(probably) Thomas Reeve

Not the same as Robert Reeves

Biography

<The Reeves Project: A global genealogical collaboration> Reeve, Thomas. Last updated 14 April 2019.

Children of (probably) Thomas Reeve and wife of Thomas Reeve:

• James Reeve of Southold (c1610 / 1622 UK - 1660 / bef 1671 NY) Married Mary Reeve (disputed)
• William Reeve of Southold (c1615 UK? - 1697 NY) Married Annis ‘Agnis’ Reeve

Relationships of children are documented in various records of Southhold, Suffolk County, New York, i.e.

Probable child of unknown Reeve:

• Thomas Reeve of Southold (1611 UK - c1665 NY) Married Mary Reeve

William Reeve was named as one of the executors of his brother James' estate in the 1692 will written by James Reeve and probated 4 Jul 1698.

Research Notes

< The Reeves Project: A global genealogical collaboration > Reeve, James (c1610 UK - bef 1671 NY)

Recently revisiting the research of this family in order to find the truth as to which Reeve individual, James or Thomas, was the husband of Mary Purrier, it became apparent that the James Reeve of the Osman Deposition could not have been the James Reeve of the 1692 Will since he would have to have been born circa 1610 and presumably his wife would have been close to that age therefore making it impossible for her to have been the mother of children born circa 1670 which the children named in that will would have been.

Discovery of the book The Refugees of 1776 from Long Island to Connecticut By Frederic Gregory Mather, Pub 1913, sheds more light on the family timeline although it does not solve the mystery instead raising the issue that the generations were mixed. The premise is suggested that James and Thomas were brothers and it was their father who was the husband of Mary Purrier. It suggests that it was the first Thomas who was the husband of Mary which still leaves the Osman Deposition's statement that it was James Reeve who was the son-in-law of William Purrier, but this timeline and view of the generations of the family makes more sense otherwise.

This published study based upon the depositions of Thomas Osman does not make any assertions regarding a familial relationship between James Reeve and Thomas Reeve who was also named in the deposition; however Y-DNA of descendants of both James and Thomas matches, proving that they were in some way related.

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Although the father of James, William and Thomas Reeve of Long Island is generally believed to be unknown, if the published volume A history of Mattituck, Long Island, N.Y. is to be believed, their father was also named Thomas. That book on page 44 makes the statement “The eastern part of the Reeve lot was owned wholly or part by William Reeve who died in 1696 a son of 1st Thomas.”

References

• 1692 Will of James Reeve - relationship of James and William Reeve. “A history of Mattituck, Long Island, N.Y.” by Charles E. Craven, pub. 1906. Page 44. < Archive.Org>
• 1692 Will - James Reeve. <link > New York State Historical Literature. Early Long Island wills of Suffolk county, 1691-1703. An unabridged copy of the manuscript volume known as "The Lester will book"; being the record of the prerogative court of the county of Suffolk, New York. With genealogical and historical notes...Author: Pelletreau, William Smith, 1840-1918. < Hathitrust >
• < The Reeves Project: A global genealogical collaboration > Reeve, James (c1610 UK - bef 1671 NY)
• < The Reeves Project: A global genealogical collaboration > Reeve, William (c1615 UK? - 1697 NY)
• < The Reeves Project: A global genealogical collaboration > Reeve, Thomas (1611 UK - c1665 NY)