Reeves, James
Summary
Father: William John REEVESMother: Ann PUGH
Birth: 1794
Birth Source: Baptism
Death: 1868
Death Source: GRO Index and Probate
Spouse1: Jane Mary BOWLES
Narrative
James Reeves, the son of William John Reeves and Ann (nee PUGH), was baptised at the Parish Church of St Andrew, Holborn in the City of London on 06 January 1795. The baptismal register notes his date of birth in September 1794.James joined his father in working for the family company. As Grace's Guide notes they traded as W. J. Reeves and Son from 1819 to 1829. James's father William died in 1827 and by 1830 the name of the family company had changed from W J Reeves and Son to become Reeves and Sons, acknowledging the involvement of his younger brother Henry Reeves. See Research Note 1 below.
James Reeves and Jane Mary BOWLES were married at the Parish Church of St Andrew, Holborn in September 1824. Whilst James was noted as being "of this parish", Jane was from Enfield in Middlesex. They were married by Licence.
The known children of James Reeves and his wife Mary Jane (nee Bowles) are
- James Bowles Reeves, bapt June 1826
- Jane Fanny Reeves, bapt April 1828, married Henry B LANGMORE
- Eliza Anne Carver Reeves, bapt January 1830
- Anna Maria Emily Reeves, bapt January 1832
- Caroline H Reeves, born c1836
- (1795 January) James Son of William John Reeves & Ann his wife Holborn Hill born Sepbr 21st 1794 Bapt 6th
Marriage from St. Andrew, Holborn, Middlesex Parish Registers:
- James Reeves of this Parish a Bachelor and Jane Mary Bowles of the Parish of Enfield in the County of Middlesex a spinster were married in this Church by Licence this eighth Day of September in the Year one Thousand eight Hundred and twenty four By me S Martin Curate...In the Presence of ...W. J. Reeves...Ann Reeves...
Both son James and daughter Jane were baptised at St Andrew, Holborn and on both occasions the family abode was noted as Ely Place in Holborn. Daughters Eliza and Anna were baptised at the Parish Church of St Michael Le Querne in the City of London at which time the family abode was noted as 150 Cheapside. Grace's Guide notes 150 Cheapside as the company's address from 1829 to 1845, so James and family were likely living above the shop, at least during the early 1830s. See Research Note 2 below.
Baptism from St. Andrew, Holborn, Middlesex Parish Registers:
- (1826 June) 26 | James Bowles | James (&) Jane Mary | Reeves | Ely Place (Born 24 May 1826) | Mercht | R Black
- (1828 April) 15 | Jane Fanny | James (&) Jane Mary | Reeves | Ely Place (Born 16 Jany 1828) | Merchant | R Black
Baptism from St Michael Le Querne, Middlesex Parish Registers:
- born Novr 13 1829 | 5 Jany 1830 | Eliza Anne Cetaer? D of | James & Jane Mary | Reeves | 150 Cheapside | Statiner? | Edwd Reed
- Born 9 Decr 1831 | 1832 Jany 19th | Anna Maria Emily daughter of | James & Jane Mary | Reeves | 150 Cheapside | Stationer | Jno Watson
Baptism from Leyton, St Mary the Virgin, Essex Parish Registers:
- (1835) October 14th | Caroline Harriet Daughter of | James & Jane Mary | Reeves | Leyton | Merchant | Thomas Hubbard Curate
On the 1841 census taken on 6 June, James and Jane were living at Knights Green, Leyton, Essex. His age is shown as 45 years and he was not born in county, that is to say not in Essex. The poor quality of the census image renders his occupation illegible. Their five children James (15), Jane (13), Eliza (11), Ann (8) and Caroline (5) and five servants complete the household.
An indenture dated 5 Aug 1845 shows that "James Bowles Reeves son of James Reeves of Cheapside in the City of London Stationer doth put himself apprentice to Samuel William Roswell."
Grace's Guide suggests that James Reeves stepped back from the family company in 1847, leaving it in the control of his brother Henry.
