Reeves, William (aka Ryves, William)
Summary
Father: John Ryves/ReevesMother: Sarah mnu
Birth: bef 19 April 1812
Birth Source: Baptism
Death: 1898
Death Source: FreeBMD
Spouse1: Elizabeth TITHERIDGE
Narrative
William Ryves, the son of John Ryves and Sarah (nee mnu), was baptised at the Parish Church of St Mary & All Saints, Droxford on 19 April 1812. The last positive reference to the surname Ryves for this family group is in 1822, when William's younger sister Jane was baptised.
On the 1841 census taken on 6 June, William was living with his parents and three siblings. The family surname is recorded as Reeves and it is this form of the name which is used on all subsequence occasions. The family were living at Swanmore, within the parish of Droxford. Henry gives his age as 27, his occupation as Agricultural Labourer and he was born within the county (of Hampshire).
In November 1846, William married Elizabeth TITHERIDGE at the Parish Church of St Barnabas, Swanmore. (This ecclesiastical parish was created out of the ancient Parish of Droxford and the new parish church only consecrated in December 1845. It is sometimes referred to as "Swanmore by Droxford" during its early years).
The known children of William Reeves and Elizabeth (nee Titheridge) are ....
- Henry William Reeves, bapt April 1848
- Sarah Ann Reeves, bapt August 1849
- Fanny Jane Reeves, bapt June 1851
- Mark Reeves, bapt July 1853
- Emma Reeves, bapt Jan 1855
- Bithiah Reeves, bapt May 1856
- George Reeves, bapt April 1858
- James Reeves, bapt January 1860
- Charles Henry Reeves, bapt August 1861
- Frank Reeves, bapt October 1862
- John Reeves, bapt September 1864
- Ernest A Reeves, bapt February 1869
At the time of the 1851 census, on 30 March, William with wife Elizabeth plus their two (eldest) children, Henry William and Sarah Ann, are living in Swanmore. William is head of household, aged 40 and working as an Agricultural Labourer. He claims birth in Droxford.
A decade later and the 1861 census shows William and his wife Elizabeth plus seven children (2 to 8 above) living in the hamlet of Hill in the parish of Swanmore. WIlliam's age is noted as 48, he claims birth in Droxford and is working as a Labourer. As noted elsewhere this eldest son Henry William is believed to be the individual recorded as simply William Reeves in the household of our subject's father John Reeves.
On the 1871 census, William and his wife Elizabeth plus eight children are still living in the hamlet of Hill. William is now 58 years old, born Droxford and working as an Agricultural Labourer.
At the time of the 1881 census, William and Elizabeth with just their two youngest children (John & Ernest) are living on Gravel Hill in the hamlet of Hill, Swanmore. Most unusually William is enumerated as "William Reeves Senr". He is now 69 years old and working as a Shepherd. His place of birth is recorded as Swanmore, Hants.
On the 1891 census, William along with his wife Elizabeth are living at Jervis Court Cottages, Swanmore. Although now 79 yeras old, he is still recorded as being an Agricultural Labourer. His place of birth is again noted as Swanmore, Hants.
Neither William nor his wife Elizabeth have been identified on the 1901 census. It is highly probably his is the death noted by FreeBMD in the September quarter of 1898 aged 86 in Droxford Registration District.
Research Notes
Was it co-incidence that William married in November 1846 and his younger brother Henry Reeves married less than a month later in December 1846?On the 1851 census, in several neighbouring households are Reeves folk who are described as visitors. Their relationships have yet to be investigated, but was this for a family gathering.
Sources
Birth:Baptism: FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/NKP3-ZQ2
Marriage: FreeBMD M.Reg. 1846, 4q, Droxford Registration District
FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/NK4B-8N1
Death: FreeBMD D.Reg. 1898, 3q, Droxford Registration District
1841 Census: HO107, Piece 0387, Book 1, Folio 16 face, Page 2
1851 Census: HO107, Piece 1676, Folio 236 face, Page 14
1861 Census: RG9, Piece 0698, Folio tba, Page 7
1871 Census: RG10, Piece 1218, Folio 22 face, Page 7
1881 Census: RG11, Piece 1238, Folio 91 reverse , Page 4
1891 Census: RG12, Piece 0943, Folio 68 face, Page 7