Reeves, Joseph Albert

Summary

Father: William REEVES
Mother: Jane Curtis

Birth: c 1834, Hastings Sussex
Birth Source: Baptism

Death: 1888
Death Source: FreeBMD

Spouse1: Sarah Ann BAKER

Narrative

Joseph Albert REEVES is the fourth of nine known children of William Reeves and his wife Jane (nee CURTIS). He was baptised at the Parish Church of All Saints, Hasting, Sussex in September 1834.

On the 1841 census taken on 6 June, Joseph appears in his parent's household on Court House Street in the St Clements area of Hastings. He is shown as being 7 years old and he was born in county (within Sussex). In addition to his parents, the household comprises his elder sister Charlotte (11) and younger siblings Curtis (4), Nelson (2) and Rhoda (5 months).

At the time of the 1851 census, taken on 30 March, William is again to be found in his parent's household, now at 73 All Saints in the parish of All Saints, Hastings, Sussex. His age is given as 16 and his place of birth is Hollington, Sussex. As well as his parents, the household again comprises his elder sister Charlotte (20) and younger siblings Charles R (sic Curtis, 14), Nelson (12), Rhoda (10), George T (7) and Stewart (4). There is additionally a 15 year old servant Ann CURLISS (sic but perhaps CURTISS; a possible connection to his mother's family has not been investigated) and a lodger, Soloman GIBBS (70).

FreeBMD notes the marriage of Joesph Albert REEVES and Sarah Ann BAKER during the second quarter of 1856 in the Brighton Registration District.

FamilySearch notes the marriage was in May 1856 at the Parish Church of St Nicholas, Brighton, Sussex. At the time of their marriage Joseph was 21 years old and his bride Sarah, 20.
The known children of Joseph Albert REEVES and Sarah Ann (nee BAKER) are

1. William Henry REEVES, b.reg 1857, Brighton
2. Sarah Ann REEVES, b.reg. 1859, Brighton
3. Alfred Albert REEVES, b.reg 1861, Brighton
4. Georgina Ruth REEVES, b.reg. 1863, Brighton
5. Jane Ellen Francis REEVES, b.reg. 1865, Brighton
6. Nelson REEVES, b.reg. 1867, Hastings

A decade later and the 1861 census shows Joseph and his wife Sarah living at Over Street, Brighton. Joseph is 26 years old and claims birth in Hastings, Sussex. He is working as a Bell Hanger. In addition to his wife Sarah Ann (24, born Godstone, Surrey) are their three eldest children, William H (4), Sarah A (2) and Alfred A (4 months).

By the time of the 1871 census Joseph and Sarah have returned to Joseph's home town of Hastings. They are living at Gas Cottages in the St Andrews parish of Hastings, Sussex. Joseph is now 36 years old, his place of birth is noted as Hastings, Sussex and he is working as a Gas Fitter. All six of their known children are living in the family home.

At the time of the 1881 census, Joseph and Sarah are living at St Andrews Road, Hastings. He is now 46 and again claims birth in Hastings. He is employed as a Gas Works Foreman. In addition to his wife and four younger children, the census notes a visitor in the household, Florence Elizabeth AUSTIN (26, a Draper's Assistant, born Ticehurst, Sussex). A possible family connection has yet to be investigated.

Neither Joseph nor his wife Sarah have been identified on the 1891 census. It is strongly suspected Sarah's is the death recorded by FreeBMD during the second quarter of 1887 in the Hastings Registration District, age 50, and Joseph's during the fourth quarter of 1888 also in the Hastings Reg.Dist. age 54.

Research Notes

Whilst the birth of their last known child, a son Nelson, was registered in the Hastings Registration District during the fourth quarter of 1867, he was baptised on 24 November 1867 in the Parish Chursh of St Peter in Brighton. This might suggest they moved after the baptism in Brighton and registered the birth in their new home town of Hastings.

Sources

Birth:       
Baptism:  FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NDZ4-1S9
Marriage: FreeBMD 1856, June quarter, Brighton Registration District
                 FamilySearch Date                https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NK4T-2JQ
                 FamilySearch Ages, Parents https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N6VK-11K
Death:     FreeBMD 1888, December quarter, Hastings Registration District
                 
1841 Census: HO107, Piece 1107, Book 4, Folio 19 reverse, Page 3
1851 Census: HO107, Piece 1635, Folio 169 reverse, Page 21 and Folio 170 face, page 22
1861 Census: RG9, Piece 0597, Folio 146 reverse, Page 28
1871 Census: RG10, Piece 1031, Folio 32 reverse, Page 58
1881 Census: RG11, Piece 1026, Folio 22 face, Page 37