Reeves, Bridford (Britford)

Summary

Father: James REEVES
Mother: Eliza PAINTON

Birth: 1849
Birth Source: FreeBMD and Census

Death: 1899
Death Source: Census and FreeBMD

Spouse1: Martha Ann KEEP

Narrative

Bridford Reeves is the eldest of three known children of James REEVES and his first wife Eliza nee PAINTON. FreeBMD notes that his birth was registered during the second quarter of 1849 in the Faringdon Registration District, which includes the parish of Longworth.

At the time of the 1851 census, on 30 March, Bridford and his parents James and Eliza were enumerated under the surname Reves in the village of Longworth, Berkshire. The cursive script of the enumerator makes reading his given name challenging, he is perhaps recorded as Bridfred. He is one year old and was born in Longworth, Berkshire. In addition to his parents, the household is completed by two visitors; Richard (37) and Bartholomew (4) PAINTON. See Research Note 2 below.

A decade later and the 1861 census shows Bridford living in his parent household in Hinton Waldrist, Berkshire. Although only 11 years old he is working as a Plough Boy. His place of birth is given as Longworth, Berkshire. In addition to his parents, the household is completed by his brother Caleb (aged 9) and sister Sarah (5). Both are noted as being born in Hinton, suggesting the family moved from Longworth around 1851/2.

On the 1871 census Bridford is again to be found with his parents James & Eliza. His age is difficult to discern due to subsequent annotations to the enumeration schedule; the leading digit is clearly a two, the second perhaps a one or a four. He is unmarried and employed as an Agricultural Labourer. Again his birth place is recorded as Longworth, Berkshire.

The marriage of Bridford Reeves and Martha Ann KEEP is noted by FreeBMD as occurring during the third quarter of 1875 in the Wallingford Registration District of Berkshire which includes the parish of Hagbourne, Martha birth place.
The known children of Bridford Reeves and his wife Martha Ann (nee Keep) are

1. Ernest Reeves, b.reg. 1876
2. Joseph Reeves, b.reg. 1878
3. Mary Jane Reeves, b.reg. 1880
4. Alice Reeves, b.reg. 1881
5. Ada Reeves, b.reg. 1883
6. Albert John Reeves, b.reg. 1884
7. Arthur Reeves, b.reg. 1886
8. Evelyne Reeves, b.reg. 1887
9. William Reeves, b.reg. 1889
10. Frederick Reeves, b.reg. 1892
11. Martha Reeves, b.reg. 1895

On the 1911 census return, James' wife Martha notes that twelve children were born to the marriage, ten of whom were still alive at that time. The information was subsequently struck through since Martha was a widow, but it remains clearly legible.
With the exception of their eldest son Ernest, whose birth was registered in the Wallingford Reg. Dist., the births of their other ten known children were registered in the Faringdon Reg. Dist.

At the time of the 1881 census, Bridford and his wife Martha are living at Hinton Glebe Farm, Hinton Waldrist, where he is working as a Farm Labourer. His age is noted as 30 and he claims birth in Hinton (Waldrist) Berkshire. Their children Ernest (5), Joseph (2) and Mary Jane (1) plus a visitor Mary J Broad complete the household.

On the 1891 census, Bridford (as Britford) and Martha are living at 2 The Row in Hinton Waldrist. He is now 41 years old and claims birth in Hinton Waldrist. He is employed as an Agricultural Labourer. There are nn children in the household; Ernest (15), Joseph (12), Mary Jane (11), Alice (9), Ada (8), John (sic, 6), Arthur (5), Eveline (sic, 3) and William (2)

By the time of the 1901 census, wife Martha is head of household and a widow. It is probable Bridford's is the death registered as Britford Reeves, aged 48, during the third quarter of 1899.

Research Notes

(1) The given name Bridford is very unusual. FreeBMD notes just seven instances in the period 3q1837 to 4q1899 inclusive, with the last appearing in 1q1874. In the period 1q1900 to 4q1949 there were just two instances. The variant Britford occurs eleven times between 3q1837 and 4q1899 with a further five unique instances between 1q1900 and 4q1949. (The are six entries 1900-1949, but one appears to be a cross reference to a late registration.)

(2) It is not believed that Richard PAINTON was Eliza's brother, but that they were more loosely related. Eliza (bapt Longworth Feb 1826) was the daughter of William and Elizabeth PAINTON. Richard was either the son of James & Martha PAINTON (bapt Nov 1813) or of Richard and Elisabeth (bapt June 1814).

Sources

Birth:        FreeBMD 1849, June quarter, Faringdon Registration District
Baptism:  
Marriage: FreeBMD 1875, June quarter, Wallingford Registration District
Death:      FreeBMD 1899, September quarter, Faringdon Registration District
                 
1851 Census: HO107, Piece 1687, Folio 517 reverse, Page 1
1861 Census: RG9, Piece 0729, Folio 114 face, Page 7 and continued on
                            RG9, Piece 0729, Folio 114 reverse, Page 8
1871 Census: RG10, Piece 1260, Folio 53 reverse, Page 10
1881 Census: RG11, Piece 1279, Folio 113 reverse, Page 12 and continued on
                            RG11, Piece 1279, Folio 114f, Page 13
1891 Census: RG12, Piece 0976, Folio 87r, Page 6 and continued on
                            RG12, Piece 0976, Folio 88f, Page 7

Widow Martha -
1901 Census: RG13, Piece 1129, Folio 88 reverse, Page 8
1911 Census: RG14, Piece 6446, Reg.Dist. 116 (Faringdon), Sub Dist. 2 (Faringdon), Enum.Dist. 16, Schedule 42