Reeves, William

Summary

Father:
Mother:

Birth: c1777-1781
Birth Source: Census (1841 only)

Death: between 1841-1851
Death Source: 1851 Census

Spouse1: Sarah WARE

Narrative

Nothing is presently known of William's parents or his early life. From the 1841 census we know that he was born in Kent around 1777-1781.

The marriage of William REEVES to Sarah WARE in May 1809 is recorded in the registered of the Parish Church, Plaxtol, Kent. See Research Notes 1 and 2 below.
The known children of William REEVES and his wife Sarah (nee WARE) are

1. John Reeves, born c1810 at Kemsing
2. Mary Reeves, born c1811 probably at Stansted
3. William Reeves, born c1812 at Stansted
4. Sarah Reeves, bapt. June 1818 at Stansted (indexed as Reeve)
5. Harriet Reeves, bapt. Jan 1821 at Stansted
6. Amos Reeves, bapt. May 1823 at Borough Green
7. Jessee Reeves, bapt. Aug 1825 at Borough Green
8. Esther Reeves, bapt. Aug 1829 at Borough Green
9. Jane Reeves, born c1830
10. James Reeves, born c1834

On the 1841 census taken on 6 June, William Reeves appears as the head of a household in Stansted, Kent. His age is given as 60, suggesting he was born between 1777 and 1781, and that he was born in county (Kent). His occupation is given as Agricultural Labourer. The household comprises Sarah (55), William (25), Mary (30), Harriet (20), Amos (15), Jessee (16 or 10), Esther(12), Jane (10) and James (7).

At the time of the 1851 census, on 30 March, William's wife Sarah appears as the head of household and she indicates she is a widow. See Research Note 3 below.

Since the name William occurs very frequently, even narrowing the search of FreeBMD to just the county of Kent, it has not been possible to specifically identify the entry for this William. However, it is highly probable it is the entry during the first quarter of 1844 in the Malling Registration District, although other entries in neighbouring districts should not be discounted.

Research Notes

(1) The Parish Church in Plaxtol was built in 1649 during the Commonwealth period and has no dedicatory name.
See FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/Plaxtol,_Kent_Genealogy

(2) Sarah's maiden name is further confirmed from the baptisms of their children Amos, Jessee and Esther at the Borough Green Particular Baptist Chapel, Borough Green, Wrotham, Kent. The non conformist register provides more genealogically useful information, including mother's maiden surname, than a CofE register of the same period.

(3) Sarah and her family are enumerated on the 1851 census under the surname REAVES(sic). However based the names, ages and places of birth of family members there can be no doubt that this is the same family.

Sources

Birth:       
Baptism:  
Marriage: FamilySearch     https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NX2G-BVM
Death:     
                 
1841 Census: HO107, Piece 0462, Book 6, Folio 6 face, Page 6
1851 Census: Widow Sarah - HO107, Piece 1612, Folio 511 reverse, Page 5
1861 Census: Widow Sarah - RG9, Piece 0486, Folio 35 face, Page 3