Some deeper census analysis...

I've decided to get more serious about nailing down birth order and birth years if I can by comparing census data. So here is a fresh look at the census data.

Bethuel Reeve 1776 census

2 Males under 50 and over 16 years:

Bethuel 1726-1737 (makes him at least 18 when first son born)

Joel 1755 (21 birth year known from headstone and Early History of Southampton)

Daniel is away fighting in the war he is likely at least 16, birth likely btw 1758-1760

3 Males under 16 which means born after 1760:

2 Females over 16 years (before 1760):

Mary and probably Keturah

1 Female under 16 years (after 1760):

probably Bethiah

Birth order in Early History of Southampton:

Joel, Silas, Daniel, Zebulon, Jeremiah, Keturah, Bethiah

Birth order mentioned in the Will:

Joel, Jeremiah, Silas, Daniel, Zebulon, Keturah, Bethiah

My guess is Joel (1755), Keturah (1756), Silas (aft 1760), Daniel (1760), Zebulon (1761), Jeremiah (1763), Bethiah (1764) or within a year or two.

(this next part was an incorrect theory -- the Silas who was the father of this family may have been distantly related to Bethuel, but was not Bethuel's son. This Silas was the grandson of Hezakiah Reeve who removed from Long Island to New Jersey.)

Next I want to jump to the 1840 Vigo County, Indiana census. Here, in Honey Creek Township, We have in a row, Sanford Larkin, Nicholas Larkin, Nicholas Larkin Jr., Thomas Franklin, Silas Reeve and Eden Reeve (the other siblings Rufus and Eunice have died). I believe Silas and Eden are married to Larkin sisters, and Thomas Franklin is Annie Reeves husband. Sanford, Nicholas Jr, and Lucy (married to Silas) and Phebe (married to Eden) are all siblings and the children of Nicholas Larkin Sr.

Eden and Phebe's marriage is pretty well documented. But there is no evidence that Nicholas Larkin Sr. had a daughter named Lucy. Silas' wife seems to be named Lucy Larkin, she shows up later in the census record as Lucy Reeves. Nicholas Larkin Sr. recorded daughters seem to have been Phebe, Sarah Ann and Lois. Although Lucy is not documented as his daughter, it is certainly not impossible. In the 1800 census the family is listed with 2 females under 10, the 1810 census also lists the family with 2 females under 10. Even if the were newborns in 1800, they could not still be under 10 in 1810. Then again, there are no females listed with the family that are over 10. It's pretty clear that the females in the 1800 census are not the same ones in the 1810 census, so there may indeed be daughters unaccounted for. I think that Nicholas Sr.'s will might help clarify matters, or perhaps Silas Jr's will might help.

Interestingly, one of Silas and Lucy's sons, Roy Ransom Reeves, names his children as follows:

Silas Eden Reeves, Rufus Reeves, Mandana Reeves, Millard Fillmore Reeves, Artemus Lee Reeves (after a sibling), and Lucy Reeves.

Zebulon Reeve

I have been chasing Zebulon for sometime now. I found evidence of a Zebulon Reeve in Palmyra, too young to be brother to Joel, but perhaps his son. Today this puzzle piece slipped into place when I discovered Zebulon of Palmyra was Daniel's son (Daniel the Revolutionary Soldier and Joel's brother). What happened to Daniel and Joel's brother Zebulon, did he die without young without marrying? Answers only bring more questions it seems.

It does interest me that young Zebulon follows his Uncle Silas to the Palmyra area. I suspect that there are some more connections up there to be uncovered.

Source
The mother of Mr. Throop, also, was married a second time, to George W. Hatch, of Johnstown. By this marriage she had two sons and two daughters. The eldest son, who was named after his father, is one of the partners in the well-known firm of Rawdon, Wright and Hatch, bank-note engravers ; the younger, Israel T. Hatch, is a prominent citizen of Buffalo. One of the sisters married Zebulon Reeves, of Palmyra. The other became the wife of Gershom Powers, who represented the Cayuga district in the 21st Congress; after his death she married William B. Rochester, long a distinguished politician in the state of New York, and the Bucktail candidate for Governor in 1826, in opposition to De Witt Clinton; Judge Rochester was one of the unfortunate passengers on board the ill-fated steamer Pulaski, and was drowned in attempting to escape from the conflagration that destroyed her; his widow has since married a Mr. Fitch, a merchant at Buffalo.

