Reeve, John

Summary

Father: Mr. Reeve
Mother:

Birth:
Birth Source:

Death:
Death Source:

Spouse1: Phebe Eve, m. 15 Jul 1805, Chignal Smealey, St Nicholas, Essex

Narrative

Children of John Reeve and Phebe Eve:

1. Sophia Reeve, b. c1806
2. Benjamin Reeve, b. 5 Apr 1808
3. Theophilus Reeve, b. 8 Jun 1810
4. William Reeve, b. 26 Oct 1811

Marriage from Chignal Smealey, St Nicholas, Essex Parish Registers:

• John Reve of the Parish of Mashbury singleman and Phebe Eve of this Parish single woman Married in this church by Banns this fifteenth Day of July in the Year One thousand eight Hundred and five by me Joseph Thinglewood Minister.

Baptism from Chignal Smealey, St Nicholas, Essex Parish Registers:

• (1806) 5 Oct | Sophia Daughter of John & Phebe Reve

Baptisms from Mashbury, Essex Parish Registers:

• 17 July 1808. Benjamin son of John Reeve & Phebe his wife born 5th April and baptized 17th July following
• 29 July 1810. Theophilus the son of John Reeve & Phebe his wife was born 8th June 1810 and baptized the 29th of July following.
• (1812) William son of John & Phebe Reeve was born the 26th of October and baptized the 22 July following.

A detailed reporting on a court case concerning his son Theophilus's family appeared in The Essex County Standard, etc. on 24 Dec 1841 and establish some interesting facts. It appears the case concerned the removal of the Reeve family from one parish to another after the death of Theophilus. Here is the statement made by Susannah, wife of Theophilus, in the case:

Susannah Reeve, the pauper, examined. - I am a widow, and have seven children under 11 years of age. My husband's father lived at Chignall St. James; I knew him very well. He was called John Beard, and sometimes John Reeve. My husband was married in the name of Reeve, but he was called Beard sometimes where he came from. Cross-examined - My husband was called Beard as well as Reeve. His father was a labouring man. My husband was a post-lad at the Cups, at Colchester, when I was married to him, and he continued there until he died. He was boarded by Mr. Skitter, and lodged there the first fortnight. He had no wages except what he got by driving.

Further statements by Elizabeth and Charles Eve indicate the following:

• Theophilus's father lived at Chignall St. James
• Theophilus's father went by both John Reeve and John Beard.
• Theophilus's mother was named Phebe and was sister to Charles and Elizabeth Eve
• Theophilus's father John Beard was an illegitimate child of a man named Reeve
• "Theophilus's father was married in the name of John Reeve, but he went by the name of Beard up to the time of his marriage, after which he was called John Reeve."

So it appears that this John Reeve also went by John Beard his mother married a Mr. Beard.

Research Notes

Sources

Marriage1:  Chignal Smealey, St Nicholas, Essex Marriage Parish Register 1754-1812, D/P 351/1/2

Chignal Smealey, St Nicholas, Essex Combine (BM&B) Parish Register 1600-1812, D/P 351/1/1
Mashbury, Essex Parish Combine (BM&B) Register 1754-1804, D/P 352/1/2
The Essex County Standard, etc., 24 Dec 1841