At the time of the 1851 census, on 30 March, James and Jane were still living at Knights Green, Leyton. His age is noted as 56, he claims birth in London and his occupation is shown as "Gentleman". The household includes their five children, with Anna now being listed as Emily A. M. Reeves, and four servants.
A decade later and the 1861 census shows James and Jane are still living at Knights Green. James is now 66 years old and still claims birth in London. He is now a Magistrate and also a Deputy Lieutenant for the County of Essex. Along with his wife Jane, the household comprises their son James and daughters Eliza, Emily and Caroline. There are also four visitors at the time of the census enumeration, Henry B LANGMORE, his wife Jane F Langmore and two children Jane M Langmore (1) and Henry B R Langmore (5 months). Both grandchildren were born in Tottenham, Middlesex.
Neither James nor Jane have been identified on the 1871 census. The Probate Registry for 1863, confirms that Jane Mary Reeves of Leyton, Essex died on 1 April 1863 at St Leonard's in the County of Sussex and that her husband James Reeves was granted Letters of Administration of her Personal estate and effects in May 1863.
The Probate Registry for 1868 records that James Reeves late of Danemore Park near Tonbridge Wells in the County of Kent Esquire, a Widower, died 1 April 1868 at Danemore Park, Letters of Administration to James Bowles Reeves, of Danemore Park, the son and one of the next of kin of the deceased. See Research Note 3 below.
James was buried in St Marys Churchyard in Headley, Surrey.
Research Notes
(1) Our subject James Reeves was the third generation of his family to be associated with the Reeves company which produced artist materials. Grace's Guides to British Industrial History has a good explanation of the company's history and the various names it traded under at https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Reeves_and_Sons(2) At the time of the 1841 census, the occupants of 150 Cheapside are Edward Jackson (39), Susan Jackson (30) and Susan Jackson (12). Edward is described as a Warehouseman. HO107, Piece 0722, Book 20, Folio 13 face, Page 13,
(3) At the time of the 1871 census son James Bowles Reeves and daughters Eliza and Anna are enumerated in Torquay (RG10, Piece 2088, Folio 19 face, Page 29, Schedule 135). The Head of Household enumerated at Danemore Park is David Cornwell, a coachman, who has been in the service of the Reeves family on the previous two census returns. (RG10, Piece 0927, Folio 82 face, Page 11, Schedule 56)
(9) Preliminary research suggests the Reeves surname is now extinct in this branch of the family
Sources
Birth: See BaptismBaptism: 1795 Parish Register, St Andrew, Holborn Image from LMA Collection at Ancestry (image 35 of 197)
Marriage: 1824 Parish Register, St Andrew, Holborn, London, Page 307, entry 920 Image from LMA Collection at Ancestry (image 154 of 301)
Death: FreeBMD 1868, June quarter, Tonbridge Registration District
Burial: Findagrave - St Marys Churchyard, Headley, Mole Valley District, Surrey
Probate: GRO Probate Index https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/Calendar?surname=Reeves&yearOfDeath=1868&page=8#calendar
1841 Census: HO107,Piece 0323, Book 16, Folio 22 face, Page 2, last dwelling and continued Folio 22 reverse, Page 3
1851 Census: HO107, Piece 1769, Folio 106 face, Page 18, Schedule 72
1861 Census: RG9, Piece 1060, Folio 26 face, Page 11, Schedule 56
1871 Census:
1863 Probate - wife Jane Mary Reeves - https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/Calendar?surname=Reeves&yearOfDeath=1863&page=8#calendar
St. Andrew, Holborn, Middlesex Parish Baptism Register 1824-1829, P69/And2/A/01/Ms 6667/22
St. Andrew, Holborn, Middlesex Parish Baptism Register 1820-1831, P69/And2/A/01/Ms 6667/23
St Michael Le Querne, Middlesex Parish Baptism Register 1816-1884, P69/Mic4/A/01/Ms 6500
Leyton, St Mary the Virgin, Essex Parish Baptism Register 1832-1863, D/P 45/1/7
London, England, Freedom of the City Admission Papers, 1681-1930 (Ancestry)