Reeves, John

Summary

Father: John REEVES
Mother: Sylvester GREENFIELD

Birth: c1835 at Woodmancote, Sussex
Birth Source: Baptism and Census

Death: 1916
Death Source: FreeBMD

Spouse1: Jane ELLOITT

Narrative

John Reeves is the sixth of seven known children of John REEVES and his wife Sylvester (nee GREENFIELD). He was baptised at the Parish Church of St Peter, Woodmancote, Sussex in February 1835.

On the 1841 census taken on 6 June, John appears in his parent's household at Blackstone in Woodmancote, Sussex. The family are enumerated under the surname REEVS (sic). He is shown as being 6 years old and he was born in county (that is to say in Sussex).

John has yet to be positively identified on the 1851 census. He is no longer living in his parent's household in Blackstone, Woodmancote, Sussex.

A decade later and the 1861 census shows John living in the household of his widowed mother Silvester (sic) Reeves in Woodmancote, Sussex. John is now 26 years old, claims birth in Woodmancote, Sussex and is working as a Painter. His brother Henry and family are living in the next property enumerated.

John Reeves married Jane ELLIOTT in June 1862 at the Parish Church of St James, Ashurst, Sussex. See Research Note 1 below.
The known children of John Reeves and his wife Jane (nee ELLIOTT) are

1. Rebecca Reeves, b.reg. 1862 in Steyning Reg.Dist.
2. Jane Reeves, b.reg. 1867 in Steyning Reg.Dist.
3. John Charles Reeves, b.reg. 1869 in Cuckfield Reg.Dist.
4. Ernest Reeves, b.reg. 1873 in Horsham Reg.Dist.

On the 1871 census, John and Jane are living in Blackstone, Woodmancote, Sussex. He is now 36 years old and again claims birth in Woodmancote. He is working as a House Painter. Their three eldest children complete the household. His brother Henry is again enumerated nearby in Blackstone.

By the time of the 1881 census, John and Jane are living on Brighton Place in Burgess Hill, Sussex. His age and place of birth are consistently reported. he is now working as a Paperhannger.

On the 1891 census, John and Jane are to be found living on Slimbridge Road, Burgess Hill, Sussex. John is now 56 years old and still claiming birth in Woodmancote. He is working as a Paperhanger. Their son John and his soon to be wife Edith PHILPOT (described as a Visitor) complete the household.

By the time of the 1901 census John and Jane are living at New Close Cottages near to Hassocks in the Parish of Clayton, Sussex. John is 67 years old and again claims birth in Woodmancote. He is now working as a House Decorator. In addition to his wife Jane, the household comprises their son Ernest Reeves (age 27, born Horsham), George Reeves (grandson, 16, Hassocks see Research Note 2 below ) and two boarders.

On the 1911 census John and Jane are living at St Marys Terrace, Burgess Hill, Sussex. He indicates he is 76 years old and gives his place of birth as Woodmancote, Sussex. He gives his occupation as House Painter but in the column "Whether Employer, Worker or Working on Own Account" he has noted he is a Pensioner. He records that he and Jane have been married for 49 years and that Jane has born 4 children all of who were then still living. Their son Ernest (36, single, born Horsham) completes the household.

It is probable John's death is that noted by FreeBMD during the second quarter of 1916 in the Cuckfield Registration District, age 81.

Research Notes

(1) Ashurst was Jane's native parish and it lies within the Steyning Registration District. FreeBMD lacks an entry for this marriage (May 2015).

(2) On the 1901 census, John's household includes a George REEVES, aged 16 born Hassocks, Sussex. His relationship is given as grandson. However his parentage has not, as yet, been investigated.

Sources

Birth:       
Baptism:   FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NBJJ-X79
Marriage: FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJDX-437C
Death:     FreeBMD 1916, June quarter, Cuckfield Registration District
                 
1841 Census: HO107, Piece 1098, Book 10, Folio 8 reverse, Page 11 and continues Folio 9 face, Page 12
1851 Census:
1861 Census: RG9, Piece 0606, Folio 96 reverse, Page 10
1871 Census: RG10, Piece 1095, Folio 19 face, Page 11
1881 Census: RG11, Piece 1065, Folio 19 reverse, Page 18
1891 Census: RG12, Piece 0794, Folio (number not available) reverse, Page 20
1901 Census: RG13, Piece 0912, Folio 5 face, Page 1
1911 Census: RG14, Piece 5024, Reg.Dist. 76 (Cuckfield), Sub Dist. 2 (Hurstpierpoint), Enum.Dist. 5, Schedule 130

1851 Census: Parents - HO107, Piece 1647, Folio 473 reverse, Page 15