Reeves, Edward

Summary

Father: Edward Ayearst REEVES
Mother: Sarah Hind ROW

Birth: c 1823
Birth Source: Baptism & Census

Death: 1905
Death Source: FreeBMD

Spouse1: Eliza HOLMAN
Spouse2: Charlotte BALLARD

Narrative

On the 1841 census taken on 6 June, Edward is living in the household of John and Ann BARNETT on High Street in the St John Under the Castle area of Lewes, Sussex. He is 15 years of age and was not born in county (that is to say not in Sussex). John Barnett's occupation is Watchmaker and Edward's is given as Watchmaker's Apprentice.

At the time of the 1851 census, on 30 March, Edward is head of household at 68 High Street in the St Michael's parish of Lewes, Sussex. He is 27 years old and his place of birth is recorded as Lewes, Sussex (sic). His occupation is given as Master Watchmaker. The only other individual in the household is Benjamin VINALL, who is described as a Visitor. See Research Note 1 below.

The marriage of Edward REEVES to Eliza HOLMAN is noted by FreeBMD as occurring during the second quarter of 1851 in the Lewes Registration District.
The known children of Edward Reeves and Eliza (nee HOLMAN) are

1. Ellen Alice Reeves, b.reg. 1855
2. Mary Elizabeth Reeves, b.reg. 1858

The birth of both children was registered in the Lewes Registration District.

A decade later and the 1861 census shows Edward and Eliza living at 159 High Street, Lewes where he was to live for the rest of his life and a property which in 2015 is still home to the family firm of Edward Reeves Photographer, established in 1855. (See Research Note 2 below.) His age is given as 38 and his place of birth as Bonenden (or perhaps Benenden) in Kent. His occupation is given as "Watch Maker and Photographic Artist (Master employing 1 man)". In addition to their two young daughters, the household additionally comprises Harriet HOLMAN (sister-in-law, age 24, a dressmaker), John LUTMAN (servant, 34, a Journeyman Watch and Clock maker) and Elizabeth COY (17, a household servant).

On the 1871 census Edward is shown as a widower. He is 47 years old and claims birth at Benenden,Kent. He is working as a Photographer employing 2 assistants. His daughters Ellen and Mary are living with him; Ellen is assisting in the family business and Mary is a scholar. It is likely that Edward's wife Eliza has only recently died; FreeBMD has a strongly matching death registration entry for Eliza Reeves, aged 53, during the first quarter of 1871 in Lewes Registration District.

Edward REEVES and Charlotte BALLARD married during the second quarter of 1873 in the Lewes Registration District.
The known child of Edward Reeves and Charlotte (nee BALLARD) is

1. Benjamin Vinall REEVES, b.reg. 1874

At the time of the 1881 census Edward with his new wife Charlotte remains at 159 High Street, Lewes. Edward's age is now 58 and again his place of birth is Benenden, Kent. His occupation is given as Photographer employing i man and and one female assistant. In addition to his wife, the household comprises his daughter Mary E Reeves (22, unmarried, Photo Shop Assistant), son Benjamin V Reeves (7, Scholar) and Kate HENDLEY (16, a General Servant). See also Research Note 3 below.

On the 1891 census, very little has changed in Edward's household. He is now shown as being 67 years old, born Benenden Kent and working as a Photographic Artist. His wife Charlotte's occupation is Stationer and daughter Mary E Reeves is now a Photographic Retoucher. Son Benjamin (now 17) is a Photographic Assistant.

By the time of the 1901 census Edward is again a widower. His age is now given as 77 and his place of birth remains consistent as Benenden, Kent. His occupation is shown as Photographer and he is an Employer working At Home. The household is completed by his son Benjamin V Reeves (27, married, born Lewes Sussex, a Photographer) and his daughter-in-law, Gertrude A Reeves (29, married, born Mudford Somerset, occupation Photographer).

Edward has not been identified on the 1911 census; his son Benjamin is HoH at 159 High Street. It is highly likely that Edward's is the death noted by FreeBMD during the second quarter of 1905 in Lewes Registration District, aged 81.

Research Notes

(1) The possibility of a family connection with Benjamin VINALL would be worth exploring. VINALL was the married surname of Edward's elder sister Sarah Rose/Row REEVES. At the time of the 1841 census Benjamin is working as an apprentice watch maker in Brighton, Sussex so yielding no additional information.

(2) See Edward Reeves Photographer http://www.edwardreeves.com/

(3) The preceding schedule (number 143) is for "Clock House", High Street, Lewes. The Head of Household is William Henry HOLMAN, age 27, unmarried, born Lewes, a Watchmaker. The only other person in the household is his mother Ann HOLMAN, age 58, unmarried (sic), born Turners Hill, Sussex. The possibility of a family connection between Edward's first wife Eliza HOLMAN and this Ann HOLMAN might be worth investigating. Note Clock House is separated from 159 High Street by St Michaels Church.

Sources

Birth:       
Baptism:   FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NJR8-BG6
Marriage1: FreeBMD 1851, June quarter, Lewes Registration District
Marriage2: FreeBMD 1873, June quarter, Lewes Registration District
Death:     FreeBMD 1905, June quarter, Lewes Registration District
                 
1841 Census: HO107, Piece 1120, Book 3, Folio 6 face, Page 4
1851 Census: HO107, Piece 1643, Folio 387 reverse, Page 5
1861 Census: RG9, Piece 0586, Folio 52, Page 9
1871 Census: RG10, Piece 1067, Folio 49 face, Page 3
1881 Census: RG11, Piece 1069, Folio 59 face, Page 27
1891 Census: RG12, Piece 0797, Folio 46 face, Page 9
1901 Census: RG13, Piece 0915, Folio 86 face, Page 7

1911 Census: RG14, Piece 5053, Reg.Dist. 77 (Lewes), Sub Dist. 2 (Lewes), Enum.Dist. 1, Schedule 57 - son Benjamin

Edward Reeves Photographer http://www.edwardreeves.com/
The Edward Reeves Archive Project http://leweshistory.org.uk/2014/09/02/the-edward-reeves-archive-project/
                and http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-29526761