Reeves, Charles

Summary

Father:
Mother:

Birth: c1827 or c1831
Birth Source: Census

Death:
Death Source:

Spouse1: Amelia Morley

Narrative

Little is currently known of Charles's early life or his parents. From two census returns it would seem he was born in or near Hastings, Sussex perhaps sometime around 1827-1831. See Research Note 1 below.

Charles has yet to be identified on either the 1841 or 1851 census. Given his occupation, it is likely he was away at sea.

The marriage of Charles Reeves and Amelia MORLEY is noted by FreeBMD as occurring during the third quarter of 1852 in the Steyning Registration District.
The known children of Charles REEVES and Amelia (nee MORLEY) are

1. Ann Reeves, bapt. Sept 1853
2. Eliza Reeves, bapt. May 1856
3. William Reeves, bapt. Jan 1859
4. Charles Reeves, bapt. Sept 1861
5. Julia Clifton Reeves, bapt. Nov 1867
6. George Edward Clifton Reeves, bapt. Feb 1871

Each of their children was baptised at the Parish Church of St Michael and All Angels, Southwick in Sussex.

On the 1861 census Charles is NOT enumerated with his wife Amelia and their three eldest children at Anns Place, Southwick. Amelia is first listed on the schedule, but is described as "Wife" rather than "Head". Her marital status is Married and she gives her occupation as Sailor's Wife.
Charles has been provisionally identified on the same census as an Able Seaman on board the coaster "Rose" which was at sea off The Downs on the census night. He gives his age as 34 and his place of birth as Haistings (sic), Sussex. Again see Research Note 1 below. The home port of "Rose" was Shoreham (Sussex) which is adjacent to Southwich, where the family are to be found.

On the 1871 census Charles and Amelia Reeves appear at Butts Field (Back of Sea Houses) in Southwick, Sussex. Charles gives his age as 40 and his birthplace as Hollington, Sussex. Again see Research Note 1. His occupation is noted as Mariner. Amelia's brother Edward MORLEY and his family are enumerated on the next schedule.

Neither Charles nor his wife Amelia have been identified on the 1881 census. There is no obvious death registration on FreeBMD matching this individual in the period 1871-1891. It is likely that his wife Amelia's death is that noted by FreeBMD during the second quarter of 1877 in the Hastings Registration District, aged 46.

Research Notes

(1) Charles is inconsistent with his age and also his place of birth. On the 1861 census his place of birth is noted as Haistings (sic) Sussex and a decade later as Hollington, Sussex. The Ancient Parish of Hollington includes much of what is now St Leonards on Sea and is immediately adjacent to Hastings. The 1861 census suggests he was born around 1827 and from 1871 around 1831.

(2) At the time of the 1881 census, it would seem that Charles's family are scattered.

• Daughter Ann is married and enumerated in her husband William Smith's household.
• Daughter Eliza is recently married and enumerated in her husband William Ball's household. The Smith's and Ball's are neighbours.
• Son William is living in his sister Ann's household.
• Son Charles is living in his sister Eliza's household.
• Daughter Julia is working as a servant.
• Son George has yet to be identified on the 1881 census. He is next found on the 1901 census within the "Royal Navy At Sea and In Ports" returns.
• Brother-in-law Edward MORLEY has relocated to Chatham, Kent prior to the 1881 census and remains in Kent for 1891 & 1901 censuses. There are no Reeves sightings with Edward Morley over this period.

Sources

Birth:       
Baptism:  
Marriage: FreeBMD 1852, September quarter, Steyning Registration District
Death:     
                 
1841 Census:
1851 Census:
1861 Census: Wife and family - RG9, Piece 0603, Folio 126 face, Page 17
1861 Census: RG9, Piece 4454 (Crew Lists), Folio 110 face, (Form A & Cover)
1871 Census: RG10, Piece 1090, Folio 37 face, Page 27
1881 Census: