Reeves, Matilda

Summary

Father: unknown
Mother: Elizabeth Reeves (nee mnu)

Birth: about 1828, Southampton, Hampshire
Birth Source: Baptism & census returns

Death:
Death Source:

Spouse1:

Narrative

Matilda is the fifth known child of Elizabeth Reeves (nee mnu). At the time of Matilda's birth, Elizabeth had been widowed for 2 years and the identity of Matilda's father is unknown. Matilda was baptised at the Parish Church of St Mary, Southampton of 26 October 1828, where the baptismal register notes she was the natural daughter of Elizabeth, with no father being named.

At the time of the 1841 census, Matilda is living with her mother and elder half siblings, Elizabeth, I J and Samuel on King Street in the St Mary's area of Southampton. Also present in the same household is Edward Reeves, who is shown as two years younger than Matilda.

On the 1851 census Matilda appears as a visitor in the household of Mary Keeping on James Street in Southampton. The relationship, if any, between Matilda Reeves and the Keeping family is unknown.

Matilda has yet to be identified on the 1861 or later census returns and nothing else is currently known with certainty about her. But see Research Note 3 below.

Research Notes

(1)

(2)     This Matilda is sometimes confused with Matilda Reeves, nee Cooper, the wife of James Reeves since they were born at approximately the same time. Matilda Reeves nee Cooper was born Downton in Wiltshire which often serves to differentiate them.

(3)     It is strongly suspected that Matilda is the individual who appears as the wife of Henry Harrison (c1815 HAM or WIL - c1893 HAM) on the 1861 and later census returns. Henry first appears on the 1851 census as a lodger in the household of Samuel Reeves and his wife Mary (nee Harrison). It is presently not known if Henry and Mary were related, but they share the same place of birth on that census return. Henry is shown as being married and that may explain why a subsequent marriage between Henry Harrison and Matilda Reeves has yet to be found - Henry may not have been free to remarry.

Sources

Baptism:   HGS Indices and
                  FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/NRN9-5V2
Marriage:
Death:

1841 Census: HO107, Piece 0417, Book 5, Folio 41 face, Page 26
1851 Census: HO107, Piece 1669, Folio 326 face, Page 14
1861 Census:
1871 Census:
1881 Census:
1891 Census:
1901 Census: