Reeves, George

Summary

Father:
Mother:

Birth: about 1803 at Romsey in Hampshire
Birth Source: Census

Death:
Death Source:

Spouse1: Mary THORN

Narrative

Nothing is currently known of George's early life and the place of George & Mary's marriage has yet to be established. See Research Note 1 below.

Known children of George Reeves and Mary

1. George Reeves, born c1829
2. Charles Reeves, born c 1834
3. Eliza Reeves, born c 1837
4. Henry Reeves, b.reg. 2q1839, bapt 21 Apr 1839 at Romsey
5. William Reeves, b.reg. 2q1843, bapt 9 July 1843 at Romsey

The birth of the two youngest children Henry & William were registered in the Romsey and Mitchelmersh Registration District and on both occasions the mother's maiden name is noted as THORN.
Additionally, the following two children were baptised at Romsey with parents George Reeves & Mary and are likely the same family ...

1. Charlotte Reeves, bapt 7 June 1826
2. Rebecca Reeves, bapt 14 May 1831 - See Research Note 2 below.

George has been identified on the 1841, 1851 & 1861 census returns and on each occasion at Lee in parish of Romsey Extra in Hampshire.

On the 1841 census taken on 6 June, the household comprised George (age 38, an Agricultural Labourer, born in county (Hampshire) and Mary (30, born Hampshire) plus George( 12, HAM), Charles (7, HAM), Eliza (4, HAM) and Henry (2, HAM). See Research Note 3 below.

At the time of the 1851 census on 30 March, George claims to be 48 years of age and that he was born at Romsey in Hampshire. He is again working as an Agricultural Labourer. The household includes his wife Mary (age 49, born Eling, Hampshire) and sons Henry (12, Romsey, Hampshire, an Agricultural Labourer) and William (8, Romsey, Hampshire, a Scholar).

A decade later and the 1861 census shows George and Mary are living at Meadow View in the hamlet of Lee. George is now 59 years of age, again claims birth in Romsey, Hampshire and continues to work as an Agricultural Labourer. The composition of the household is unchanged; Mary (60, but now claiming birth in Romsey, Hampshire), Henry (22, Romsey, Hampshire, a Miller) and William (17 or perhaps 18, Romsey, Hampshire and now a Carter).

Neither George nor his wife Mary has been positively identified on the 1871 census. There is a possible death registration for a George Reeves during the March quarter of 1870 in Romsey Registration District, where the age given at death is 69, which is a reasonable match for this individual

Research Notes

(1) Mary's maiden name was established based on the birth registrations of their two youngest children. If Charlotte, who was baptised in June 1826 is the daughter of George and Mary, then Mary was around 24 years of age when she gave birth (based her consistent age on the 1841/51/61 census returns. It is possible she had married previously and had been widowed prior to marrying George REEVES under her married surname.

THE HGS Index to baptisms includes a Mary THORNE (sic) who ws born in March 1801 and baptised at Eling in April 1801, which would be a good fit for George's wife.

(2) The GRO Index to Deaths has an entry during the first quarter of 1839 in the Romsey and Mitchelmersh Registration District for a Rebecca Reeves, age 7, so born c1831/2. This would be a good fit and would explain why George & Mary's daughter Rebecca does not appear in their household on the 1841 census.

(3) On the 1841 Census, the household of David Reeves (age 30, a Brick Maker, born Hampshire) & Harriett (nee BUNDY) are listed on the previous page, but this couple have yet to be uniquely identified and any possible family connection established.

(4) Possible 1861 location https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-side/#zoom=17.2&lat=50.95710&lon=-1.48438&layers=168&right=osm

Sources

Birth:       
Baptism:  
Marriage:
Death:      GRO Index to Deaths   -   1870, March quarter, Romsey Registration District
                 
1841 Census: HO107, Piece 0401, Book 6, Folio 1 reverse, Page 9
1851 Census: HO107, Piece 1671, Folio 102 reverse, Page 5, Schedule 20
1861 Census: RG09, Piece 0685, Folio 75 reverse, Page 18, Schedule 93
1871 Census: