Jordan Reese (abt. 1755 - 1813)

Born about 1755 in Dinwiddie, Virginia

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 1813 at about age 58 in Williamson, Tennessee, United States

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Biography

Dinwiddie Co., Virginia Personal Property Tax List

The first year in which personal property tax lists are available for Virginia counties is 1782. Jordan Reese is in the Dinwiddie Co. personal property tax lists every year from 1782 until 1812. The number of adult slaves increases gradually from 4 in 1782 to a maximum of 27 in 1805. The number of children varies from 1 to 9; it is usually about 4. The number of horses increases from 5 in 1782 to a maximum of 16 in 1805. Cattle are taxed until 1787, and Jordan has about 15. Jordan and Henry are the only Reeses who pay a tax on 'wheels'. From 1791 until 1794 Jordan has a 4-wheeled 'stage', from 1795 until 1803 a 2-wheeled 'chair', and from 1804 until 1810 a 4-wheeled 'coche'. After 1795 he is referred to as Jordan Reese, Esquire. He is the only Reese to be so designated. There are other tithable males in his household including Jordan Reese, Herbert Reese and Beverly Reese, who are presumably his sons.

Dinwiddie Co., Virginia Land Tax List

The first year in which land tax lists are available for Virginia counties is 1782. Jordan Reese is in the Dinwiddie Co. land tax list from 1782 until after 1801. In 1782 he owns 100 acres. In 1787 he owns 3 tracts of 125, 150, and 377 acres. The owner of the 377 acres is Jordan Reese & Co., and he is taxed on it in only one year. After 1791 he is taxed on the 160 acres formerly owned by his father. He then makes the following acquisitions:

• 500 acres in 1795
• 485 acres in 1796
• 400 acres in 1797
• 400 acres in 1797
• 10.5 acres in 1801
• 208 acres in 1801
• 250 acres in 1801
• 427 acrs in 1801

In 1801 he sold 300 acres of the 500 acre tract that he bought in 1795.

Land in Williamson Co., Tennessee

On May 15, 1807 Abram Maury of Williamson Co. sells to Jordan Reese of Dinwiddie Co., Virginia for and inconsideration of $11830 to him in hand paid, receipt of which is acknowledged, a tract of land in Williamson Co. on the West Fork of Haspeth River containing by estimation 2629 acres. The metes and bounds description is complicated. Many adjoining property owners are named, and the river is part of the boundary. (Williamson Co. Deed Records A470, image 645/1072)

On November 12, 1809 Jordan Reese of Dinwiddie Co., Virginia sells to Thomas Old of Williamson Co. for and in consideration of $1000 to him in hand paid, receipt of which is acknowledged, a tract of 502 acres out of the tract bought from Abram Maury. The metes and bounds description begins at a poplar in John Watson's line. (B339, image 894/1072)

On November 12, 1809 Jordan Reese of Dinwiddie Co., Virginia sells to John Watson of Wilson Co., Tennessee for and in consideration of $1000 to him in hand paid, receipt of which is acknowledged, a tract of 502 acres out of the tract bought from Abram Maury. The metes and bounds description begins at the SW corner of Absolom Tatom's 5000 acre survey. (B339, image 894/1072)

On May 15, 1807 Abram Maury had purchased the 2629-acre tract from the executors of Absolom Tatom's estate for $11830.50 (A564, image 692/1072). He sold it to Jordan Reese the same day.

Will

The original handwritten will can be seen in Williamson Co., Tennessee probate records at FamilySearch.org, "Will books, July, 1800 - March 1963", "Will books, v. 1-3 1800-1825", film # 453935, pg 315, images 178-79/783. In the following transcription paragraphing has been introduced for readability. The original will has no paragraphs and minimal punctuation. A typescript of the will and an inventory can be seen in the same probate records in "Will books, 1800-1830, Williamson County, Tennessee", "Wills and inventories 1800-1818", film # 24871, items 2-3, pgs 150-53, images 398-401/732.

The will was proved in Open Court April Session 1813 by James Hicks, Leonard Dunnaven and Fendall Crump, the subscribing witnesses thereto.

