Reeve, William Beckwith

Summary

Father: Jonah Reeve
Mother: Elizabeth Houston

Birth: 3 Jul 1789
Birth Source: Baptismal record

Death: 20 Apr 1868
Death Source: Headstone

Spouse1: Diana Sophia Gates, m. 13 Oct 1812, All Saints, Lewes, Sussex

Narrative

Children of William Beckwith Reeve and Diana Sophia Gates:

1. Elizabeth Houston Reeve, b. 15 Dec 1815
2. Frederick Reeve, b. 17 May 1817
3. John Terling Reeve, b. 9 Mar 1819
4. William Reeve
5. Samuel Houston Reeve, b. c1822
6. John Reeve
7. Sophia Reeve, b. c1826
8. Thomas Houston Reeve, b. 10 Oct 1828
9. Sarah Reeve
10. Caroline Reeve
11. Louisa Reeve

His birth and baptism were also recorded in Bocking Independent Registers:

• William Beckwith Reeve, Son of Jonah Reeve and Elizabeth his Wife, of the Parish of Bocking in the Couty of Essex (born on the Third Day of July 1789) was baptized on the Twenty Fourth day of July 1789 By the Revd Thomas Davidson (Piece 1500, folio 55)

In 1861, William, age 72, and Diana Reeves (70) were living in Peel, Toronto, Canada West.

His grandson S. S. Reeve stated in an interview from 1933:
Wm. Beckworth Reeve came to this country from Essex, England, about the year 1822. He settled on Lot 8, Con. 1. W., Toronto Twp. He brought part of his family with him. I think about four or five children. My father was three years old, born in 1819, when they came over. They came over by sailing vessel and my father got small pox on board the ship.
...
He died about the 10th April, 1868 and is buried in Britannia Cemetery. He married Sophia Gates on the old country and brought her over here. She died in March, 1867. She was in the neighbourhood of 80 years.

The headstone for William and his wife states her name as Diana and states she died 8 Mar 1867. So her full name may have been Diana Sophia Gates. The list of children besides Frederick comes from the interview with S. S. Reeve.

The following were recorded in the Lavenham, Suffolk Independent Registers:

• Elizabeth Houston Reeve daughter of Wm & Diana Reeve born 15 Decr 1815 baptized 23 Novr 1819 following by me T Hickman
• Frederick Reeve son of Wm & Diana Reeve born 17 May 1817 baptized 23 Novr 1819 following by me T Hickman
• John Terling Reeve son of Wm & Diana Reeve born 9 March 1819 Baptized 23 Novr 1819 following by me T Hickman

Research Notes

Sources

Birth:          RG4, Essex Independent Registers, Piece 1500 (Bocking, 1738-1794), folio 55
Marriage1:  FamilySearch - England, Sussex, Parish Registers, 1538-1910
Burial:       Findagrave - Britannia United Church Cemetery, Mississauga, Peel Regional Municipality, Ontario, Canada

1861 Census:  Toronto, Peel, Canada West

1933 Interview - S. S. Reeve of Meadowvale, Ontario
RG4, Suffolk Independent Registers, Piece 1852 (Lavenham, 1735-1835), pp. 10, 11