Reeves, William Henry

Summary

Father: Joseph Albert REEVES
Mother: Sarah Ann BAKER

Birth: 1857
Birth Source: FreeBMD and Census

Death: 1926
Death Source: FreeBMD

Spouse1: Sophie/Sophia SAXBY

Narrative

William Henry REEVES is the oldest of six known children of Joseph Albert REEVES and his wife Sara Ann (nee BAKER). William's birth was registered during the second quarter of 1857 in the Brighton Registration District. He was baptised at the Parish Church of St Nicholas, Brighton, Sussex in the same year.

On the 1861 census William appears in his parents household at 24 Over Street, Brighton, Sussex. He is noted as being 4 years old and his place of birth is given as Brighton, Sussex. In addition to his parents, his younger siblings Sarah A (2) and Alfred A (4 months) complete the household.

A decade later and the 1871 census again shows William in his parent's household, now at 1 Sea Cottages in the St Andrews parish of Hastings, Sussex. William his shown as being 14 years old, that he was born in Brighton, Sussex and that he is working as a Grocer's Assistant. There are now four younger sibling to complete his parent's household.

FreeBMD notes the marriage of William Henry REEVES to Sophie SAXBY occurred during the second quarter of 1878 in the Battle Registration District. Sophie also appears as Sophia on various census returns.
The known and suspected children of William Reeves and Sophie (nee SAXBY) are

1. Agnes Georgina Reeves, b.reg. 3q 1880 in Battle Registration District
2. William John Reeves,  b.reg. 3q 1883 in Hastings Reg.Dist.
3. Edith Florence Reeves, b.reg. 3q 1885 in Hastings Reg. Dist.
4. Joseph Thomas Reeves, b.reg. 3q 1888 in Hastings Reg.Dist.
5. Mabel Emily Reeves, b.reg. 1q 1892 in Hastings Reg.Dist.
6. Olive Reeves, b.reg. 3q 1894 in Hastings Reg.Dist.
7. Frederick Archibald Reeves, b.reg. 2q 1897 in Hastings Reg.Dist.

Based in information from the 1911 census, it is probable that William and Sophie had nine children in total. The identity of two of their children is presently unknown. See Research Note 1 below.

At the time of the 1881 census William and his wife Sophia (sic) are living at 91 St Georges Road in the St Mary in the Castle area of Hastings, Sussex. William is now 24 years old and again give Brighton as his place of birth. He is employed as a Gas Fitter. In addition to his wife Sophia (23) their eight month old daughter Agnes G Reeves completes the household.

On the 1891 census William and Sophia (sic) are now at 129 St Georges Road, Hastings. William's age and place of birth remain consistent with prior census returns. His occupation is now given as Gas Fitter and Brass Finisher. Also living in the household are their four children Agnes G (10), William J (7), Edith F (2) and Joseph T (4 months) plus Tom EDMONDS, a boarder.

By the time of the 1901 census William and Sophia (sic) have relocated to 100 St Georges Road, Hastings, Sussex. William's age is now given as 42 but his place of birth remains consistent as Brighton. He continues to work as a Gas Fitter. Their six youngest children are listed in the parental household and boarder Tom EDMUNDS (sic) is still living with the family.

On the 1911 census William is living at 17 Hardwicke Road in Hastings. Whilst William is the Head of Household, the census from has been signed by his son-in-law Alfred LANCASTER, husband of William's daughter Agnes G Reeves. William is now 54 years old and a widower. He remaisn employed as a Gas Fitter. Helpfully, it is recorded that William has had nine children, seven of whom were then still living and two having died, although this information has been subsequently struck through in red ink. In addition to William, the hosuehold comprises son-in-law Alfred Lancaster his wife Agnes (nee Reeves and their three young children (whose relationship is given as nephew/niece rather than grandchild), William's sons William and Fred and his daughters Mable (sic) and Olive and finally boarder Tom EDMUNDS (sic).

By November 1919 William was living at 14 Stonefield Road, Hastings when he applied for the WW1 medals of his late son Thomas REEVES. Whilst there is a discrepancy in ages, it is suspected that this Thomas Reeves is actually Joseph Thomas Reeves.

FreeBMD has death registration for a William H Reeves, aged 69, in the Hastings Registration District during the fourth quarter of 1926, which is a good fit for this individual.

Research Notes

(1) It had been considered that Thomas Henry REEVES, whose birth and death are recorded during the first quarter of 1892 in the Hasting Registration District might have been another son of William and Sophie. This proposition is now considered very unlikely. Mabel Emily REEVES, whose birth was registered during the first quarter of 1892 in Hastings Registration District with reference volume 2b page 28, appears in a family context on both the 1901 and 1911 as the daughter of this William Henry REEVES. The birth of Thomas Henry REEVES was also registered during the same quarter of 1892 and in the same district but with page reference 15. This significant difference in page reference numbers between known daughter Mabel and potential son Thomas makes it highly improbable that Thomas was also the son of this William and Sophie. (Note this has not been confirmed from sight of the birth and death certificates.)

Sources

Birth:        FreeBMD - 1857, June quarter, Brighton Registration District
Baptism:   FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NBVR-P8G
Marriage: FreeBMD - 1878, June quarter, Battle Registration District
Death:      Probably FreeBMD - 1926, December quarter, Hastings Registration District
                 
1861 Census: RG9, Piece 0597, Folio 146 reverse, Page 28
1871 Census: RG10, Piece 1031, Folio 32 reverse, Page 58
1881 Census: RG11, Piece 1025, Folio 11 reverse, Page 16
1891 Census: RG12, Piece 0761, Folio ??? reverse, Page 28 - Folio number not discernible
1901 Census: RG13, Piece 0866, Folio 108 face, Page 23 and continued Folio 108 reverse, Page 24
1911 Census: RG14, Piece 4738, Reg.Dist. 069 (Hastings), Sub Dist. 2 (All Saints), Enum.Dist. 8, Schedule 186