Note: information provided by Verna Malenski, April 2004

The Reeves Family, pages 60 & 61 of the David Griffith Journal.

" Record of the Reeves family so far as is known - My Grandfathers Grandfather was Manasseh Reeves Sr. (said to be of English descent) who had 5 sons and two daughters namely Abner born Jan 25th 1739 (Allen Griffith's great-great-grandfather) James was married to Sarah Branmeter; their children were
- James
- ?
- Hezekiah - married Mary Baird; their children were
- William married to Elizabeth Ormstead - children were David & John
- Hezekiah
- John
- Mary - afterward married to John Hanna - had one daughter Experience
- Catherine - afterward married to Peter Karns their children were John, Peter, Mary Jane and Sarah - Catherine died November 3rd 1836
Benjamin
Manasseh
Martha & Experience (twins)" note from Verna: "This is the only reference I,ve ever seen showing Martha and Experience as twins. Experience married a Corwin."
From the "Study of the Reeve Family of Southold, Long Island, N. Y." by Wesley L. Baker Pub. 1970
"He had moved to New Jersey by 1752 in which year he and Hezekiah (his brother) were in the list of Freeholders of Township of Roxbury. He was a voter at Roxbury in 1776. Manassah's will dated March 28, 1795 was proved in New Jersey October 3, 1797. It names his wife Jersula, son in law Issac Corwin and the following sons and daughters: Abner, Silas, Hezekiah, Benjamin, James, Martha and Experience." He married Martha "Curwin" (Corwin) first on January 3, 1733/4, her date of death is not known, married second Jersuha, wife named in his will.

Will and Inventory of Manassah Reeve, Morris Co., NJ Recorded in Liber 37 Wills, Folio 218, (955 N)
(Copies provided by Barbara Morey)

In the name of God Amen This twenty eighth Day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand and twenty five. I Manassah Reeve of the township of Roxbury, County of Morris and State of New Jersey being weak in body but sound in mind and memory, thanks be to God therefor, and calling to Mind the mortality of my body, knowing that it is appointed for all Men once to die, do make this my last Will and Testament and touching such worldy estate, as it hath pleased God to endow me with, I dispose of the same in the following Manner and Form. Imprimis, I order all my just debits and funeral expence to be paid out of my movable Estate . Secondly I give and bequeath unto my beloved Wife Jerusha Reeve, all the remainder of my movable Estate to be disposed by her, as she sees fit, and also the use of my real Estate, as long as She remains my Widow, and no longer . Likewise I give and bequeath unto my Son in Law Issac Corwin, his Heirs and assigns for ever, the plantation on which I now live, it containing about forty Acres of land, be same more or less, together with all the Buildings and appurtenances thereunto belonging or in any way appertaining, he not depriving my said Wife Jerusha, use thereof, so long as she remains my Widow. And it is my will, and I order my said Son in Law Issac Corwin, after my decease, to pay to each of my children herein after named, that is my Sons, John, Abner, Silas, Hezekiah, Benjamin and James, five shillings, and to my Daughters Martha and Esperience, also, five shillings each . Further I Constitute and appoint my beloved Wife Jerusha Reeve Executoe of of (sic) this, my last Will and Testament; disallowing and making void all former Wills and Testaments by me made or said to be made, ratifying and confirming this and no other for my last Will and Testament; In Witness whereof I the said Mansaah Reeve have hereunto Set my Hand and Seal the day and Year first herein written

Mansaah Reeve



Signed, Sealed, published & declared by the said Manassah Reeve as and for his last Will and Testament in the Presence of or, who at his Bequest, in his Presence & in the Presence of each other, have Subscribed our Names as Witnesses hereunto

Wm Woodhull

Lemuel Fordham

Jeremiah Woodhull



Morris County

William Woodhull Esq one of the witnesses to the within will being duly sworn deposed and say that he saw Manassah Reeve the Testator therein named, signed and sealed the same, and heard him publish, pronounce and declare the within writing to be his lst will and testament; as far as the deponet knows, and as he verily believes and that Lemuel Frodham and Jeremiah Woodhull, the other witnesses were persent at the same time and signed their names as witnesses to the said will, together with this deponet, in the presence of said testator~ Wm Woodhull

