeves, William

Summary

Father: John Reeves
Mother:

Birth:
Birth Source:

Death: 1718, Essex County, Massachusetts
Death Source:

Spouse1: Elizabeth Collins, m. 14 Mar 1669/70, Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts

Narrative

Children of William Reeves and Elizabeth Collins:

1. Elizabeth Reeves
2. William Reeves
3. Cockerill Reeves
4. John Reeves
5. Samuel Reeves

The marriage to Elizabeth Collins is a reasonable fit for this William. Elizabeth was still alive in 1702 when a deed was made concerning the children and heirs of Francis Collins. Elizabeth was Francis's daughter. Frances Collins was the administrator for the estate of an Elizabeth Cockerill, who may have been his mother-in-law. This is supporting evidence that this couple were the same William and Elizabeth, parents of Cockerill Reeves.

William bought some land from Paul Mansfield in 1672. He mortgaged this land to John Kitchen the next year, then sold it to Robert Stone in 1675. The first deed mentions the need of a fence around the place and allowed for a cartway along the side of the property so that it could be accessed along the neighbors line. When he sold the land, the deed describes it "with a new dwelling house built upon ye same & alsoe an outhouse next the street & fence & fencing wch is now upon it."

The will of William Reeves from Essex County, Massachusetts dated 5 Jan 1717 (historical year 1718) names the above wife and children Elizabeth, William, and Cockerill. The will was proven on 4 Mar 1717/8. The will also names grandson Freeborn Reeves. Massachusetts birth records names Freeborn's parents as John and Elizabeth Reeves so John can be inferred as a deceased son of William.

Research Notes

There is a deposition from 1706 in which a William Reeves was aged about sixty. That puts that William's birth around 1646 which would make it impossible for him to be the grandfather of Freeborn who was born in 1658. It may be that there were multiple William Reeves's in Salem. See talk_Reeves_William_3290 for a more detailed discussion of some of these discrepancies.

Sources

Marriage: Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 (Ancestry)

1702 Deed - Heirs of Francis Collins - Essex County, Massachusetts Deed Book 15, p105
1718 Will - William Reeves - Salem County, Massachusetts Will Book 12, p215
1671 Deed - Paul Mansfield to William Reeves - Essex County, Massachusetts Deed Book 4, p310
1672 Mortgage - William Reeves to John Kitchen - Essex County, Massachusetts Deed Book 3, p589
1675 Deed - William Reeves to Robert Stone - Essex County, Massachusetts Deed Book 4, p312