Reeves, Mary Ann

Summary

Father: Samuel REEVES
Mother: Mary HARRISON

Birth: September 1851
Birth Source: Baptism & C.C. Birth Certificate

Death: 1926
Death Source: GRO Index

Spouse1:

Narrative

Mary Ann REEVES is the second known child of Samuel REEVES and his wife Mary (nee HARRISON). See Research Note 1 below.

She was born in September 1851 at 2 Longcroft Street, in the St Mary's area of Southampton, Hampshire. Her birth was registered during the fourth quarter of 1851 in Southampton Registration District and her mother's maiden name is recorded as HARRISON. A certified copy of her birth certificate confirms her mother was Mary Reeves (nee Harrison) and additionally names her father as Samuel REEVES, a Labourer.

Mary Ann REEVES, the daughter of Samuel & Mary REEVES, was baptised at the Parish Church of St Mary, Southampton on 14 December 1851.

On the 1861 census shows Mary Ann REEVES appears in the household of her parents Samuel and Mary REEVES. They are living at 11 Marine Parade in the St Mary’s area of Southampton. Mary Ann is nine years old (so born c1851/2) and was born in Southampton, Hampshire. Her brothers Edward (age 11, born Southampton) and Samuel (7, Southampton) along with her younger sister Rosina (2, Southampton) complete the household.

Mary Ann has not been found in a REEVES family household on the 1871 census. She is not with her parents at 21 Longcroft Street nor her uncle Edward Reeves who was living at 22 Longcroft Street. It is most probable she is the individual enumerated as Mary A REIVES (sic), a visitor in the household of Jemima MOLYNEAUX (57, married, born Poole, Dorset) and her son Thomas MOLYNEAUX (21, unmarried, Poole, Dorset, occupation none but with a note in the disability column "Subject to Fits"). By the summer of the following year, Mary Ann became Jemima MOLYNEAUX's daughter-in-law.

Mary Ann REEVES and William MOLYNEAUX were married at York Register Office on 31 August 1872. Mary Ann's home address as recorded as 21 Long Croft (sic) Street, Southampton and her father is named as Samuel REEVES, a Stoker. William's address is given as North View, Holgate (an area of York) and his father is named as Joseph MOLYNEAUX, a Sailor. See Research Note 3 below.

The known children of Mary Aan MOLYNEAUX (nee REEVES) and her husband William MOLYNEAUX are

1. Blanche Rosina MOLYNEAUX, born 1873, d.reg. 3q1892
2. Lizzie Eleanor MOLYNEAUX, b.reg. 1q1875
3. Edward William MOLYNEAUX, b.reg. 1q1877
4. Eveline MOLYNEAUX, b.reg. 4q1878
5. Ethel Mary MOLYNEAUX, b.reg. 1q1881
6. Joseph Ronald MOLYNEAUX, b.reg. 3q1885
7. Edith Eleanor MOLLYNEUX (sic), b.reg. 3q1887, d.reg. 3q1892
8. Cecil Samuel MOLYNEAUX, b.reg. 1q1890
9. Clarence Reeves MOLYNEAUX, b.reg. 3q1892
10. Edna Rosamond MOLYNEAUX, b.reg. 4q1894

With the exception of their first born child Blanche, for who a birth registration has yet to be found, all of the births were registered in the York Registration District and on each occasion the mother's maiden name was given as REEVES.

At the time of the 1881 census, Mary Ann MOLYNEAUX with her husband William George and family are living at Cecilia Place in the Parish of St Mary Bishophill Junior, in York, in the East Riding of Yorkshire. She gives her age as 29 and her place of birth as Southampton, Hampshire. Her husband William George MOLYNEAUX was also 29, born at Poole, Dorset and was working as a Railway Engine Driver. Their five children, Blanche Rosina (age 8; born York, Yorkshire; occupation Scholar), Lizzie Eleanor (6; York, Yorkshire; Scholar), Edward William (4; York, Yorkshire; Scholar), Eveline (2; York, Yorkshire) and Ethel Mary (3 months; York, Yorkshire), complete the household.