Sworn ar Morristown the 5th Day of October AD 1797
Before me
Jabez Campfield Surrogate

Morris County SS
Jerusha Reeve and Isaac Corwin the executors in the within testament named being sworn depose and say that the within instrument contains the here lass (sic) will and testament of Manssah Reeve the testator herein named, so far as they berily believe that they will well and truly perform the same by paying first the debits of the said deceased and then the legacies in the said testamnet specified, so far as the goods, chattels & credits of the said deceased can hereunto extend; and they will make and exhibit into the Prerogative office of New Jersey a true and perfect inventory of all and singular the goods chattels and credits of the said deceased, that have or shall come to their knowledge or possession, or to the possession of any other person or persons for their use, and render a just and true account when thereunto lawfully required~

Sworn at Morristown the 5th Day of October 1798~
Jerusha (her Mark) Reeve
Before me Jabez Campfield Surrogate
Isaac Corwin

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

An Inventory of the movable Estate of Manassah Reeve deceased late of the Township of Roxbury, county of Morris and State of New Jersey, made by us, whos Names are hereunto subscribed, the third Day of October in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety seven.

(the amounts given for value of the goods are pounds, shillings, and pence)
One old gray mare 0
A young grey mare the one half of the Property of the Deceased
12 10 0
Four milch cows and one year old past heifer
25
Six sheep
3 6
Five swine
8
Hay, Rye and Oats in the Barn
13 2 6
Hay in Stacks and some Flax
5 4
An old riding Chair and Harness
2
Farming Utensils
2
A number of Articles in the large room
9 7
Bed, beding and other things in the back room
10 5 6
Bed, beding and other articles in the bed room
11 17 6
Some Articles in the Chamber
3 5
Things in the Cellar
10 18 9
The deceased wearing Apparel
12 8
Debits due the Estate of the Deceased
57 5 3

Total 202 =9 =6

Appraised by us the Day and Year above written
Wm Woodhull
William Corwin

Morris County ss William Woodhull, Esq. One of the appraisers of the within inventory being duly sworn doth declare that the goods, chattels, and credits in the said inventory set down and specified were by him appraised according to their true respective rates and values after the best of his judgement and understanding and that they all things brought to their view for appraisement, except one pair of smoothing Irons which were omitted, this Deponet thinks of the value of Five Shillings.
William Woodhull
Sworn at Morristown the 5th day of October AD 1797
Jabez Campfield Surrogate

Morris County ss Jerusha Reeve and Isaac Corwin eecutors of the last will and testament of Manassah Reeves within named, deceased, being duly sworn, severally depose and say, that the within writing contains a true and perfect inventory of all and singular the goods chattels and credits of the said deceased, as far as have come to their knowledge or possession or to the possession of any other person or persons for their use.
Jabez Camfield Surrogate
Jerusah (her mark) Reeve
Isaac Corwin


Another verification of the relationship of Phineas, John, and Manassah, is found in Mormon records.  Benjamin Freeman Bird became a Mormon.  Mormons do baptisms for their dead ancestors.   In  Nauvoo Baptismal Record, Book A., p 142, 1841 is listed a record of Phineas Reeves Bird, son of Benjamin Freeman Bird,  being baptized on behalf of his ancestors who are listed as John Reeves, Great Grandfather, Mina Reeves, great grandmother, Manssah Reeves, great, great grandfather, and Phineas Reeves, grandfather.  Benjamin F. Bird is baptized as recorded in that same record on page 12, for Great Grandfather Fairchild who is, I presume, the Zachariah Fairchild mentioned above as father in law to John Reeves.,171, 221

Manasseh Reeves, as town Commissioner, was assigned the task of assigning purchasing, and gathering articles of clothing to be made for revolutionary soldiers from New Jersey.  There is a detailed record of that in the book, CERTIFICATES AND RECEIPTS OF REVOLUTIONARY NEW JERSEY, by Dorothy Agans Stratford and thomas B. Wilson. Records of New Jersey Volume II.221

Note: information provided by Verna Malenski, April 2004

The Reeves Family, pages 60 & 61 of the David Griffith Journal.

