Y-DNA Needed for These Reeves Families

During the years since the inception of the Reeves Y-DNA Project countless mysteries have been solved. As rewarding as that is, we still have many Reeves families for whom we have no clue as their origins and to which other Reeves' populations they may be related. Y-DNA testing by the following families would make additional great strides forward in Reeves' genealogical research.

Georgia

Little is known about the origins of Sidney King Reeves. It was recently discovered that in 1824 he was a young apprentice to tailor Charles Fowler in Raleigh. The Reeves and Reavis families of Wake County, North Carolina are fairly well documented and Sidney does not belong to either of them so he was presumably from the surrounding area. After settling in Pike County, Georgia, he had several sons and we hope left sufficient male descendants to provide Y-DNA for testing. A recent blog post concerning Sidney can provide more information, see The Elusive Sidney King Reeves.

Maine

Jonathan Reeves' recent blog post James Reeves of Maine summarizes the details currently known of James Reeves' life. At this time, there are no participants in the Reeves Y-DNA Project descending from this Reeves' lineage.

Massachusetts

John Reeves of Essex and Middlesex counties in Massachusetts. John may be the John Reeves who is recorded as coming to New England from London on the Christian in 1635 however, there is a small discrepancy in dates of birth of the two individuals. John is documented as having one son, William, who may have left descendants who could provide Y-DNA testing and information on his origins and related Reeves.

Thomas Reeves originally settled in Massachusetts but by the next generation his son Thomas had relocated to Southampton, Long Island, New York with descendants later settling in Salem, New Jersey. Much research was done by a descendant, Mrs. Emma M. Reeves (not to be confused with Emma Barrett Reeves of the Reeves Review), who self published a great amount of information for this clan. Y-DNA from members of this family would be invaluable in separating all the disparate Reeve or Reeves lineages in Massachusetts, New York and New Jersey.

New Jersey

The Salem County, New Jersey Reeve clan descending from Mark Reeve is also not represented in the Reeves Y-DNA Project. Branches of this family will be found in Camden/Gloucester Counties and in Arkansas. Y-DNA testing by male Reeve descendants would provide needed information as to their origins and any connections to other Reeve family who also migrated to the American colonies.

North Carolina

The Benjamin Reeves recorded in early Rowan County is the individual most likely to be the son Benjamin named in the 1751 will of William Reeves in Granville County, North Carolina. This Benjamin Reeves is recorded on the 1762 and 1766 tax lists of Rowan County around the time William's son James and his family were listed there. He was a soldier of the Revolution and received a grant of 1000 acres in Davidson County, Tennessee which he assigned to James Cole in 1789. By the 1800 census, the Benjamin Reeves in Rowan County appears to be a different individual for he was age 26-44 and too young to be the son of William Reeves of Granville although he may have been the earlier Benjamin's son. The younger Benjamin is found later in Montgomery County. DNA from descendants of either Benjamin Reeves of Rowan or Montgomery counties would be extremely valuable to Reeves genealogy.

One descendant of Edward Reeves of Bladen County has tested but the DNA does not match any of the other Reeves' clans. Additional testers from this line would be a great benefit to Reeves' research besides to the descendant who has already tested.

George Reeves, Sr. of Orange County was first documented in that area in 1772 when he was the grantee in a deed from Ruffin McNair for 200 acres on New Hope Creek. Most of George Reeves' sons remained in the Orange County area although one, James, migrated to Hancock County, Indiana. DNA from male members of this lineage would be helpful in identifying all the different Reeves' lineages found in the Orange County area prior to 1800.

John Reeves also of Orange County is another mystery. Although John is only documented as having one son Thomas who had several sons and hopefully left many Reeves' male heirs. Their DNA would be helpful in understanding the diverse Reeves' lineages of early Orange County. After John's death, Thomas migrated to Ray County, Missouri where he died.

South Carolina

Drury Reaves who died in Darlington in 1792 may be the Drury Reaves recorded in the deed indexes of Old Dobbs County, North Carolina throughout the 1760's. There are no further clues to his origins and Y-DNA testing of any male descendants could prove extremely rewarding.

Ewel Reeves of Greenville County may have descended from John Reeves who migrated to Christian County, Kentucky before 1800 since the name Ewel was common in that family who has close family connections to Greenville SC. There is currently no information that provides clues to Ewel's origins other than his given name and proximity. It would be a great benefit to have someone from Ewel's family test.

John Reeves of the Colleten/Dorchester area. John was born in London in 1745 and died in Reevesville, Dorchester, South Carolina in 1798. His 3 sons left numerous descendants in South Carolina and Mississippi who can hopefully provide ample DNA testers to learn more about this lineage.

John Reeves of Union County. John's origins are currently unknown and the Y-DNA of descendants of his sons could provide answers to the mystery.

Lazarus Reeves served as a Revolutionary soldier in a South Carolina regiment however his RW pension statement provides no biographical information that can identify his origins. He later moved to Pike County, Mississippi where he was mentioned in a history of Pike County pioneer families. Lazarus had several sons who may have left enough male Reeves descendants to test and furnish more information on this lineage.

