Reeves, Lewis Buckle

Summary

Father:
Mother:

Birth: c 1786, Ireland
Birth Source: 1851 census

Death: 3 May 1861, Douglas Isle of Man
Death Source: Probate Calendar

Spouse1: Anne Jane Scott, m. 27 Jul 1821, Braddan, Isle of Man

Narrative

Children of Lewis Bucke Reeves and Anne Jane Scott:

1. Lewis Scott Reeves, bapt. January 1822
2. Eliza Ellenor Reeves, bapt. March 1824
3. Louisa Ann Reeves, bapt. February 1825
4. Walter Scott Reeves, bapt. May 1831
5. Laura Buckle Moore Reeves, bapt. May 1833

Served on HMS Victory at the Battle of Trafalgar in October 1805, where he was wounded.

Appears in the 1806 army list thus 18060214_Army_List_Reeves_Lewis_B

In 1814, Lewis is a 1st Lieutenant in the Royal Marines, having been appointed on 12 March 1807.

On the 1841 census, Lewis Reeves is living on Ena Mona (now Enamona Road) in the Parish of Onchan on the Island of Man. He is 45 years of age, his occupation is shown as Navy HP (half pay) and he was born in Ireland. On the same schedule is Anne Reeves (age35 and born in same island) and Walter (10 and also born in same island). See Research Note 1 below.

In 1850, he is on the Half Pay list, having been so since 1817.

At the time of the 1851 Census, Lewis is living the household of his married daughter Eliza E. GALLIARD on the Isle of Man.

In 1861, he was living in Conchan on the Isle of Man with his daughter Eliza E. JONES.

The New Navy List provides a fuller picture of Lewis' career as a Royal Marines officer.

L. B. Reeves, Second Lieut. and severely wounded in Victory, at Trafalgar. First Lieut. serving in Solebay, and commanded the Royal Marines at the capture of Fort St. Louis, Senegal, 1809, which he garrisoned and commanded seven months.     Gaz. 1805

The Manx Sun, 18 May 1861

In our paper of the 4th, we recorded the death, at the age of 75, of Lewis Buckle Reeves Esq, Lieutenant of Marines - one of the last surviving officers who fought so gloriously on board the Victory with Nelson at Trafalgar in 1805. Lewis Buckle Reeves, when only 19 years of age served as second lieutenant on board the Victory at the battle of Trafalgar, in which engagement he was seriously wounded. His figure occupies a prominent position in Wests cerebrated picture The Death of Nelson. He received his commission in 1807, subsequently served with great bravery on the Solebay, and commanded the Marines at the capture of Fort St. Louis, Senegal. The expedition with which he was then entrusted was attended with imminent peril to all engaged; and to his honour it ought to be recorded that it owing to his keen foresight and prompt representation of the importance of that African stronghold, that the attack was first contemplated; and it was chiefly in consequence of his personal bravery and that of his faithful band of Marines, that the fort was taken. He was left in charge of the fort, which he successfully garrisoned for seven months, during which time nearly half his men fell victims to fevers endemic to the region. He afterwards served on the Minerva frigate, on a voyage of Discovery. His practical talent and scientific attainment rendered him an acquisition to the safety and success of the expedition. After passing through conflicts and dangers not often equalled and seldom surpassed, he retired on half-pay. In 1820 he came to the Isle of Man, and the following year married into an old and respected Manx family. Since then he has resided in Douglas, where he gained the esteem of all with whom he came in contact, and has left a lasting memorial, of his true worth in the respect and attachment of a very large circle of friends.

The Newcastle Daily Journal, 21 May 1861

At Douglas, Isle of Man, on the 3rd inst., aged 75, Lewis Buckle Reeves, Esq., Lieutenant of the Royal Mariners, and last surviving officer of Lord Nelson's flag ship Victory.

From the National Probate Calendar:

(1861) REEVES Lewis Buckle. Effects under £1,500. 23 August. The Will of Lewis Buckle Reeves late of the Town of Douglas in the Isle of Man a Retired Lieutenant in the Royal Marines deceased who died 3 May 1861 at Douglas in the said Isle was proved at the Principal Registry by the oath of Alfred Walter Adams of the Parish of Braddan in the said Isle Gentleman the sole Executor.

Research Notes

(1) The 1841 Census Enumeration Schedule page is subtly different. The top line of each page is printed "Island of " with the word Man then written in by the enumerator. The first of the Where Born columns reads "Whether Born in same Island" rather than "... in same County". The second Where Born column includes England as an options and reads "Whether Born in England, Scotland, Ireland or Foreign Parts"

Sources

Birth:        1851 Census
Marriage1:  FamilySearch - Isle of Man Parish Registers, 1598-2009
Death:        England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995 (Ancestry)
Burial:       Findagrave - Kirk Onchan St. Peter Churchyard, Onchan, Garff, Isle of Man

1841 Census:   HO107, Piece 1465, Book 2, Folio 16 reverse, Page 9, third household
1851 Census:  HO107, Piece 2525, Folio 27 reverse, Page 5
1861 Census:  RG9, Piece 4416, Folio 4, Page 1, Schedule 2

Military Service:
                  London Gazette Issue 15866 published on the 27 November 1805, Page 1484 (page 4 of 4)
                                    See http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/15866/pages/1484
                  British Army List - for February 1806, page 424
                  British Army List - for February 1814, page 548
                  British Army List - for 1850, page 383
                  New Navy List - various editions including August 1855 pages 209

The Manx Sun, 18 May 1861
The Newcastle Daily Journal, 21 May 1861
FamilySearch - Lewis Scott Reeves - Isle of Man Parish Registers, 1598-2009
FamilySearch - Eliza Ellenor Reeves - Isle of Man Parish Registers, 1598-2009
FamilySearch - Louisa Ann Reeves - Isle of Man Parish Registers, 1598-2009
FamilySearch - Walter Scott Reeves - Isle of Man Parish Registers, 1598-2009
FamilySearch - Laura Buckle Moore Reeves - Isle of Man Parish Registers, 1598-2009