" Record of the Reeves family so far as is known - My Grandfathers Grandfather was Manasseh Reeves Sr. (said to be of English descent) who had 5 sons and two daughters namely Abner born Jan 25th 1739 (Allen Griffith's great-great-grandfather) James was married to Sarah Branmeter; their children were
- James
- ?
- Hezekiah - married Mary Baird; their children were
- William married to Elizabeth Ormstead - children were David & John
- Hezekiah
- John
- Mary - afterward married to John Hanna - had one daughter Experience
- Catherine - afterward married to Peter Karns their children were John, Peter, Mary Jane and Sarah - Catherine died November 3rd 1836
Benjamin
Manasseh
Martha & Experience (twins)" note from Verna: "This is the only reference I,ve ever seen showing Martha and Experience as twins. Experience married a Corwin."
From the "Study of the Reeve Family of Southold, Long Island, N. Y." by Wesley L. Baker Pub. 1970
"He had moved to New Jersey by 1752 in which year he and Hezekiah (his brother) were in the list of Freeholders of Township of Roxbury. He was a voter at Roxbury in 1776. Manassah's will dated March 28, 1795 was proved in New Jersey October 3, 1797. It names his wife Jersula, son in law Issac Corwin and the following sons and daughters: Abner, Silas, Hezekiah, Benjamin, James, Martha and Experience." He married Martha "Curwin" (Corwin) first on January 3, 1733/4, her date of death is not known, married second Jersuha, wife named in his will.

Will and Inventory of Manassah Reeve, Morris Co., NJ Recorded in Liber 37 Wills, Folio 218, (955 N)
(Copies provided by Barbara Morey)

In the name of God Amen This twenty eighth Day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand and twenty five. I Manassah Reeve of the township of Roxbury, County of Morris and State of New Jersey being weak in body but sound in mind and memory, thanks be to God therefor, and calling to Mind the mortality of my body, knowing that it is appointed for all Men once to die, do make this my last Will and Testament and touching such worldy estate, as it hath pleased God to endow me with, I dispose of the same in the following Manner and Form. Imprimis, I order all my just debits and funeral expence to be paid out of my movable Estate . Secondly I give and bequeath unto my beloved Wife Jerusha Reeve, all the remainder of my movable Estate to be disposed by her, as she sees fit, and also the use of my real Estate, as long as She remains my Widow, and no longer . Likewise I give and bequeath unto my Son in Law Issac Corwin, his Heirs and assigns for ever, the plantation on which I now live, it containing about forty Acres of land, be same more or less, together with all the Buildings and appurtenances thereunto belonging or in any way appertaining, he not depriving my said Wife Jerusha, use thereof, so long as she remains my Widow. And it is my will, and I order my said Son in Law Issac Corwin, after my decease, to pay to each of my children herein after named, that is my Sons, John, Abner, Silas, Hezekiah, Benjamin and James, five shillings, and to my Daughters Martha and Esperience, also, five shillings each . Further I Constitute and appoint my beloved Wife Jerusha Reeve Executoe of of (sic) this, my last Will and Testament; disallowing and making void all former Wills and Testaments by me made or said to be made, ratifying and confirming this and no other for my last Will and Testament; In Witness whereof I the said Mansaah Reeve have hereunto Set my Hand and Seal the day and Year first herein written

Mansaah Reeve



Signed, Sealed, published & declared by the said Manassah Reeve as and for his last Will and Testament in the Presence of or, who at his Bequest, in his Presence & in the Presence of each other, have Subscribed our Names as Witnesses hereunto

Wm Woodhull

Lemuel Fordham

Jeremiah Woodhull



Morris County

William Woodhull Esq one of the witnesses to the within will being duly sworn deposed and say that he saw Manassah Reeve the Testator therein named, signed and sealed the same, and heard him publish, pronounce and declare the within writing to be his lst will and testament; as far as the deponet knows, and as he verily believes and that Lemuel Frodham and Jeremiah Woodhull, the other witnesses were persent at the same time and signed their names as witnesses to the said will, together with this deponet, in the presence of said testator~ Wm Woodhull

