Reeves, John Henry

Summary

Father: Joseph Reeves
Mother: Eliza mnu

Birth: c1855
Birth Source: Baptism and Census

Death: 1934
Death Source: FreeBMD

Spouse1: Mary Elizabeth MILBURN

Narrative

John Henry Reeves is the only known child of Joseph Reeves and his wife Eliza (whose maiden name is presently unknown). It is likely he was baptised on 7 January 1855 in London, the son of Joseph and Eliza Reeves, suggesting his birth was in late 1854 or the first few days of 1855.

All the census returns point to John being born about 1855 in either the Clerkenwell area or adjacent St Pancras area of Middlesex. However there is no obvious entry at FreeBMD for this John Henry; he may be the Henry Reeves registered in 2q1854 in the Clerkenwell Registration District.

At the time of the 1861 census John is living in his parents home on Georgiana Street in Camden Town, Middlesex. He is six years old and his place of birth is shown as St Pancras, Middlesex.

On the 1871 census, John and his parents are living just round the corner on Great (now Royal) College Street, Camden. He is sixteen years old, claims birth in London, Middlesex and is employed as a Clerk.

FreeBMD notes the marriage of John Henry REEVES and Mary Elizabeth MILBURN during the first quarter of 1877 in the Pancras Registration District.
The known children of John Henry REEVES and his wife Mary Elizabeth (nee MILBURN) are

1. May Evelina Reeves, b.reg. 2q1877, Greenwich Reg.Dist.
2. Harry Joseph T Reeves, b.reg. 1q1879, Greenwich Reg.Dist.
3. Amy Ethel Reeves, b.reg. 3q1880, Greenwich Reg.Dist.
4. Harold Leon William Reeves, b.reg. 4q1881, Greenwich Reg.Dist.
5. Ada Louisa Reeves, b.reg. 3q1883, Edmonton Reg.Dist.
6. Percy George Milburn Reeves (aka Percy Charles Milburn Reeves), b.reg. 1q1885, Edmonton Reg.Dist.
7. Arthur Ernest Reeves, b.reg. 2q1888, Edmonton Reg.Dist.
8. Cecil Howard Reeves, b.reg. 4q1896, Edmonton Reg.Dist.

At the time of the 1881 census, John and his wife Mary were living in Deptford, Kent. John is now 26 years old and gives his place of birth as Clerkenwell, Middlesex. He is employed as a Clerk (Provision Trade). In addition to their three eldest children, the household on census night also comprises John's parents, Joseph and Eliza REEVES.

By the time of the 1891 census, John and his wife Mary have move to Hornsey, Middlesex and are living on Palace Road. He is now 36 years old and again gives his place of birth as Clerkenwell, Middlesex. His employment is noted as Mercantile Clerk. In addition to their seven eldest children, also present on census night was George MILBURN (nephew, aged 10) and a domestic servant, Jane Smith (19).

At the time of the 1901 census, John and Mary are still living in Hornsey, now at Grove Villas, Muswell Hill. John's age and place of birth remain consistent and he is now working as a Cashier (Provisions). Their seven youngest children complete the household. Their eldest daughter May is now married and has left home. See Research Note 1 below.

On the 1911 census John & Mary are to be found on Fallow Court Avenue, North Finchley, London. John is 56 years old and again claims birth in Clerkenwell, Middlesex. He is now Secretary to Company (Provision Agents). In addition to John & Mary, the household comprises their unmarried children Amy, Harold, Ada, Percy and Cecil plus their grandson Norman L PAYNE.

John and Mary's son Percy died in France during April 1917 whilst serving with the Middlesex Regiment.

By June 1919, when John attended the Police Court at Bromley (Kent) to complete the declaration on Army Form W.5080 (a statement of the names and addresses of all the Relatives of the deceased Soldier) he gave his address as Homefield Rise, Orpington, Kent. He names his wife Mary, four surviving sons and three daughters.

John has not been identified on the 1939 Register and it is likely his is the death noted by FreeBMD occurring during the first quarter of 1934 in the Bromley Registration District, age 79.

Research Notes

(1) Daughter May E Reeves married Sydney W PAYNE in 1899. May and Sydney are living in her parent's former home at Palace Road, Hornsey at the time of the 1901 census.

(2) When John's son Percy enlisted in 1914 he gave the same Fallow Court Avenue address as found on the 1911 census.

Sources

Birth:       
Baptism:   tbc 7 January 1855, London Metropolitan Archives, Baptisms 1813-1906, c/o Ancestry
Marriage: FreeBMD   1877, March quarter, Pancras Registration District
Death:      FreeBMD   1934, March quarter, Bromley Registration District
                 
1861 Census: RG9, Piece 0115, Folio 129 face, Page 21
1871 Census: RG10, Piece 0232, Folio 61 reverse, Page 28
1881 Census: RG11, Piece 0711, Folio 27 face, Page 47
1891 Census: RG12, Piece 1062, Folio 16 face, Page 25 and continued on Folio 16 reverse, Page 26
1901 Census: RG13, Piece 1245, Folio 11 reverse, Page 14
1911 Census: RG14, Piece 7166, Registration District 131 (Barnet), Sub Dist. 3 (Finchley), Enum.Dist. 8, Schedule 394