After the death of her second husband, the mother of the governor remained a widow for twenty years, and died of apoplexy, in 1846, in the eighty-fourth year of her age. She was a woman of estimable character, of strong good sense and of vigorous mind; and she was warmly loved and venerated by her numerous descendants.

Source
The principal mechanics and manufacturers, were Jessup and Palmer, Benson, Wm. Sexlon, Hussey, Amos Reed, Wagstaff (the father of the well known Capt. Robert Wagstaff, of Buffalo, and the Lakes, more recently of California,) Asa Lilly, Salmon Hathway, Shattuck, Robinson, Zebulon Reeves, David Jackways, Enoch Lilly; and some others, whose names are not now recollected. Soon after 1818, and before the completion of the canal, there was a large accession to population, merchants and mechanics. Pliny Sexton, commenced there as a silver smith and watch repairer, in 1819 or, '20; afterwards, was one of the first to introduce the cooking stove into W. N. York; engaged in the Hardware business ; and is now associated with George Cuyler in the banking business.

Sorting out Eden

Notes on Eden:

listed in Military history of Wayne County, NY p 233-234. Section titled “Rolls of the companies in the thirty-ninth infantry, as they were in the summer of 1813. In Cpt. George Culver’s company, June and July, 1812, with brother Rufus. Silas Reeves listed in Culver’s company in 1813, and Rufus and Eden are missing.

Post from 2002 billmaxey@compuserve.com UNKNOWN ACCURACY

Name: Eden REEVES

Birth Date: 24 Jan 1775

Birth Place: Newark, New York

Death Date: 17 Dec 1846

Death Place: Vigo Co., Indiana

Burial Place: HullsCemetery

Spouse: Eunice

Children: Susan

William Kelsey

Annie

Spouse: Phebe LARKINS

Marriage Date: About 1815

Children: Eunice

Cyrus E.

John

Helen Louisa

Cassius E

Notes:

1820 census in Phelps twp, Ontario Co, New York.

1830 census in Harrison twp, Vigo Co, Indiana

Helen Reynolds Burnham in her letter of 1933 says that her great

grandfather Eden Reeves served in the war of 1812.

According to the military records of Eden Reeves he served 7 days with Capt

George Culver's Comapny of Militia, 39 Reg't (Howell's New York) of

Infantry in the War of 1812 from July 11th to the 18th.

****** 1820 census in Phelps Twp, Ontario Co., New York.

1830 census in Harrison Twp, Vigo Co., Indiana

Helen Reynolds Burnham in her letter of 1933 says that her great

grandfather Eden Reeves served in the war of 1812.

According to the military records of Eden Reeves, he served 7 days with

Capt. George Culver's Company of Militia, 39 Reg't (Howell's New York) of

Infantry in the War of 1812 from July 11th to the 18th.

From ancestry poss. dates b. 24 Jan 1775, d. 17 Dec. 1846, uncited.

Phebe Larkins b. 1795 poss Richmond, RI. uncited

more confusion:

2867. Larkins — Reeves.—Phebe Larkins was b. in R. I. about 1795, and was the dau. of Nicholas Larkins. She m. Eden Reeves (who was born in or near Newark. N. J., in Jan., 1775). Eden was the son of Cyrus or Silas Reeves, who was born in England, left home when quite young, joined the English Navy and afterwards settled in this country and married. What was the name of his wife? Did Phebe Larkin have any Rev. ancestors? There were ten Larkins who served from R. I., mostly from Hopkinton or South Kingston, and one of them was named David. The name of David has been handed down in the family here. Both the Larkins and the Reeves families moved to New York, and any information in regard to them will be greatly appreciated.—H. L. R.

Eden Reeve's Family in Vigo Co.
http://www.ingenweb.org/invigo/lostcreek.htm

April 10, 1850, Mr. Oilman married Miss Helen Reeves, the fourth in order of birth of the five children of Cyrus and Phoebe (Larkins) Reeves. To this union have been born four children: Helen L., wife of James B. Reynolds; Anna; Frank, who married Alice Lee; and Harry, married to Jennie Feltus.