Virginia

George Reeves originally of Henry and Patrick Counties in Virginia left there around 1816 and after migrating to Wilson County, Tennessee died in 1817. His descendants were found in Wilson and Campbell counties of Tennessee, in Missouri initially settling along the Missouri River and in Madison County, Arkansas. George's origins and family lineage are unknown which Y-DNA testing by his descendants could resolve as well as prove his connections to his probable sons who migrated further west.

George Reaves of Halifax County in later years was referred to as Sr. indicating he had a son George in addition to sons Asher Reaves, Daniel Reaves and Elijah Reaves, Sr.. George Reaves, Jr. was born about 1790 but disappeared from the Halifax County, Virginia records after becoming an adult. George Reaves, Sr.'s other sons had several sons and presumably left enough male Reaves descendants to provide ample candidates to test in order to identify this family line and others related to it. Asher left Virginia a few years after the American Revolution and migrated to Greene County, Ohio. Daniel remained in Virginia and his children were found in Halifax and Pittsylvania counties after his death. Elijah and his two sons continued to live in Halifax County, Virginia. Y-DNA testing by descendants of George Reaves, Sr. would be invaluable to Reeves research. Another detailed post about George Reaves, Sr. and his wife Martha "Patsy" Epps is available at this blog - The Rest of the Story.

James Reeves of Maine

James Reeves Headstone

Most of the Reeves who lived in Maine during the 19th century can claim descent from  James Reeves of Balltown and Jefferson in Lincoln County who died in 1813. He and his wife Lettice Rogers were married in 1767 at Woolwich, located about 25 miles south-west of Balltown and Jefferson. They are both buried in the Trask Lawn Cemetery in Jefferson. Although it is claimed that they had nine children, the names of seven, including sons James, William and Isaac, have been deduced based on proximity and extant records.

Lincoln County today contains part of the coast of Maine to the north-east of Portland. Before Cumberland and Lincoln counties were formed in 1760, the entirety of what would become Maine was designated as York County of Massachusetts Bay. Maine would not be given statehood until 1820.

In 1778, James Reeves was deeded one lot of land on Dyers Pond, located about a mile from what later became Jefferson, and another 220 acres in Balltown.

The book “Centennial Celebration of the Town of Jefferson, Lincoln County, Maine” reveals that Jefferson was incorporated into a separate town from the eastern part of the plantation area known as Balltown. The first town meeting was called at the house of James Reeves on 11 May 1807.

Up until this point, the information available online concerning this family could not provide evidence for identifying the parents or origins of James Reeves. However, deeds and other court records have revealed his father’s name to be James, and his grandfather’s to be James as well.

1708 Map of New England

In 1736, a committee of men all of Boston, Massachusetts chosen by the proprietors of a large tract of land in York County (later Maine), "desirous to bring forward regular settlements on the aforesaid tract," agreed to give away forty hundred acres of land unto forty individuals. The agreement stipulated that the settlers were to settle and build a suitable dwelling on the land for a term of seven years. James “Reves” of Damariscotta within the County of York, laborer, was admitted as one of these settlers. The deed noted that James had built his house and inhabited it for the last six months so the committee drawing up the condition of the deed for his land, known as lot no. 11, went ahead and deeded the land to him. The date was 3 Jun 1736, "in the ninth year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second." The deed was recorded much later on 5 Nov 1787 in Lincoln County. Damariscotta, where the deed places James Reves, is located about ten miles south of Jefferson. Two deeds were made and recorded that same day in 1787 in which the heirs of James “Rives” sold this same land. The heirs were James “Revis” of Balltown, Anna Brookins wife of Josiah Brookins, and Mary Norton, wife of Lemuel Norton. The deeds state that James and both of these women were the children of James “Revis.” This shows that the father of James Reeves of Balltown was a  James Reves who had lived or had dealings in the area since at least 1736.

Records from York County Court of Common Pleas shows three cases involving a James “Rives,” all from the 1740s. In the first, from April 1740, a James Rives and James Rives Jr. were the defendants, described as “both of a place called Whichcapick within no Township & within the County of York Labourers.” Neither men showed in court and so the plaintiff received a total of 21 pounds and one shilling. The next case, from October 1740, was described as “James Rives of Boston in the County of Suffolk Fisherman Plat vs John Pumroy of a place called Witchassett in the County of York husbandman.” It appears this suit was dropped. This particular case included a slip which read: “James Rives of Boston in our County of Suffolk Fisherman alias Dictus James Rives of Wiscassett in the County of York in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay Husbandman.” And finally, in April 1749, “James Rives of Kittery in said County of York mariner” recovered some money against Royal Tyler, who did not show in court. “Whichcapick” and “Witchassett” are misspellings of the town Wiscasset, located some miles to the south-west of Jefferson and Balltown, but between them and Woolwich. Kittery is located on the coast at the southern tip of Maine. It would appear from the date of these cases that James Rives Jr. referred to here is none other than the James referred to in the deeds as deceased by 1787, father of James of Balltown. James of Balltown was born c. 1746 according to the age on his headstone, so it would make sense that his father James is the one identified as James Jr. in the Common Pleas case from 1740. Thus we have a line of three James’s: James of Balltown (III) who died in 1813,  James (II) of Wiscassett who died by late 1787, and his father James (I) who was also of Wiscassett in 1740.

