Reeves, Thomas

Summary

Father:
Mother:

Birth: c 1815 at Ryde IoW
Birth Source: Census returns

Death: 1873
Death Source: IoW FHS Index of Death Registrations

Spouse1: Jane COOPER, married 1832

Narrative

There is a baptism of a Thomas Reeves, son of Thomas & Jane REEVES noted in the FamilySearch data base as occurring at Newchurch, Hampshire in 1811. This may or may not be our subject, who has been very consistent concerning his age and which would place is birth a few years later, about 1815.

The marriage of Thomas REAVES (sic) and Jane COOPER occurred in June 1832 at the Parish Church of St Mary, Portsea, Hampshire. See Research Note 1 below.

Known children of Thomas REEVES and Jane (nee Cooper) are

1. Frederic{k} Reeves, bapt February 1833
2. Charles Reeves, bapt December 1835
3. Mary Ann Reeves, bapt April 1838
4. Richard Reeves, bapt August 1840
5. Albert Reeves, bapt August 1843
6. Edward Reeves, bapt September 1845
7. Jane Reeves, bapt April 1849
8. Emma Reaves, bapt September 1852

The births of the five youngest children were all registered in the Isle of Wight Registration District, with the GRO Index to births consistently showing their mother's maiden name as COOPER. Emma alone was registered as Emma REAVES (sic).   From the Isle of Wight Family History Family Society's index all five births were recorded in the Ryde Registration sub District. All seven children were baptised at the Chapel of St Thomas, Ryde, a part of the extensive Newchurch parish.

On the 1841 census taken on 6 June, Thomas appears as a head of household, comprising Jane (age 25), Frederick (9), Charles (6), Mary Ann (3) and Richard aged 10 months. Sharing the same dwelling are Fanny Reeves (age 15), Lavina (sic) Reeves (5) and Daniel Reeves (20) who are believed to be Thomas's siblings. Three dwellings prior on Dores Row is the household enumerated as Thomas REES, but who is believed to Thomas Reeves, father of the current subject. See Research Note 2 below.

Son Edward was born in 1845. His birth was registered as Reeves, but his baptism appears as Reaves. Likewise his sister Jane in 1849.

At the time of the 1851 census on 30 March, Thomas along with Jane and family are enumerated using the surname REAVES. Thomas is now 36 years old, again claims birth in Ryde, Isle of Wight and is working as a labourer. Along with their seven oldest children the household also includes two lodgers; Jane's brother (per 1871 Census return) James COOPER (age 41, a plaster, born Ryde) and an older gentleman, Richard COOPER (age 66, a blacksmith, born Cowes). It is possible Richard may be Jane & James's father, but this is not yet proven and it is recorded Richard is unmarried, so perhaps their uncle.

Daughter Emma was born in 1852. Her birth was registered as REAVES, but she was baptised as Reeves.

A decade later and the 1861 census shows Thomas and Jane Reeves living in a house named Stokes View on Star Street, Ryde. His age and place of birth and occupation are consistent with prior decades. Their four eldest children are no longer living with them, with Albert (18), Edward (15), Jane (12) and Emma (8) remaining at home. Sharing the same dwelling, but enumerated separately is head of household Richard COOPER (a widower, age 78, a blacksmith) and Isaac COOPER (unmarried, age 49, a Labourer). Isaac's relationship to Richard is indistinct.

On the 1871 census, Thomas Reeves, wife Jane and their youngest daughter Emma are living at 16 Star Street, Ryde, IoW. Completing the household are James Cooper (brother in law) and Walter Cooper (nephew). Thomas is now 55 years old, born Ryde and working as a Waterman. Living in the same building, but enumerated separately is daughter Jane, now Mrs SEALE (age 22), her husband Henry SEALE (age 21, a Bricklayer) and their daughter Emma J Seale (2).

At the time of the 1881 census, wife Jane is shown as being a widow. See Research Note 3 below.

It is probable Thomas's death is that recorded by FreeBMD in 1q1874 in the Isle of Wight Registration District, age 58. Note the IoW FHS index of Death Registrations has a corresponding entry noted in 1873, not 1874. It is possible the death occurred in the final days of 1873, but was not registered until the first days of 1874.

Research Notes

(1) The Parish Church for the town of Ryde was All Saints at Newchurch, some six miles south of the centre of Ryde. The Ecclesiastical Parish of Holy Trinity, Ryde was only created in 1846, from Newchurch Ancient Parish. A chapel of ease, St Thomas, Ryde has existed since 1719 (see https://rshg.org.uk/ryde-history/ryde-churches/st-thomas-church-churchyard-history/). But for families at home on the waters of The Solent, the Ancient Parish of St Mary Portsea is also only six miles distant. As well as perhaps being more easily accessible for them than Newchurch, it might also be a destination to get married when being economical with one's age and/or avoiding the need for parental consent.

(2) The individual named as Daniel Reeves on the 1841 census was not found on the 1851 or subsequence census returns. It is strongly suspected he might be the individual appearing as Daniel REES, in the household of his father Thomas REES on the 1851 census. See HO107, Piece 1664, Folio 111f, Page 20, Schedule 66

(3) On the 1881 census Thomas's widow Jane REEVES and her brother James COOPER are enumerated as the second household (schedule 170) in the dwelling at 34 Albert Street, Ryde. The first household (schedule 169) comprises Thomas URRY (age 72, born Wootton Bridge, Isle of Wight) and his wife Ann (70, born Rotherhithe). It is just possible there is tenuous link from a Martha URRY who married Richard MORRIS in 1799 at Whitwell on the Isle of Wight. Their daughter Hannah MORRIS married William REEVES in 1821. This needs further detailed investigation.

Sources

Birth:        1851, 61 & 71 census returns

Baptism:   FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/NBTJ-QN5 is an unlikely candidate
Marriage: FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/N251-LQV
Death:      FreeBMD     1874, March quarter, Isle of Wight Registration District
                 IoW FHS index to Death Registrations 1873 reference R19/E361

1841 Census: HO107, Piece 0406, Book 8, Folio 16 reverse, Page 27, third household and continues Folio 17 face, Page 28
1851 Census: HO107, Piece 1664, Folio 116 reverse, Page 31, Schedule 97
1861 Census: RG9, Piece 0657, Folio 95 reverse, Page 12, Schedule 57
1871 Census: RG10, Piece 1165, Folio 113 reverse, Page 12, Schedule 57
1881 Census: RG11, Piece 1178, Folio 117 reverse, Page 30, Schedule 170 - widow Jane