Facts:

The Silas who died in Lyons, NY left a will naming six children, one of them Eddon (spelling from the will). This Silas died in Lyons, NY in between January 16 and February 10th 1813 per his will. The will mentions his daughter Eunice Foster, which ties him to Suffolk Co. NY through David Haines Foster. This Silas definitely came from Long Island and with the connection to the Haines family I have every reason to believe this is the Silas named in Bethuel's will. I believe his brother Zebulon maybe be in the area as well as there is evidence of a next generation Zebulon. I'm still researching these individuals. Silas was not born in England.

Besides being in the will and listed in military musteres in 1812 and 1813, Eden is in the 1820 census in Phelps (569) Nicholas Larkins is on the previous page (496). He is in the 1830 census in Vigo. Co. IA and he is missing from Palmyra. He is also in the 1840 census in Honey Creek under the spelling Edon. There are clear marriage records for Eden Reeve and Phebe Larkins showing 1815 as the year of marriage, unable so far to confirm a first wife being Eunice Kelsey, but it's possible. Looking closer at the 1820 census, there are children listed over the age of 10, at least 3 in fact, the marrige year if 1815 is well documented so 2 things must be true, there must have been a first wife and Edon must be older. Phebe would have been 20, the census shows 1 male between 26-44, this must be Eden, meaning he was born between, 1776 - 1799, I'll need to examine the other census to narrow it down and see if the listed date is correct, at this point it's at least possible (1820: 1011011200)

Vigo Co.

These are just reseach notes I'm posting about Vigo Co., Indiana. They are neither organized, nor do I understand yet how the pieces come together.


Eden Reeve's Family in Vigo Co.
http://www.ingenweb.org/invigo/lostcreek.htm

April 10, 1850, Mr. Oilman married Miss Helen Reeves, the fourth in order of birth of the five children of Cyrus and Phoebe (Larkins) Reeves. To this union have been born four children: Helen L., wife of James B. Reynolds; Anna; Frank, who married Alice Lee; and Harry, married to Jennie Feltus.



Zadock Reeve (1796-1885) in Vigo Co. He may be the grandson of Zadok Reeve (1741-abt 1820 L.I., NY) m. Phebe Tappen. Zadok may have had up to 10 children at least Silas, Zadock, John and Jane, perhaps Elias, one of the sons maybe father to Zadock (1796-1885) possibly Elias, no solid proof on this.

http://www.archive.org/stream/historyofvigocou00brad/historyofvigocou00brad_djvu.txt

MART M. REEVE, Glenn, Lost Creek township, was born in the township where she now resides, June 25,. 1836, a daughter of Zadoc and Mary M. (Col ton) Reeve, natives of New York, former of whom was born October 14, 1796, and latter April 11, 1800. They were married December 29, 1816. Zadoc Reeve was a house and ship-carpenter, and was one of the pioneer settlers of this county. He laid ofip the first school district in Lost Creek township, and bought the farm on which Mrs. Reeve no\^ resides, containing eighty acres, before the National Road was made. He had a con- tract on the National Road from Clear Creek to Cory's Creek; also constructed the bridges across Lost Creek, Sugar Creek and Clear Creek, and built the first schoolhouse in Lost Creek township, which was called " Reeve's school-house." Mr. and Mrs. Reeve had a family of nine children, of whom Mary M. is the eighth in order of birth. Mr. Reeve was a Master Mason; he served as school trustee. He died March 7, 1885, and his wife died August 15, 1862. Mary M. Reeve has two sons: David M. and Zadoc, who are industrious and prominent farmers.


http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=REG&db=stobie&id=I251241

5.
John Melton Coltrin (John Coltrin8, William Coltrin7, Rebecca Maxham6, Abigail Ellis5, Gideon Ellis4, Freeman Ellis3, John Ellis2, John Ellis1) was born 24 APR 1824 in Terre Haute, Vigo County, Indiana, and died 21 FEB 1880 in Terre Haute, Vigo County, Indiana. He married Minerva Reeve 24 DEC 1848 in Terre Haute, Vigo County, Indiana, daughter of Zadoc Reeve and Mary M. Colton. She was born 6 SEP 1826 in Sullivan County, Indiana, and died 14 SEP 1913 in Harrison Township, Vigo County, Indiana. She was buried in Highland Lawn Cemetery.


Child of John Melton Coltrin and Minerva Reeve is:
+6i.
John Coltrin was born 6 SEP 1859 in Terre Haute, Vigo County, Indiana, and died 19 APR 1916 in Terre Haute, Vigo County, Indiana.

