Elizabeth Reeves (1775 - 1792)

Died 16 Aug 1792 at about age 17 in Warder's Wharf, Kensington, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Note

I came across this story while looking for news articles related to my Reeve ancestors. It captured my interest and so I thought it would be nice to create a profile for her. At this point, I have no reason to believe she is a relation of mine. I will continue to research her when I can and if you happen to have more information to add to her story I would love to hear it. Reeve-104 12:37, 25 June 2015 (EDT)

Biography

Elizabeth Reeves was born in about 1775. Orphaned, she became an apprentice to a mantua-maker in Philadelphia in Coomb's Alley (modern day Cuthbert Street). It is also reported that she was engaged to a "young tradesman," but his name is unknown. Although she was orphaned, it appears she was at the very least acquainted with an "uncle," though the Uncle's name is never mentioned. Following her death, she was provided a proper funeral on Friday, August 18, 1792, and laid to rest in St. Peter's Church-yard. My guess is this is the St. Peter's Episcopal church on Pine Street between 3rd and 4th Streets, which according to their website was founded in 1758 by members of Christ Church and held it's first service in 1761. However, it does not appear Elizabeth's grave is marked.

I hope to one day find more information on Miss. Reeves' life to relay here, but it seems for now most of what I know is about her gruesome demise.

Death of Elizabeth Reeves

On August 15, 1792 at about 8:00 in the evening, when she was done working for the day, she asked the mantua-maker if she could go to the market to get some fruit. Her mistress agreed and gave her some money for the purchase. It is reported that she never returned with the purchase. Early the following morning, a boy was out at Warder's Wharf (to the best of my estimation, this would be approximately where Poplar St and N. Front Street intersect today, as the Delaware met Front street in those days) and witnessed two men in a batteau (a small paddle boat basically) who rowed away quickly when they saw the boy. The boy stated the two men boarded a shallop (a bigger boat to keep it simple) further down the river.

Another article states the boy saw a man heaving stones onto a body, and the man jumped into the batteau when he saw him and took off to meet the shallop. As the possibility of two men is consistent in later articles, it seems to me the second man remained in the batteau while the first was heaving the stones.

In any case, it was discovered that the body was that of the 17 year old Elizabeth Reeves. She was found face down in the mud, had a wound on her face near her mouth, some of her teeth were loose, and she had bruises in several other areas. The articles go on to say that her injuries "showed that she must have suffered much from the most shameful abuse." In 1792, to print a women was raped in the paper wasn't something they did, so I can only assume by some of the language used in describing her injuries that she was brutally raped before she was murdered. In fact, another article leaves a long dash where it likely stated she was raped. "...professional persons of both sexes were brought in to examine the body, and it was the opinion of the woman that the unhappy girl had been -------- and then murdered!! from the marks of violence on her face and other parts" There were also marks on her feet that indicated she was dragged to that location from several feet away, where they found her comb and ribband.

The death of young Elizabeth, who was described as a person of "good character," cut the people of the city deeply. Much was made about finding the perpetrator(s). Governor Milford issued a $300 award for the capture of the person(s) responsible. The author of an article in Dunlap's American Daily Advertiser wrote "Surely the earth and sea combined could not hide a villain so deep a die as he who could have committed a crime like this - let him take refuge in the hollows of the mountains, or in the bottom of the deep abyss, he must and will be vomited up again, to appease the justice of the virtuous living."

In September 1792, a "young man" was brought in as a suspect of the case, but no name is mentioned. It appears the young man was not kept in custody, as 18 years later, in 1810, the story reappears in the papers when Charles Breece, a former constable, is arrested for the murder.

In 1810, Mr. Breece's stepmother was on her death bed and as a result felt compelled to relay her memory of that evening in 1792. She remembered Charles coming in to his father's house rather late on the night of the 15th. She stated his clothes were covered in blood. He removed his clothes, put them in the wash tub and washed them. She further stated that for several nights that followed he seemed to sleep restlessly and one night, the stepmother heard him groan and so she went to ask him what was wrong. She says he told her there was a woman in his room carrying a candle. Perhaps this was an indication to the stepmother he was being 'haunted' by what he had done. Apparently these and other events led her to think he may have been involved and decided as she was dying that she could not pass without telling someone.

Mr. Breece claimed to be innocent and that he could prove he was in Virginia at the time, though it was later found he did not go to Virginia until the following year. Another man was at the home with Mr. Breece that night according to the stepmother, but this second man is never mentioned by name. Just that he no longer lives in Pennsylvania as of 1810 and that they were searching for him as a suspect for the mysterious second person.

The papers seem to make their mind up about Mr. Breece's guilt in the fall of 1810, but in February of 1811, Mr. Breece is released. No indication is made of his guilt or innocence, but it seems unlikely they would have released him if he was still the prime suspect in the murder, unless no further evidence could be acquired to tie Mr. Breece to the murder beyond the stepmother's testimony. Since 18 years had passed and this was long before DNA testing, finger printing, or really any kind of forensics, it seems very likely Mr. Breece is the murderer, along with this other man, but the means to make the charges stick in those days was very limited.

While not conclusive, it appears that Charles Breece may have lived for several more decades in Philadelphia. The death of a Charles Breece, born 1771, is recorded in 1841. It certainly seems a shame to me that, if he did do this crime, he was allowed to live out his days to a ripe old age.

Sources

• Murder of Elizabeth Reeves The Pennsylvania Gazette, 22 Aug 1792, Wed, Page 3

• $300 Reward Proclamation The Independent Gazetteer, 25 Aug 1792, Sat, Page 3

• Young Man arrested in Elizabeth Reves murder The Pennsylvania Gazette, 19 Sep 1792, Wed, Page 3

• Murder of Elizabeth Reeves - Suspect Identified The Adams Sentinel, 21 Nov 1810, Wed, Page 1

• Charles Breece Released The Adams Sentinel, 27 Feb 1811, Wed, Page 3

• Charles Breece - Wikitree.com Profile