Reeves, William
Summary
Father: Asa ReevesMother: Sarah Unknown (surname is listed in various online sources as Lambert but there is no documentation)
Birth: 8 Apr 1765, Prince William County, Virginia
Birth Source: Revolutionary War Pension Statement (S17645)
Death: 9 Jun 1843, Brown County, Ohio
Death Source: Ledgers of Payments, 1818-1872, to U.S. Pensioners, National Archives, Washington DC
Spouse1: Sarah MNU
Spouse2: Ellinor Wood on 9 Nov 1806 in Fleming County, Kentucky
Spouse3: Catherine Brown on 21 Sep 1810 in Adams County, Ohio
Narrative
William Reeves, aged 68, filed for a Revolutionary War pension (S.17645) in Brown County, Ohio on 29 Apr 1833 where he was a resident of Scott Township.He stated that he was born 8 April 1765 in Prince William County, Virginia. He indicated that he had entered the Prince William County, Virginia militia in a company under the command of Capt. John Britt of Prince William County, as a substitute for Joshua Graham, about 1 Oct 1780, for a term of 3 months. He would have been only 15½ years old at the time. During the course of William's revolutionary war service, he served in commands under General Nathaniel Greene and Col. Henry Lee of Prince William County. At one time he served under the command of his cousin, Lieut William Reeves, to repair the road from Alexandria to Dumfries for the Northern Army under Gen. Washington under Col. Lee's superintendance.
He was finally discharged sometime in October of 1781 after serving again in the command of his former Capt. John Britt.
Records documenting residences of William Reeves:
- 1788 tax list - Prince William County, Virginia
- 1789 - move to Kentucky with father Asa and family (resident of Kentucky for 22 years referred to in the pension application 1789-1811)
- 1790 Kentucky census does not exist, but William appears as a Taxpayer in Mason County, Kentucky per tax lists from 1790-1797
- Taxpayer in the records of Fleming County for the years 1798, 1800, 1805 and 1810
- William Reeves' household in the 1810 census of Fleming County, Kentucky is recorded as: 1 M ‹10, 1 M 16-25, 1 M ›45, 1 F ‹10, 1 F 10-15 and 1 female 16-25.
- 1820 census - Eagle Township, Brown County, Ohio: 2 M ‹10, 1 M ›45; 2 F ‹10, 1 F 10-16, 1 F 26-45
- 1830 census - Scott Township, Brown County, Ohio: Males - 1 5-10, 1 15-20, 1 60-70; Females 1 ‹5, 2 10-15, 1 40-50
- 1835 Pension Roll - Brown County, Ohio
- 1840 census - Washington Township, Brown County, Ohio: Males - 1 15-20, 1 70-80; Females - 1 10-15, 1 50-60
The only proven child of William and Sarah Reeves is Thomas Reeves, born 1794, whose Kentucky Death Record of August 1855 identifies his parents. He is apparently the male child age 16-25 in William Reeves' household in 1810.
Documented child of William Reeves and wife Sarah:
Other probable children of William Reeves and Sarah:
Probable children of William Reeves and Catherine Brown:
Based upon census records there was also another unidentified daughter, born 1815-20; and an unidentified son, born 1820-25.
The Kentucky Gazette published 8 March 1808 on page 9 and apparently on several subsequent weeks as well:
Kentucky Gazette (Lexington, Kentucky)
15 Mar 1808: Whereas my wife Eleanor Reeves, formerly Eleanor Wood, has eloped from my bed and board, without any just cause, therefore I forewarn all persons from dealing, trading with, or harbouring her, as I am determined to pay none of her contracts from this date. William Reeves
March 4, 1808.
On 25 Jul 1843, page 3, the Democratic Standard of Georgetown, Ohio published a listing of letters remaining at the post office on 30 Jun 1843 which included the name of William Reeves, Sr. which should serve as documentation that there was a William Reeves, Jr.
Although not supported by a specific document, the connection of the above children (except Thomas) with William Reeves is based upon a hypothesis which is highly probable in light of the available extant information. See the pages for each of the children which include details of the supporting research by TRP members Lois Downey and Anne McDonald.
Sources
Death: Ledgers of Payments, 1818-1872, to U.S. Pensioners, National Archives, Washington DC1810 Census: Fleming County, Kentucky
1820 census: Eagle Township, Brown County, Ohio
1830 census: Scott Township, Brown County, Ohio
1840 Census: Washington, Brown County, Ohio
Tax Lists of Prince William County VA, Fleming and Mason Counties KY
US Pension Roll of 1835, Brown County, Ohio
Kentucky Death Record of Thomas Reeves, d. 1855
The Democratic Standard, Georgetown, OH, pub 25 Jul 1843 pg 3