Pieces of the puzzle...

So I noticed something interesting this week. I'm on a quest to fit my Bethuel in to Solomon Reeve and Sarah Rumsey's family. There is no direct evidence to link Bethuel to Solomon, it's likely if there once was, it was destroyed during the British occupation of Long Island. Having hit a brick wall with Bethuel, I've been chasing down sidelines to mine. Most recently, I've been working on Silas Reeve(s).

Silas's will lists his children, two of who are Annie Reeve and Eden Reeve. Annie marrys Thomas Franklin and both her family and her brother Eden's family end up about ten miles apart from each other in Vigo Co, Indiana. Thomas and Annie Franklin settle in Sugar Creek and Edan and his family settle in Harrison. These two townships are part of twelve townships that ring Terre Haute Indiana.

Vigo County Indiana sparked something in my memory about Zadock. If you look back in my blog here Zadok, you'll see a passage about him from my favorite source, Baker. Notice there's a notation about Vigo, County. How interesting.....

A little more research show Zadock, probably Zadok's son, living in Lost Creek, Vigo Co. Indiana. Well, Lost Creek also happens to be one of the twelve townships surrounding Terre Haute, in fact Zadock Jr. is living only about ten miles from Annie and Eden. Now isn't that a coincidence, in all the country, these Reeve descendants end up living 10 miles apart. Except that experience has taught me that in genealogy coincidence is often more that coincidence. Might there be more here than an odd coincidence.

It's my theory that Bethuel and Zadok were brothers. Bethuel had son Silas who moved to the Palmyra, New York area. Zadock had son Zadock Jr. who moved to the Vigo Co. Indiana area. Silas and Zadock Jr. were cousins. Silas had Annie and Eden. Something traumatic happens to the family and Silas, his wife and Rufus his first born son die within the first three months of 1813. The British burn almost the whole town of Sodus, NY, where they were living in June of 1813. Annie and Eden also end up in Vigo, Co. Indiana just ten miles from Zadock Jr.

How do we choose where to go, where to live, where to settle down? Sometimes we stay put. Sometimes we stay near family. Sometimes we venture out to find new territory with friends or family members. Maybe family members tell us about how nice it is where they live and we decide to go try it out.

In the Reeve line, Rumsey and Wines followed their brother Bethuel to Renslaerville (all sons of Joel). Silas and possibly Zebulon (Bethuel's sons) followed David Haines Foster to Palmyra. They were distant cousins and Silas and David's children eventually married. I can rattle off names and example, some times close family, sometimes more distant, sometimes just friends or neighbors. As humans, we tend to follow what is familiar or know to us in some way, even when we strike out into new territory. Now, I could be completely wrong here, but it's quite coincidental to have them all within ten miles. Really, you have to ask what made Eden and Annie up and move to Vigo Co. Indiana when their other siblings stayed in the Palmyra area. Did they just stick a pin in the map? Or did a family member mention, oh I think Cousin Zadock moved to Vigo Co., Indiana, he always writes how beautiful it is there. Maybe there was some other reason, maybe more will be come clear as I dig deeper.

Silas's Will

So I wanted to put this up as soon as possible for anyone who follows my blog (is there anyone out there who actually follows my blog?). I just receive Silas' will from Ontario Co. It's very feint and difficult to read. I'm missing some of the legal terms of the time that I could not make out, but the important facts are there.

This Silas is the son of Bethuel, brother to my Joel Reeve (1755). Silas was born around 1760, but that's a guess. In his will he makes no mention of a wife, meaning she must already be deceased. There is an obituary listed for Mrs. S. Reeves dated Jan. 26, 1813, after the making of this will on Jan. 16, 1813. It may not be Silas' wife, or it might have been and at the time of the making of the will, her death was certain and imminent. At the time of the making of the will six children were living: Mrs. Eunice Foster wife to David Foster, Annie or Anna Fraklin, wife of Thomas Franklin, Elizabeth Reeve, unmarried, Rufus Reeve, Silas Reeve and Edden or Eden Reeve. The text of the will is written in one handwriting, likely by someone other than Silas, and the name Reeve(s) is used, including the (s) as are all records having to do with this family. Significantly, however, Silas' signature is in different handwriting, larger that the other words on the page, and a bit shaky as if this was indeed a dying man.

