Reeves, Edward

Summary

Father: Thomas REEVES
Mother: Jane COOPER

Birth: 1845
Birth Source: FreeBMD & Censuses

Death: 1917
Death Source: FreeBMD

Spouse1: Fanny SNUDDEN

Narrative

Edward REEVES is the sxth of eight known children born to Thomas REEVES and his wife Jane (nee COOPER). The IoW FHS notes his birth was in 1845 and was recorded in the Ryde Registration sub District. The GRO Index to the Registration of Births has an entry for Edward REEVES during the 3q1845 in the Isle of Wight Registration District. Both entries record his mother's maiden name as COOPER. He was baptised as Edward REAVES (sic) in late September 1845 at the Church of St Thomas, (GB_HAM_Ryde|Ryde)), a Chapel of Ease within the Parish of All Saints, Newchurch.

At the time of the 1851 census on 30 March, Edward appears in his parent's household at Dores Row, Ryde on the Isle of Wight. All the family are enumerated with the surname REAVES. He is 5 years old, was born in Ryde, IoW and is a Scholar.

A decade later and the 1861 census shows Edward is still living with his parents, now at Star Street in Ryde, His is 15 years old and again claims birth in Ryde. There is no occupation recorded for him.

Edward Reeves married Fanny SNUDDEN in April 1866 at the Parish Church of All Saints, Newchurch. See Research Note 1 below.
The known children of Edward Reeves and his wife Fanny (nee SNUDDEN) are

1. Edward William Reeves, b.reg. 1q1875
2. Thomas Reeves, b.reg. 1q1876
3. George Henry Reeves, b.reg. 1q1879
4. Charles Reeves, b.reg. 4q1880
5. John Reeves, b.reg. 3q1882

Each birth was registered in the Isle of Wight Registration District and with their mother's maiden name as SNUDDEN.

On the 1871 census, Edward and Fanny Reeves are living on Paddock Street in Ryde. His age and place of birth remain consistent and he is now employed as a Porter. Fanny is 26 years old and was born at Godshill on the Isle of Wight. There is a third member in the household, also called Fanny Reeves. She is 16 years old and described as the daughter of the Head of Household. She wsa born in London. See Research Note 2 below.

At the time of the 1881 census, Edward and Fanny Reeves are living at 14 Market Street, Ventnor, IoW. He is now 36 years old, was born in Ryde and is now working as a Coachman. Their four eldest sons and two lodgers complete the household.

On the 1891 census, Edward and Fanny Reeves have returned to Ryde and are now living at 15 Surrey, Street. He is now 45 years old and working as a Coach Guard. In addition to Fanny (who is also 45 years old) and their five sons William (sic) (16, a groom), Thomas (14, an Errand Boy), George (12, a Scholar), Charles (10, Scholar) and John (8, Scholar) there are three lodgers in the household.

On the 1901 census Edward is listed as a Widower. It is likely that the death of his wife Fanny Reeves is that recorded during the third quarter of 1896 in the Isle of Wight Registration District. The IoW FHS shows the death was recorded in the Ryde Registration sub District and both indicate Fanny was aged 56 years old. See Research Note 3 below.

By the time of the 1901 census Edward is working as a Labourer at a Coachyard, He is now 55, a widower and was born in Ryde. He is still living at 15 Surrey Street, Ryde and has his sons Thomas, George and Charles living with him.

On the 1911 census Edward Reeves is to be found living with his son and daughter-in-law George and Louisa Reeves at 5 St Johns Wood Road, Ryde. Edward is now 64 years old and his occupation is shown as Coachman. Erroneously (but fortunately for subsequent researchers) his son recorded that his father has had six children, five of whom were then surviving and that one had died. This was subsequently struck through in red ink by a census official but remains easily legible. See Research Note 4 below.

It is highly likely Edward's death is that recorded during 4q1917 in the Isle of Wight Registration District, age 73.

Research Notes

(1) The FamilySearch transcription of the Marriage Register shows Edward's father's name as Sims Reeves. An original image as yet to be consulted. (Ancestry shows the same information, sourced from FS).

(2) The true identity of Edward's supposed daughter Fanny Reeves who appears on the 1871 census has yet to be determined. In that she is only ten years younger than Edward and his wife Fanny makes it highly unlikely either of them could be her biological parent.

