Reeves, William

Summary

Father:
Mother:

Birth: c1801
Birth Source: Census

Death: c1881
Death Source: FreeBMD

Spouse1: Hannah COOK

Narrative

Nothing is presently known about William's early life.

William REEVES and Hannah COOK were married on Good Friday 31 March 1820 at the Parish Church of St James, Ludgershall, Wiltshire. Banns were first called on Sunday 12 March. Both bride and groom were described as being "of this parish".

Known children of William REEVES and Hannah (nee COOK)

1. Henry Reeves, born c1822
2. Anne Reeves, born c1824, probably bur Mar 1844
3. Lydia Reeves, born c1827, married Robert Gray MORRELL in 1860
4. James Reeves, bapt May 1831
5. William Reeves, bapt Apr 1834
6. Rebecca Reeves, born c1836
7. John Reeves, b.reg. 2q1838
8. Sarah Reeves, b.reg. 2q1841, married Thomas KNIGHT in 1865
9. Daniel Reeves, b.reg 2q1844

The GRO Index to Births confirms the mother's maiden name of children John, Sarah and Daniel to be COOK.

It is likely there is at least one further child, also named James. There is a baptism of James, the son of William and Hannah Reeves at Ludgershall on 07 March 1830. Additionally there is also a burial in Ludgershall of a James Reeves on 10 July 1830 who was born in 1830. It is just possible that burial was of a visitor to the parish, and James was baptised twice in March 1830 and again in May 1831, but highly unlikely

On the 1841 census taken on 6 June, William appears as the head of a large household. In addition to William, is Hannah (who we know to be his wife), plus Henry, Anne, Lydia, James, William, John, Rebecca, John and Sarah who was just one month old. William's age is recorded as 40, he is an Agricultural Labourer and he was born in county.

At the time of the 1851 census, on 30 March, William along with his wife Hannah and the majority of their children (see Research Note 1 below) are living in a cottage in the village of Ludgershall. He claims he is 50 years old, was born in Ludgershall and was workinga s a Labourer.

A decade later and the 1861 census shows William, Hannah and their two youngest surviving children, Sarah and Daniel, living on Queens Road, Ludgershall. He is 60 years old, was born Ludgershall and is an Agricultural Labourer.

On the 1871 census, William appears, along with his wife Hannah on Butts Street, Ludgershall. He is now 70 years old, again claims birth in Ludgershall, Wiltshire and is a Labourer.

At the time of the 1881 census, Hannah appears as head of household and she is described as a widow.

It is probable William's is the death noted by FreeBMD occurring during the first quarter of 1881 in the Pewsey Registration District, which at that time included the village of Ludgershall. (See Research Note 9 below.) His age at death is recorded as 80, which is a good match to our subject.

Research Notes

(1) Daughters Anne and Rebecca are not in William and Hannah's household at the time of the 1851 census. Their daughter Rebecca Reeves has been identified elsewhere in Lugdershall working as a servant (HO107, Piece 1683, Folio 269 reverse, Page 27, Schedule 111). It is probable that their daughter Anne is the 19 year old individual, Ann Reeves, who was buried at Ludgershall on 28 March 1844.

(9) The (civil) Parish of Ludgershall was transfered from the Andover (Hampshire) Registration District to the Pewsey (Wiltshire) Registration District on 1 April 1880. See https://www.ukbmd.org.uk/reg/districts/pewsey.html

Sources

Birth:       
Baptism:  
Marriage: Ludgershall Parish Marriage Register for 1820 - Page 8, Entry no 24 - Image at Ancestry
Death:      FreeBMD     1881, March quarter, Pewsey Registration District
                 
1841 Census: HO107, Piece 1165, Book 10, Folio 8 face, Page 10
1851 Census: HO107, Piece 1683, Folio 260 reverse, Page 9, Schedule 36
1861 Census: RG9, Piece 0682, Folio 20 face, Page 33
1871 Census: RG10, Piece 1241, Folio 24 face, Page 17, Schedule 101
                  and continued Folio 24 reverse, Page 18
1881 Census: RG11, Piece 2062, Folio 34 reverse, Page 2, Schedule 8 - HoH Hannah Reeves, Widow