Reeves, John

Summary

Father: George REEVES
Mother: Charlotte SUSANS

Birth: 1851
Birth Source: FreeBMD and Census

Death: c1909
Death Source: FreeBMD

Spouse1: Emma GROVES
Spouse2: Emily THOMSETT

Narrative

John REEVES was the youngest of eighth known children of George REEVES and his wife Charlotte (nee SUSANS). His birth was registered during the third quarter of 1851 in the Uckfield Registration District.

At the time of the 1861 census John is found in his parent's home at Five Ashes in the Parish of Mayfield where he is the youngest of three sons. John is nine years old, his place of birth is shown as Rotherfield, Sussex and he is a Scholar. His widowed paternal grandfather George REEVES senior is a lodger with the family.

On the 1871 census John is again to be found in his parent's home at Five Ashes. He is now 19 years old and again claims birth in Rotherfield. He is unmarried and is working as an Agricultural Labourer. His brother William (22, a Journeyman Wheelwright) and sister Naomi (24, an unemployed Servant) complete his parent's household.

FreeBMD notes the marriage of John REEVES and EMMA GROVES occurred during the fourth quarter of 1874 in the Uckfield Registration District.
The known children of John REEVES and his wife Emma (nee GROVES) are

1. John William Reeves, b.reg. 1875, Ticehurst Reg.Dist.
2. Albert Reeves, b.reg. 1878, Lewes Reg.Dist.
3. Ernest Reeves, b.reg. 1880, Lewes Reg.Dist.
4. Camilla Reeves, b.reg. 1884, Ticehurst Reg.Dist.
5. Florence Annie Reeves, b.reg. 1887, West Ashford Reg.Dist.

The 1881 census shows John and Emma REEVES living at Offham in the Parish of Hamsey near Lewes, Sussex. John is now 29 years old and is working as a Domestic Gardener. The household comprises his wife Emma, their children John William Reeves (age 5, born Wadhurst), Albert Reeves (3, Hamsey) and Ernest Reeves (9 months, Hamsey) plus Edwin Watts GROVES (9, Wadhurst) for whom no relationship to the Head of Household is shown. There is also a boarder, Samuel Rusbridge aged 24, born Firle, Sussex.

A decade later and the 1891 census shows John and Emma are living at Pevington Cottages, Pluckley, Kent. John is now 39 years old and remains consistent in claiming birth at Rotherfield, Sussex. He is working as a Gardener. Their children Albert (13, Offham Hamsey), Ernest (10, Offham Hamsey), Camilla (7, Wadhurst) and Florence A. (3, Pluckley) complete the household.

It is likely John's wife Emma Reeves (nee Groves) died prior to the 1901 census, since he has remarried. It is probable that Emma's death is that noted by FreeBMD during the fourth quarter of 1892 in the West Ashford Registration District. She was 40 years old.

The marriage of John REEVES and Emily THOMSETT is noted by FreeBMD during the first quarter of 1899 in the Brighton Registration District. See Research Note 1 below.
The known children of John Reeves and his second wife Emily are

1. Joseph Reeves, b.reg. 1895, West Ham Reg.Dist. See Research Note 2 below.
2. George Henry Reeves, b.reg. 1900, Steyning Reg.Dist.
3. John Reeves, b.reg. 1902, Steyning Reg.Dist.
4. Edwin Reeves, b.reg. 1906, Steyning Reg.Dist.

At the time of the 1901 census John and his new wife Emily/Emilie are living at Hever in Kent. John is now 49 years old, again born Rotherfield and working as a Domestic Gardener. In addition to his wife Emilie (sic, age 30, born Brighton) are his step daughter Queenie L THOMSETT (10, Brighton) plus two sons Joseph (6, Wanstead, Essex) and George H. (1, Hove, Sussex).

John has not been identified on the 1911 census. It is likely that John's death is that noted by FreeBMD during the first quarter of 1909 in the Steyning Registation District, age 56. Sons Joseph, John and Edwin along with Queenie THOMPSETT (sic) are living with their mother Emily and her new husband Mark MEADS in the Preston area of Brighton, Sussex.

Research Notes

(1) It is not known if THOMSETT was the maiden surname of John's second wife Emily or if she had been previously married. On both 1901 & 1911 census returns her place of birth is noted as Brighton, Sussex and her age 30 then 37 points to her birth being about 1870 - 1874. A search at FreeBMD for Em* Thomset* born between 1861 and 1881 gives six results all Thomsett, but none in Brighton. Two are in Sussex districts (Ticehurst 4q1870 and Lewes 1q1871), two in south London and two in Kent. The Lewes born Emily has been identified on the 1901 & 1911 census and can be discounted. (RG13, Piece 0468, Folio 39 reverse, Page 20 and RG14, Piece 2307, Reg.Dist. 26 (Wandsworth), Sub Dist. 5 (Streatham), Enum.Dist. 22, Schedule 90). A similar search but using the surname variant TOMSET* produces 15 matches all Tomsett, including an Emma TOMSETT b.reg. 2q1866 in Brighton Registration District. Em* Thompset* gives 4 matches all in Kent and Sussex and Em* Tompset* results in 5 matches, all in Kent, Sussex and east London.     Do you have a copy of John & Emily's marriage certificate?

(2) The birth of a Joseph Reeves was registered during the second quarter of 1895 in the West Ham Registration District of Essex. That strongly correlates with the 1901 census which indicates he was born in Wanstead, Essex. John Reeves did not marry Emily Thomsett until 1899, so it is possible Emily was not Joseph's biological mother.     Do you have a copy of Joseph's birth certificate?

Sources

Birth:        FreeBMD     1851, September quarter, Uckfield Registration District
Baptism:  
Marriage: FreeBMD     1874, December quarter, Uckfield Registration District
Marriage: FreeBMD     1899, March quarter, Brighton Registration District
Death:      FreeBMD     1909, March quarter, Steyning Registration District
                 
1861 Census: RG9, Piece 0574, Folio 114 reverse, Page 8
1871 Census: RG10, Piece 1051, Folio 55 reverse, Page 16
1881 Census: RG11, Piece 1067, Folio 88 reverse, Page 14
1891 Census: RG12, Piece 0698, Folio 84 face, Page 9
1901 Census: RG13, Piece 0749, Folio 91 reverse, Page 10
1911 Census:

1911 Census: RG14, Piece 5170, Reg.Dist. 080 (Steyning), Sub Dist. 1 (Preston), Enum.Dist. 18, Schedule 061 - wife Emily (now Mrs Mark MEADS)