Reeves, Henry (aka Ryves, Henry)

Summary

Father: John Ryves/Reeves
Mother: Sarah mnu

Birth: bef 29 June 1817
Birth Source: baptism

Death: c1893
Death Source: FreeBMD D. Reg.

Spouse1: Eliza HORNER

Narrative

Henry Ryves, the son of John Ryves and Sarah (nee mnu), was baptised at the Parish Church of St Mary & All Saints, Droxford on 29 June 1817. The last positive reference to the surname Ryves for this family group is in 1822, when Henry's younger sister Jane was baptised.

On the 1841 census taken on 6 June, Henry was living with his parents and three siblings. The family surname is recorded as Reeves and it is this form of the name which is used on all subsequent occasions. The family were living at Swanmore, within the parish of Droxford. Henry gives his age as 24, his occupation as Agricultural Labourer and he was born within the county (of Hampshire).

On 5 December 1846, Henry REEVES marries Eliza HORNER at the Parish Church of St Barnabas, Swanmore. (This ecclesiastical parish was created out of the ancient Parish of Droxford and the new parish church only consecrated in December 1845. It is sometimes referred to as "Swanmore by Droxford" during its early years).

The known children of Henry Reeves and Eliza (nee Horner) are ....

1. Fanny Reeves, bapt December 1847
2. Emma Reeves, bapt May 1850
3. Mary Ann Reeves, bapt May 1852
4. Eliza Reeves, bapt December 1854
5. Sarah Reeves, bapt August 1856
6. Henry Reeves, bapt March 1858
7. Frank Reeves, bapt May 1861

Their two eldest daughters were baptised at Swanmore by Droxford. The latter five children were baptised at St Mary the Virgin, Rowner and on each occasion the family surname is recorded as Reevs (sic). However, FreeBMD notes the GRO birth registration's under the surname Reeves on each occasion.

By the time of the 1851 census, Henry with wife Eliza and their two eldest daughters had moved to Rowner Farm, Rowner in Hampshire, about 10 miles south of Swanmore. Henry's age is recorded as 33 and he is working as an Agricultural Labourer.

A decade later and the 1861 census shows Henry, Eliza and five children are living at Middle Barn, Grange Lane in Rowner. Henry's age is now 42 and he is still working as an Agricultural Labourer. The four youngest children have all been born in Rowner.

On the 1871 census, Henry plus wife Eliza and four children are living at Middle Barn Cottage, Grange Lane, Rowner. Henry's age is now 52 and his occupation is given as Cowman. Their daughter Eliza is living and working as a Maid Servant in the big house next door.

At the time of the 1881 census, little seems to have changed for Henry & Eliza. They are still living at Middle Barn Cottage and Henry is still working as a Cowman, now aged 62. Son Henry and daughter Emma are both still living with their parents. Their youngest son Frank with his wife Annie Rose and their 5month old son are living next door.

By the time of the 1891 census, Henry's wife Eliza has died and Henry is living with his son Frank and his family at Grange Cottage (no 1). Even at 75 years of age, Henry is described as a Farm Labourer.

Henry has not be identified on the 1901 census. FreeBMD has a strongly matching D. Reg. in Fareham Reg. Dist. during the March quarter of 1893 for a Henry Reeves aged 74.

Research Notes

Was it co-incidence that Henry married in December 1846 and his elder brother William Reeves married less than a month earlier in November 1846?

Sources

Birth:       
Baptism:   https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/NYW2-G68
Marriage: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/NK4B-8XW
Death:      FreeBMD D. Reg. 1q1893 Fareham Reg. Dist.

1841 Census: HO107, Piece 0387, Book 1, Folio 16 face, Page 2
1851 Census: HO107, Piece 1661, Folio 507 reverse, Page 1
1861 Census: RG9, Piece 0651, Folio 116 reverse, Page 2
1871 Census: RG10, Piece 1158, Folio 52 face, Page 7
1881 Census: RG11, Piece 1171, Folio 59 reverse, Page 6
1891 Census: RG12, Piece 0884, Folio 132 face, Page 1