Reeves, William

Summary

Father: George P. Reeves
Mother: Jane Collings

Birth: 26 Aug 1806, Edington, Somersetshire, England
Birth Source: Census, children's DC's

Death: 6 Jun 1872
Death Source: Biographical History

Spouse1: Clora Northway

Narrative

Children of William Reeves and Clora Northway:

1. Calvin Reeves, b. 26 Mar 1834
2. George Pippin Reeves, b. 1 May 1835
3. Charles S. Reeves, b. 8 May 1838, d. 17 Feb 1863
4. Truman Reeves, b. 17 Aug 1840
5. Edwin Reeves, b. 19 Sep 1842, d. 7 May 1914
6. Maria J. Reeves, b. 4 Jan 1845, m. Henry Pickett
7. Collings E. Reeves, b. 31 Jul 1847, d. 26 Jun 1849
8. Andrew J. Reeves, b. 8 Jan 1849, d. 29 Nov 1869
9. Emory A. Reeves, b. 10 Oct 1851 or 1852, d. 26 Feb 1883

William was a farmer according to the census.

Son Calvin Reeves's death certificate state his father was born in Edington, Somersetshire, England and son Edwin's death certificate states Somersetshire, England. The census consistently states England. His wife Clora was born in New York.

Clora was buried along with some of the children in the Orwell North Cemetery in Ashtabula County. Her headstone reads "Clora Northway/Wife of/Wm Reeves/1813-1906". William is buried there as well but dates aren't readable on findagrave photo. It's claimed he died 8 Jun 1872. Son Charles S. Reeves was in the Civil War and is buried there as well.

William's brother John Reeves (1803 - 1895) is buried in the same cemetery, designated "Uncle."

An entry for his son Captain Calvin Reeves in the Biographical History of Northeastern Ohio give some details on the origins of this family, part of which is reproduced below. The above birth and death date for William are included in that biography. There is a baptismal record from 26 Sep 1806 in Edington for William in Somerset Church of England records. The parents were George and Jane Reeves.

CAPTAIN CALVIN REEVES, for the past thirteen years traveling salesman throughout the Western States for the Broad head Worsted Mills, of Jamestown, blew York, a genial gentleman and respected citizen of Orwell, Ohio, was born in Gaines, New York, March 26, 1834. He comes of an old and well-known English family, his grandfather, George P. Reeves, having been a prominent citizen of Edington, Somersetshire, England, all his life. William, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in that city, August 26, 1806, where he lived to manhood. Concluding to seek his fortune in the new world, William set sail from his native land for America May 8, 1830, arriving at his destination July 2, of that year. He settled in Pompeii, now called Cardiff, New York, where he followed his trade of tanner and currier, in which he was a master workman.. In 1835 he removed to Orwell, Ohio, where he became a prosperous and influential citizen, his death occurring June 6, 1872. His wife, nee Clora Northway, was born in Pompeii, New York, March 13, 1813, and was a daughter of Zenas and Sallie Northway, old and esteemed residents of that place. Mr. and Mrs. William Reeves had nine children, eight sons and one daughter, of whom we offer the following brief mention: Calvin, whose name heads this sketch; George P., born May 1, 1835, a prosperous jeweler, residing in Helena, Montana; Charles S., born May 8, 1838, died in the United States army; Truman, born August 17, 1840, at present (1893) serving his second term as Treasurer of San Bernardino county, California; Edwin, born September 19, 1842, also residing in Helena, Montana; Maria J., born January 4, 1845, is the wife of Henry Pickett, a prominent citizen of Andover, Ohio; Collings E., born July 31, 1847, was drowned, at the age of two and a half years, in a tan vat in his father’s tanyard; Andrew J., born January 8, 1849, died in Orwell, Ohio, November 29, 1869, unmarried; and Emery A., born October 10, 1851, died in California February 26, 1883, unmarried.

Research Notes

Sources

Baptism:     Somerset, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1531-1812 (Ancestry)
1850 Census:  Orwell, Ashtabula County, Ohio
1860 Census:  Orwell, Ashtabula County, Ohio
1870 Census:  Orwell, Ashtabula County, Ohio

Orwell North Cemetery, Ashtabula County, Ohio
Biographical History of Northeastern Ohio: Embracing the Counties of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake, p644 (1893)