William Hanes Reese & Nancy Rebecca "Becky" Lunsford

William Hanes "Haynes, W.H." Reese (DOB: 1847 in Marshall, Madison County, NC; DOD: 8/30/1910 in Joe, Madison County, NC; Buried in unmarked grave in Meadow Forks Baptist Church cemetery, Joe, Madison County, NC) was the first son of Green Hill Reese (DOB: About 1825 in Case Bolt's Branch, now Casey Bow Branch, across the river from Marshall, Buncombe county, now Madison County, NC; DOD: ? in Madison County, NC; Buried in unmarked grave in Meadow Forks Baptist church cemetery, Joe, Madison County, NC) and Tabitha "Tabatha" Jane Freeman (DOB: About 1822 in Buncombe County, NC; DOD: ? in Madison County, NC; Buried in unmarked grave in Meadow Forks Baptist Church cemetery, Joe, Madison County, NC).

Green Hill Reese Reese and Tabitha Jane Freeman had 10 children that I know of. For more about Green Hill Reese and his family, see the post for Green Hill Reese and Tabitha Jane Freeman.

William Hanes Reese was also called W.H. Reese married Nancy Rebecca Lundsford (DOB: About 1847 in Catawba River, Burke County, NC to Nimrod Lundsford (aka Nimrod Lunsford) and Anna Lundsford; DOD: ? in Joe, Madison County, NC; Buried in unmarked grave in Meadow Forks Baptist Church cemetery, Joe, Madison County, NC) on 6/23/1872 in Madison County, NC by John Worley, Justice of the Peace.

Hanes was tall.

In the 1880 Census he and his family were living in Spring Creek Township, Madison County, NC which includes Joe/Meadow Fork. He was living close to his father, Green Reese.
1880 U.S. Census of Madison County, NC (Vol 14, EED 130, Sheet 46 (or40?), Line 10
"William H. Reece, Head, W,M, 33, born in NC, lived in Spring Creek Township, Madison County, NC
Rebecca Reece, Wife, W, F, age 33, born in NC
Susan Reece, Sister, W, F, age 18, born in NC"

Some time after Becky Lunsford Reese died, W.H. married Cynthia Plemmons Price. According to the Madison County Courthouse Marriage Volume 1&2, pg 202, "W.H. Reece, age 62, white, married Cynthia Price, age 35, white. Married by B.B. Plemmons, Minister of the Gospel on 11/18/1908 in Township #8. Witnesses were W.V. Plemmons, M.M. Buckner, and Tilda Buckner." The family story is that she was a young widow with 3 sons and a blind daughter. The sons were in an orphanage and the daughter attended a blind school. She needed a home to bring her children back to. W.H. met Cynthia when he brought the blind daughter home from the railroad depot in Hot Springs when she was released from the blind school. It didn't take long for a marriage to occur. Once married, she brought her children home. In a little over a year, Hanes suddenly became ill after a trip to a 5th Sunday meeting. They called Haynes' son and daughter-in-law, Bailey and Lily Reese. Lily, not Cynthia, took care of him night and day for a week until he died. Lily always thought his death was suspicious and blamed Cynthia.

Madison County, NC Courthouse in Marshall, NC
Clerk of Court Records Office
Administrators Book 1, pg 218-219
"Madison County-In the Superior Court
In the Matter of the Administration of the Estate of W.H. Reese, B.B. Reece being sworn, doth say that W.H. Reese late of said County, died on the 30 day of Aug 1810 without leaving any WILL AND TESTAMENT, and that B.B. Reece is the proper person entitled to Letters of Administration on the estate of the said W.H. Reese. Rather, that the value of said estate, so far as can be ascertained at the date of this application, is about $800.00 real estate, and $400.00 personal, and the M.F. Reece, Martha Reece, B.B. Reece, Harriett Reece, are entitled as heirs and distributees thereof. Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 4th day of Septemeber, 1910. Signed by B.B. Reese"

William Haynes and Becky Reese had 4 children:
1) Marion Franklin Reese (DOB: 9/24/1873 in Madison County, NC; DOD: 1/6/1930 in Marion, McDowell County, NC; Buried at Fairview, near Marion, NC) married Margaret Elizabeth Hicks (DOB: ? to Ransom M. Hicks and Emily Harmon; DOD: ? in Marion, McDowell County, NC). Marion operated a store in Meadow Fork until circa 1924 when he moved to Marion, NC. He and Margaret Elizabeth had 8 children: Gloria Reese, William R. Reese "Willie", Lora H. Reese, Susan Elizabeth Reese, Martha Emma Reese (Duckett), Bertie R. Reese, Tillman B. Reese, Rebecca Reese.

2) Martha Reese (DOB about 1866 in Madison County, NC; DOD ? in McDowell County, NC) married ?

3) Bailey Bright Reese (DBO 1/26/1878 in Madison County, NC; DOD: 12/10/1950 in Marion, McDowell County, NC; Buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Marion, NC) married Lillian Vianna Conner "Lily, Lilly"(DOB: 1/8/1888 in Madison County, NC to Mack Coy Conner and Margaret Alice Ensley; DOD: 1/15/1984 in Marion, McDowell County, NC; Buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Marion, NC) in 1905. They had 8 children: Minnie Louesta "Estie", Paul McCoy Reese, Wilford William Reese, Beauford C. Reese, Margaret Alice Reese, Gertrude Reese, Clifford Jeter Reese, Ann Grace Reese.

4) Harriett Reese (DOB: 9/19/1880 in Madison County, NC; DOD: 6/24/1941 in ?) married William Ransom Hicks (DOB: 3/15/1875 in ?; DOD: 4/2/1950 in ?). They had Rebecca Hicks, Bailey Alfred Hicks, Etie Hicks, Roscoe Hicks, Arvin Hicks, Hawley Hicks, Nathan Hicks, Roy Hicks, Margaret Luetta Hicks, Marion Merreitt Hicks.

I am descended through Bailey Bright Reese and Lily Conner through their son, Wilford William Reese.

If you have any comments, corrections or additonal information, please email me at Mom25dogs@gmail.com.