Descendants of Penelope Robbins Reaves

PENELOPE ROBBINS (ARTHUR, WILLIAM, THOMAS, THOMAS) was born Abt. 1772 in Brunswick County, NC, and died 22-Sep-1844 in Brunswick County, NC.  She married JOEL REAVES in Brunswick County, NC.  He was born 12-Aug-1782 in Brunswick County, NC, and died 18-Jul-1860 in Brunswick County, NC.

Penelope Robbins Reaves was named for her mother and was the third daughter of Arthur and Mary Penelope Sellers Robbins.  She is listed as "Penelope Reaves" in the Mill Creek Baptist Church membership roll of 1816; therefore she was already married at this time.  One of the later rolls, probably taken between 1841 and 1843 still notes her as a member saying "Sister Penelope Reaves, deceased Sept 22 18??."  The last two numbers were off the sheet and could not be seen.  It is very likely that she died in 1843, at age 42, giving birth to their son Julius.

Joel was obviously born in old Brunswick County. He is buried in the old cemetery located near the Sunny Point Army Terminal on State Road 1529 and near the rear entrance to the Orton Plantation.  This location is also about one mile from the entrance to the Old Brunswick Town ruins. This cemetery was relocated when the Terminal was built.  His tombstone is located about 25 feet from a chain-link fence housing a radio antenna.  Inscribed on the tombstone is:

   "He was a kind father and affectionate husband.

    He lived a life of undivided piety for the last forty years of his life."

His second wife Sarah is buried next to him.  It is possible that Penelope was also buried at the Old Drew Cemetery.

Joel was noted as "deacon" at the Mill Creek Baptist Church in the 1816 minutes, and again in the 1826, 1836, 1840, and 1845 minutes.

Joel and his family lived at "Reaves Point" on the Brunswick River in an area which is now a part of the Sunny Point Army Terminal.  One of the engineers at the terminal said that there are still ruins of the old homeplace at Reaves Point overlooking the river.  It is very poossible that the Old Drew Cemetery  was originally located in this area.

Children of PENELOPE ROBBINS and JOEL REAVES are:

SOLOMON REAVES, b. 1820; m. WINNA"WINNIE" MONTGOMERY; b. 1839.

JULIUS REAVES, b. 1843.