Reeves, Ernest

Summary

Father: John REEVES
Mother: Emma GROVES

Birth: 1880
Birth Source: FreeBMD and Census

Death:
Death Source:

Spouse1: Orpah Elizabeth GIBB

Narrative

Ernest REEVES is the third of five known children of John REEVES and his first wife Emma (nee GROVES). He was born at Offham (near Hamsey) in Sussex and his birth was registered during the third quarter of 1880 in the Lewis Registration District. FamilySearch notes he was baptised in August 1880 at the Parish Church of St Peter, Hamsey, Sussex but since 1860 when the "new" Parish Church of St Peter was consecrated, the church was in the village of Offham within the parish of Hamsey.

At the time of the 1881 census, Ernest appears in the home of his parents John and Emma Reeves at Offham Street, Hamsey. He is nine months old and his place of birth is given as Hamsey, Sussex. He is the youngest of three Reeves boys in the household.

On the 1891 census, Ernest is again to be found in his parent's household, now at Pevington Cottages, Pluckley in Kent. He is ten years old and his place of birth is given as Offham, Hamsey, Sussex. His elder brother Albert and younger sisters Camilla and Florence complete the household.

The marriage of Ernest REEVES to Orpah Elizabeth GIBB is recorded by FreeBMD as occurring during the fourth quarter of 1900 in the Ticehurst Registration District.
The known children of Ernest Reeves and his wife Orpah Elizabeth (nee GIBB) are ..

1. Frederick John Reeves, b.reg. 4q1901
2. Charles Henry Reeves, b.reg. 4q1903
3. Florence Annie Reeves, b.reg. 4q 1905
4. Elsie May Reeves, b.reg. 1q1908
5. Albert George Reeves, b.reg. 3q1910
    
   
6. Ernest William GIBB (aka REEVES), b.reg. 4q1899 was also raised by Ernest Reeves as his son (see 1911 census below)

All the above births were recorded in the Ticehusrt Registration District.

By the time of the 1901 census Ernest and Orpah are living at Fox in (the) Wood, Wadhurst, Sussex. Ernest is now 21 years old and claims birth at Offham, Sussex. He is employed as a Plate Layer. In addition to his wife Orpah, this return show a 1 month old son Ernest W Reeves. See also Research Note 1 on the page for Ernest William REEVES

On the 1911 census Ernest and Orpah are still living at Fox in the Wood, Wadhurst, Sussex. Ernest notes he is 30 years of age and that he was born at Offham, Sussex. He is employed as a Railway Labourer by the SECRy (South Eastern and Chatham Railway) Company. He notes that he and Orpah have been married ten years (which accords well with the 1900 marriage registration) and that they have had six children born alive to the present marriage. The first listed child is Ernest William GIBB (sic) aged 11 (sic) and he is followed by Frederick John REEVES (9). Charles Henry REEVES (7), Florence Annie REEVES (5), Elsie May REEVES (3) and Albert George REEVES (7 months). The birth place of all six children is given as Wadhurst, Sussex.

Their son Ernest William GIBB/REEVES joined the Royal Sussex Regiment during WW1 and was killed in 1916 in France.

It is likely Ernest was alive in September 1919 since he is named as the father and beneficiary of Private Ernest REEVES. A death registration for Ernest has yet to be identified, the name being relatively frequently found.

Research Notes

Sources

Birth:        FreeBMD     1880, September quarter, Lewes Registration District
Baptism:   FamilySearch     https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J98S-Y9G
Marriage: FreeBMD     1900, December quarter, Ticehurst Registration District
Death:     
                 
1881 Census: RG11, Piece 1067, Folio 88 reverse, Page 14
1891 Census: RG12, Piece 0698, Folio 84 face, Page 9
1901 Census: RG13, Piece 0894, Folio 25 face, Page 17
1911 Census: RG14, Piece 4909, Reg.Dist. 73 (Ticehurst), Sub Dist. 2 (Wadhurst), Enum.Dist. 2, Schedule 21