There also appears to be an obituary for Rufus dated 16 Mar 1813 in a local paper. Something terrible happened to this family, it seems that three members died within the first few months of 1813. Silas, Rufus and Eden all appear in militia list for 1812, and one in 1813. The families deaths could be related to the War of 1812. According to the Wayne Co. site:

The town of Sodus is one of only two towns in Wayne County to ever experience a military battle within its borders. In the morning of June 19, 1813, during the War of 1812, the British attacked Sodus Point. The British seized the stores in the warehouses and burned the town.

This event occurred in June so it was not directly responsible for their deaths. Silas and Eunice appear to have stayed in the area, Anne Franklin went to Vigo Co., Indiana, and I have not located Eden or Elizabeth yet.

In the name of God, Amen. I Silas Reeves of the

town of Lyons, in the county of Ontario, being

weak in body, but of sound and perfect mind

and memory that is to say fit. I give and bequeath

to my three daughters all my household furniture and (?)

able belonging to my house Mrs. Eunice Foster, Anney

Franklin and Elizabeth Reeves and I do also give

and bequeath to my son Silas Reeves all my freehold

estate real and personal not be fore (?) to his

heirs and assigns forever I do also give to my son

Rufus Reeves one hundred dollars to be paid out

of my real or personal estate I do also give to my

son Edden Reeves fifty dollars to be paid out of

my real or personal estate and after the (?)

(?) to my three daughters above named I do

also give unto my daughter Elizabeth Reeves so

long as she shall live unmarried one quarter grant

of my real estate after the (secured legacy?) is paid for her

use so long as is a (??) I do also hereby appoint

Rufus Reeves and Silas Reeves sole executrix

of this my last will and testament hereby revoking

all former wills by me made in (?) where of I

have here unto set my hand and seal the sixteenth day

of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight

hundred and thirteen.

Signed sealed (?) and Silas Reeve (signed)

(?) by the above named

Silas Reeves to be his last will

and testament in the presence of us

who have hereunto subscribed our

names as witnesses in the (?)

of the testator.

David H. Foster

Luke Mason

James Reeves

appears to have been proved 10 Feb 1813

Link to download will

Always Check Again

I learn new things and new lessons every day. This week I had a major break through that cleared up a number of things that have been puzzling me for years.

Lately on Ancestry.com I have been meeting a number of new cousins (hi all). The decision to keep paying Ancestry is one I struggle with continually. Is it worth the convenience of having census records at my finger tips. Well the fact that I have been meeting so many folks lately with common ancestry to mine make the choice a little easier. It also has me rethinking my decision about posting my research on Ancestry.com. Ancestry takes ownership of any research that you post on their site. Should your membership lapse, like mine did for a bit, they just add anything you posted to their general site. In other words, you lose all control and all access (well except read only access). I've worked hard on my research and I want to openly share it, but I don't want to lose control over it. Still thinking...

On to discoveries, I found photos of Joel and Anna's headstones on Ancestry.com. The dates on these stones confirmed a number of facts that had been in question. I have seen Joel's death date before, but had no idea where the date was originally recorded. I also had no idea how the birth year of 1755 came about, it seemed to have just been plucked from thin air and cited in "The Early History of Southampton". As it turns out, his death date and age are provided on his headstone. With those two pieces of information, one can compute Joel's year of birth. As it turns out, photos of Joel and his wife, Anna Wines, headstone had been photographed in the last few years and posted on findagrave.com along with the headstones of Jetur, Wines and a daughter I never heard of, Amanda. The findagrave site was one I was familiar with, but when I began my research about 10 years ago, there was not much posted yet. It proves that you should always revisit sites to look for new additions.

The information on Anna's headstone answers some crucial questions. In the History of Mattituck there is a confusing entry of a marriage for Joel Reeve and Anna Wines dated 1800. This has thrown me for years, along with confusing census data. I thought for many years that Joel might have had two wives one who was the mother of half the children and then a later wife who was the mother of the younger children. The dates on this headstone however prove that Anna Wines was Joel's only wife and she did live long enough to be the mother of all Joel's children. This does not explain the 1800 marriage date, but in the end the headstone is the stronger evidence.

