Reeves, Richard

Summary

Father: Edward REEVES
Mother: Hannah

Birth: c1817 13 Aug 1818
Birth Source: Census, Baptism

Death: 1897
Death Source: FreeBMD

Spouse1: Sarah REEVE (sic)

Narrative

On the 1841 census taken on 6 June, Richard Reeves appears in the household of Edward REEVES and Hannah on Silver Street in the hamlet of Abridge in the parish of Lambourne and Abridge, Essex. Richard was born in County (that is to say in Essex) and his age is given as 20. A George Reeves, whose age is 25, completes the household.

This matches the following baptism from the Lambourne Parish Register:

• 1818. Sep 13. Born Aug 13. Richard son of Edward Reeves and Hannah (late) Reynolds of Abridge, Labr, by R Sutleffe? Rectr

At the time of the 1851 census on 30 March, Richard appears as the son of Hannah Reeves, a widow aged 75. They are again to be found in the village of Abridge in the Parish of Lambourne. Richard is 31 years old, unmarried and claims birth in Lambourne. He is working as an Agricultural Labourer.

A decade later and the 1861 census shows Richard still unmarried and living with his widowed mother Hannah. His age is now noted as 43 and he is working as a Labourer (where others on the same page are recorded as Agricultural Labourers). It is probable his mother's death is that noted by GRO Index to Deaths in the September quarter of the same year, age 88.

On the 1871 census, Richard appears as Head of Household on Silver Street in Abridge. He is 53 years old and remains unmarried. His place of birth is given as Abridge and he is employed as an Agricultural Labourer. The household also comprises Sarah FLACK (a widow aged 73) whose relationship is given as Housekeeper and John FLACK (a Widower, age 43), a Lodger. See Research Note 1 below.

FreeBMD notes the marriage of Richard REEVES and Sarah REEVE (sic) in the Hendon Registration District (in the county of Middlesex) during the first quarter of 1876.
The known children of Richard REEVES and his wife Sarah (nee Reeve) are

1. William Reeves, b.reg. 1877
2. John Reeves, b.reg 1879,
3. Mary Reeves, b.reg 1882, d.reg 1882
4. Eliza Reeves, b.reg. 1883, d.reg 1888

All the above births and deaths were registered in the Ongar Registration District of Essex, which includes the Parish of Lambourne and Abridge. The GRO Index to Births records the mother's maiden name as Reeve (sic) in all four instances.

At the time of the 1881 census, Richard and his wife Sarah are living on Silver Street in Abridge. Richard is now 64 years old, whilst his wife Sarah is 36. He is employed as an Agricultural Labourer and gives Lambourne, Essex as his place of birth. Their sons William (age 4, born Abridge) and John (age 19 months and also born Abridge) complete the household.

On the 1891 census, Richard Reeves and his wife Sarah are still to be found on Silver Street, Abridge. Richard is now 73 and working as a Farm Labourer. His place of birth was Lambourne. In addition to his wife Sarah (50) their sons William (14, born Lambourne, also a Farm Labourer) and John (11, also born Lambourne) complete the household. There are several other Reeves families listed as close neighbours of Richard & Sarah, but these have yet to be investigated.

On the 1901 census Richard's wife Sarah Reeves appears has head of household and she is described as being a widow. Their son John is living with her. It is likely that Richard's death is that noted by FreeBMD occurring in the Ongar Registration District during the third quarter of 1897. His age at death was given as 78 years.

Research Notes

(1) John FLACK appears as a near neighbour of Hannah Reeves and her son Richard on the 1861 census. The possibility of a family connection has not been investigated.

(2) It is strongly suspected that Richard and Sarah's son John is the same John Reeves who died in France during WW1 whilst serving in the Middlesex Regiment.

Sources

Birth:       Census
Baptism:   Lambourne, St Mary and All Saints, Essex Parish Register 1813-1845, D/P 181/1/5
Marriage: FreeBMD     1876, March quarter, Hendon Registration District
Death:      FreeBMD     1897, September quarter, Ongar Registration District
                 
1841 Census: HO107, Piece 0336, Book 6, Folio 7 reverse, Page 9
1851 Census: HO107, Piece 1771, Folio 387 reverse, Page 7
1861 Census: RG9, Piece 1067, Folio 137 reverse, Page 30
1871 Census: RG10, Piece 1643, Folio 134 reverse, Page 10
1881 Census: RG11, Piece 1742, Folio 51 face, Page 17
1891 Census: RG12, Piece 1366, Folio 107 reverse, Page 12 and continued Folio 108 face, Page 13
1901 Census: RG13, Piece 1644, Folio 123 face, Page 13 - HOH widow Sarah plus son John