On the 1891 census, Mary A MOLYNEAUX and her husband William are living at 13 North View in the Holgate area of York. She is now 39 years of age and again claims birth in Southampton, Hampshire. William's details are consistent with the 1881 census return. Daughter Blanche is absent from the household, but Lizzie E (16; York, Yorkshire; Assists her Mother), Edward W (17; York, Yorkshire; Fitter's Apprentice), Evelyn (sic) (12; Holgate, Yorkshire; Scholar), Ethel M (10; Holgate, Yorkshire; Scholar), Joseph R (5; Holgate, Yorkshire; Scholar) Edith E (3; Holgate, Yorkshire) and Cecil S (1; Holgate, Yorkshire) complete the household.

Mary Ann & William's daughters Blanche and Edith each died within a week of each other of separate causes during September 1892 and both were buried in a public grave in York Cemetery.

At the time of the 1901 census Mary A MOLYNEAUX and her husband William are still living at North View, but now at number 10. She remains consistent about her age, now 49, and her place of birth. William's details also remain consistent. There are now only four children living at home, Joseph R (age 15; born York, Yorkshire; Engine Fitter's Apprentice), Cecil S (11; York, Yorkshire), Clarence R (8; York, Yorkshire) and Edna R (6; Yorkshire).

Mary Ann's husband William George MOLYNEAUX died on 11 January 1905. The subsequent probate register entry notes he died "between Ricall and Selby, Yorkshire" suggesting he may have been at work when he died.

Molyneaux, William George of 10 North View, Poppleton Road, York; locomotive driver died 11 January 1905 between Ricall and Selby, Yorkshire. Administration YORK 26 January (1905) to Mary Ann Molyneaux widow. Effects £153 10s.

On the 1911 census Mary MOLYNEAUX is now head of household at 10 North View, Poppleton Road, York. See Research Note 4 below. She is now a 59 year old widow who had been born in Southampton. Her children Lizzie (age 30, single; born York; a Teacher), Cecil (21, single; York; Teacher), Clarence (18, single; York; Grocer's Apprentice) and Edna (16, single; York; (At Home)) complete the household.

Mary Ann's son Cecil Samuel MOLYNEUX (sic) served with the 1st (West Riding) Heavy Battery of the Royal Garrison Artillery during WW1. He died on 28 July 1917 in Belgium. The additional information on the CWGC site reads

Son of Mary Molyneux, of 10, North View, Holgate, York, and the late William G. Molyneux.
Scoutmaster, York Boys' Scout Association.

At the time of the 1921 census Mary MOLYNEAUX is again head of household at 10 North View, York. She records her age as being 69 years and 9 months and that she is a widow who had been born in Southampton, Hampshire. Her occupation is recorded as "Home Duties". There are three others in the household with Mary . . .

1. Her daughter Lizzie MOLYNEAUX, who is 45y 3m old and single. She was born in St Pauls Parish, (York). Yorkshire. She is a School Teacher employed by York Education Committee.
2. Her son Clarence MOLYNEAUX, who is 27y 2m old and is also single. He too was born in St Pauls Parish, (York). Yorkshire. He works in York as a Grocer's Assistant for the (York) Equitable Industrial Society.
3. Her grandson George Eric WATSON, who is 5y 6m old. Mary notes that both his parents are alive and that George was also born in St Pauls Parish, (York). Yorkshire. He is attending school "whole time". See Research Note 5 below.

She signed the schedule as "Mary Molyneaux"

FreeBMD notes the death of Mary A MOLYNEAUX during the fourth quarter of 1926 in the York Registration District. She was 74 years of age. The GRO Index confirms her second given name was Ann.

According to the Burial Register for York Public Cemetery, Mary MOLYNEAUX died on 30 December 1926 and she was buried on 03 January 1927. She had lived at 10 North View, Holgate and had died of Senile Decay. The informant was L Lang. (This would most probably be Lawrence LANG, her son-in-law who had married Mary's daughter Eveline MOLYNEAUX.)