1740 Common Pleas Case

Given that James (I) or James (II) is described as “of Boston” in the second case, we should be looking to Massachusetts in the early-mid 1700s to find this Reeves family. There were a number of Reeves families who came through or lived in Massachusetts in colonial days. There was  Thomas Reeves who sailed to Massachusetts on the ship Bevis in 1638 and died in Springfield in 1650. His only known son to survive to manhood, Thomas, moved to Long Island (New York) by 1672, so he is unlikely to be connected to James. There was the family of  John Reeves of Salem who may have come to New England in 1635 on the ship Christian. His will names one son, William. There are wills or other records which trace most of this family, but without any mention of a James during this time-frame.

There are few references found to date concerning a James Rives/Revis/Reves in early Massachusetts. (Note that most of the records both from Maine and Massachusetts concerning this family from before the 1800s tend to have a single vowel instead of the double vowel “ee”, and often use “i”) There was a James “Rives” baptized 17 May 1749, as an adult, listed in the records of the Old North Church in Boston. This could conceivably be either James (I) or James (II). A James “Reeves” from Boston published a marriage intention with Elizabeth Merritt 23 Dec 1758. They were married on the 28th of the next month. Given that James (III) of Balltown was born c. 1746, this may have been a second marriage of James (II) or a different James.

Although Boston is mentioned in the York County Common Pleas cases, there is a case from Plymouth Massachusetts Common Pleas records from 1739 about some money owed to Thomas Howland by James “Revess,” denoted as a “Witchcasset Labourer.” This positively shows either James (I) or James (II) had connections to Plymouth.

Looking to Plymouth records, we find that a  James Reves was married to Deliverance Abrahams at Plymouth on 20 Nov 1703. If  James (III) of Balltown was born c1747, then  James (II) was likely born 1700-1725 range, so this is a good match for James (I) and the parents of James (II).

Very little has been found to date about this James Reves. Plymouth court records include a case from 1723 where a James “Revis” of Plymouth was dismissed from fines for failing to attend worship. He pleaded that “he is a poor infirm Man and lives Eight Miles from Meeting and that he has been at Meeting when there was one at Monument Ponds.” Although this is likely the same individual, it presents a possible problem given that James (I) appears to have still been active in business in 1740 with his son as described in one of the cases from York County Common Pleas.

There are marriage records for three Revis girls in that area of Massachusetts: Sarah  Revis in Barnstable in 1724, Thankful Revis in Barnstable in 1730, and Ann Revis in Plymouth in 1734. It’s likely that these were daughters of James and Deliverance Reves.

More research is needed to prove the identities and relationships of the earliest James’s appearing in the Massachusetts records and the Revis girls. In addition, The Reeves Project would greatly benefit from a YDNA test from a descendant of  James Reeves of Balltown to determine if that family is in any way connected to other early Reeves in the US.

A Tale of Adventuring in Chowan Country

Actual historical documents that detail the history of early settlers to the American colonies always fascinate me and the story told by one Thomas Osman in a deposition for a court case in Southold Town, Long Island in 1658 is particularly interesting. The Reeve families who settled in Long Island, New York are mentioned in the 1658 deposition that was transcribed as follows:

A copy of the transcription of the deposition was included in the Southold Town 1636-1939 Commemorative Book. The book noted that the original of the deposition was in the possession of a member of the local Long Island Historical Society. That individual died in 1944 and the location of the original deposition is unknown, if in fact it does still exist. In 1969 the 50 page Study of the 1658 and 1686 Depositions of Thomas Osman compiled by Wesley L. Baker was published chronicling the search by Baker and other individuals for the original document.

According to English emigration records, in 1635 a Thomas Reeve, age 24, sailed from London for St. Christopher, in the West Indies along with William Salmon, 25, and Thomas Terrill, 18.

Thomas Osman's deposition tells the story of his journey in 1636, along with a group which included James Reeve and his father-in-law William Purrier, from the "Summer Isles" in the Caribbean to the Chowan Country in what is now North Carolina for the purpose of distilling "spirits of resin" for the production of turpentine. After arriving in the Chowan country, they found that the area abounded with other parties of Englishmen with similar plans. One of the parties they met while there who had also come from the Summer Isles included a Thomas Reeve who has been described in some accounts as the brother of James Reeve. Because of the excessive competition in North Carolina they set sail up the coast to the Hashamomock Neck in Long Island, New York where one of the party already owned land.

Both Thomas Reeve and James Reeve lived on Long Island for the rest of their lives and raised their families there. Thomas appears to have died sometime around 1665 when he ceased to be listed in land records and a "widow Reeve" appeared. James Reeve died in 1698 leaving a will which was probated in Southold, Long Island.

Although the Study of the 1658 and 1686 Depositions of Thomas Osman did not conclude that Thomas and James Reeve were related based upon available evidence in 1969, recent DNA results for a descendant of James Reeve match several descendants of Thomas Reeve which establishes that they probably were brothers as previously believed.