Reeves, Charles

Summary

Father: Thomas REEVES
Mother: Jane COOPER

Birth: about December 1835
Birth Source: Baptism

Death:
Death Source:

Spouse1: Elizabeth Ann COTTON

Narrative

Charles Reeves is the second of the eight known children born to Thomas REEVES and his wife Jane (nee COOPER). His baptism is recorded in the register of the Parish Church of All Saints, Newchurch on the Isle of Wight in December 1835 and it probable he was actually baptised at the Chapel of Ease of St Thomas at Ryde.

On the 1841 census taken on 6 June, Charles appears in his parent's household on Dores Row in Ryde, Isle of Wight. They are all enumerated with the surname REAVES. Charles is 6 years old and was born in county, which at this time would have been Hampshire.

At the time of the 1851 census on 30 March, Charles again appears in his parent's household at Dores Row, Ryde. Again all the family are enumerated with the surname REAVES. He is now 15 years old, was born at Ryde, IoW and he is described as a Scholar.

The marriage of Charles REEVES and Elizabeth COTTON is recorded in the register of the Parish Church of All Saints, Newchurch. FreeBMD notes the marriage was registered during 2q1857 in the Isle of Wight Registration District.
The known children of Charles Reeves and his wife Elizabeth (nee COTTON) are

1. Frederick Charles Reeves, b.reg. 3q1857, d.reg. 2q1858
2. William Thomas Reeves, b.reg. 2q1859, d.reg. 3q1860
3. Albert James Reeves, b.reg. 3q1861

FreeBMD notes all three births were registered in the Isle of Wight Registration District and all with mother's maiden name of COTTON. The IoW FHS Index to Birth Registrations confirms the mother's maiden name in each case and notes each birth was registered in the Ryde Registration sub District.

A decade later the 1861 census shows Charles and Elizabeth Reeves living at 6 Buckingham Place, St Thomas Street in Ryde on the Isle of Wight. Charles is now 27 years old and again claims birth in Ryde. He is working as a Mariner. His wife Elizabeth is 29 years old and was born in Cowes. There are no other members of the household.

On the 1871 census, Charles and Elizabeth Reeves are living in Cottage No. 3, Dover Street, Ryde. His age and place of birth remain consistent although he is now described as a Waterman. As well as their son Albert Reeves (age 9), there is a single lodger, Henry Smith (48, born Portsmouth) who shares Charles's occupation

At the time of the 1881 census, Charles and Elizabeth are living at the Back of Sea View, Dover Street, Ryde. His age is now recorded as 45 years, he was born in Ryde and is still employed as a Waterman. In addition to Elizabeth and their son Albert, who is now also working as a Waterman, the household also includes Frederick Reeves whose relationship is given as Cousin (see Research Note 1 below) and a Lodger.

Neither Charles nor his wife Elizabeth have been positively identified on the 1891 census. It is possible Charles is the Lodger in the household of Charlotte Norris (a Widow and Lodging House Keeper) at Rock Cottage, Oakfield which a village and parish neighbouring Ryde. This Charles is 57 years old, was born in Ryde and is working as a Labourer. He claims to be married, but this wife is not with him. (Their son Albert is known to have moved to London and neither parent is enumerated with him at the time of this census.)

Both Charles and his wife Elizabeth remain elusive on the 1901 census. It is possible Charles is he individual listed in the Isle of Wight Union Workhouse at Parkhurst, in the civil parish of Carisbrooke on the Isle of Wight. He is described as a married pauper, who is 68 years old and who claims birth at Calbourne, IoW. His occupation is recorded as "Ship Stoker". See Research Note 2 below. With respect to wife Elizabeth see Research Note 3 below.

On the 1911 census Charles's wife Elizabeth and his son Albert James Reeves appear together at 38 Warwick Street, Ryde. Elizabeth notes she is a widow.

The death of a Charles James Reeves, age 69, so born c1837 is recorded in the GRO Index to Death Registrations during 3q1906. The IoW FHS index notes the death was registered in the Newport Registration sub District, which would include the workhouse. However, no other reference to a second given name of James has been found for this individual. The possibility that Charles and Elizabeth has become estranged and she regarded herself as a widow should not be dismissed but no other death registration across the period 1881-1931 in volume 2b (Hampshire and Sussex) seems a better match for our subject.

Research Notes

(1) At the time of the 1881 census a Frederick Reeves is living with Charles. Elizabeth and their son Albert. It is most likely that this is Frederick William Reeves, the son of Charles's younger brother Richard Reeves.

(2) On the 1901 census ....

• Our subject Charles's age has varied slightly across the decades, now aged 68 places his likely birth around 1833, the earliest seen.
• On all prior census returns Charles has claimed birth at Ryde. Calbourne is in the west of the Isle of Wight and is some distance from Ryde. The prior entry on the census return shows Ryde as the place of birth, so the possibility of an original error in the enumeration should be investigated by researching those inmates listed immediately before and after Charles.
• The occupation of Ship('s) Stoker is a reasonable match with Mariner (1861) and Waterman (1871 & 81).

(3) On the 1901 census it is considered highly probable that James's wife Elizabeth is the individual living alone at 36 Hill Street, Ryde. This individual is 66 years old (whereas 69 would be more consistent for Elizabeth Reeves nee Cotton) and she was born at Cowes, Isle of Wight which is consistent with prior decades. She is married, but there is no husband present with this Elizabeth and she is employed as a Domestic Cook.

(4) It is likely that Elizabeth's death is that recorded during the first quarter of 1912 in the Isle of Wight Registration District as Elizabeth Ann Reeves, age 75. The corresponding entry in the IoW FHS Index to Death Registrations shows the event was recorded in the Ryde Registration sub District. Ryde

Sources

Birth:       
Baptism:   FamilySearch https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J72C-FZ4
Marriage: FreeBMD     1857, June quarter, Isle of Wight Registration District
Death:      FreeBMD     1906, September quarter, Isle of Wight Registration District
                 
1841 Census: HO107, Piece 0406, Book 8, Folio 16 reverse, Page 27, third household and continues Folio 17 face, Page 28
1851 Census: HO107, Piece 1664, Folio 116 reverse, Page 31, Schedule 97
1861 Census: RG9, Piece 0657, Folio 23 reverse, Page 18, Schedule 84
1871 Census: RG10, Piece 1166, Folio 39 face, Page 25, Schedule 136
1881 Census: RG11, Piece 1179, Folio 62 face, Page 21, Schedule 124
1891 Census: RG12, Piece 0892, Folio 81 face, Page 35, Schedule 225
1901 Census: RG11, Piece 1022, Folio 132 face, Page 3, Line 20
1911 Census: RG14, Piece 5726, Reg.Dist. 93 (Isle of Wight), Sub Dist. 3 (Ryde), Enum.Dist. 11, Schedule 370 - HoH Wife Elizabeth