REEVES, Samuel

Summary

Father: Reeves, Samuel
Mother: Mary Harrison

Birth: September 1854 at North Front, Southampton, Hampshire
Birth Source: GRO Birth Certificate

Death: December 1928 at Longcroft Street, Southampton, Hampshire
Death Source: GRO Death Certificate

Spouse1: Matilda Reeves/Reed

Narrative

Samuel REEVES is the third known child and second son of Samuel Reeves and his wife Mary (nee Harrison). He was born in September 1854 at the family home on North Front in Southampton and baptised on Christmas Eve of the same year at the Parish Church of St Mary, Southampton.

The 1861 census shows Samuel as a seven year old living with his parents and three siblings (two older & one younger) at 11 Marine Parade in the St Mary's area of Southampton. Intriguingly on this return his name is recorded as Samuel Barnes Reeves.

On the 1871 census, Samuel is still living with his parents at 21 Longcroft Street, Southampton where he is the eldest of their three children. Samuel is recorded as being 18 years old and working as a labourer.

In May 1874 Samuel married Matilda REED, whose true identity has mystified family researchers. As is noted elsewhere, it is highly likely she and Samuel were cousins through their paternal grandmother. They married at the Christ Church, the old Parish of Northam, Southampton, which was demolished in about 1884.

Known children of Samuel and Matilda (nee REED) are

1. Ellen Matilda Reeves, born 1874 HAM, died 1874 HAM
2. Mary Ann Reeves, born 1875
3. Fanny Louisa Reeves, born c 1877 HAM
4. Blanche Rosa Reeves, born 1879
5. Annie Reeves, born 1881
6. Alice Reeves, born 1883 HAM
7. Bertie Charles Samuel Reeves, born 1884 HAM
8. Florence Emily Reeves, born 1886
9. William Edward Reeves, born c 1889
10. Ernest Henry Reeves, born 1891 - died 1917 at sea on HMHS Asturias
11. Walter Harry Reeves (aka Harry Reeves), born 1893
12. Edith May Reeves, born c1898
13. Samuel George Reeves (aka George S. Reeves)), born 1901

Family tradition, confirmed by the 1911 census, indicates there was a thirteenth child, whose name is sadly not presently known. See Research Note 1 below.

At the time of the 1881 census, Samuel, his wife Matilda and their three eldest surviving daughters are living in his father Samuel's house at 21 Longcroft Street. Samuel is recorded as being 26 years old born in Southampton and working as a General Labourer.

On the 1891 census, Samuel is shown as head of household at 21 Longcroft Street, although he listed third after his father Samuel and mother Mary. He is aged 35 and gives his occupation as Boiler Maker (although the image is a little indistinct and it could perhaps be read as Railway Worker). In addition to his parents and wife Matilda, the household comprises their children Fanny Louisa, Blanche R, Alice, Bertie C, Florence,
William and Ernest. Their daughter Annie Reeves was enumerated in the next door household of her maternal grandfather Edward Reeves.

By the time of the 1901 census, Samuel is now 46 years old and working as a Boiler Maker. He is head of household at 21 Longcroft Street living with his wife Matilda and children Bertie C, Florence, William,
Ernest, Harry, the family preferred name of Walter Harry, and Edith.   Samuel's widower father Samuel completes the household.

At the time of the 1911 census, Samuel is still living at 14 Longcroft Street and now aged 56. His occupation is given as "Holder Up" working in a Boiler Works. Samuel and Matilda had been married 37 years and twelve of their thirteen children were still living. In addition to his wife Matilda, the household comprised their five youngest children.

When his daughter Florence married in June 1915, Samuel's occupation was noted as Marine Engineer.

Samuel died in his home at 14 Longcroft Street, Southampton in December 1928; his daughter Edith (by then Mrs Edith Newman) was present and subsequently registered the death.

Research Notes

(1) Oral family tradition, confirmed by the release of the 1911 census in 2012, indicated there was a thirteenth child, whose identity was unknown to family researchers prior to November 2016. With the release by the GRO of a new index to births, it was possible to establish the missing child as Ellen Matilda Reeves.

(2) That same new index has indicated that for all 13 children, their mother Matilda's maiden name is recorded as REEVES, not Reed.

Sources

Birth:        GRO Birth Certificate
                 FreeBMD 1854, December quarter, Southampton Registration District
Baptism:   FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/NDQ6-28B
Marriage: GRO Marriage Certificate
                 FreeBMD 1874, June quarter, Southampton Registration District
                 FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/NK85-G8S for place & date
                 FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/N6ND-4NT for father's names
Death:      GRO Birth Certificate
                 FreeBMD 1928, December quarter, Southampton Registration District

1861 Census: RG9, Piece 0674, Folio 155 reverse, Page 32
1871 Census: RG10, Piece 1188, Folio 107 face, Page 27
1881 Census: RG11, Piece 1207, Folio 87 face, Page 26 and continued on Folio 87 reverse, Page 27
1891 Census: RG12, Piece 919, Folio 60 face, Page 13
1901 Census: RG13, Piece 1055, Folio 157 face, Page 53
1911 Census : RG14, Piece 5955, Registration District 99 (Southampton), Sub District 1, Enumeration District 32, Schedule 291