If the enumerator had accidentality omitted the qualifier "months" after her age, that would place Fanny birth around November/December 1869. FreeBMD has no birth registrations for a Fanny Reeves during 4q1869 or 1q1870 in a London Registration District and the GRO Index to Birth Registrations has no Reeves with mother's maiden surname of Snudden in the period 1870 +/-2 years.

If her age of 16 is correct then Fanny would have been born around 1855. Again FreeBMD has no birth registrations for a Fanny Reeves nor a Fanny SNUDDEN between 1q1854 and 1q1857 in a London Registration District.

There is a Fanny SNUDDEN whose birth was registered during 1q1855 in the Isle of Wight Reg.Dist. with mother's maiden name of MIDLANE which might be worth exploring. There is also a Fanny SNUDDEN whose birth was registered during 1q1855 in the Lymington Reg.Dist. with mother's maiden name of PHLLIPS; an individual named Annie PHILLIPS was the partner of Edward's son Thomas in the 1900's, so again perhaps worthy of further investigation.

(3) At first glance Fanny's age at death in 1896 of 56 years (so born around 1840) seems to be at odds with her age on the 1871 to 1891 census returns of 26, 37 & 45 which places her birth around 1845, very similar to her husband Edward. At their marriage in 1866, she gave her father's name as William SNUDDEN. The 1851 census shows a Fanny Snudden (age 11, so born c1840) in the household of William and Rebecca Snudden at Ventnor, IoW. (H0107, Piece 1665, Folio 53 face, Page 42, Schedule 134). The GRO Index to Birth Registrations has a Fanny Snudden registered during 4q1839 in the Isle of Wight Reg.Dist. with mother's maiden name of SMITH who would fit this individual very well. Additionally the b.reg. of Fanny's siblings also share a mother's maiden name of Smith, leaving little doubt this is her.

So it seems probable that Fanny had been economical with her age across the 1871, 81 & 91 census returns and her age at death is actually correct.

(4) Whilst son George may have indicated on the 1911 census that his parents (and specifically his father) had had six children, only the five sons listed above are known.

The IoW FHS Index to Birth Registrations only list five children to a Reeves/Snudden pairing, see IOW FHS. It is of couse possible the sixth child was born off the island.

Searching the GRO Index to Birth Registrations between 1853 (when Fanny would have been 13) and 1866 (when she married Edward) shows only four births on the Isle of Wight (or neighbouring districts, since she might have been sent away to give birth)

1. Ellen Snudden during 1q1854 in Isle of Wight Reg.Dist.
2. Harry Charles Snudden during 4q1857 in Lymington Reg.Dist.
3. Henry Snudden during 2q1859 in Isle of Wight Reg.Dist.
4. Thomas Snudden during 3q1863 in Isle of Wight Reg.Dist.

Likewise checking the GRO Index to Birth Registrations between 1886 (their marriage) and 1887 (when Fanny would have been 48 years old) in volume 2B for Reeves births shows no obvious misspelling of Snudden.

It is possible a misunderstanding of Fanny Reeves' relationship (see Research Note 2 above) may be a factor in this apparent discrepancy.

Sources

Birth:        FreeBMD     1845, September quarter, Isle of Wight Registration District
                  Isle of Wight Family History Society - Births Index       1845, Ryde Registration sub District
Baptism:   FamilySearch     https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J9KM-MB8
Marriage: FreeBMD     1866, June quarter, Isle of Wight Registration District
                 FamilySearch     https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NX6M-K28
Death:      FreeBMD     1917, December quarter, Isle of Wight Registration District
                 
1851 Census: HO107, Piece 1664, Folio 116 reverse, Page 31, Schedule 97
1861 Census: RG9, Piece 0657, Folio 95 reverse, Page 12, Schedule 57
1871 Census: RG10, Piece 1168, Folio 129 face, Page 15, Schedule 64
1881 Census: RG11, Piece 1185, Folio 41 face, Page 75, Schedule 399
1891 Census: RG12, Piece 0891, Folio 15 face, Page 23, Schedule 167
1901 Census: RG13, Piece 1025, Folio 92 reverse, Page 36, Schedule 271
1911 Census: RG14, Piece 5728, Reg.Dist. 93 (Isle of Wight), Sub Dist 3 (Ryde), Enum.Dist. 13, Schedule 136