Reeves, John

Summary

Father: Cornelius REEVES
Mother: Mary (perhaps nee Ishaw)

Birth: c1815
Birth Source: Baptism

Death: 1884
Death Source: FreeBMD

Spouse1: Ann DIXON

Narrative

John Reeves, the eldest of six known children of Cornelius REEVES and his wife Mary (perhaps nee Ishaw), was baptised at the Parish Church of St Michael, Lyneham, Wiltshire in January 1815. Nothing further is presently know of John's early life.

John Reeves married Ann DIXON in August 1833 at the Parish Church of St Michael, Lyneham, Wiltshire.
The known children of John Reeves and his wife Ann (nee DIXON) are

1. Elizabeth Reeves, born c1834
2. Enos Reeves, bapt 1835
3. Hannah Reeves, born c1839
4. Sarah Reeves, bapt 1841
5. Eliza Reeves, bapt 1843
6. Isaac Reeves, bapt 1846
7. Robert Reeves, bapt 1848
8. Margaret Reeves, bapt 1851
9. John Reeves, born c 1855

FamilySearch indicates the six baptisms above are recorded in the registers of St Michaels, Lyneham.

On the 1841 census taken on 6 June, John and Ann Reeves are living at West Tockenham, Wiltshire. Both are shown as being aged 20 and John is working as an Agricultural Labourer. There are four children in the household, Elizabeth (age 5), Enos (3), Hannah (2) and Sarah (3 months). Whilst adult ages were permitted to be rounded down, it seems likely that the ages for both Elizabeth & Enos have been under-stated, since Enos was baptised in November 1835. They are all shown as having been born within county, that is to say within Wiltshire.

At the time of the 1851 census, on 30 March, John and Ann are living in the hamlet of Preston, Wiltshire. John is head of household, aged 38 and claims birth in Preston. He is working as an Agricultural Labourer. Their four elder children (Enos, Hannah, Sarah & Eliza) are noted as born in Tockenham and the younger three (Isaac, Robert & Margaret) in Preston.

A decade later and the 1861 census shows John and Ann still living at Preston. John is now aged 46, claims birth in Lyneham and is working as an Agricultural Labourer. Their four youngest children complete the household.

On the 1871 census, John and Ann are enumerated as living in the village at Lyneham (but see Research Note 1 below.) John is now 56 years old, was born in Lyneham and is again working as an Agricultural Labourer. Only their youngest son John remains in the family home.

At the time of the 1881 census, John and Ann are enumerated in the Village of Preston. John is now 67 years old and still working as an Agricultural Labourer. A grandson Ernest W Reeves (age 10, born Purton) completes the household.

Neither John nor Ann have been identified on the 1891 census. It is probable John's is the death noted by FreeBMD in the second quarter of 1884, aged 70.

Research Notes

(1) The description of the 1871 census Enumeration District 4B (on folio 34) states
"All that part of the Parish of Lyneham .. on the south west of the Turnpike Road leading from Lyneham to Calne consisting of Preston Tything & part of Lyneham Tything on the south west side of the Road leading from Lyneham to .. Corton Hill"
The enumeration pages which follow seem not to distinguish between Lyneham and Preston addresses.

Sources

Birth:       
Baptism:   FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/N6Q3-F2R
Marriage: FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/NXSX-NHZ
Death:      FreeBMD 1884, June quarter, Cricklade Registration District
                 
1841 Census: HO107, Piece 1197, Book 7, Folio 20 reverse, Page 5
1851 Census: HO107, Piece 1834, Folio 63 face, Page 8
1861 Census: RG9, Piece 1273, Folio 35 face, Page 3
1871 Census: RG10, Piece 1884, Folio 40 face, Page 7
1881 Census: RG11, Piece 2021, Folio 39 face, Page 7