Reeve, Theophilus

Summary

Father: John Reeve
Mother: Phebe Eve

Birth: c1810
Birth Source: Baptism

Death: Mar 1841, Essex
Death Source: Burial

Spouse1: Susannah Saward, m. 14 Sep 1829, Chelmsford, St Mary the Virgin, Essex

Narrative

Children of Theophilus Reeve and Susannah Saward:

1. Charles Reeve, b. c1831
2. John Reeve, b. c1835
3. Louisa Reeve, b. c1835
4. Susannah Reeve, b. c1836
5. Eliza Reeve, b. c1838
6. William Reeve, b. c1839
7. Theophilus Reeve, b. c1841

Baptism from Mashbury, Essex Parish Registers:

• 29 July 1810. Theophilus the son of John Reeve & Phebe his wife was born 8th June 1810 and baptized the 29th of July following.

Marriage from Chelmsford, St Mary the Virgin, Essex Parish Registers:

• Theophilus Reeve of this Parish Bachelor and Susannah Saward of this Parish spinster were married in this Church by Banns this fourteenth Day of September in the Year One thousand eight hundred and twenty nine

Children's Baptisms from Colchester, St Peter, Essex Parish Registers:

• (1831) April 17 | Charles | Theophilus & Susan | Reeve | High Street | ? | ?
• 1835 Jany 4th | John | Theophilus & Susan | Reeve | High Street | Ostler | Henry Baker
• (1835) Jany 4th | Louisa | Theophilus & Susan | Reeve | High Street | Ostler | Henry Baker
• (1836) 22d May | Susannah | Theophilus & Susan | Reeve | High Street | Postlad | W Murray Curate
• (1838) Jany 7th | Eliza | Theophilus & Susan | Reeve | High Street | Lost Lad | James Whytt Curate
• (1839) Jan 30 | William | Theophilus & Susannah | Reeve | High Street | Portlad | Samuel Carr

Children's Baptisms from Colchester, St Runwald, Essex Parish Registers:

• (1841) April 18 | Theophilus | Theophilus & Susannah | Reeve| St Runwalds | Postillon? | James Mound

Theophilus's death was registered 1q 1841 in Colchester Union, age 31.

Burial from Colchester, St Runwald, Essex Parish Registers:

• (1841) Theophilus Reeve | St Runwald's | March 25 | 31 | James J Round

In 1841, the Susannah is listed as head of household, living in St. Runwald, Colchester in Essex, age 30, with Charles (10), Louisa (8), John (7), Susannah (5), Eliza (4), William (2). and Theophilus (3m).

A detailed reporting on a court case concerning this family appeared in The Essex County Standard, etc. on 24 Dec 1841. 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 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 new 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 Beared 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."

The Civil Registration Marriage Index indicates Susannah remarried to George Salmon. In 1851, George, Susannah and their two children Mary A. (4), and George (2) were living in Boreham. In 1861, they were still in Boreham and her daughter Susannah Reeve was also with them, age 24.

Research Notes

Sources

Baptism:    Mashbury, Essex Parish Combine (BM&B) Register 1754-1804, D/P 352/1/2
Marriage1:  Chelmsford, St Mary the Virgin, Essex Parish Marriage Register 1813-1837, D/P 94/1/17
Death:        GRO Index, 1q 1841, Colchester Union
Burial:       Colchester, St Runwald, Essex Parish Burial Register 1813-1865, D/P 177/1/8

1841 Census:  HO 107, Piece 344, Book 16, Folio 10, Page 14
1851 Census:  HO 107, Piece 1776, Folio 355 reverse, Page 17, Schedule 43 (Salmon household)
1861 Census:  RG 9, Piece 1081, Folio 130, Page 7, Schedule 41

Colchester, St Peter, Essex Parish Baptism Register 1813-1848, D/P 178/1/12
Colchester, St Runwald, Essex Parish Baptism Register 1813-1872, D/P 177/1/5