Reeves, Thomas William

Summary

Father: Thomas REEVES
Mother: Eliza CLARK

Birth: c1863
Birth Source: Baptism, FreeBMD and Census

Death:
Death Source:

Spouse1: Ellen MOORE

Narrative

Thomas William REEVES is the sixth and last known child of Thomas REEVES and his wife Eliza (nee CLARK). The birth of Thomas William REEVES was registered during the first quarter of 1863 in the South Stoneham Registration District and he was baptised in the Parish Church of St Nicholas, Millbrook during May 1863.

On the 1871 census Thomas appears with his parents at Shirley Park, Shirley. He is 8 years old, was born in Shirley and is a Scholar. His brother Charles and three older sisters complete the household.

At the time of the 1881 census Thomas remains in his parents household. He is now 18, again claims birth in Shirley and is working as an Apprentice (no specific trade indicated).

By the time of the 1891 census Thomas has strayed from his place of birth. He is one of two boarders in the Lodging House of Annie HOLDEN at 47 Grafton Road, Worthing, Sussex. He is 27 years old and gives his place of birth as Southampton, Hampshire. His occupation is given as Ironmonger.

FreeBMD notes the marriage of Thomas William REEVES and Ellen MOORE during the third quarter of 1891 in the Depwade Registration District of Norfolk. Ellen consistently gives Fundenhall, Norfolk as her place of birth on subsequent census returns and it is likely they returned to her home parish for their marriage.
The known children of Thomas William REEVES and his wife Ellen (nee MOORE) are

1. Reginald William REEVES, b.reg. 1892
2. Doris Eleanor REEVES, b.reg 1899 and d.reg. 1905

By the time of the 1901 census Thomas and his wife Eliza have established the family home at 167 Montague Street, Worthing, Sussex. He is now 36 years of age and claims birth in Shirley, Hampshire. He is employed as the Manager of an Ironmongers. Their two children Reginald Wm (8) and Doris E Reeves (2) complete the household.

On the 1911 census Thomas and Ellen are found at 153 Montague Street, Worthing, Thomas is now 45 years old and again claims birth in Shirley, Hampshire. He gives his personal occupation as Ironmonger and that he is an Employer. Their son Reginald William Reeves (18) completes the household. Thomas records on the census that he and Ellen have been married 19 years and have had two children, of whom only one is now alive. See Research Note 2 below.

Their son Reginald served in the Royal Sussex Regiment during WW1 and died in early November 1918 of pneumonia. The CWGC notes he was "Son of T.W. and Ellen Reeves of 28 Valencia Road, Worthing."

It is probable that Thomas's death is that noted by FreeBMD during the second quarter of 1936 in the Worthing Registration District.

Research Notes

(1) At the time of the 1891 census, Ellen MOORE who was soon to be Mrs Thomas REEVES was also working in Worthing. On the 1891 census her place of birth is recorded Wymondham, Norfolk. Wymonham is the largest local town and also an adjacent parish to Fundenhall which she gives as her place of birth on subsequence census returns.

(2) FreeBMD notes the death of Doris Eleanor REEVES (age 6) during the third quarter of 1905 in the East Preston Registration District. This is almost certainly Thomas and Ellen's daughter.

Sources

Birth:        FreeBMD   1863, March quarter, South Stoneham Registration District
Baptism:   FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J9CL-34D
Marriage: FreeBMD   1891, June quarter, Depwade Registration District
Death:      FreeBMD   1936, June quarter, Worthing Registration District
                 
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 0836, Folio ??? face, Page 19
1901 Census: RG13, Piece 0959, Folio 85 face, Page 17
1911 Census: RG14, Piece 05335, Reg.Dist. 084 (East Preston), Sub Dist. 1 (Worthing), Enum.Dist. 16, Schedule 138

Death: Son - Reginald http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/402851/REEVES, R W