Person Page - 235

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Notes:

April 13, 1837: Lieutenant-Colonel, 39th Infantry
November 2, 1839: Colonel
September 1841: Brigadier General

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Palmyra Democrat
Wednesday, February 8, 1888

Obituary

In our last issue we published a brief obituary on the death of Lyman Reeves of this place; since our last issue we have been handed the following which portrays more fully the life of this noble citizen.

The subject of this sketch was born October 13, 1802, twelve years after his father pitched his tent in this unbroken wilderness. Another event of that day has a record in the diary that is worthy of notice, six years previous a few pits had been planted, they had sprouded and towered into trees and on that day delicious fruit was gathered. The country was new, the large trees presented unbroken ranks, elbowing each other, defying even hard hands and siney arms. What was the mission of the child taht day, but to wait and grow until strength was given to level those towering trees, turn the rich forest lands into fields of waveing [sic] grain? He had early in life the general supervision of a large farm, the ax preceded the plow, its clear loud ring gave warning to the trees of their coming fate. In the midst of toll, a sacred word touched the mental faculties, which saw it is not good for man to be alone, a stranger was not to be thought of as a companion, a short acquaintance would be a [sic] experiment, with painted curtains, when opened might give no sweet melody to the rapt visions. Providence directed to a suitable one, not far away, who was fitted by nature and education to give a charm to every circle graced by her presence.

May 1st, 1823, Lyman Reeves and Hannah A. Franklin were by the Rev. Daniel C. Hopkins pronounced husband and wife. Their family consisted of one daughter and four sons who survive him.When the militia was the bulwark of the country, he accepted office and passed through the different grades up to a Brigadier General. He studied the tactics and commanded like one born to command without an arbitrary word.

Mr. and Mrs. Lyman Reeves celebrated their fiftieth anniversary at the house of Franklin Reeves on the old homestead. Their numerous friends and relatives enjoyed the social as well as the inviting display of the table. The sixtieth anniversary was celebrated in the new and convenient house on the old homestead, more than one hundred guests were present. The great grand children with bright faces enjoyed it, but could not comprehend the space of time. The home reations [sic] were attractive, the family gatherins on Thanksgiving day where the young and the old met, and where the great grand parents with kind words and tender caresses won every little one present. The love that draws the aged and the young together is not the cold love of earth, but the sweet breath of heaven. He adopted a family into teh cricle at the last Thanksgiving dinner. The grandchildren numbered at one time nineteen, two have faded and passed to their final home. The great grand children numbered eighteen, two of those have gone before him. In sixty four years but four deaths have occurred in that family.

Lyman Reeves as a historian had few equals, his memory was like a chronological chart, mention an event of the past the details would come in rapid succession. His early religious training placed a light on the altar, it may have wanted but it never went out. His death which happened January 25th was sudden and unexpected, he had not been feeling well during the day althought he was around. At the usual hour he retired to rest, he called his wife by name and died before she reached him, at the age of eight-five years and three months, universally honored and respected.

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Notes:

Apparently went by "Aurelia" (pronounced "Arilla") according to frequency of proper spelling "Aurelia" as both first and prominent name.

Incorrectly spelled "Orilla" and "Orilly" (H.) on census documents.

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Notes:

From family records:

"James Reeves, born at Southampton, Long Island, NY, October 13, 1762, son of Dr. Stephen Reeves. In 1782 he left Long Island in a small boat for New London, Conn., which was burned shortly before they arrived and was still smoking when they came. He and his companion went on to Nantucket, where the shipped on a privateer, the brig Digby, at seven dollars a month, and a small share of the prise money. The brig was wrecked in action and storm November 1783. Some time after the war he appears to have joined his father and the others of the family in the Palmyra area, where he died May 19, 1838, aged 77 years and was buried on the old Reeves Homestead."

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Notes:

From family records:

"A son of James Reeves, Stephen, with a Joshua Terry is reported to have "scoured up their old guns and started pell mell for Pultneyville on the first alarm" in the war of 1812."

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Notes:

According to family files, James and Caroline's wedding was recorded in the October 21, 1835 edition of the Ontario Repository.

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From family records:

"Stephen Reeves, son of John Reeves, born in Southampton, Long Island, in 1734. He married Mary Hopkins, daughter of Hon. Stephen Hopkins, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. He was a physician. Sometime prior to 1793. He removed to Palmyra, NY where he and his wife Mary were among the original members of the First Presbyterian Church which was organized in 1793. He becam an elder of this church and held this office for the remainder of his life. During the Revolutionary War, while Dr. Stephen Reeves was still living in Southampton, two soldiers called at the Doctor's home and asked for something to eat. Food was given them but while the Doctor's back was turned they stole two towels. Shortly after they left, the articles were missed, so the Doctor ran cross-lots to the Fort and complained to the commanding officer just before the two soldiers returned to the post. They were searched and the missing articles found, whereupon they were tried and flogged so unmercifully that the tender heart of Dr. Reeves was made sorry that he had entered the complaint.

Dr. Stephen Reeves died April 13, 1820, aged 86 years, 2 days."

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From family records:

"Elias Reeves, born probably at Southampton, Long Island, NY, November 8, 1762. In 1788 he was one of a company of eleven persons who contracted together to move west and settle on new land. Early in the spring of 1790, he and Joel Foster, as agents of this company, left Southampton to find good lands suitable for settlement. They went first to Fort Pitt, now Pittsburgh, where they met Like Foster, an old friend. With him they moved on to Fort Washington, now Cincinnati, where they bought land on what was called Turkey Bottoms. Here they left Luke Foster to build a cabin and make improvemenets, they returned to Southampton to report and conduct the colony to the new life.

When Elias Reeves and Joel Foster arrived at Long Island, they found William Hopkins, a son of Hon. Stephen Hopkins and uncle of Elias, and Abraham Foster visiting from New Jersey. William Hopkins had heard of the Genesee country and after discussion it was decided to investigate. Hpkins and Elias Reeves to go by the Northern route, the two Fosters with Luther Sanford exploring Northern Pennsylvania.

Hopkins and Reeves started Aug 20 1791, carrying rifles and knapsacks. They came by water to Albany, from there along the old Indian Trail to GEneva, whence to No. 12 of the purchase. They found the valley very attractive and so placed their names upon maple and oak as a pre-emption mark. They then set out for Linley Town, where the other three had stopped to work at their trade.

Here a contract signed by the five was drawn up , binding them to abide by and make good any purchase of land which Elias Reeves shall make of Oliver Phelps, Esq, or any other person within 20 day of the date hereof." This was signed Sept 9, 1791.

Elias Reeves and Abraham Foster went back to the selected cite [sic] and purchased by a somewhat complicated transaction involving Messrs. Phelps, Gorham, Swift, and Durfee, 5,500 acre of land in what is now the township of Palmyra, Wayne County, New York.

Elias Reeves was the first man to marry in Palmyra. He went to Canandaigua and engaged the services of Rev. Condit to perform the ceremony, for which he paid a five dollar gold piece. As a consequence of the marriage and visit of Rev. Condit was teh formation of the East Palmyra Presbyterian Church of which Stephen Reeves was chosen elder, James Reeves clerk, and Elias Reeves trustee. The marriage of Elias Reves took place October 27, 1793 and the maiden name of his wife was Eunice Howell.

Elias Reeves died in 1843."

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Notes:

From family records:

"Paul Reeves left Southampton before his brother Elias came to Palmyra, going to a palce in Deleware County on the Deleware River, where he was employed as a raft builder. He left his work as a raft builder after the Long Island Colony had settled in Palmura, and traveling overland on foot with a 40 lb. pack, joined the colony in Palmra. There is an interesting story told of this jounrey while related how he on foot and another man on horseback made relatively teh same trip passing and repassing each other many times enroute. When they reached their common destination two or three days later they found Paul had made the journey on foot a day sooner than the man on horseback.

After a short stay in Palmyra, Paul returned to Deleware County, where he married Sarah Ware. He returned with his bride to East Palmyra area where he took a leading part in the early building of the settlements along Mud Creek, including schools, churches, saw and grist mills, roads, bridges, and homes. He build for Captain Galloway a saw mill which was the first built at East Palmyra. The old school house in District No. 3 was enlarged by him so it coul dbe used for church services. In 1803 he and a Gilbert Howell built and operated a saw mill and in 1804 a grist mill, at a dam near Newark.

