Reeves, James
Summary
Father: Richard REEVESMother: Ann EVANS
Birth: September 1843
Birth Source: Baptism
Death:
Death Source:
Spouse1: Jane HARRIS
Narrative
James Reeves is the third known child of Richard REEVES and his wife Ann (nee EVANS)).The birth of James REEVES was registered in the Stourbridge Registration District during the fourth quarter of 1843. The GRO Index to Births notes his mother's maiden name was EVANS. James was baptised at the Parish Church of St Michael, Brierley Hill, Staffordshire in early October 1843 and the baptismal register records his date of birth as 13 September of the same year
At the time of the 1851 census, on 30 March, James appears in his parents household at Greets Green, Staffordshire. He is 8 years old and his place of birth is given as Brierley Hill, Staffordshire. He is the second oldest of four children in the household.
James's father Richard died in early 1854, when James would have been just over nine years old.
The 1861 census shows James as a member of his widowed Mother Ann's household. He was 17 years old, his place of birth is now given as West Bromwich, Staffordshire and he is working as a Spade Maker. His two younger brothers, Richard and Edward complete the household at this time.
In May 1869, James Reeves married Jane HARRIS, the daughter of Henry Harris, at the Parish Church of All Saints, West Bromwich.
The known children of James Reeves and his wife Jane (nee HARRIS) are
- Eliza Ann Reeves, born c1869
- Jane Reeves also known as Jennie, born 1871, married David W BALLENTINE
- Annie Reeves, born c1874
- James Richard Edward Reeves, born 1876
- John Reeves, born 1878
- Lizzie Reeves, born c1881
On the 1871 census, James and Jane Reeves are living on Wood Lane, West Bromwich. James is now recorded as being 25 years old and claiming birth in Brierley Hill, Staffordshire. He is working as a Puddler (in one of the local Iron Works). In addition to his wife Jane are two children, their daughter Eliza and William H Reeves, whose relationship is recorded as son. See Research Note 1 below.
At the time of the 1881 census, James and Jane Reeves are still living on Wood Lane, West Bromwich. His age and place of birth are consistent with the previous decade's census and he is still working as a Puddler in (an) Iron Works. Five of their six children complete the household. Their daughter Jane is absent but she is enumerated in the household of her maternal grandmother Nancy Harris (nee Burgess)
Neither James, his wife Jane nor any of their children have been identified on the 1891 or subsequent English census enumerations.
James's wife Jane died on 21 April 1918 in Washington Co., Pennsylvania. See Research Note 3 below.
On the 1920 US census, James Reeves appears in the household of D.W. Balentine (sic) and his wife Gennie (sic) in Ward 1 of Blackwell City, Kay County, Oklahoma where his relationship is given as Father in Law. James is 77 years old and a widower, who was born in England. He arrived in the United States of America in 1881 and became a naturalised US citizen in 1887.
James has yet to be identified on the 1930 census; he is not with his daughter Jennie Ballentine who, with her husband, remains in Blackwell, Kay County, Oklahoma.
Research Notes
(1) On both the 1871 & 1881 census the household includes a son William Reeves. William was in born 1866, prior to the marriage of James and Jane. There is no obvious birth registration for a William Reeves at this time, but there is a William Henry HARRIS registered during 4q1866 in West Bromwich Registration District with mother's maiden name of "—", indicating this mother was unmarried at this time. James clearly raised William as if he were his son and it seems he was exclusively known as William Henry Reeves. William's 1926 death certificate from Niles, Trunbull, Ohio cites James as his father, but note William's year of birth is incorrect. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GPJ1-Q7GC?i=193&cc=1307272(2) It is possible William has an older sister Alice Harris, whose birth was registered during 2q1864 in West Bromwich Registration District, again with mother's maiden name of "—". (A copy of Alice's birth certificate would confirm Jane as her mother, but it should be noted Jane had several sisters, any of whom might potentially be Alice's mother in the absence of documentary proof). Some Ancestry trees have assumed Alice to be the daughter of James Reeves, and even name her as Alice Reeves. Alice does NOT appear with our subject James and his wife Jane on either the 1871 or 1881 census. On both occasions she is with her maternal grand-mother Nancy Harris (nee Burgess) and named as Alice Harris.
(3) The information included on the 1918 death certificate for Jane Reeves (available from Ancestry) leaves little doubt that it is for James's wife, although James is NOT explicitly named. Jane was married at the time of her death and the informant gave her date of birth as 14 December 1844, which matches the birth date recorded at the time of her baptism on 26 January 1845 (Source FreeREG https://www.freereg.org.uk/search_records/5daabef7f493fd65608b9e19).
Her parents are recorded as Henry HARRIS and Nancy (nee BUGERS) (sic, BURGESS expected), both born in England. The informant is named as John H REEVES - this may be their son John Reeves, but his legal name at birth was simply John REEVES. Other English records do not note a middle name or even an initial for John, so it might possibly be a grandson. (Needs further investigation.)
The same death certificate indicates Jane Reeves is buried in Washington Cemetery, Washington Co., Pennsylvania.
Sources
Birth: GRO Birth Index 1841, June quarter, Stourbridge Registration DistrictBaptism: FreeREG https://www.freereg.org.uk/search_records/5817fc1ae93790eca3454e28
Marriage: FreeBMD 1869, June quarter, West Bromwich Registration District
FreeREG https://www.freereg.org.uk/search_records/58187595e93790eb7fdbc5e4
Death:
Burial:
1851 Census: HO107, Piece 2025, Folio 526 reverse, Page 3, Schedule 13
1861 Census: RG9, Piece 2026, Folio 76 reverse, Page 24, Schedule 126
1871 Census: RG10, Piece 2981, Folio 37 reverse, Page 24, Schedule 132
1881 Census: RG11, Piece 2846, Folio 17 face, Page 27, Schedule 124
1891 Census:
1900 Census:
1910 Census:
1920 Census: FamilySearch https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MJMJ-JVZ
1930 Census: FamilySearch https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XC71-WH6 - daughter Jennie