Reeves, Tom

Summary

Father: Joseph REEVES
Mother: Margaret COOKE

Birth: 1830/31
Birth Source: See Baptism

Death:
Death Source:

Spouse1: Charlotte LEVER

Narrative

Tom REEVES is the last of the seven known children of of Joseph REEVES and his wife Margaret (nee COOKE). He was baptised during January 1831 at the Parish Church of St James in Ludgershall, Wiltshire. The baptismal register records the family surname as REAVES. It notes his father's occupation as being a bricklayer, leaving no doubt this is simple spelling discrepancy. The following entry also happens to be for another REEVES family and again the name is entered as Reaves.

On the 1841 census taken on 6 June, Tom appears in his parent's home on Castle Street, Ludgershall. He is 10 years old and was born in county (that is to say, Wiltshire). There is no occupation recorded for him.

At the time of the 1851 census, on 30 March, Tom again appears in his parent household in Ludgershall. Due to subsequent over marking of the Enumeration schedule his age is difficult to read, but is most probably 20. He is unmarried and was born in Ludgershall. Again no occupation is recorded for him.

Tom has not been identified on the 1861 census for England and Wales nor on subsequent census returns.

FreeBMD records the marriage of Tom REEVES and Charlotte LEVER during 4q1852 in the Andover Registration District.
The known child of Tom Reeves and Charlotte (nee LEVER)

1. Elizabeth Reeves, born 1852/3 at sea

It is highly likely that newly weds Tom and Charlotte left the UK for Australia, arriving in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia on board the SS Java in April 1853, where they were listed along with their infant daughter Elizabeth, who was born on the voyage. See Research Note 1 below. On the List of Immigrants, he is listed as Thomas REAVES, age 23, born Ludgershall, Wilshire, a Farm Labourer. Charlotte is 25 years old and also born Ludgershall, Wiltshire. See Research Note 2 below.

This couple's life in Australia has yet to be researched...

Research Notes

(1)   According to http://passengersinhistory.sa.gov.au/node/1001018 the SS Java left London on Saturday 20 November 1852, called at Plymouth and Cape Town, South Africa before arriving at Sydney, New South Wales, Australia on Saturday 23 April 1853

(2)   Tom and Charlotte were travelling in the company of James Reeves (also born Ludgershall, age 22) and James's wife Emma who was 22 years old and says she was born in Chute, Hampshire (sic). The relationship, if any between Tom and James has yet to be established; they are not believed to be brothers.

(3)     Tom was following in the foot steps of another Ludgershall family, Daniel Reeves, his wife Jane (nee Tayler) and their sons Thomas, William and Evans who arrived in New South Wales in December 1848.

Sources

Birth:       
Baptism:   Ludgershall Parish Register, page 040 entry 313 - image - Ancestry
                   FamilySearch     https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N6Q3-3JY
Marriage: FreeBMD     1852, December quarter, Andover Registration District
Death:     
                 
1841 Census: HO107, Piece 1165, Book 10, Folio 6 reverse, Page 7
1851 Census: HO107, Piece 1683, Folio 258 face, Page 4, Schedule 12
1861 Census:
1871 Census:
1881 Census:
1891 Census:
1901 Census:
1911 Census:

1853 Immigration:     New South Wales Government Archive http://indexes.records.nsw.gov.au/ebook/list.aspx?Page=NRS5316/4_4790/Java_24%20Apr%201853/4_479000501.jpg&No=10