User Home Pages: Reavis Family of Vance (Old Granville) County, NC
The Reavis's of Vance Co. (Old Granville Co), NC are decendents of the third son of Edward Reavis-1st generation (1680-1751), who came to America from England in 1695, that son being Samuel Reavis-2nd generation. Edward settled in Henrico Co., VA. and had eight sons, each representing a different branch of the Reavis family in America today. Samuel Reavis-2, along with his wife Nancy Jones, four sons, six of his seven daughters, and 20 slaves, relocated from Northampton County, NC to the area currently known as Henderson, NC about 1787-1789.They became large landowners and have been recognized as the "founders of Henderson." It is believed that the eldest Samuel built a house in the northern part of Henderson (on Rock Spring Street near Eaton-Johnston School). Lewis, William, and Thomas built in a community known as Chalk Level (just north of Henderson / near Northern Vance High), where there was a crossing of two stage coach lines.There was a "Reavis Tavern" located there.They later moved to Henderson, where in 1836 Lewis persuaded the Raleigh-Gaston Railroad to locate a train station (in front of his house) instead of Chalk Level, by giving ten acres of his land. Lewis operated a hotel in his large house, which also served as the first post office. The other son, Samuel Jones Reavis, built what is known as the "Old Reavis House" about 1789/90, on a 300 acre tract located on Indian Creek (Satterwhite Point Rd / Flat Rock Community) one and 1/2 miles north of Chalk Level, along the stage coach line. This tract of land had been purchased by the eldest Samuel on 1/16/1789, but he died in October of that year. The estate papers of Samuel Jones Reavis indicate that he was worth $60,000 at the time of his death in 1854 (also had 34 slaves). The house is illustrated on a "Historical Map of Granville County" by J.E. Buck, dated 1931, with a notation, "Old Reavis House - Abt 1790." The house has always been in the Reavis Family, and is the only surviving house of the original Reavis's. A family cemetery beside the house has many residents that have lived in the house. James L. Reavis, who married Fay Howell (whose mother was a Reavis), were the most recent residents of the homeplace. One of their three sons, David Charles-8th, is the author of this site. The 3rd generation sons/brothers (Lewis, Thomas, Samuel, and William Whitfield) that located in Vance County about 1787-89are the ancestors from whom the Reavis's and many other families now located in Vance County descended. From this view, there are four different sets of Reavis's in the county. In addition, one of the daughters, Sarah Sally Jane Reavis married Turner Moss, their descendants marrying into the Brame and Hester families. There are over 100 different family names in Vance and surrounding counties that are descendents of the eldest Samuel Reavis. Below you can view photos of the Reavis House built by the son Samuel, as well as photos of various Reavis family members who have lived there. Additionally, you can view a "Geneaology Report" containing the lineage of the Reavis descendents. Information contained on this site has been assembled by the author from many sources, including the "Reavis Family Book" by Marie Reavis Hall, "Zeb's Black Baby" by S.T. Peace, "Historic Vance County" by John B. Watkins, "Vance Heritage Remembered" by Vance County Historical Society, estate papers of Samuel Reavis-2 and Samuel Jones Reavis-3, "Rootsweb Reavis Family Research Team," and personal research (including many documents located in the North Carolina State Achieves in Raleigh, and interviews with various family members). Data on this site is for personal use only and may not be used for commercial gain, nor may it be reproduced for distribution or submission to any other entity. Information obtained is only as good as the source, and is therfore not warranted to be completely accurate.Suggested modifications may be made to the author via e-mai | Reavis Family of Vance (Old Granville) County, NC Updated December 15, 2009 |
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