Paul Reeves is said to have been minus his left thumb which was amputated after it was crushed. Reeves is reported to have done the amputation himself using an axe. He was at work raising a barn and was fitting a mortice in place of a heavy upright timmber when it slipped. After the amputation he wrapped it in a cloth and went back to work.

Paul Reeves had charge of the framing for the East Palmyra Presbyterian Church. It was the first frame in Western New York laid out by the square rule. It was raised on the Fourth of July, using 130 men for the operation. It is reported that every mortice, every tenon was perfect, every joint was square. It was raised without accident.

In 1816, he removed to Williamson, where he built and operated a saw mill and grist mill on the ridge one mile west of town. He and his wife are buried in the old graveyard in the east part of the Town of Williamson."

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Notes:

Thomas Reeve, age 24, sailed from London for St. Christopher, West Ind ies in 1635 according to English emigration records. Also in this grou p were William Salmon, 25, and Thomas Terrill, 18.

Thomas Osman gave a deposition in 1658 in which he told the story of h e, William Purrier, Thomas Reeve, James Reeve, Thomas Terill, WilliamS almon, Thomas Benedict, Henry Whitney and others exploring for "sperri ts resin" (turpentine) in "ye Chowan country" (North Carolina) in 1636 /37. Upon failure of this adventure, these men in the following winte r or spring settled on Hashamomuck Neck in the present town of Southol d, Long Island. A copy of this deposition appears in the Southold Comm emorative Book, 1636-1939. ("Genealogy up to 1800 of the Reeve Familyo f Southold, Long Island, NY," Wesley L. Baker, 1970, page 340).

"Southold, Long Island, NY was under the jurisdiction of New Haven fro m 1641 to 1662. Beginning in the latter year and for a short time ther eafter, it was under the Colony of Connecticut. "Goodman" Reeves is re ferred to once in the New Haven Colonial Records, and once in the reco rds of Connecticut. The New Haven record shows hye and several othersw ere appointed in 1660 to evaluate property in Hashamomuck. The Connect icut record shows that in 1662 he was one of 25 Southolders who "accep ted to be made free of this Colony," i.e. elected to be made freemano f Connecticut. As only Thomas Reeves shows in Southold Records at thes e times, we believe "Goodman" Reeves was Thomas Reeve. He lived at th e South end of the Town Street, second easterly from the bridge." ("Ge nealogy up to 1800 of the Reeve Family of Southold, Long Island NY," p age 342, Wesley L. Baker, 1970)

Thomas Reeve first appears in Southold Town Records in 1652; an invent ory of his lands was entered in 1656. It's believed he owned lands pri or to these dates, however, bu the original land records of Southold n o longer exist. The 1656 inventory shows that his home lot in Southol d was between Thomas & Richard Terry in the western end of the villag e and he also owned property at North Sea, Toms Creek, Old Field, HogN eck and South Harbor. Later entries in his inventory included land an d meadow at Oysterponds, Calves Neck, and Cutchogue, including 220 acr es of woodland which he acquired in 1661-2 as a participant in the Cut chogue land dividend, located in present day Mattituck. The latest rec ord of Thomas in Town land records was in 1665, the year he apparentl y died and "Widow Reeve" appears.

[30701] [SOURCE] "Dickerson & Dickinson Descendants of Philemon Dicker son of Southold, Long Island, New York, 1978, Wayne L. Baker, Adams Pr ess

"Dickerson & Dickinson Descendants of Philemon Dickerson of Southold,L ong Island, New York, 1978, Wayne L. Baker, Adams Press

[30702] [SOURCE] "Dickerson & Dickinson Descendants of Philemon Dicker son of Southold, Long Island, New York, 1978, Wayne L. Baker, Adams Pr ess

"Dickerson & Dickinson Descendants of Philemon Dickerson of Southold,L ong Island, New York, 1978, Wayne L. Baker, Adams Press

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