Morning Pauline.
I have the dates for Johns father: dates for John Reece (1837-1876).
John Reece had 3 sons and 2 daughters (Elizabeth 1876-1878, David 1865-1875, John 1867,(he was a sawmill worker and was married to Elizabet Allen in about 1890), Anne Baxter-Reece 1869-1873, Robert 1871-1941
John Reece had a son called David Baxter-Reece and he died on Monkweirmouth Bridge in 1940 of natural causes.
I have little information beyond this although my investigations suggest that there is a link to the USA.
I have contacted the Sunderland Antiquarian society ( they have a lot of information) and am hoping to get further with their help(
www.sunderland-antiquarians.org)
I have a lot of information on the Scott family if you are going in that direction.
Susan