Reeves, Thomas

Summary

Father: John REEVES
Mother: Mary ROSE

Birth: c1826
Birth Source: Baptism and Census

Death: 1903
Death Source: FreeBMD

Spouse1: Eliza CLARK

Narrative

Thomas Reeves is the third of twelve known children of John REEVES and his wife Mary. Thomas was baptised at the Parish Church of St Leonard in Sherfield English, Hampshire during February 1826. The Hampshire Genealogical Society's Index to Baptisms (1813-1841) includes in its additional notes that the family were "of Whiteparish". Sherfield English is in Hampshire, but the neighbouring parish of Whiteparish is in the adjoining county of Wiltshire.

On the 1841 census taken on 6 June, Thomas Reeves is found as a Male Servant in the household of John and Ann SARGENT at Dairy Fram, West Dean, Wiltshire. He is 14 years old and claims birth in county (that is to say in Wiltshire, which corresponds with his baptism noting "of Whiteparish").

At the time of the 1851 census, on 30 March, Thomas is employed as a footman in the household of Walter Lynne of Rushington House, Eling. He is 26 years old and claims birth at Sherfield English, Hampshire.

FamilySearch notes the marriage of Thomas REEVES to Eliza CLARK occurred during May 1853 at the Parish Church of St Nicholas, Millbrook, Hampshire. The entry confirms his father's name as John REEVES. There is a corresponding entry within FreeBMD during the sceond quarter of 1853 in the South Stoneham Registration District.
The known children of Thomas Reeves and his wife Eliza (nee CLARK) are

1. Robert Bruce Reeves, b.reg. 1854
2. Sarah Matilda Reeves, b.reg. 1855
3. Eliza Reeves, bapt. Aug 1857
4. Alice Mary Reeves, b.reg. 1859
5. Charles Reeves, b.reg. 1861
6. Thomas William Reeves, b.reg 1863

Of the five birth registrations noted, all were registered in the South Stoneham Registration District. See Research Note 1 below.

The 1861 census shows Thomas and his wife Eliza living at Shirley Park, part of the parish of Millbrook. He is now 35 years old and again claims birth in Sherfield English, Hampshire. He is working as a Messenger for the West Indies S P Co (Steam Packet Company). Their fifth child Charles is just two months old.

On the 1871 census Thomas and Eliza are again found in Shirley Park. His age and place of birth remain consistent and he is now working for the R.M.S.P. (Royal Mail Steam Packet) Company as a messenger. Their five youngest children complete the household.

At the time of the 1881 census Thomas and Eliza are again to be found in Shirley Park, the house now given number 5. Thomas is 55 years old and his place of birth is recorded as Shirley, Hants; as is the rest of the household. He remains employed as a Messenger. Again their five youngest children are living in the parental home and there is additionally a boarder, Ernest DYMOTT (4, Scholar, born Shirley).

Thomas's wife Eliza dies prior to the 1891 census, since Thomas is then described as a widower. He is living at 14 Heysham Road, Shirley in the household of his son-in-law John James STOCKER who married daughter Eliza REEVES. Thomas is now 65 years of age, was born at Sherfield (sic) and is working as a Messenger.

By the time of the 1901 census Thomas is again found in his son-in-law's household, now at Waterhouse Lane, Shirley. He is now 75 years old and his place of birth is recorded as Romsey, Hampshire.

Thomas has not been identified on the 1911 census and it is highly probable that his death is that noted by FreeBMD during the second quarter of 1903, aged 77, in the South Stoneham Registration District.

Research Notes

(1)FamilySearch shows the baptism of all six of Thomas and Eliza's children occurred at the Parish Church of St Nicholas, Millbrook, Hampshire. There is no obvious b.reg for daughter Eliza. Her elder sister Sarah Matilda was baptised in September 1855 and there is a corresponding b.reg. during 3q1855. Her younger sister Alice Mary was baptised in August 1859 with a corresponding b.reg. during 1q1859. That would suggest Eliza's birth might have been registered between 1q1856 and 3q1858, unless it was a late registration, was recorded under another name or was recorded some distance from South Stoneham. Edith Elizabeth REEVES b.reg. during 2q1858 was baptised at St Nicholas, Millbrook in May 1858, the daughter of Samuel Reeves and his wife Susannah and is therefore not a candidate.

Sources

Birth:       
Baptism:   FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JWMC-HLL
Marriage: FreeBMD 1853 June quarter, South Stoneham Registration District
                 FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N6N8-N8J
Death:      FreeBMD 1903 June quarter, South Stoneham Registration District
                 FamilySearch

1841 Census: HO107, Piece 1164, Book 5, Folio 7 reverse, Page 9
1851 Census: HO107 Piece 1668, Folio 383 face, page 2
1861 Census: RG9, Piece 0683, Folio 88 reverse, Page 26
1871 Census: RG10, Piece 1199, Folio 96 face, Page 37 and Folio 96 reverse, Page 38
1881 Census: RG11, Piece 1221, Folio 136 face, Page 45
1891 Census: RG12, Piece 0928, Folio 51 face, Page 13 and Folio 15 reverse, Page 14
1901 Census: RG13, Piece 1072, Folio 6 face, Page 13