Reeves, William Olly (aka Reeves, William Holly)

Summary

Father: Charles REEVES
Mother: Martha BANTING

Birth: 1855
Birth Source: GRO Index and census

Death: 1935
Death Source: GRO Index

Spouse1: Caroline DOMAN

Narrative

William is the oldest (of three) children born to Charles REEVES and his wife Marthe (nee BANTING). The birth of William Olly REEVES was recorded during the fourth quarter of 1855 in the South Stoneham Registration District and his mother's maiden name was noted as BANTING. William OLLY REEVES, the son of Charles and Martha REEVES, was baptised in January 1856 at the Parish Church of St James, West End, Hampshire.

On the 1861 census William Oley (sic) REEVES, along with his parents Charles & Martha and younger sister Rosa, are living at Moor Green in South Stoneham parish. He is noted as being five years old, that he was born in South Stoneham, Hampshire and that he is a Scholar.

A decade later on the 1871 census, William REEVES is again found in his parents household which is now in Kings Worthy, a parish closer to Winchester, both in Hampshire. He is now noted as being 15 years old and born in South Stoneham, Hampshire. The occupation field is blank.

On three consecutive Sundays in May 1876 Banns for the upcoming marriage of William Holly (sic) Reeves and Caroline DOMAN (sic) were read in the Minster Church of St Cuthburga, Wimborne Minster, Dorset. This is the first documented instance of William's middle name being recorded as Holly, See Research Note 1 below.

William Holly REEVES and Caroline DOMAN were married on 5 June 1876 at the Parish Church of St Peter & St Paul in Caroline home village of Longbridge Deverill. The groom's father is named as Charles REEVES and the bride's father as Frederick DOMAN. FreeBMD notes their marriage took place during the second quarter of 1876 in the Warminster Registration District

The known children of William Holly REEVES and his wife Caroline (nee DOMAN) are (but see Research Note 2 below) ...

1. William Henry REEVES, b.reg. 2q1877
2. Kate REEVES, b.reg. 4q1878
3. Caroline Elizabeth REEVES, b.reg. 4q1880
4. Charles Frederick George REEVES, b.reg. 3q1882
5. Walter Ernest Richard REEVES, b.reg. 1q1884
6. Martha REEVES, b.reg. 2q1885, d.reg. 1q1886
7. Thomas REEVES, b.reg. 1q1887
8. Rose REEVES, b.reg. 1q1888

Each birth was registered in the Wimborne Registration District and each was recorded with a mother's maiden name of DOMEN (sic).

At the time of the 1881 census, William Reeves and his wife Caroline were living at North Leigh, Colehill, a hamlet just north of Wimborne Minster. William is 25 years old, claims birth at West End in Hampshire and is working as a Gardener. Caroline is 29 and was born at L B Deverill (Longbridge Deverill), Wiltshire. Their children William (age 4, born Wimborne, Dorset), Kate (2, Hampreston, Dorset) and Caroline (3 months, Wimborne) complete the family. A servant Fanny THOMAS (no known relationship) completes the household.

On the 1891 census, William & Caroline are living at 13 Herne Road, Holdenhurst, Hampshire which is just north of Bournemouth. Williams details are consistent with the 1881 census. In addition to his wife Caroline, there are seven children, William (age 14), Kate (12), Caroline (10), Charles (8), Ernest (aka Walter, 6), Tom (Thomas, 4) and Rosa (Rose, 3) along with a visitor, Luck PUCKETT (age 18, born Wool, Dorset - no relationship known.)

By the time of the 1901 census, William and family have moved to Branksome Wood Road in Branksome, a part of Bournemouth. William is now 45 years old, again claims birth at West End in Hampshire and is still working as a Domestic Gardener. Along with his wife Caroline, there are four children who complete the household; Charles (age 18, a Domestic Gardener), Ernest (17, also a Domestic Gardener), Tom (14) and Rose (13),

On the 1911 census William and Caroline are living in Oak Cottage on the Branksome Wood Road, Bournemouth, William Reeves is 55, was born at West End,Hampshire and is still working as a Domestic Gardener. His wife Caroline Reeves is 59 and was born at L.B. Deverill (Longbridge Deverill), Wiltshire. They have been married for 34 years and she has had nine children, seven of whom are still then surviving and two have died. See Research Note 2 below. Although William listed himself on the Schedule as simply "William Reeves" he signs the page as "William Holly Reeves".

The death of William's wife Caroline occurred during the fourth quarter of 1918 in Poole Registration District; she was 67 years old.

On the 1921 census William is currently indexed at FMP as William Hally (sic) Reeves along with Earnest (sic) Walter Richard Reeves and Rose Reeves (the image has yet to be consulted). They are living in the Poole area of Dorset.

The GRO Index records the death of William Holly REEVES during the second quarter of 1935 in the Poole Registration District. He was 78 years old.

Research Notes

(1)   William's name was independently recorded in the civil birth register during 4q1855 and in the parish baptism register in January 1856 as William Olly REEVES. On the 1861 census enumeration sheet he appears as William Oley (sic) Reeves.

In later life William prefixed his second given name with a letter "H" and was referred to as William Holly Reeves. The first instance so far identified is in the the Banns Register from the Parish of Wimborne Minster in May 1876 just prior William's marriage in June 1876. FreeBMD also notes his name as William Holley REEVES in the marriage entry during 2q 1876 in the Warminster Registration District which includes the brides home parish of Longbridge Deverill, Wiltshire.

On the subsequent census returns of 1881, 1891, 1901 & 1911, he is listed as simply William REEVES, although on the 1911 return he then signs the schedule as William Holly Reeves.

(2)   As of April 2024 only eight children have been positively identified. However, as noted above on the 1911 census it is recorded that Caroline has had nine children, seven of who were still alive at that time and that two had died. The only deceased child so far identified is their daughter Martha REEVES (1885-1886)

Sources

Birth:        GRO Index   -   1855, December quarter, South Stoneham Registration District
Baptism:   FamilySearch   -   https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGQL-SCZC
Marr Banns: FamilySearch   -   https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJDC-7Z62 - Groom's Parish
Marriage: FreeBMD   -   1876, June quarter, Warminster Registration District
                 FamilySearch   -   https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NKQX-W41
                 FamilySearch   -   https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NX9R-LG6
Death:      GRO Index   -   1935, June quarter, Poole Registration District
                 
1861 Census: RG9, Piece 0682, Folio 5 face, Page 3, Schedule 14
1871 Census: RG10, Piece 1208, Folio 40 face, Page 1, Schedule 5
1881 Census: RG11, Piece 2092, Folio 39 face, Page 9, Schedule 46
1891 Census: RG12, Piece 0904, Folio 131 face, Page 7, Schedule 39
1901 Census: RG13, Piece 1978, Folio 162 face, Page 27, Schedule 173
1911 Census: RG14, Piece 12275, Reg.Dist. 261 (Poole), Sub Dist. 1 (Canford), Enum.Dist. 12, Schedule 322
1921 Census: RG15, Piece

1918 Death of wife Caroline - GRO Index   -   1918, December quarter, Poole Registration District