(c) Israel (possibly), a refugee from Southold to Lyme, Connecticut in September 1776 with 8 passengers (p278) which corresponds to the size of his family in 1776 Census (p123). Considerable information about him is given on p521 of Mather's Refugees (p278 hereof) including speculation of his parentage by a descendant, Mrs. H. Amelia Reeve Chapin.
She reported a tradition that Irael was one of four or more brothers who came from France. She nevertheless considered, by doubted, that Israel was son of Solomon and Sarah as "it does not seem probable that Israel fled to Connecticut, leaving his aged parents as Southold".
We dealt with this matter at some length on pages 124 & 270, including "It is true Solomon was of avanced age in 1776...but we believe the circumstances in Southold following the defeat of the Revolutionary Army in the Battle of Long Island were such that few men of Israel's age (46) would stay in Southold, regardless of the age of their parents. We therefore think it could well be that Israel was a son of Solomon". We might add that another reason for Solomon to stay was his refusal to sign the Association in 1775. We also noted that Israel had a son Rumsey and a daughter Sarah who may have derived their names from their mother, Sarah Rumsey.
If the reported tradition that Israel was one of four or more brothers from France is correct, Israel of course could not be a son of Solomon. While traditions have oftentimes proved to be accurate, we wonder if it is in this instance. For Israel and his brothers to settle in a remote part of the English colonies in the same area as other Reeves who seem to be related to the Southold or Southampton families, would be quite a coincidence.
As we noted on p124 Israel was born 1730, married Theodosia Case in 1753 (June 17 - see p67) in Cutchogue Chruch, was a Representative in Connecticut Legislature and dies at Lyme, Conn. (The date of his death was June 6, 1813; his wife died April 2, 1808, per Salmon Records). Israle Reeve witnessed the 1760 will of Joshua Wells (p135), and a 1763 deed for land at Indian Neck (p.40). This is the same part of Southold in which Solomon Reeve received land under the 1722 will of his father, Joseph Reeve. He was appointed Executor of the 1774 will of Benjamin Case, and in the same year he witnessed the will of Timothy Wells (p135).
His four sons were Benjamin, Rumsey, Israel Jr. and Luther who also were refugees to Connecticut (see Mather's Refugees, p518 etc.) Israel Jr and his sister Mehitabel were baptized on July 10, 1757 at Cutchogue (p67).
Mather (p521-p278 hereof) says Israel Reeve Jr married Fannie Lord; also that he served and was wounded in the Revolution and received a pension. "After the War he returned to Southold. He also served in the War of 1812; and was, for some time, warden of the State Prison at Auburn, N.Y.". He witnessed a Southold deed in 1788 (p40) and participated in expense of building the meeting house in Cutchgue 1788-91 (p315). He appears in Southold 1790 Census with 1 male over 16 and 2 females over 16 (p128). His daughter Sarah died in Southold August 8, 1798 (p103). We obtained a photo copy of his PEnsion Application papers; a summary of them is given in the Military Records Chapter of our Study, p217. It shows he was born on June 5, 1757 and was a mariner of Southold in 1787, was of Cayuga County, N.Y. in 1824, and moved to Massachusetts in 1835.
Benjamin & Rumsey, two of the other sons of Israel Reeve, also served in the War and died in the prison ship "Jersey" (Mather, p518 & 527 - p275 & 284 hereof). We assume this Benjamin is the one who Salmon Records shows in 1782 (no month or day given) who died "about 3 weeks ago" (p101).
Luther, last sone of Israel Reeve, was born in 1759, served in the War, shows as age 17 in August 5, 1776 Muster of Capt. Paul Reeve's Company (p213), married 1785 Anna Pearson, was a pensioner in Ohio in 1828, and died at New Lyme, Ohio Dec. 13, 1843, age 83. Mumerout descendants of Luther's son Rumsey Reeve (1789-1863) joined the D.A.R. Mather p525 (p282 hereof) carried out this line at some length. Mrs. Chapin stems from this branch of the family. Luther was a refugee from L.I. to Conn. in 1776 (p282).
This is a long quote so I'll continue this discussion in the next post.
Fascinating reading. My paternal grandmother is Myra Riggs Reeve, descendant of Luther Reeve (brother of Benjamin who died on the prison ship in the Rev War). Myra, her sisters and other relatives joined the DAR, then later her daughter Sarah joined, and I have been doing some research on the family. Myra told me that we have family in France, and their name is spelled Reve' (with that little backwards apostrophe and pronounced Ru-vay). She said her cousin was living there in a castle and we should go to visit someday. She had been in contact with the family by letter over the years. I wish I would have asked more questions and written more down, as she is gone now. :-( Thanks for posting this blog.
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