Reeves, George

Summary

Father: George REEVES
Mother: Mary THORN

Birth: c1829
Birth Source: Censuses

Death: 1887
Death Source: GRO Index & Census

Spouse1: Mary Ann CRANN

Narrative

Nothing is currently known of George's early life. He is reasonably consistent on census returns with his age, pointing to his birth being around 1829, but the place is less certain. See Research Note 1 below.

On the 1841 census taken on 6 June, George appears in the household of his parents George & Mary Reeves in the parish of Romsey Extra, Hampshire. He was twelve years old and was born in county (Hampshire). He was the oldest of four children in his parent's household at that time.

George Reeves has yet to be positively identified on the 1851 census returns. See Research Note 2 below.

FreeBMD notes the marriage of George REEVES and Mary Ann CRANN during 3q1865 in the Lambeth Registration District.
Known children of George Reeves and Mary Ann (nee CRANN) are

1. George Reeves, b.reg. 1856
2. Kate Reeves, b.reg. 1859, d.reg. 1860
3. Eliza Reeves, b.reg. 1861
4. Frederick Reeves, b.reg. 1864
5. Rose Reeves, b.reg. 1867 and married Thomas A KELLY

In all instances the child's birth was registered in the Lambeth Registration District and the mother's maiden name was recorded as CRANN.

A decade later and the 1861 census shows George and his wife Mary A living at 22 Carlisle Street, Lambeth, Surrey. The family surname is not distinctly written and might be also read as Reevirs or Reevers, but their places of birth leave no room for doubt that this is the correct family group. George is 32 years of age was born at Rumsey (sic Romsey), Hampshire and is working as an Engineer. His wife Mary is the same age and her place of birth is Abbotts Ann, Hampshire. Their son George (4, born Lambeth, Surrey) completes the household.

On the 1871 census, George and Mary Reeves have moved a short distance to Paris Street in Lambeth. George is now 42 years of age, claims birth at Eling, Hampshire and is working as an Engineer in a Candle Works. In addition to his wife Mary (age 42, born Abbotts Ann, Hampshire), their children George (14, Lambeth, a Scholar), Eliza (9, Lambeth, a Scholar), Frederick (7, Lambeth, a Scholar) and Rose (4, Lambeth, a Scholar) complete the household. George's younger brother William Reeves along with his wife and son are living in the same house but are enumerated on a separate schedule (as is a third unrelated family).

At the time of the 1881 census, George and Mary remain at the same address on Paris Street. George is now recorded as being 53 years of age and is working as a Stoker in a Candle factory. His wife Mary A Reeves (also 53), son Fred (17, a Printer's Warehouseman) and Rose (14, a Scholar) complete the household. There again two additional households at the same address and the third is George and Mary's son George, who is now married and has two children.

George Reeves has not been identified on the 1891 census and his wife Mary is described as a Widow. FreeBMD & the GRO Index note the death during the fourth quarter of 1887 in the Lambeth Registration District of a George Reeves, age 59 which is a very strong match to our subject.

Research Notes

(1) Whilst George's age is consistently given across four census returns, his place of birth is far more fluid. In 1861 it was Romsey, in 1871 it was Eling and by 1881 it was Lambeth, Surrey. The latter may be an original transcription error between the household schedule and the surviving Enumeration Book.

(2) As noted above, our subject George Reeves has yet to be positively identified on the 1851 census. It is possible he is the George Reeves who appears on the 1851 census as a Lodger in the household of widow Harriett ISAACS at Nursling, Hampshire. This individual claims to be 22 years of age and that he was born at Eling in Hampshire. He is working as an Engineer's Labourer. There is currently no known connection between this Reeves family and Harriett ISAACS, and given how frequently occurring the name George Reeves is, (particularly in this area of Hampshire at this time), there is limited evidence to suggest this is the same person.

Sources

Birth:       
Baptism:  
Marriage1: FreeBMD   -   1855, September quarter, Lambeth Registration District
Death:        GRO Index   -   1887, December quarter, Lambeth Registration District
                 
1841 Census: HO107, Piece 0401, Book 6, Folio 1 reverse, Page 9
1851 Census:
1861 Census: RG9, Piece 0351, Folio 139 face, Page 49, Schedule 307
1871 Census: RG10, Piece 0659, Folio 30 reverse, Page 54, Schedule 434
1881 Census: RG11, Piece 0590, Folio 64 reverse, Page 16, Schedule 135
1891 Census: RG12, Piece 0391, Folio 135 face, Page 16, Schedule 129   -   HoH Mary Ann Reeves, widow

1851 Census - HO107, Piece 1671, Folio 19 reverse, Page 31   -   HoH Harriett ISAACS