Sworn ar Morristown the 5th Day of October AD 1797
Before me
Jabez Campfield Surrogate

Morris County SS
Jerusha Reeve and Isaac Corwin the executors in the within testament named being sworn depose and say that the within instrument contains the here lass (sic) will and testament of Manssah Reeve the testator herein named, so far as they berily believe that they will well and truly perform the same by paying first the debits of the said deceased and then the legacies in the said testamnet specified, so far as the goods, chattels & credits of the said deceased can hereunto extend; and they will make and exhibit into the Prerogative office of New Jersey a true and perfect inventory of all and singular the goods chattels and credits of the said deceased, that have or shall come to their knowledge or possession, or to the possession of any other person or persons for their use, and render a just and true account when thereunto lawfully required~

Sworn at Morristown the 5th Day of October 1798~
Jerusha (her Mark) Reeve
Before me Jabez Campfield Surrogate
Isaac Corwin

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

An Inventory of the movable Estate of Manassah Reeve deceased late of the Township of Roxbury, county of Morris and State of New Jersey, made by us, whos Names are hereunto subscribed, the third Day of October in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety seven.

(the amounts given for value of the goods are pounds, shillings, and pence)
One old gray mare 0
A young grey mare the one half of the Property of the Deceased
12 10 0
Four milch cows and one year old past heifer
25
Six sheep
3 6
Five swine
8
Hay, Rye and Oats in the Barn
13 2 6
Hay in Stacks and some Flax
5 4
An old riding Chair and Harness
2
Farming Utensils
2
A number of Articles in the large room
9 7
Bed, beding and other things in the back room
10 5 6
Bed, beding and other articles in the bed room
11 17 6
Some Articles in the Chamber
3 5
Things in the Cellar
10 18 9
The deceased wearing Apparel
12 8
Debits due the Estate of the Deceased
57 5 3

Total 202 =9 =6

Appraised by us the Day and Year above written
Wm Woodhull
William Corwin

Morris County ss William Woodhull, Esq. One of the appraisers of the within inventory being duly sworn doth declare that the goods, chattels, and credits in the said inventory set down and specified were by him appraised according to their true respective rates and values after the best of his judgement and understanding and that they all things brought to their view for appraisement, except one pair of smoothing Irons which were omitted, this Deponet thinks of the value of Five Shillings.
William Woodhull
Sworn at Morristown the 5th day of October AD 1797
Jabez Campfield Surrogate

Morris County ss Jerusha Reeve and Isaac Corwin eecutors of the last will and testament of Manassah Reeves within named, deceased, being duly sworn, severally depose and say, that the within writing contains a true and perfect inventory of all and singular the goods chattels and credits of the said deceased, as far as have come to their knowledge or possession or to the possession of any other person or persons for their use.
Jabez Camfield Surrogate
Jerusah (her mark) Reeve
Isaac Corwin


Another verification of the relationship of Phineas, John, and Manassah, is found in Mormon records.  Benjamin Freeman Bird became a Mormon.  Mormons do baptisms for their dead ancestors.   In  Nauvoo Baptismal Record, Book A., p 142, 1841 is listed a record of Phineas Reeves Bird, son of Benjamin Freeman Bird,  being baptized on behalf of his ancestors who are listed as John Reeves, Great Grandfather, Mina Reeves, great grandmother, Manssah Reeves, great, great grandfather, and Phineas Reeves, grandfather.  Benjamin F. Bird is baptized as recorded in that same record on page 12, for Great Grandfather Fairchild who is, I presume, the Zachariah Fairchild mentioned above as father in law to John Reeves.
Manasseh Reeves, as town Commissioner, was assigned the task of assigning purchasing, and gathering articles of clothing to be made for revolutionary soldiers from New Jersey.  There is a detailed record of that in the book, CERTIFICATES AND RECEIPTS OF REVOLUTIONARY NEW JERSEY, by Dorothy Agans Stratford and thomas B. Wilson. Records of New Jersey Volume II.