Reeves, William

Summary

Father: unknown
Mother: unknown

Birth: c1777
Birth Source: death entry

Death: 31 Jan 1828 in Ilfracombe, Devon
Death Source:

Spouse1: Bridget MNU     possibly Page

Narrative

William is described as a vintner, inn keeper, hotel proprietor and gentleman on various different records.
He lived in Tiverton and his family in Ilfracombe.

He and Bridget had 5 children:

1. Lucy Reeves, bapt. Nov 1812, Ilfracombe
2. Bessy Reeves, bapt. Feb 1814, Ilfracombe
3. Richard Rowland Reeves, bapt. Oct 1815, Ilfracombe
4. Mary Anne Reeves , bapt. Mar 1817, Ilfracombe
5. Eliza Reeves, bapt. May 1819, Tiverton.

With only the last baptism of their youngest known child in Tiverton, its is likely the family moved from Ilfracombe to Tiverton some time between spring 1817 and May 1819.

At the time of Eliza's baptism in May 1819 in Tiverton, William is described as being a Vintner.

In the 1822 edition of Pigot's Directory, William is listed as the Innkeeper of the Three Tuns, Fore Street.

William is described as "of Tiverton" when he died in 1828 and his estimated age was 51 giving a birth year of c1777.

Research Notes

Need to establish his birth parentage and how he may link to other Reeves in Tiverton and in Devon.
No record of marriage to Bridget who may be Bridget Page as she died as Bridget Page Reeves.
Why is their son Richard Rowland? Is this a surname from William's ancestry?
Have found him mentioned in books as the landlord of the Three Tuns Inn, Tiverton, Devon.
He also invested in a large building near Tiverton with the hope of turning it into a hotel which didn't happen.
No record of a will or probate.

Three Tuns Inn, Tiverton
As noted above, William Reeves is associated with the Three Tuns Inn, Tiverton. This was on the corner of Fore Street and Bampton Street. In 1870 it was renamed to the Palmerston Hotel in honour of Lord Palmerston. It has since been demolished and a blue plaque is on the wall of the current WH Smith building to commemorate it. It was a popular local meeting place and all local political meetings were held there.

In the 1844 edition of the Pigot's "Directory of Devonshire" it is noted that "The principal inns are, the 'Angel' and the 'Three Tuns' - excellently conducted establishments, and both posting houses.". See transcription at GENUKI https://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/DEV/Tiverton/Tiverton1844

Some time after 1865, when Lord Palmerston who had a close association with Tiverton died, the Three Tuns was renamed as "The Palmerston" "out of compliment to that eminent Statesman".
See DevonHeritage.org https://www.devonheritage.org/Places/Tiverton/ThePalmerstonHotel.htm

See also Tiverton Civic Society - Blue Plaque Scheme https://tivertoncivicsoc.org.uk/heritage-and-events/the-societys-blue-plaque-scheme/

Sources

Birth:          
Baptism:    
Marriage1:  
Death:         Devon, England, Church of England Deaths and Burials, 1813-1920
Burial:       
                   
1819 Baptism Reg. (BT) - daughter Eliza   -   FamilySearch https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99Q5-75NL?i=234
1822 Pigot's Directory   -   transcript from Devon Heritage https://www.devonheritage.org/Places/Tiverton/Tiverton-ListinginPigotsDirectory1822.htm