Reeves, William Henry

Summary

Father: William Adey REEVES
Mother: Mary Elizabeth ADEY

Birth: 1857
Birth Source: GRO Index and Census

Death: 1947
Death Source: GRO Index

Spouse1: Emma Louisa HASKELL
Spouse2: Caroline HARGREAVES

Narrative

William Henry Reeves is the oldest of seven known children born to William Adey REEVES and his wife Mary Elizabeth (nee ADEY). His birth was recorded during the fourth quarter of 1857 in the Alverstoke Registration District when his mother's maiden name was recorded as ADEY. He was baptised in April 1858 at the Parish Church of St John, Portsea. See Research Note 1 below.

At the time of the 1861 census William is living in his parent's household at 41 High Street, Alverstoke, Hampshire. He is shown as being 3 years old and that he was born at Gosport in Hampshire.

On the 1871 census William is missing from his parent's home. He, along with his younger brother Herbert Adey REEVES, are pupils at St Saviours College in Ardingly, Sussex. He is 13 years old and his place of birth is given as Portsmouth, Hampshire.

A decade later and the 1881 census shows William again living with his parents William and Mary now at 3 Greenway Road, Tranmere, Cheshire. He is 23 years of age, was born at Gosport, Hampshire and is working as a Banker's Commercial Clerk.

FreeBMD notes the marriage of William Henry REEVES and Emma Louisa HASKELL during the second quarter of 1890 in the Blandford Registration District of Dorset. FamilySearch notes that Marriage Banns for William & Emma's proposed marriage were read at the Parish Church of Holy Trinity, Stourpaine, Dorset.
The known children of William Henry Reeves and his wife Emma Louisa (nee HASKELL) are

1. Henry Edwin Adey REEVES, b.reg. 1891
2. Adelaide Ann REEVES, b.reg. 1892

Both births were registered in the Birkenhead Registration District of Cheshire and on both occasions the mother's maiden name is given as HASKELL.

On the 1891 census, William and his wife Emma L Reeves are living on Euston Grove, Birkenhead in Cheshire. William is now 33 years old, was born at Gosport in Hampshire and is working as a Bank Cashier. His wife Emma is 27 years of age and was born at Eascott (sic Eastcott) in Wiltshire and son Henry E A Reeves (0 months, born Birkenhead Cheshire) along with Elizabeth C HAITHWAITE (64, a widow, born Market Lavington, Wiltshire) who is described as a Visitor and Mary Hughes (15, a servant) complete the household.

William's wife Emma died in late 1896; FreeBMD notes the death of Emma Louisa REEVES during 4q1896 in Birkenhead R.D. (age 33).

FreeBMD notes the marriage of William Henry REEVES and Caroline HARGREAVES during the second quarter of 1898 in Altrincham Registration District, Cheshire.
The only known child of William Henry Reeves and his second wife Caroline (nee HARGREAVES) is

1. Carita Mary Ormerod REEVES, b.reg. 4q1899, d.reg. 1q1900

Carita's birth and death were both registered in the Toxteth Park Registration District of Lancashire. At birth her mother's maiden name is recorded as HARGREAVES and at death her age is noted as 0 years.

By the time of the 1901 census William and his wife Caroline are to be found at 26 Talbot Road, Southport, Lancashire. William is now 43 years of age, again claims birth at Gosport in Hampshire and is working as a Bank Cashier. Caroline is 32 years old and was born at Crawshawbooth, Lancashire. See Research Note 2 below. William's son and daughter from his first marriage are away at boarding schools; Henry at Waltham College in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire and Adelaide at her Great Aunt Mary Jane Reeves's school at Brook Hall in Winslow, Buckinghamshire.

On the 1911 census William and Caroline are living on Rosemary Lane in Formby, Lancashire. William remains consistent regarding his age and place of birth and is still working as a Bank Cashier. Caroline is now 41 years old and they have been married for twelve years and have had a single child who had died prior to this census. Living with them are William's son Henry Edwin Adey REEVES (20, single, born Birkenhead, Cheshire and working as a Shipping Clerk) and his daughter Adelaide Ann REEVES (18, single, Birkenhead, Cheshire). A servant, Ellen Norris completes the household.

William's second wife Caroline died prior to the 1939 Register being taken in September 1939. It is probable that hers is the death recorded during the first quarter of 1932 in the West Derby Registration District of Lancashire, which includes the Great Crosby area, where they lived. She was age 67, placing her birth around 1864, making this Caroline about 5 years older than the earlier census returns above suggest.

At the time of the 1939 Register, compiled in late September, William H REEVES is the head of household at 7 Regents Close, Crosby, Lancashire. His date of birth is noted as 27 October 1857 and he is described as being widowed and is a retired Bank Cashier. His daughter Adelaide A REEVES and a Domestic Servant complete the household.

FreeBMD notes the death of William H REEVES during the second quarter of 1947 in Crosby Registration District. He was 89 years old; a good match for our subject.

The index to the Probate Registry notes that in late July 1947, Adelaide Ann REEVES, spinster, was granted probate in Liverpool over the estate of William Henry REEVES of 7 Regent Road, Great Crosby, Liverpool 23.

Research Notes

(1) The FreeBMD Index shows four individuals named William Henry REEVES whose birth was registered in the southern part of Hampshire in the 18 month period 4q1857 through 1q1859. Prior to the availability of the GRO Index to Births it was impossible to differentiate them via the index alone. The inclusion of the mother's maiden name in the GRO Index makes it possible.
(2) On the 1891 census, William & Caroline are listed on the second schedule at this address. The occupation of the primary resident Thomas Plews is given as Company House Keeper, so perhaps William had just been assigned to Southport by his employer.

Sources

Birth:        GRO Index   -   1857, December quarter, Alverstoke Registration District,
Baptism:   HGS Index to Baptism 1842 - 1874
                 FamilySearch   -   https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JWNN-CJC
Marriage1: FreeBMD   -   1890, June quarter, Blandford Registration District
Marriage2: FreeBMD   -   1898, September quarter, Altrincham Registration District
Death:      GRO Index   -   1947, June quarter, Crosby Registration District
                 
1861 Census: RG9, Piece 0648, Folio 104 reverse, Page 26, Schedule 136
1871 Census: RG10, Piece 1060, Folio 131 face, Page 5, Row 13
1881 Census: RG11, Piece 3586, Folio 73 reverse, Page 30, Schedule 142
1891 Census: RG12, Piece 2885, Folio 76 reverse, Page 26, Schedule 154
1901 Census: RG13, Piece 3357, Folio 196 reverse, Page 24, Schedule 174
1911 Census: RG14, Piece 22844, Registration District 457 (Ormskirk), Sub District 5 (Formby), Enumeration District 4, Schedule 48
1921 Census:
1939 Register: RG101, Piece 4728, Legder Code NUBI, Page 21, Schedule 267

1890 Marriage Banns   -   FamilySearch     https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJDH-YQ9J
1896 Death      GRO Index   -   1896, December quarter, Birkenhead Registration District   -   wife Emma Louisa REEVES
1947 Probate Register Page 699