Reeves, James

Summary

Father: John Reeves
Mother: Elizabeth mnu

Birth: c 1789 at Bossington, Hampshire
Birth Source: baptism and 1851 & 1861 census

Death:
Death Source:

Spouse1: Sarah mnu, but possibly SWEETAPPLE

Narrative

James Reeves is the fourth known child of John Reeves & Elizabeth mnu who was baptised at Bossington, Hampshire in May 1789.

On the 1841 census taken on 6 June, James appears along with his wife Sarah and children James and Marey (sic, aged 15) living in Kings Somborne. James gives his occupation as Farmer and he is 50 years old. The household also comprises Richard WATTS (15) whose occupation is intriguingly given as "Kept on Charity", Arthur BAILEY (3) occupation "On a Visit" and two female servants Mary WATERS (20) and Ann RUSSELL (15). All the above claim birth in county, that is Hampshire.

At the time of the 1851 census, on 30 March, James appears in the parish of Kings Somborne as a widower, aged 61 years, born Bossington, Hampshire. His occupation is "Landed Proprietor of 800 acres, employing 23 men and 10 boys", a sizeable undertaking for this era. The household also includes his daughter Mary (aged 27) and son Henry (24), both claiming birth in Kings Somborne. Emily Bailey (27) is a visitor in the household and there are two servants.

Based on the ages and birth place of daughter Mary & son Henry in the 1851 census, it is likely that they are the children of James and Sarah (mnu) who baptised nine children at Kings Somborne between 1816 & 1834. This is confirmed by the subsequent discovery of James & Sarah on the 1841 census.

1. John William Reeves, born October 1816, bapt May 1817
2. Sarah Reeves, bapt October 1818, marr 1840 to Thomas EDWARDS
3. James Reeves, born April 1820, bapt March 1821
4. Elizabeth Mary Reeves, born December 1821, bapt October 1823
5. Mary Reeves, bapt October 1823
6. Ellen Maria Reeves, born August 1825, bapt(1) August 1825 & bapt(2) May 1827
7. Henry Reeves, bapt May 1827
8. Catherine Reeves, bapt November 1829
9. Henrietta Reeves, bapt February 1834

All the above baptisms are noted in the Parish Registers of St Peter & St Paul, Kings Somborne, Hampshire.

It is probable this is the James Reeves who married Sarah SWEETAPPLE at Knights Enham in September 1815.

A decade later and the 1861 census shows James still living in Kings Somborne now as a Farmer of 500 Acres employing 12 men and 5 boys. He again claims birth in Bossington and remains a widower. His age is indistinct due to subsequent marks to the page, but is most probably 71 or perhaps 74. His son Henry (age 34, born Kings Somborne) is living with his father, along with two servants.

James has not been identified on the 1871 census and his son Henry is now living in his widowed sister Sarah's household.

Research Notes

The surname BAILEY has links to this Reeves family group, but Arthur and Emily's relationships are not presently known.

Sources

Birth:       
Baptism:  FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/NKPC-6QV
Marriage: HGS Marriage Index
Death:     
                 
1841 Census: HO107, Piece 0401, Book11, Folio 7 reverse, Page 11
1851 Census: HO107, Piece 1672, Folio 234 reverse, Page 27
1861 Census: RG9, Piece 0688, Folio 24 face, Page 17
1871 Census: RG10, Piece 1206, Folio 36 reverse, Page 42 - son Henry & daughter Sarah