Reeves, William

Summary

Father:
Mother:

Birth: c1802
Birth Source: Census

Death: 1879
Death Source: GRO Index

Spouse1: Maria GILES

Narrative

Nothing is presently known about William's early life, although on census returns he indicates he was born around 1802 in the west of Wiltshire close to Warminster.

William Reeves married Maria Giles but the date and location are presently unknown.
The known children of William Reeves and his wife Maria (nee Giles) are

1. Elizabeth Ann Reeves, born 1836
2. Catherine Reeves, born 1838
3. James William(s) Reeves, b.reg. 2q1839

Elizabeth and Catherine were both baptised at the Parish Church of St Andrew,Holborn. The GRO Index entries for the birth of Catherine and James shows their mother's maiden name as GILES.

On the 1841 census taken on 6 June, William was living at 76 Hatton Garden, Middlesex. He was around 35 years old and wasn't born in county (of Middlesex)

At the time of the 1851 census, on 30 March, William and his wife Maria were living on Hertford Street in the St Pancras area of London (geographically Middlesex). He claims to be 49 years old, was born at Westbury, Wiltshire and is a Saddler. His wife Maria is 50 years old and claims birth in Warminster, Wiltshire. Their son James completes the household.

A decade later and the 1861 census shows William and Maria living on Euston Road in the St Pancras area of London. He is now 58 years of age, claims birth at Sutton (sic most probably Sutton Veny), Wiltshire. He is now working as a Harness Maker.

On the 1871 census, William and Maria are living on Cleveland Street, again in the St Pancras neighbourhood. He is now 68 and still working as a Harness Maker. His place of birth is recorded as Ditton, Wiltshire. See Research Note 2 below.

Neither William nor Maria have not been identified on the 1881 census. The GRO Index notes the death of a William REEVES during the fourth quarter of 1879 in the Pancras Registration District. He was 77 years of age, making this entry a very strong match for this individual.

Research Notes

(1) Both William and his wife were born in the Warminster area of western Wiltshire. It is highly probable they would have been married in that area.

(2) On the 1871 census William's place of birth is recorded as Ditton, Wiltshire which has yet to be identified. Perhaps William was again trying to indicate he was born at Sutton Veny which is in Wiltshire and close to Warminster. If he still had a pronounced Wiltshire accent, Sutton might have been misheard as Ditton.

Sources

Birth:       
Baptism:  
Marriage:
Death:      GRO Index   -   1879, December quarter, (St) Pancras Registration District
                 
1841 Census: HO107, Piece 0671, Book 8, Folio 13 face, Page 18
1851 Census: HO107, Piece 1494, Folio 422 reverse, Page 27, Schedule 136
1861 Census: RG9, Piece 0095, Folio 10 face, Page 13, Schedule 80
1871 Census: RG10, Piece 0209, Folio 98 reverse Page 8, Schedule 45