Reeves, John
Summary
Father:Mother:
Birth: c1788
Birth Source: Census & Death Registration
Death: 1858
Death Source: GRO Index
Spouse1: Ann ABLETON
Narrative
Nothing is presently known with certainty about John's childhood. From the 1851 census it would appear he was born in Crediton, Devon around 1788.John REEVE (sic) and Ann ABLETON were married on 04 July 1819 at the Church of the Holy Cross, Crediton.
The known children of John REEVES and hia wife Ann (nee ABLETON) are
- Fanny REEVES, bapt November 1820
- Emma REEVES, bapt May 1823, died December 1824
- John REEVES, bapt April 1825
- Fanny REEVES, bapt October 1826
- Seliana/Selina REEVES, bapt December 1828, died December 1830 See Research Note 1 below.
- Selina REEVES, bapt December 1830 See Research Note 1 below.
- Emma REEVES, bapt April 1834
On the 1841 census taken on 6 June, John and Ann REEVE (sic) are living on East Street in Crediton, Devon. He is recorded as being 50 years of age (so born around 1786-1791), that he was born in Devon and he is working as a Journeyman Mason. His wife Ann is also 50 years old and was born in county (Devon), as were the rest of the household; John (16, an Apprentice Smith), Fanny (14), Selina (9) and Emma (7). Living in the same dwelling but enumerated on a separate schedule is William ABLETON (age 75, born in Devon) who is most probably John's father-in-law.
At the time of the 1851 census, on 30 March, John and Ann REEVES are living at Quuen Place East Street in Crediton, most likely the same dwelling as a decade earlier. John is now 63 years old (so born around 1788), was born in Crediton, Devon. He his working as a Mason. In addition to his wife Ann (age 62, born Crediton, Devon), their son John (26, unmarried, Crediton, a Watch and Clock Maker) and daughter Emma (17, unmarried, Crediton, an Apprentice Dress Maker) complete the household.
John Reeves has not been identified on the 1861 census and it is highly probable his is the death recorded during the first quarter of 1858 in Crediton Registration District. He was age 70 (born c1788) and was buried at Crediton.
Research Notes
(1) Regarding John's daughters Seliana / Selina, further research would be desirable. FamilySearch has a transcript for the baptism of Seliana (sic) REEVES which occurred on 01 October 1828. The same entry notes she died on 25 December 1830 - it is not uncommon for such information to be added to the baptismal register for young children. See https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J36W-S5B. FamilySearch has a second transcript, attributed to a parish register at the Devon Record Office, for Selina (sic) REEVES which shares the same baptism date, but makes no mention of her death. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6NXB-CY77 A burial entry has yet to be identified for this individual.There is a third baptism transcript entry for a Selina REEVES, again attributed to a parish register at the Devon Record Office. This notes Selina's date of birth as 27 December 1830. just two days after the death noted previously. The date of baptism is given as simply 1830. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6NXB-FXD1
The age of the Selina appearing on the 1841 census fits better with a child born around 1831/32
There is little doubt these are children of the same couple; on two of the transcripts John's occupation is noted as "Mason"
Sources
Birth:Baptism:
Marriage: FamilySearch - https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N25J-N6B - transcript
Death: GRO Index - 1858, March quarter, Crediton Registration District
Burial: FamilySearch - https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6TZS-V893 - transcript
1841 Census: HO107, Piece 0215; Book 8, Folio 6 reverse, Page 7, last household and continues
HO107, Piece 0215, Book 8, Folio 7 face, Page 8
1851 Census: HO107, Piece 1887, Folio 144 reverse, Page 31, Schedule 148
1861 Census: