Who Was Bass Reeves’ Wife, Jennie? What Happened To Her In Real Life

WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for Lawmen: Bass Reeves.

Bass Reeves’ wife Jennie is a central figure in the new Paramount+ series Lawmen: Bass Reeves. Played by Lauren E. Banks, Jennie and Bass are introduced as love interests in the first episode of the highly-anticipated Western series. After both were slaves under Colonel George Reeves in the 1860s, both Jennie and Bass were ultimately freed after the Confederates lost the U.S. Civil War in 1865, making Bass, Jennie, and all African Americans in the country free and independent under the federal law with the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment.

Lawmen: Bass Reeves episode 2 demonstrates how the relationship between Bass and Jennie has been true all along. The couple stayed together after being emancipated in 1865 and raised their daughter Sally together as Bass turned to an unpredictable life of farming in Van Buren, Arkansas. As depicted in the Paramount+ series, Bass would remain a farmer until 1875 when Deputy U.S. Marshall Sherill Lynn (Dennis Quaid) offered him a position among his ranks. Through all of Bass’s career and life changes, Jennie remained a loyal mother and wife to the legendary Old West lawman.

What Happened To Jennie While Bass Reeves Was Away During The Civil War

Bass Reeves was forced to fight alongside the Confederate Army in the U.S. Civil War as part of his obligations as a slave to Colonel Geroge Reeves, who led several battles including Pea Ridge, Arkansas and Chickamauga, Tennessee. Bass Reeves was unable to be with Jennie while he was away at war and was uncertain whether he would ever see her again. After his heroic performance on the battlefield which even impressed George Reeves, Bass was able to return to Grayson County, Texas and reunite with Jennie.

While Bass was away at war, Jennie was forced to stay on George Reeves’s ranch in Grayson County, Texas as a slave and wait for Bass to return. Jennie was relieved to discover that Bass had survived several battles with George Reeves so that he could continue living with her in Texas as the Civil War raged on. After George Reeves betrayed Bass and robbed him of his chance at freedom, Bass beat him up and fled Texas, having no choice but to leave Jennie behind. He later found her after the war was over in Arkansas and discovered he had a daughter, Sally.

Jennie & Bass Reeves Had 10 Children Before She Died In 1896

Sally was only one of ten children that Jennie and Bass had together during their lives as free Americans. Bass and Jennie officially got married in 1870, having four total kids (Sally, Robert, Harriet, and Georgie) before that time. Bass and Jennie are said to have had at least ten children together, five boys and five girls. One of their children Bennie, whose name was referenced in Lawmen: Bass Reeves episode 2, would later be arrested by Bass himself for killing his wife. Jennie Reeves died on March 19, 1896 in Fort Smith, Arkansas.