Reeves, William

Summary

Father: Charles REEVES
Mother: Amelia MORLEY

Birth: 1858
Birth Source: FreeBMD, Baptism & Census

Death:
Death Source:

Spouse1: Ellen Louisa PHILLIPS

Narrative

William REEVES is the third known child (of seven) and eldest son of Charles REEVES and his wife Amelia (nee MORLEY). He was baptised in early January 1859 at the Parish Church of St Michael and All Angels at Southwick, Sussex. It is probable his is the birth noted by FreeBMD in the fourth quarter of 1858 in the Steyning Registration District. See Research Note 1 below.

On the 1861 census shows William appears in his mother's household at Alma Place, Southwick, Sussex. He is two years old and his place of birth is given as Southwick. In addition to his mother, his two elder sisters complete the household. Although first listed on the schedule, his mother is refereed to as Wife and not Head. Her marital status is Married and she gives her occupation as Sailor's Wife.

On the 1871 census William is living with his parents at Butts Field, Southwick. He is now 12 years old and again his birth place is Southwick. He is a Scholar.

His mother Amelia dies in 1877, when William was about 18 years old.

At the time of the 1881 census William is living in the household of his brother-in-law William Smith, husband of his eldest sister Ann (nee Reeves). William is now 22 years old. He is working as a blacksmith and he is single.

The marriage of William REEVES and Ellen Louisa PHILLIPS is recorded by FreeBMD as occurring during the first quarter of 1882 in the Battle Registration District.
The known children of William Reeves and his wife Ellen Louisa (nee PHILLIPS) are

1. George Charles REEVES, b.reg. 1882
2. Edith Elizabeth REEVES, b.reg. 1884
3. Ellen Louisa REEVES, b.reg. 1886 in Cranbrook Registration District
4. Albert Harold REEVES, b.reg. 1890, d.reg 1907
5. Ethel Daisy REEVES, b.reg. 1893
6. Frederick James REEVES, b.reg. 1899

Except where noted, the above births were registered in the Hastings Registration District.

On the 1891 census William and Ellen are living on Chapel Terrace in Hastings. They are living in the same dwelling as James and Elizabeth PHILLIPS, his wife's parents. William is 32 years old and was born in Southwick. He is working as a Blacksmith. In addition to his wife, their four eldest children complete the household.

By the time of the 1901 census William and Ellen are living at Brunswick Cottages in Hastings. He is now 42 years with the other details remaining unchanged. In addition to his wife, their six children complete the household.

On the 1911 census William appears as a one of four boarder in the household of Charles and Eliza Ingram in Battersea, London SW. He is now 52 years old, claims he is married and was born in Southwick Sussex. He is working as a Blacksmith for a Tramway Contractor. See Research Note 2 below.

Given his relatively common given name, it has not been possible to uniquely identify a death registration for this particular William.

Research Notes

(1) NB The birth of another William Reeves was registered in the same registration district during the first quarter of the same year, 1858. Given the baptism in early January 1859, on balance it is more probable this William's birth is that registered in the fourth quarter but the GRO certificates should be consulted for positive confirmation.

(2) William's wife Ellen has not been identified on the 1911 census. Both his son George and daughter Ellen are married and part of their own households. Son Albert had died in 1907. Daughter Ethel is working as a servant in Hastings and youngest son Frederick is living in his married sister Ellen's household. Daughter Edith has yet to be positively identified on the 1911 census.

Sources

Birth:        FreeBMD 1858, December quarter, Steyning Registration District
Baptism:   FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NBJJ-4MQ
Marriage: FreeBMD 1882, March quarter, Battle Registration District
Death:     
                 FamilySearch

1861 Census: RG9, Piece 0603, Folio 126 face, Page 17
1871 Census: RG10, Piece 1090, Folio 37 face, Page 27
1881 Census: RG11, Piece 1030, Folio 71 face, Page 51
1891 Census: RG12, Piece 0672, Folio ~~ face, Page 3 (folio number not discernible)
1901 Census: RG13, Piece 0872, Folio 79 face, Page 19
1911 Census: RG14, Piece 2193, Reg.Dist. 26 (Wandsworth), Sub Dist. 2 (North West Battersea), Enum.Dist. 5, Schedule 107