Reeves, Lewis Tom

Summary

Father: Thomas REEVES
Mother: Charlotte BAKER

Birth: bapt Aug 1837
Birth Source: FamilySearch

Death:
Death Source:

Spouse1: Jane BURT

Narrative

Lewis Tom REEVES, the son of Thomas Reeves and his wife Charlotte (nee BAKER) was baptised in August 1837 at the Parish Church of St Andrew at Chale in the south of the Isle of Wight. His birth was registered in the third quarter of 1837 (the quarter in which civil BMD records commenced in England & Wales.) It is highly probably his father died very shortly after his birth.

On the 1841 census taken on 6 June, Lewis is found in a family context, but not with his parents. He is the final member in the household of William FOYLE and his wife Sarah (nee WATRIDGE/WATERIDGE and formerly ELLIOT) and their children at Ovington in Hampshire. Perhaps more significant is the presence in the same household of Hannah JOYCE (mnu) and her daughter Sarah (age 2). Sarah's husband Robert is not present, but through his mother Elizabeth JOYCE (nee BAKER) she provides a probable family connection.

At the time of the 1851 census, on 30 March, Lewis is living with his mother Charlotte Reeves (a widow, aged ) and his elder sister Jane. He is 14 years old, claims birth in Chale, IoW and has no occupation recorded.

A decade later and the 1861 census shows Lewis again living with his widowed mother Charlotte and his sister Jane. Also present as a visitor in the household is Jane BURT. Lewis is now aged 23 and claims birth at Blackgang, IoW and gives as his occupation as Ships Carpenter.

Later the same year (1861) Lewis and Jane BURT are married. Familysearch notes the marriage occurred in July at Newchurch and the IoW FHS indices confirms the place as the Parish Church (of All Saints), Newchurch.

Known children of Lewis Reeves and Jane (nee Burt) are

1. Herbert Lewis REEVES, born c1863 Portland Dorset, bur Aug 1932
2. Lucy Jane REEVES, born 1865 Newport IoW, died c1892 Brighton Sussex
3. Sarah Grace REEVES, born 1867 Ventnor IoW, marr 1899 Abraham WILKINS
4. Ernest William REEVES, born 1869 Ventnor IoW, died 1870 Ventnor
5. Frederick William REEVES, born 1871 Ventnor IoW, died 1871 Ventnor
6. Archibald Martin REEVES, born 1872 Ventnor IoW, died 1895 Brighton Sussex
7. Percy Hugh REEVES, born c 1879 Bournemouth Hants, died 1946

On the 1871 census, Lewis along with his wife Jane and children Herbert, Lucy, Sarah & Frederick are living at Trinity Terrace, Ventnor. Lewis's mother Charlotte and his sister Jane complete the household. Lewis again claims birth at Blackgang IoW, but is now 35 years old. He is working as a Cabinet Maker.

At the time of the 1881 census, Lewis is living at South Front, in the St Mary district of Southampton. He is recorded under the name of Herbert Reeves, but there is little doubt this is the same individual. Present in the same household is his wife Jane and three sons Herbert, Archibald and Percy. Lewis/Herbert was born Blackgang Chine and is working as a Painter & Decorator. His age is indistinctly written and could be read as either 40 or 46.

On the 1891 census, Lewis is now living in Brighton Sussex with his daughters Lucy & Sarah and sons Archibald and Percy. He is now shown as 56 years old, a widow and born Blackgang Chine, Hampshire. His occupation is recorded as a Journey(man) Painter.

The death of daughter Lucy is recorded in the Brighton Registration District in 1892 and son Archibald in 1895 also in the Brighton Registration District.

Lewis Reeves has not been identified on the 1901 census. He is not at the same address as in 1891, nor is he shown in the households of daughter Sarah, now Mrs Wilkins in Brighton, nor is he with his son Herbert in Canford Magna, Poole, Dorset. His only other surviving child is Percy who, although married only in 1898 in Brighton, appears alone on the 1901 census in London. No probable death registration has been identified either. Where did he go?

Sources

Birth:        IoW Family History Societies Index to Birth Registrations
Baptism:   https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/N6L6-16J
Marriage: IoW Family History Societies Index to Marriage Registrations & Familysearch
Death:     

1841 Census: HO107, Piece 0404, Book 16, Folio 4 face, Page 2
1851 Census: HO107, Piece 1664, Folio 106 face, Page 36
1861 Census: RG9, Piece 0660, Folio 87 face, Page 31
1871 Census: RG10, Piece 1169, Folio 52 reverse, Page 34
1881 Census: RG11, Piece 1208, Folio 48 face, Page 45
1891 Census: RG12, Piece 0809, Folio *2 reverse, Page 16 - the leading digit of the folio number is indistinct, most probably 4
1901 Census: RG13, Piece 0264, Folio 90 face , Page 11 - son Percy
                       RG13, Piece 0923, Folio 122 face, Page 41- daughter Sarah
                       RG13, Piece 1997, Folio 12 reverse, Page 16 - son Herbert