Reeves, James

Summary

Father: William REEVES
Mother: Hannah Cook

Birth: 1831, Ludgershall, Wiltshire
Birth Source: Census and Baptism

Death:
Death Source:

Spouse1:

Narrative

James Reeves is the fourth of nine known children of William REEVES and his wife Hannah (nee COOK). He was baptised in May 1831 at the Parish Church of St James, Ludgershall, Wiltshire.

On the 1841 census taken on 6 June, James appears in his parent's home on Deweys Lane, Ludgershall, Wiltshire. He is ten years old and was born in county (that is to say in Wiltshire)

At the time of the 1851 census, on 30 March, James again appears in the household of his parents William and Hannah in Ludgershall, Wiltshire with three older and three younger siblings. He is 19 years old, was born at Ludgershall. There is no occupation noted for him.

It is probable that James has been enumerated twice on the 1851 census.   A second James Reeves, who is also 19 years and also born in Ludgershall appears as one of four Servants in the household of Thomas and Maria Steele on Biddesden Lane, Ludgershall. His bride-to-be Emma NORTH is employed in the same household.

James was not in his parent's household on the 1861 census and he has not been identified elsewhere on that or later English census returns. However, it would seem he was alive at the time of his mother's death in April 1888. See Research Note 3 below.

FreeBMD records the marriage of James REEVES and Emma NORTH during 4q1852 in the Andover Registration District.

It is highly likely that newly weds James and Emma left the UK for Australia, arriving in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia on board the SS Java in April 1853. See Research Note 4 below. On the List of Immigrants, he is listed as James REAVES, age 22, born Ludgershall, Wilshire, a Farm Labourer. Emma is also 22 years old and was born in Chute, Hampshire (sic, Wiltshire expected). See Research Note 5 below.

This couple's life in Australia has yet to be researched...

Research Notes

(1)   FreeBMD notes four deaths of a James Reeves in the Andover Registration District between 1851 and 1911. The individual in 4q1855 is noted by the GRO Index as being 52 years old, so born c1803 and James who died during 4q1862 was 73 years old, so born c1789 . The entry for 1q1871 is for an infant under 1 and the James in 4q1876 was 46 years old. This 4q1876 entry would be a reasonable match for our subject, but where was he on the 1861 and 1871 census returns. The name James Reeves occurs relatively frequently and he may have strayed beyond the Andover Registration District, so further research regarding this individual is necessary.

(2)   On the 1871 census, James's married sister Lydia MORRELL (nee Reeves) is enumerated immediately following to the same Steele household in Appleshaw, Hampshire. (RG10, Piece 1242, Folio 8 reverse, Page 10, Schedules 41 and 42)

(3)   James's mother, Hannah Reeves (nee Cook) is buried in the churchyard of Parish Church of the Holy Saviour, Bitterne, Hampshire. Her grave is marked with a headstone which has the following inscription

(4)   According to http://passengersinhistory.sa.gov.au/node/1001018 the SS Java left London on Saturday 20 November 1852, called at Plymouth and Cape Town, South Africa before arriving at Sydney, New South Wales, Australia on Saturday 23 April 1853

(5)   James and Emma were travelling in the company of Tom Reeves (also born Ludgershall, age 23) and Tom's wife Charlotte who was 25 years old and says she was also born in Ludgershall, Wiltshire. The relationship, if any between James and Tom has yet to be established; they are not believed to be brothers.

(6)     James was following in the foot steps of another Ludgershall family, Daniel Reeves, his wife Jane (nee Tayler) and their sons Thomas, William and Evans who arrived in New South Wales in December 1848.

Sources

Birth:       
Baptism:   FamilySearch     https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NBPN-SGD
Marriage:
Death:     
                 
1841 Census: HO107, Piece 1165, Book 10, Folio 8 face, Page 10
1851 Census: HO107, Piece 1683, Folio 260 reverse, Page 9, Schedule 36
1851 Census: HO107, Piece 1683, Folio 256 reverse, Page 1, Schedule 2 and continued on Folio 257 face, Page 2 - HoH Thomas Steele
1861 Census:
1871 Census:
1881 Census:
1891 Census:
1901 Census:
1911 Census:

1853 Immigration:     New South Wales Government Archive http://indexes.records.nsw.gov.au/ebook/list.aspx?Page=NRS5316/4_4790/Java_24%20Apr%201853/4_479000501.jpg&No=10
Mother's Headstone: Find A Grave https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/156076990/hannah-reeves