Reeves, Francis

Summary

Father: Charles REEVES
Mother: Charlotte MUNDAY

Birth: 1837, Chute Wiltshire
Birth Source: Baptism and Census

Death: 1924, Wiltshire
Death Source: FreeBMD

Spouse1: Jane EYLES

Narrative

Francis Reeves is the third of eight known children of Charles REEVES and his wife Charlotte (nee MUNDAY). He was baptised at the Parish Church of St Nicholas, Chute in June 1837, at which time his birth was noted as having occurred in May 1837.

On the 1841 census taken on 6 June, Francis was recorded in his parents household at Hophouse Cottage, Chute, Wiltshire. He is 4 years old and was born in county. Note the whole family are enumerated as REEVS (sic).

The 1851 census, on 30 March, notes that Francis's mother Charlotte Reeves was a widow and she is listed as Head of Household. Francis is 15 years old, was born at Chute Forest and is working as a Farm Labourer. He is one of six children, the second eldest, living with their mother.

A decade later and the 1861 census shows Francis in the household of Alexander Wild and his wife Charlotte (formerly Reeves, nee Munday). His relationship is noted as son-in-law (that is stepson), that he is 23 years old, was born at Chute and is employed as an Agricultural Labourer.

The marriage of Francis Reeves and Jane EYLES is noted by FreeBMD as occurring during the third quarter of 1862 in the Andover Registration District.
The known children of Francis Reeves and Jane (nee EYLES) are

1. Mary Ann Reeves, b.reg. 1863
2. Rhoda Jane Reeves, b.reg. 1864
3. Dinah Reeves, b.reg. 1867
4. Henry Reeves, b.reg. 1869
5. James Reeves, bapt Feb 1872, d.reg 1q1872
6. Nellie Reeves, b.reg. 1874
7. William Reeves, b.reg. 1876
8. Caroline Reeves, b.reg. 1878
9. Alfred Reeves, b.reg. 1880
10. Charles John Reeves, b.reg. 1884
11. Tom Frank Reeves, b.reg. 1884

On the 1911 census Jane confirms she has had eleven children, nine of whom were then still surviving. Charles John Reeves and Tom Frank Reeves share the same birth registration reference and are most probably twins.

On the 1871 census, Francis and his wife Jane are living Upper Chute, Wiltshire. He is 34 years old, gives Chute as his place of birth and was working as a farm labourer. The household is completed by their four eldest children. His mother and step-father are enumerated nearby and he remains geographically close to them on subsequent census returns until their deaths (both occurring in 1q1896).

At the time of the 1881 census, Francis and Jane are again to be found in Chute. He is now 43 years old and employed as an Agricultural Labourer. There are five children present in the household, Rhoda (aged 16), Henry (10), Nellie (7), William (4) and seven month old Alfred.

On the 1891 census, Francis plus his wife Jane and five youngest children are living at Chute. He is enumerated as Frank Reeves and is now 54 years old, employed as a Farm Labourer and claims birth at Chute, Wiltshire.

By the time of the 1901 census, Francis and Jane are still living in Chute, the street address is now given as Forest Lane, Chute. He is 64 years old and working as an Agricultural Labourer. Their sons Alfred and Charles are still living at home and in addition there are three boarders; Charles J Smith (45) whose occupation is given as "Pond Maker" and who works on his own account, Charles Smith (19, General Labourer) and Stephen Bolter (30, General Labourer). All three were born in Market Lavington, Wiltshire. There is no known family connection and they were probably working locally creating or relining dew ponds on the chalk downs at the time of the census.

On the 1911 census Francis,Jane and their son Alfred are again to be found in Upper Chute. He is now 73 years old, still claiming birth at Chute, Wilstshire. He gives his occupation as Old Age Pensioner to which has been added in another hand "formerly Agricultural Labourer"

It is believed that the death of Francis Reeves is that noted by FreeBMD as occurring during the fourth quarter of 1924, in Devizes Registration District. His age at death is noted as 87 years.

Research Notes

(1)

Sources

Birth:        See Baptism
Baptism:   FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N69K-CR9
Marriage: FreeBMD 1862, December quarter, Andover Registration District
Death:        FreeBMD 1924, December quarter, Devizes Registration District
                 
1841 Census: HO107, Piece 1180, Book 6, Folio 15 face, Page 22
1851 Census: HO107, Piece 1683, Folio 536 reverse, Page 17
1861 Census: RG9, Piece 0716, Folio 4 face, Page 1
1871 Census: RG10, Piece 1244, Folio 3 reverse,Page 6
1881 Census: RG11, Piece 2061, Folio 43 reverse, Page 2
1891 Census: RG12, Piece 1613, Folio 35 reverse, Page 6
1901 Census: RG13, Piece 1947, Folio 35 reverse, Page 5
1911 Census: RG14, Piece 12053, Reg.Dist. 251 (Pewsey), Sub Dist. 2 (Collingbourne), Enum.Dist. 3, Schedule 63