Reeves, William

Summary

Father:
Mother:

Birth: c 1861/62 at Lyneham, Wiltshire
Birth Source: 1891 & 1901 census returns

Death:
Death Source:

Spouse1: Frances Catherine Bailey CLARK

Narrative

Prior to his marriage in 1882, William has not been positively identified. From the 1891 & 1901 census returns his place of birth on both occasions is given as Lyneham, Wiltshire and the ages given (30 & 39) point to his birth around 1861/62. However, there is no corresponding birth registration for a William Reeves in that time period in the Cricklade Registration District at FreeBMD. See Research Note 1 below for additional thoughts about William's identity.

FreeBMD notes the Marriage Registration of William Reeves and Frances Catherine B CLARK in the fourth quarter of 1882 in the Malmesbury Registration District. FamilySearch confirms they were married at the Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul in Great Somerford, in late December 1882.

The known children of William Reeves and his wife Frances Catherine Bailey (nee CLARK) are

1. Walter Henry Reeves, born 1883
2. Sarah Ann Reeves, born 1884/5
3. Isaac Albert Reeves, born 1886
4. Frank Reeves, born c 1888
5. Maurice William Reeves, born 1889/90
6. Ernest Reeves, born 1891
7. Herbert Lewis Reeves also known as Lewis H. Reeves, born 1893
8. Dora Alberta Reeves, born 1895

Probable birth registrations for all except Frank have been identified in the Cricklade Registration District, which includes the parish & village of Lyneham.

On the 1891 census, William and his wife (named as simply Catherine) are living in the hamlet of Tockenham with their four sons, Isaac, Frank, William and Ernest who is just two months old. William's age is not distinctly written, but is most probably 30 and his place of birth is Lyneham, Wiltshire. Their elder daughter Sarah is to be found elsewhere in Tockenham with her maternal grandparents Henry and Sarah CLARK. It is probable their eldest son Walter Henry is with his sister Sarah; there is a grandson of the right age named Harry Reeves also enumerated with the Clark's.

At the time of the 1901 census, William and Catherine have moved to the hamlet of Westcott, near Wantage, Berkshire. William is now 39 years old, and again claiming birth in Lyneham, Wiltshire. He is working as a Groom. All eight of their children are living with William & Frances, including their son Herbert Lewis who is recorded as Louis.

William has yet to be identified on the 1911 census. His wife (again as Catherine) is head of household at The Mount, Grove Street, Wantage. She describes herself as "married" rather than "widow" suggesting her husband William is still living. She notes she has given birth to eight children, all of whom are still surviving. Sons Frank and Ernest and youngest daughter Dora are living with their mother.

His wife Frances's death is noted by FreeBMD as occurring in the Bristol Registration District in second quarter of 1925. It is therefore possible that William's is the death also in the Bristol Registration District in 2q 1924, aged 64, pointing to a birth in about 1860, but given how frequently the name William Reeves occurs there are other possible options which should be discounted.

Research Notes

(1) Based on a process of elimination, it is likely this is the same individual as William Reeves, son of William Beven Reeves and his wife Ann who was baptised at Lyneham on 19 February 1858. https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NBPF-BR8

The parish of Lyneham is included within the Cricklade Registration District. However the parish is in the extreme south western corner of that registration district and abuts Malmesbury Reg. Dist. to the north, Chippenham Reg. Dist. to the west and Calne Reg. Dist. to the south. The nearest parts of Highworth, Marlborough and Devizes Registration Districts are only one, two or three parishes removed.

FreeBMD lacks birth registrations for a William REEVES in any of those registration districts in the period 1859 to 1863.

In 2q1864 there was a registration in the Chippenham Reg. Dist. and that individual has been identified on the 1871 & 1881 census in a family context claiming birth in Corsham, Wiltshire. That fits was his baptism on 12 June 1864 in Corsham https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NTX8-G6J and https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NYCD-4RH.

In both 1q1858 and 2q1858 there was a registration in the Cricklade Reg. Dist. of a William Reeves. From the 1871 census it is possible to identify both a William Reeves age 12 born Cliffe Pypard, Wiltshire and a William Reeves age 13 born Lyneham, Wiltshire.

William of Cliffe Pyford has been identified on the 1861, 71 & 81 census returns. He was baptised at Clyffe Pypard on 4 April 1858, the son of John & Elizabeth Reeves. https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J7D6-VV8

Likewise William of Lyneham has also been identified on the 1861, 71 & 81 census returns. As noted above, he was was baptised at Lyneham on 19 February 1858, the son of William Beven and Ann Reeves. https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NBPF-BR8

Finally, in 1q1858 there was a registration in the Malmesbury Registration District. An individual claiming birth in Brinkworth (within the Malmesbury Reg.Dist.) has been identified on the 1871, 81, 91, 1901 and 1911 census returns and on the latter three is married to Jane, so he is discounted.

Sources

Birth:       
Baptism:  
Marriage: FreeBMD 1882, December quarter, Malmesbury Registration District
                 FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NLDZ-J97
Death:     
1861 Census:
1871 Census:
1881 Census:
1891 Census: RG12, Piece 1587, Folio 44 reverse, Page 5
1901 Census: RG13, Piece 1136, Folio 38 face, Page 7
1911 Census:

1911 Census: wife - RG14, Piece 6480, Reg.Dist. 118 (Wantage), Sub.Dist. 1 (Wantage), Enum.Dist. 2, Schedule 148