Reeves, Robert

Summary

Father: see Reseach Notes
Mother: Harriet LEGGE/LEGG

Birth: bapt November 1832, Shalford
Birth Source: Baptism

Death: c1891
Death Source: FreeBMD

Spouse1: Sarah MOORE

Narrative

It is probable that Robert is the eldest son of John and Harriet, but see Research Notes below.
Census returns suggest Robert was born around 1832-34 and the 1851 census points to the village of Shalford with later returns naming the larger nearby town of Guildford, both Surrey.

On the 1841 census taken on 6 June, Robert appears as an 8 years old, the eldest of four children in the household of Harriet REEVES. The other children are Charles (6), Ann(5) and Roslin (3). All were born in county (that is to say, in Surrey).

At the time of the 1851 census, on 30 March, Robert is living at Quarry Hill, Shalford with his widowed mother Harriet Reeves. In addition to Robert the household comprises his two sisters Ann(14) and Rhoda (12) plus Benjamin SMITH (age 30 and described as a visitor).

Robert has yet to be positively identified on the 1861 census. It is probable he is the Robert, one of three lodgers in the household of John & Ann SHANKS at 7 Bell Lane, Wandsworth. Robert is 29 years old, claims birth at Guildford Surrey and is employed as a Railway Labourer.

FreeBMD notes the marriage registration of Robert REEVES and Sarah MOORE during the first quarter of 1863 in the Lambeth Registration District. Family Search has a corresponding entry https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/N6FX-G3B for the marriage of the same couple at the Parish Church of St Mary, Lambeth Surrey on 28 December 1862. Two additional pieces of information point to this being this Robert; their first child was born in Battersea, Surrey which is very close to St Mary's Church in Lambeth and on the 1871 census Annie MOORE is a lodger in the household of Robert & Sarah. Based on age & place of birth Annie would be Sarah Moore's younger sister.

Known children of Robert Reeve and his wife Sarah (nee MOORE) are

1. Robert Reeves, c 1864 Battersea, Surrey/London
2. Annie c 1867 Brighton
3. Arthur J Reeves, c 1870, Brighton
4. Alice Reeves, born c 1875, Havant

On the 1871 census, Robert and his wife Sarah are living at New England Street in Brighton. Robert is 38 years old, claims birth in Guildford, Surrey and is employed as a Railway Labourer. In addition to their children Robert H Reeves (aged 7, born Battersea), Annie (7, Brighton) and Arthur J (1, Brighton) also present is Ann MOORE. Annie Moore is 27 years old, born Guildford, Surrey and is employed as a Housekeeper. Her relationship is shown as boarder, but it is believed she is his wife Sarah's sister.

At the time of the 1881 census, Robert and his wife Sarah are living on Clarendon Road, Havant, Hampshire. As well as their three children Annie (14), Arthur (11) and Alice (6), there are two visitors; Maud Moore (9, born Guildford) and Gertrude Moore (5, Wandsworth). Robert is recorded as being 48 yeras old and born in Guildford, Surrey, He is working as a General Labourer.

On the 1891 census, Robert and Sarah are living on Ashdown Road in Brighton, Sussex. Robert is now 56 years old, claiming birth in Guildford Surrey and is working as a Telegraph Linesman. As well as their daughter Annie (24), there is a four year old visitor, Elizabeth Pierce, a scholar born Sandown, Isle of Wight, who completes the household.

Robert has not been identified on the 1901 census and his wife Sarah appears as a Widow. It is highly probable Robert's is the death noted by FreeBMD in the fourth quarter of 1891 age 59 in Brighton Registration District.

Research Notes

There is a baptism for a Robert Reeve (sic) son of Robert (sic) and Harriet at Shalford, Surrey in November 1832. There are subsequent baptisms in the same parish for Robert's siblings Charles, Ann(e) and Rhoda. Those three baptisms name Harriet as the mother and her husband as John REEVES. It is strongly suspect that John was also Robert's father and the naming of Robert's father also as Robert is a recording or transcription error. (It would be helpful to consult the Shalford Parish Registers held at Surrey History Centre in Woking, GU21 6ND)

Sources

Birth:       
Baptism:   FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/NKTX-T9K
Marriage:
Death:     FreeBMD 1891, December quarter, Brighton Reg Dist
                 
1841 Census: HO107, Piece 1045, Book 6, Folio 24 reverse, Page 13
1851 Census: HO107, Piece 1597, Folio 379 reverse, Page 1
1861 Census: RG9, Piece 0372 ***TBC***
1871 Census: RG10, Piece 1081, Folio 45 face, Page 41
1881 Census: RG11, Piece 1137, Folio 50 face, Page 17
1891 Census: RG12, Piece 0809, Folio 73 reverse, Page 24
1901 Census: RG13, Piece 0941, Folio 74 face, Page 19 - wife Sarah