Reeves, James

Summary

Father: George REEVES
Mother: Elizabeth mnu

Birth: c 1844 at Hilmarton, Wiltshire
Birth Source: Baptism & Census returns

Death: probable 1914, Wiltshire
Death Source: FreeBMD

Spouse1: Clara FRANKLIN/FRANKLYN

Narrative

James is the fourth of five known children of George REEVES and his wife Elizabeth (maiden name unknown). It is probable his is the birth registered during the first quarter of 1844 in the Calne Registration District and he was baptised at the Parish Church of St Laurence, Hilmarton in January 1844.

At the time of the 1851 census, on 30 March, James appears in the parental home at Goatacre in the parish of Hilmarton. He is a 7 year old scholar, whose birth place is shown as Hillmarton (sic) Wiltshire.

A decade later and the 1861 census shows James still living in the parental home at Goatacre. He is now recorded as being 16 years old and is employed as an Agricultural Labourer.

The marriage of James Reeves to Clara FRANKLYN is noted by FreeBMD as having been registered during the second quarter of 1869.
The known children of James Reeves and Carla (nee Franklyn) are

1. Elizabeth Ann Reeves, bapt 1870
2. Sarah Jane Reeves, bapt 1872
3. Fanny Eliza Reeves, born c1874
4. Bertha Reeves, born c1876
5. Eliza Reeves, bapt 1877
6. William Reeves, born 1880
7. Edward Reeves, born 1884
8. Elsie Kate Reeves, born 1889

The baptisms (where noted) of the children occurred in the Parish Church of St Laurence, Hilmarton, Wiltshire and the birth of all of their children were recorded in the Calne Registration District.

On the 1871 census, James along with his wife Clara were living the in hamlet of Goatacre in the parish of Hillmarton (sic). James is 27 years old and working as an Agricultural Labourer. His place of birth is shown as Hillmarton (sic), Wiltshire. Their eleven month old daughter Elizabeth completes the family/schedule, but James and Elizabeth are living in the same dwelling as his father George and mother Elizabeth, who are enumerated on a separate schedule.

At the time of the 1881 census, James and Clara are again to be found in the hamlet of Goatacre. James now claims to be 39 years old but is consistent in his place of birth , Hillmarton. He is described as a General Labourer (unlike most of his neighbours who are agricultural labourers). The household includes five of their children, Sarah J the eldest (aged 8) to William (who is just 7 months). It is probable that their eldest daughter Elizabeth had died; FreeBMD notes the death of a 5 year old Elizabeth Reeves in the Calne Reg.Dist. during 1q1875, which is a probable match.

On the 1891 census, James and Clara are still in Goatacre. James is shown as 47 years old and his place of birth is very specifically Goatacre, Calne, Wiltshire. He is employed as an Agricultural Labourer. Their children Sarah J (20, single), Eliza (12), Elsie(1), Willie (sic) (10) and Edwin (sic Edward) complete the household. Their daughter Bertha is living close by with her widowed grand mother Elizabeth Reeves, James's mother.

By the time of the 1901 census, James and Clara have just their son Edward and daughter Elsie remaining the family home in Goatacre. James is now 56 years old and claims birth in Hilmarton, Wiltshire. He is now working on his own account at home as a Green Grocer.

At the time of the 1911 census, James and Clara remain in Goatacre. James indicates he is 67 years old and was born in Goatacre, Wiltshire although Goatacre has subsequently been struck through and Hilmarton written above it. He shows his personal occupation as a Small Holder. He indicates that he and Clara have been married for 40 years and that Clara has had 12 children who were born alive, of whom eight are still surviving, with four having died. Their daughter Elsie Kate and grandson Gilbert Reeves complete the household.

It is highly probably James's is the death noted by FreeBMD in the Calne Registration District during the second quarter of 1914, aged 70.

Research Notes

(1) Grandson Gilbert appearing on the 1911 census has not been researched. It is possible he is the same individual as Ronald Gilbert W Reeves whose birth was registered in the Calne Reg. Dist. during 3q1905.

Sources

Birth:        FreeBMD - 1844, March quarter, Calne Registration District
Baptism:   FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N6M5-24M
Marriage: FreeBMD, 1869, June quarter, Calne Registration District
Death:      FreeBMD, 1914, June quarter, Calne Registration District
                 
1851 Census: HO107, Piece 1837, Folio 317 reverse, page 9
1861 Census: RG9, Piece 1287, Folio 76 reverse, Page 8
1871 Census: RG10, Piece 1903, Folio 69 reverse, Page 8
1881 Census: RG11, Piece 2036, Folio 107 reverse, Page 2
1891 Census: RG12, Piece 1597, Folio 10x reverse, Page 6       the Folio number has not been accurately ascertained.
1901 Census: RG13, Piece 1922, Folio 141 reverse, Page 6
1911 Census: RG14, Piece 11900, Reg. Dist 244 (Calne), Sub Dist. 1, Enum.Dist. 15, Schedule 77