Reeves, William Henry

Summary

Father:  George Aldridge REEVES
Mother:  Mary Ann BROOMFILED

Birth: c1859
Birth Source: GRO Index

Death:
Death Source:

Spouse1: Mary FORD

Narrative

William Henry REEVES is the Fifth of eleven known children of George Aldridge REEVES and his wife Mary Ann (nee BROOMFIELD).

His birth was registered during the first quarter of 1859 in the Southampton Registration District in the name William Henry REEVES. His mother's maiden name is recorded as BROMFIELD (sic Broomfield expected). See Research Note 1 below.

At the time of the 1861 Census William appears with his parents George A REEVES and Mary A REEVES along with one older and one younger sister, on Coleman Street in the St Mary's District of Southampton. He is two years old and his place of birth is given as Southampton, Hampshire. His paternal grandmother Ceilia (sic)  REEVES is living at the same address.

On the 1871 census, William again appears in his parents household, now on John Street in the St Mary's District of Southampton. He is now the second of seven children. He is 12 years of age and he is now a Scholar.

William's father George died in 1873, leaving him as the oldest male in the household.

At the time of the 1881 census, William's widowed mother Mary Ann REEVES is head of household at 20 Craven Street, in the St Mary's District of Southampton. William Henry Reeves is now 22 years old, unmarried and his place of birth is shown as St Marys, Southampton. He is working as a Labourer. Also in the household are four of his younger siblings and three of his mother's grandchildren.

FreeBMD notes the marriage of William Henry REEVES and Mary FORD during the fourth quarter of 1884 in Southampton Registration District.
Prior to her marriage to William, Mary had given birth to two children

1. Rose FORD, b.reg. 2q1878, Tisbury Registration District See Research Note 1 below.
2. William Reeves FORD, b.reg. 4q1881, Southampton Registration District

On both occasions the mother's maiden name is recorded as "--". However, son William's second given name is highly indicative that his father was our subject, William REEVES

On the 1891 census William Henry Reeves and his wife Mary are living at 23 Craven Street, just a few doors away from William's mother Mary who is still living at number 20. William is now 32 years old and again claims birth in Southampton, He iw working as a Corn Porter at the docks. His wife Mary is 35 years old (so born around 1856) and was born in Kingston Deverill, Wiltshire. Daughter Rose REEVES (13, born Chilmarsh (sic Chilmark), Wiltshire) and son William Ernest Reeves (9, Northam, Hampshire) are both Scholars and complete he household.

By the time of the 1901 census, William has returned to his mother Mary's house at 20 Craven Street. He is now 42 years old and remains employed as a Corn Porter at the Docks. He indicates he is married, but his wife and her children are not present in the same household.

William has yet to be identified on the 1911 census.

It is possible his is the death recorded during the fourth quarter of 1932 in Southampton Registration District. This individual, William Henry REEVES, was 73 years old, so born around 1859. However, remembering there were 3 William Henry's born in and around Southampton in 1858/59, there must be a degree of doubt.

Research Notes

(1) The FreeBMD Index shows four individuals named William Henry REEVES whose birth was registered in the southern part of Hampshire in the 18 month period 4q1857 through 1q1859. Prior to the availability of the GRO Index to Births it was impossible to differentiate them via the index alone. The inclusion of the mother's maiden name in the GRO Index makes it possible.

(2) On the 1881 census Rose FORD appears in the household of Ann GOODFELLOW and her four children at Chilmark, Wiltshire. Rose is 3 years old, was born at Chilmark, Wiltshire and her relationship is noted as being Niece. It has been established that Ann's maiden name was FORD, but his family have not been researched further.

Sources

Birth:        GRO Index     1859, March quarter, Southampton Registration District
Baptism:  
Marriage: FreeBMD     1884, December quarter, Southampton Registration District
Death:      GRO Index     1932, December quarter, Southampton Registration District.
                 
1861 Census: RG9, Piece 0675, Folio 82 reverse, Page 8, Schedule 41
1871 Census: RG10, Piece 1189, Folio 53 face, Page 51, Schedule 333
1881 Census: RG11, Piece 1208, Folio 6 reverse, Page 4, Schedule 22
1891 Census: RG12, Piece 0917, Folio 147 reverse, Page 18, Schedule 131
1901 Census: RG13, Piece 1054, Folio 127 reverse, Page 4, Schedule 18
1911 Census:
1921 Census:
1939 Register: