Re: G. Reeves (sr.) or jr.) - P S
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In reply to:
Re: G. Reeves (sr.) or jr.) - P S
Scott W. Trent Jr. 1/15/14
If this seems to be “overkill”, it is because this whole “Epps wife of George Reeves” theory has taken on a life of its own and is now broadcast across the internet without supporting evidence.There are countless unbelievably incorrect trees on Ancestry that further spread misinformation.The morning I saw one that had George Reeves (from the Rives family of Surry VA (DNA Group 8) listed as the father of this George Reaves of Halifax County.And information for George Reaves of Halifax was merged with data regarding George Reeves of Grayson (DNA Group 6) all for events that were taking place simultaneously on opposite sides of the state of Virginia.The Epps wife theory was at the heart of the whole confusing pedigree.
One of the supposed reasons for this first wife theory is the age of the oldest children, but it should be noted that Jesse Reeves who is undoubtedly the oldest son of George Reeves was born after 1766.Jesse is recorded as 26-44 in both the 1800 and 1810 census as is his brother William.Additionally the 1782 tax list of Wilkes County NC lists George Reeves with only 1 tithe - none of his sons were 16 years old or over.Jesse and William Reeves were both born after 1766 which agrees with the census ages for both in 1800 and 1810.The first tax listing a second tithe for George Reeves is in 1784.
The theorizing regarding an Epps first wife for George Reeves began because among the children of Joshua Epps and legatees named in the noncupative will of his son John Epps in 1793 was a George Reaves.This has caused the internet to be rife with an unsupported connection to George Reeves of Grayson County, Virginia.The only daughter of Joshua Epps whose husband is not documented is Martha who then must be the wife of the George Reaves named as a legatee in settlement of the 1793 estate.This George Reaves was described as “of Wilkes County, North Carolina” which is the basis for all this speculation.
It should be noted that the state line between Virginia and North Carolina was in dispute for approximately 20 years so areas along that boundary were constantly being shifted back and forth between the two states.The area where George Reeves lived along the New River was along that boundary so the state and county changed repeatedly.From 1767 when he arrived on the Peach Bottom Tract until his death in 1811, George Reeves lived along the New River.Sadly there is no way to attach a map here.
Joshua Epps Will of 1778 (Halifax Co. Will Bk. 1, 1773-83, p 216) named the following children:
John Epps
Nathaniel Epps
William Epps
Isham Epps
Moses Epps, born 1757 per his Revolutionary War pension statement
Mary Epps, m. David Powell, Sr. before 1767
Elizabeth “Betty” Epps, m. Ambrose Gresham on 24 Mar 1787 in Halifax VA
Millison Epps, m. John Clay
Dicy Epps m. Elisha Lacy (dec’d before 1781)
Amey Epps, m. John Comer before 10 Sept. 1775
Temperance Epps, unmarried in 1793
Edy Epps, unmarried in 1793
Patty Epps, m. George Reaves ?
Note that the widow of George Reaves of Halifax County, Virginia was listed in the 1830 census of Halifax County as Martha, for which Patty is a nickname.Also that most of Joshua Epps children were born in the 1750’s and 1760’s making them very little older than the children of George Reeves of Grayson County.
The George Reaves of the Epps deed is recorded in earlier Halifax County, Virginia deed records, i.e.:
On 27 Dec 1771, George Reeves witnessed (signed with his mark) a deed from Luke Williams, carpenter, and Catherine his wife of Halifax County to James Ingram, gentlemen of Accomac County for 500 acres near Sandy Creek.Halifax County Deed Book 8, p. 295.
Note that George Reeves of Grayson County was literate as were all of his sons.
On 18 Jun 1773, Luke Williams of Halifax County executed a deed of trust to John Lewis, Jr. of Halifax County for 986 acres adjoining William McDaniel, James Henry, Charles Wormack, George Reaves, Joseph Morrosson, George Curry.Halifax County, Virginia Deed Book 9, p. 202
On 15 Oct 1778, Luke Williams of Halifax County deeded 100 acres on Court house branch to George Reaves of same county. Halifax County, Virginia Deed Book 11, p. 128-129.
9 Dec 1794 Deed - George Reeves deed to William Petty, Sr. for 200 acres on Little Lick Creek adjacent to the Moravian line. Wilkes County, North Carolina Deed Book B-1, p. 416
The above tract of land conveyed by George Reeves to William Petty in 1794 wasapproximately 40 miles from the New River area where George Reeves of Grayson County, Virginia lived.
There is no question that George Reeves of Grayson County was closely related to the Reeves of Orange, Johnston and Wake Counties of North Carolina because the DNA of descendants of George Reeves and William Reeves of Wake County NC has proven that they are close relatives.The DNA of their descendants (DNA Group 6) matches that of the other Reeves family as closely as it matches their own family members.See the Reeves DNA Project Results at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~reevesdna/results.htmhttp://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~reevesdna/results.htm.
Since George Reeves of Grayson County, Virginia was recorded elsewhere in the following documents, it seems unimaginable that he and George Reaves of Halifax VAwere the same person:
Orange County, N.C.
Court Minutes, 1752-1761, Book I, p. 224
November 1760, a Deed of Sale from Henry McCullock Esqr. to George Reaves for 200 Acres of Land was proved in open Court by the oath of William Reed and was ordered to be Registered.
Court Minutes on pg 231 for February 1761: On motion of George Reaves tis Ordered that his mark be Recorded towit: a Crop & a nick in each ear.
George Reeves in Johnston County Court Orders
Jul 1762
pg 120 - A Deed of Sale from Aquila Sugg to Geo. Reeves was proved by the Oath of George Keeth & ordered to be Registered.
Jul 1763
pg 160 - A Deed from John Tallefaro to George Keith proved in open Court in due form by the Oath of Geo. Reeves and ordered to be recorded.
A Deed from George Reeves to Robert Grady is in open Court in due form acknowledged by the said George Reeves and ordered to be recorded.
Grand Jury includes George Reeves.
Apr 1764
pg 181 - A Deed from John Bradley to George Reeves was in open Court in due form acknowledged by said Bradley & order’d to be recorded.
Jan 1765
pg 208-105 - George Reaves serves on Grand Jury.
pg 209 - A Deed from William Reeves to Charles Coupland was in Court duly prov’d by the oath of George Reeves & ordered to be Registered.
pg 210 - A Deed from Robt. Edge to Charles Coupland was in Court proved by the Oath of George Reeves & ordered to be Registered.
A Deed from William Cloud to William Reeves was in Court duly proved by the oath of George Reeves & ordered to be registered.
Apr 1765
215 - John Williams being delivered up to the Court Geo: Rives became his Security.
Jul 1765
225 - Order’d that Mathew Jones, John Williams & George Reeves be fined Forty shillings nisi for not Attending as Petit Jurors.
Oct 1765
229 - Order’d that George Reeves be appointed Constable in the room of Silas Monk, & Wm. Talton in the room of Jesse tiner.
230 - A Deed from George Reeves to Elliot Buchannon was prov’d in Court by Duncan Buchannon.
July 15, 1766
Timothy Shaw was appointed overseer of the road in the "room of George Reevs".
Orange County, NC
May 1765
Reaves to Howel
A deed of sale from George Reaves to James Howel for 200 acres of Land was proved in open Court by the oath of William Speed and was ordered to be Registered.
Virginia
From The Virginia magazine of history and biography, pub 1922 by the Virginia Historical Society in reference to the Peach Bottom Tract - "...It was originally surveyed in 1753 for Peter Jefferson, Thomas and David Meriwether and Thomas Walker. It was the Peach Bottom tract.John Cox settled there the same year. George Collins and George Reeves settled there in 1767."
In George Reeves deposition for ''Beavins (Blevins) vs. Newell'' -- O. S. 174; N. S. 62 -- Bill, 27th September, 1805, he stated that he was present in the New River area as early as 1767.
George Reaves was on the 1771, 1772, 1773 and 1774 tithables lists of Cornelius Roberts in extinct Fincastle County, Virginia.
From the Montgomery County Court Order Book, Nov. 8, 1780 -
Ordered that George Reeves be restored his property that was taken from him by the Militia of Washington County and part of the Militia of this County, as several witnesses hath appeared here in Court in his favour and none against him. James Howell, same.
Wilkes County NC
1778 - George Reeves
Note - 1 tithe listed meaning no sons were age 16 or over.The area listed in the extant tax list for 1778 was the portion of Wilkes that became Ashe County.
1782 - George Reeves
Note - 1 tithe listed indicating none of his sons were 16 years of age or older, i.e. born after 1766
1784 - George Reeves, 2 White Tithes
Virginia
George Reeves is listed on the tax lists of Montgomery County, Virginia in 1787, 1788 and 1789.
George Reeves along with son Jesse is listed on the tax lists of Wythe County, Virginia in 1793.
I now leave it to Bob and the Burton researchers to comment on the presence of Richard Burton, son of Nowell Burton, in the Neuse basin area of Orange and Johnston Counties in the 1760’s living in close proximity to George Reeves et al.
Beverly