Jordan Reeses Will In the name of God amen

I Jordan Reese of the County of Williamson & State of Tennessee being in tolerable Health of Body & of sound mind & memory Knowing that it is appointed unto all men once to die and in order to prevent disputes about the worldly Goods with which I am blessed after my Decease do ordain this to be my last will & Testament in manner & form following

First I direct all my Just debts shall be paid

Item I lend unto my beloved wife Sally Reese during her natural life the use of five hundred acres of land whereon I now live also the following negroes (to wit) Aaron which came by my said wife Daniel my Gardener old Juley Maria Betty Little Daniel Hanibal Rusey & Terey, four horses of her own choice except my stud Horses ten choice cattle one half my stock of sheep Half my stock of Hogs my riding Carriage and plantation utencils Sufficient for her negroes to work with and four feather beds & furniture also one half the crop Growing or on hand not otherwise disposed of at the time of my decease

Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth Old the negroes stock and household furniture which I have heretofore lent her now in her possession also five hundred acres of land lying in said County of Williamson which I have already made her Husband Thomas Old a deed for all which I give unto her and her heirs forever

Item I give and bequeath unto my three Grand Children Sally Ann & Hartwell Hobbs Three negroes in the following manner (to wit) To Sally Hobbs a negroe girl named little Judea, To Ann Hobbs a negroe girl named Hannah, and to Hartwell Hobbs a negroe boy named Sam all which I give to them and their Heirs forever provided they all be living at my decease otherwise it is my will and desire that the survivor or survivors Shall have wholly or equally the negroe or negroes devised with their increase to the deceased to them and their heirs forever

Item I give and bequeath to my Son Herbert Reese the land & plantation which I gave to him in Dinwiddie County Virginia & which he has since sold to Doct Hardaway also the negroes heretofore given by me to him together with their increase also the household furniture & stock of every kind left in his possession by me at the time of my removal to the Western Country Also the Thousand pounds which I lent him to begin business with all which I give to him & his heirs forever Further it is expressly to be understood that the above mentioned Stock was that left in his possession at the store & no more

Item I give and bequeath to my Son Beverly Reese all my land lying between White oak creek & Cox road except what I have before given reserving one acre to the meeting house thereon containing fourteen Hundred acres be the same more or less also eight negroes and their increase if any (to wit) Charles Ceasar Big Bob Little Bob Charlotte Winney Rheuben and David, also one feather bed & furniture, Six head of cattle & Six head of sheep and twenty head of hogs to him & his heirs forever.

Item I give and bequeath to my Daughter Matilda Reese one feather bed & furniture, also such other articles of house hold furniture as are called hers also five hundred acres of land lying in said County of Williamson on West Harpeth Beginning where Pattons road crosses West Harpeth thence South from the bank of West Harpeth where said road crosses with said road to the cross road East with said cross road to Allen Hills line, thence North to West Harpeth thence down West Harpeth with its meanders to the beginning containing five Hundred acres as aforesaid be the same more or less Also eight negroes (to wit) Little Dilcy Moses Jerry Mereka Selina Brister George & Chelsey all which I give to her and her heirs forever also one Sorrel filly now at my other plantation to her and her heirs forever

Item I give & bequeath to my Daughter Jane Watson five hundred acres of land in said County of Williamson which I have made her husband John Watson a deed for also the negroes & furniture which I have heretofore lent her now in her possession all which I give to her and heirs forever

Item I give to my son Patrick Reese twelve hundred acres of land in said County of Williamson including the Houses and plantation whereon I now live reserving five hundred acres including said improvements for the use of my wife Sally Reese during her natural life as herein before mentioned also twelve negroes (to wit) Sam Peter Edmund Little Aaron Ben Lew Jim Fanney Gillum Sook Lewis & Tom also one Roan mare commonly called his Roan filly also at the decease of my wife it is my will & desire that he should have all my household & Kitchen furniture also the plantation utensils lent to my wife as herein before mentioned to him & his heirs forever

Item It is my will and desire that all my Estate both real and personal not herein before mentioned or disposed of be equally divided between my Children (to wit) Elizabeth Old Jane Watson Matilda Beverly & Patrick Reese to them and their heirs forever It is also my desire that the nine negroes herein before mentioned as lent to my wife with their increase at her decease be equally divided between my five children last above mentioned to them and their heirs forever

Item I give to my daughter Nancy Hobbs one dollar in cash to her and her heirs forever

Lastly I nominate Thomas Old & John Watson my sons in Law and my friend Abraham North Executors to this my last will and Testament utterly revoking and making void all wills by me heretofore made In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my Seal this Eighteenth day of January in the year of our Lord Eighteen Hundred and thirteen

Signed Sealed published and Declared
in presence of us
James Hicks
Leonard Dunn Avant
Fendal Crump

Sources

• 1813 TN Williamson County Wills 1800-1812 Vol 1 P. 315-316 Jordan Reese (Family Search Page 166) https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:2:77TV-BY6H?i=165&wc=M6QQ-13D%3A179878101%2C179895501&cc=1909088

Acknowledgements

.Reese-1611 was created by Fred Ryan through the import of Fred Ryan.ged on Sep 26, 2014.