I have also puzzled many years over Wines and Jetur who disappeared. Recently, I found some documents that led me to believe that Jetur went to Califonia looking for gold and died there. Jetur's headstone in North Sea Cemetery proves that Jetur died before he had a family at 19 and the Jetur Reeve that went to California was not Joel's son. A few years ago, I found one census record for a Winas Reeve and wife Leah in Renslaerville that I strongly suspected was Joel's son Wines. The headstone for Wines with his wife's name, Leah, at the bottom, tell me I was right. Wines lived his life in Renslaerville with his brother Bethuel for at least part of his life. Knowing now that I have the right person, I can go back and chase him through the records.

Lastly, these headstones at North Sea Cemetery prove that Joel and Jeremiah never used the "Reeves" spelling of their name. Just like me, other people, census takers and record keepers, tacked the "s" on the end of their names too. Which made me quip "Some are born with "s", some concede to "s" and some have "s" thrust upon them".

The lesson here is keep a list of relevant sites that you go back and check for new information on a regular basis. You never know what will get added and what new information will turn up. New facts can change your whole direction on an individual and sometimes a whole line.

The Begining

When I first started working on my families genealogy I only had my Granfather's name and my Great Grandfather, Oscar Reeve. I knew Oscar came to California from Ohio somewhere and had settled in the San Jose area. That was it. My father really didn't remember too much. I started running google seaches for Oscar Reeve and behold, some kind soul had posted Oscars obituary on Roots Web (the free precurser to many genealogy sites). It's sad I can't even locate that post anymore since ancestry.com gobbled up rootweb. Oscars obituary gave me a number of family names as well as the town of Willoughby Ohio.

As I searched I kept coming accross the name Joel which I knew was Oscar's middle name. Fairly quickly I found the census records for Joel Rumsey Reeve 4/25/1823-2/16/1909. I spent the better part of a year working through census records, made multiple all day trips to the Sutro Library in San Francisco and even a week long genealogy vacation to Salt Lake City. I became convinced that Joel 1823 was connected to Joel 1755 and his father Bethuel, but I had a missing link. About that time I reconnected with a Cousin who had also done a lot of genealogy research. She send me her material and there was Rumsey 1790. I had already found the The Early History of Southampton, which gave me this nugget:

Reeve Family
For a long time the descendants of James Reeves of Southold have spelled the name Reeve. Bethuel Reeve of Southold town bought land in North Sea in 1758 and resided there. He was of about the fourth generation in Descent from James.
1. Bethuel d. 1782, had w. Mary and ch. 2 Joel b 1755, 3 Silas, 4 Daniel, 5 Zebulon, 6 Jeremiah, 7 Keturah and 8 Bethia.
2 Joel d. Dec. 14 1831, had w. Anna and ch. 9 Bethuel, 10 Rumney, 11 Wines, 12 Jeremiah and 13 Jetur.
12 Jeremiah had ch. 14 Jetur, 15 Barnabas, 16 Jeremiah, 17 Frances, 18 Bethuel, 19 Josephine, 20 Charlotte and 21 Charles.
From: The Early History of Southampton, Long Island, New York with Genealogies by George Rogers Howell, M.A. (Yale University), 2nd ed., pub. 1887 Southampton, Long Island, New York,

However, the ascertion that Bethuel was a descendant of James was much in doubt and not proof of it has been found then or since. This made me a bit sceptical of the accuracy of Mr. Howell's information. I really wanted more hard source proof. Then I found Bethuel and Rumsey living next door to each other in the 1820 Renslaerville census. Feeling more confident I began to scour any Long Island Record I could get my hands on. Finally, I found what I was looking for, a school record from the North Sea School:

North Sea School Taught by William Lemuel Sandford Quarter began 29 Sept. 1795 Ended 15 March 1796. The first six names on the list are as follows:
Bethuel Reeves (would have been 12)
Phebe Reeves
Rumsey Reeves (correct spelling on the first name this time he would have been about 5)
Orinda Reeves
Polly Reeves
Bethiah Reeves

The document is signed by the "Trustees" Joel Reeves, Samuel Scott, and Stephen Harris.

The book of records of the town of Southampton : BOOKS 1, 2, 3 and 4 - 1st book. 1639-1660 -- 2nd book. 1660-1717 -- 3rd book. 1717-1807 -- 4th book. 1809-1870, AUTHORS: Southampton, Henry P Hedges, William S. Pelletreau, Edward H. Foster, including all the writings in the town clerk's office from 1639 to 1660: with other ancient documents of historic value, Sag Harbor, N.Y.: J.H. Hunt, book and job printer.