Research Notes

(1)   Our subject Mary Ann REEVES is often confused with her half cousin Mary Ena REEVES.     Mary Ena REEVES was the first child of Edward REEVES and his wife Fanny (nee CROOK).

Samuel REEVES, Mary Ann's father and Edward REEVES, Mary Ena's father, were half brothers; both sons of Elizabeth REEVES (nee OTWAY).

Mary Enna (sic) REEVES was baptised on 17 April 1859, along side her second sister Ann REEVES, at the Parish Church of St Mary, Southampton, when her parents were clearly identified as Edward & Fanny.
    FamilySearch - Baptism Parish Register transcript - Mary Enna(sic) REEVES

The parents of our subject Mary Ann REEVES were clearly stated as Samuel and Mary REEVES on her birth certificate, when she was baptised and her father was clearly named as Samuel REEVES when she was married. As noted above, on all census returns Mary Ann is highly consistent about her age, placing her birth around 1851, not 1855.

(2)   It is very highly probable at the Mary A REIVES on the 1871 census who appears as a visitor in the household of Jemima MOYNEAUX is our subject. Mary Ann had probably known Jemima MOLYNEAUX, her husband James Joseph MOLLNEAUX and their children, the youngest of whom were of a similar age to Mary Ann, all her life. The MOLYNEAUX family had also lived in close proximity to the REEVES family. On the 1861 census the Molyneaux family were on Longcroft Street where the Reeves family were found in 1851, 1871 and later.

(3)   There is some fluidity in the name by which Mary Ann's husband is known by. At birth he was registered as simply George MOLYNEAUX during 4q1851. On the 1861 census and when he married in 1872 he is William MOLYNEAUX.

In later life he is known as William George MOLYNEAUX, including on many of his children's baptism entries through to his death registration and subsequent probate of his estate.

(4)   On the 1911 census, Mary gives her address as 10 Poppleton Road, York. On the cover, the enumerator wrote 10 North View, York.

(5)   Mary's grandson George Eric Watson, who appears with her on the 1921 census return is the first born child of her youngest daughter Edna Rosamond MOLYNEAUX who married George WATSON in June 1915

Sources

Birth:        GRO Index   -   1851, December quarter, Southampton Registration District
Baptism:   FamilySearch   -   https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGQ2-2KJP
Marriage: FreeBMD   -   1872, September quarter, York Registration District
                   Certified Copy of an Entry of Marriage, York Register Office
Death:      GRO Index   -   1926, December quarter, York Registration District
Burial:      FamilySearch   -   https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:CX7Q-4RT2 - transcript
                   FamilySearch   -   https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-8965-7JHB - Image 685 of 739, Entry 91891

1861 Census: RG9, Piece 0674, Folio 155r, Page 32, Schedule 213
1871 Census: RG10, Piece 1189, Folio 80 reverse, Page 48, Schedule 315 and continues Folio 81 face, Page 49
1881 Census: RG11, Piece 4719, Folio 169 face, Page 59, Schedule 281
1891 Census: RG12, Piece 3890, Folio 39 face, Page 23, Schedule 140
1901 Census: RG13, Piece 4443, Folio 72 face, Page 13, Schedule 78
1911 Census: RG14, Piece 28432, Reg.Dist. 517 (York), Sub Dist. 3 (York West), Enum.Dist. 08, Schedule 86
1921 Census: RG15, Piece 23520, Reg.Dist. 517 (York), Sub Dist. 3 (York West), Enum.Dist. 08, Schedule 346

1892 Burial Register - daughter Blanche   FamilySearch   -   https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-8965-W9BX Image 035 of 783, Entry 51151
1892 Burial Register - daughter Edith       FamilySearch   -   https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G965-W9R1 Image 036 of 783, Entry 51163

1905 Probate - husband William George     Probate Registry   -   https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/

1917 Death - son Cecil   CWGC   -   https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/92952/cecil-samuel-molyneux/