Captain Kidd, The Ashley Brothers plus Edward, Zenus and Ruby Reavis

In 1696, Captain William Kidd, having received funding of 8,000 Pounds Sterling by English Whigs,

sought skilled sailors to join his mission to capture pirates.  It seems likely that two of Edward and Mary Ashley's 10 children, Joseph and Abraham and perhaps even two more Rebecca and John answered the call. It seems likely that Mary Hallowell Ashley was not amused.  Perhaps she had heard about how Kidd, when sailing out of London on his new ship had failed to salute a Royal Navy ship; instead, the crew gave the "Royal Salute"--turning toward the ship and patting their backsides.  The Navy Captain took revenge and impressed several of Kidd's crew into Royal Military Service. Perhaps Mary was concerned for the well being of her children, perhaps she was upset that the tales told by her husband Edward about his days as a whaling captain had encouraged reckless behavior, perhaps the venture being funded by the Whig political party was part of the problem or perhaps she was upset that her family did not win the bid to build this "million pound vessel" or she might have even been aware of the shoddy build of this particular vessel.

In any event, it seems likely that Mary Hallowell Ashley was not amused.

Soon after the voyage began, another Royal Navy Officer tried to impress Kidd's sailors.  Kidd, after agreeing to allow the Navy to impress 30 of his crew, on the following day, sneaked away during the night, saved his crew and was rewarded by being declared a pirate--thus making Mary's sons pirates!   It seems likely that Mary Hallowell Ashley was NOT AMUSED.  After more than a year without successfully capturing pirates, Kidd did indeed switch from the job of privateer to that of pirate--so said the English Court that had him hung by the neck and then gibbeted over Tilbury Point for three years.

For the Wikipedia entry on Kidd, go here Captain Kidd.  This was not a story that would make a proper English mother proud.  Can you imagine the acrimony in the Ashley household?  

How did the above events unfold?  It is likely that Edward Ashley's father arrived in America during the "great migration" from 1621 to 1635.  John Winthrop, the founder of First Church, arrived in Boston in 1630. Mary Hallowell's grandfather, shipbuilder Benjamin Ward, arrived in Boston in 1635.  Of course, while it is possible that Edward's father arrived on the Mayflower in Plymouth in 1621, it is more likely that he was part of the "wave" of settlers that followed. First Church--a congregationalist church not subject to rule by the Church of England-- may have had records of Edward's father, before the church burned (the first time). He may have been seeking religious freedom or he may have been an indentured servant or a ship crewman or a captain.   Click here to read more about the Plymouth Expedition.

Edward Ashley was born in Boston in 1650.   By the age of 24, he had been a whaling captain, a frontier man, a fur trader and a friend of Indians (rumored to have been a very close friend of at least one Indian Maiden).  He certainly did not fit the mold of the average parishioner of First Church.  Indeed only three years after its founding, John Cotton became the minister, which led to the establishment of the "official church of Massachusetts".  By Edward's day, First Church had become the church of the "local royalty"--which included the Hallowell-Ward  shipbuilding clans--and love does indeed conquer all.

Edward and Mary Hallowell's named their first son William and their second Edward.  Their marriage apparently went well (10 kids in 23 years implies a certain level of bliss); until the four children joined-up with a Whig sponsored Pirate, by the name of Captain William Kidd. 

Soon after Rebecca, Joseph, Abraham and John left home and soon after Captain Kidd set sail with at least Joseph and Abraham, it seems that the Ashley house was not a happy place.  The names of these 4 children were expunged from the records at First Church.  It seems that Mary wanted no history of her relationship to a pirate, especially a Whig pirate, to exist.  Anyway, about the time that Captain Kidd was summoned to court, her husband and her second son (the two Edwards) disappeared--never to be seen again--maybe, maybe not!  Later, some of Mary's family were persecuted for siding with King Charles, some changed their names and some left with British Soldiers, going back to England just before the start of the Revolutionary War.

Five years after Edward was born in Boston, 1650, Thomas Alley II was born in nearby Essex, 1655.  His son, Thomas Anthony Alley was born in 1683 in Henrico County Virginia, near or in present day Richmond. Around 1698, Edward Ashley also recorded once as Edward James Ashley found refuge provided by this old family friend. Soon the name Edward Reavis began showing up in public records in that area.  A property deed was conveyed around 1700 and, in 1712, Edward D. Reavis married Hanna Alley, daughter of Thomas II.  In 1723, Thomas Anthony Alley, the son of Thomas II, married Francis Reavis, most likely the sister of Edward D. Reavis, perhaps the former Rebecca Ashley or possibly Edwards daughter.

The currently posted geological records of millions of Americans trace back to Edward Reavis and then end abruptly.  Most suggest that Edward arrived in Henrico County from England around 1680.  Another suggestion is that he came as part of the NC Ashley-Cooper land grant.  I look forward to seeing the records searched and updated to reflect the probability that the first Reavis in America was originally Edward Ashley, the great grandson of Benjamin Ward, the shipbuilder that came to America in 1635.  

The first Reavis presents his backside to the "Royal Family".

Why do you suppose Edward chose created the last name of Reavis?  Perhaps he wanted to laugh.  Reavis is a title that means "the King's representative".  In the days of old, the King or Lord of the Manor would sometimes send a Reavis to oversee or administer his distant properties.  The first Reavis in America was a "happy pirate at heart".  Arrrrgh! With more tales of piracy to follow.

So, a Reavis brother and sister married an Alley brother and sister in 1712 and 1723 and nine generations later there are Reavis's, Reeves, Revis's and many other Edward Reavis descendants scattered far and wide across the USA.  If I count Mary Hallowell's grandfather, Benjamin Ward as my first ancestor in the USA, that makes me one of a great many 13th generation "cousins"--most of whom do not have the surname of Ward, Hallowell, Ashley or Reavis.

While my surname is Miller, Reavis blood runs deep in my veins.  It has been three hundred and two (302) years since my 6X great grandfather  Edward D. Reavis married my 6X great grandmother Hanna Alley.  Thirty years after this marriage, after Hanna's death, Edward married my 6X great grandmother, Sarah Gilliam Reavis.  Just shy of 100 years ago, my maternal grandfather, Zenas Herman Reavis, whose great-great grandfather was James, the second son of Edward Reavis married my maternal grandmother Ruby Ethel Reavis, whose great-great grandfather was John, the seventh child of Edward Reavis. So Hanna is my 6X  great grandmother through Zenas Reavis and Sarah is my 6X grandmother through Ruby Reavis.  Zenas and Ruby feared the Lord, raised five children and owned and operated a farm in Lone Hickory, Yadkin County, NC. and were the salt of the earth!    

What happened to Captain Kidd's treasure?  Which Reavis' fought in the Revolutionary War? The Civil War?  Who had salves? Who freed slaves?  Who lived to be 101 and regretted having voted for a Democrat once?  Stay tuned!

Now you know a little bit more of the "Reavis" story.  You even know one of the reasons why my wife and I have such fun dressing up with our grandchildren on Pirate day.  Last October, we scored no less than 51 free donuts from Krispy Kream. Harrrgh-d-harrrgh-harrrgh!