At last I had my secondary proof that Rumsey was Joel's son, and as a bonus I got his daughter's names as well. With the help of the Curator at the Renslaerville Historical Society, I was able to flaesh out Rumsey's family more. Then I discovered the History of the Western Reserve which provided lots of details about Rumsey's son Joel. Having cleaned up the ties between my two Joels. It was time to turn my attention on Bethuel's origins.

The mystery of Bethuel is why I began this blog. I read some tips on genealogy that said a blog was a great way to keep your research handy and in one place. I've found it very helpful, hopefully it's helpful for others as well. As I come accross records or things I want to save, I have a button in my browser that puts it in my blog. I also store links and facts I refer to frequently. Eventually, I may resort to help from a professional genealogist to see if there is anyway to really link Bethuel to Solomon. Who knows, there maybe some obscure document, deed or legal paper that survives that will tie them together. Or perhaps I will have to resort to DNA, but I don't even know if there is a living male that is proven to be in Solomon's line. Proving Israel and Bethuel were brothers might be easier, but it doesn't make the puddle jump. I've resorted to hunting down side lines to mine in the meantime. I've been finding a fair amount about what I think happened to Bethuel's sons Silas and Zebulon.

Rumseys

Rumsey is an unusual name, in fact in my research there are only 3 Rumseys on Long Island prior to 1800. Rumsey 1 was the son of Israel Reeve and is documented as having died on the Prison Ship Jersey with his brother Benjamin (We assume this Benjamin is the one who Salmon Records shows in 1782 (no month or day given) who died "about 3 weeks ago"). Rumsey 2 was born in 1789 he was the son of Luther Reeve, grandson of Israel Reeve. Rumsey 3 was born in 1790 and was the son of Joel Reeve (b. Abt. 1755).

Where does a name like Rumsey come from? Most likely it's origin is in remembrance of a mother's maiden name. Much like "Wines Reeve" is an ommage to the Wines family into which Anna Wines Reeve was born. Most researchers believe that Rumsey is a derivitive of the surname "Ramsey/Rumsey". Baker states on p. 270 of his Study:

"...we think it more likely he (Israel) was a son of Solomon Reeve 3 (Joseph 2, Thomas 1) because, as Mather notes Solomon married in 1724 Sarah Rumsey and Israel had a son Rumsey (and a daughter Sarah)."

Baker theorizes that Israel was the son of Solomon Reeve and Sarah Rumsey because of the use of the name Rumsey. This is the simplest explaination of the use of the unusual name. Unfortunately, Solomon left no will and there is no record of his children other than the conclusion that Solomon Jr. was one of his son. I can only think of three reasons Joel (b. abt 1755) would name his second son Rumsey. He named his first son Bethuel after his father, and his second son Rumsey was named for his first wife's maiden name. Now this is a very plausible theory until one realizes that no other marriages besides that of Solomon Reeve and Sarah Rumsey, occurred on Long Island between the Reeves and the Ramseys/Rumseys.

Perhaps Joel was so moved by the deaths of the patriot soldiers aboard the Prison ship Jersey, that he resolved to commemorate Rumsey 1 by naming his second son in his honor. Certainly this could have happened this way and there may be a bit of truth in it. But I prefer the last possibility, which is that Joel named his second son for his grandmothers familiy and his uncle's lost son Rumsey 1. He may even have been inspired by his cousin Luther who name one of his sons, Rumsey 2 who was born a year earlier, after his brother Rumsey 1. I think this is a rather compelling theory and makes the case for Israel and Bethuel being brothers and sons of Solomon even stronger. In fact, when writing his manuscript in the 1970's, Baker did not have the information about my line that has since come to light. He in fact dismissed Bethuel as being a descendant of one of the earlier Southamton Reeves such as Thomas Reeves. It was not until I was able to substantiate Rumsey 3 as a grandson of Bethuel in 2004, that the name Rumsey became solidly connected to Bethuel. It's a critical piece of the puzzle in my mind. Connecting to Solomon is crutial as it transports both Israel's line and Bethuel's line back across the Atlantic Ocean to England.