Eliza Reeve born 1883 Great Canfield

[Martin17]

I am trying to find what happened to Eliza Reeve, born 1883 at Great Canfield, Essex.

Eliza was the daughter of Stephen Reeve and Sarah Burton. I have Eliza on the 1891 census as an 8 year old and living with her parents, 1901 as a 17 year old a housemaid domestic at the Old Rectory, Great Canfield. 1911 I have Eliza 28 years old and single, employed as a housemaid domestic for James Lewis Wigan and his wife at Port Arlington, Bournemouth, Eliza is born Great Canfield.

On the 1921 census there is an Eliza Matthews, aged 38 years and 4 months, married, residing with Stephen Reeve, her father at Great Canfield. Eliza is recorded as being employed as home duties and as being born at Great Canfield.

Is this Eliza, his daughter? She is about the right age, not all ages are spot on. To date I can find no marriage for Eliza Reeve to a Mr Matthews from 1910 to 1922.

Any advice or thoughts on the above would be gratefully received.

Regards

Martin17

[JenB]

I see that on the original form he entered her as his daughter.
This has been crossed out and the word ‘visitor’ added in different handwriting.

[trish1120]

She was buried 24 Jun 1930 St Mary, age 47 abode  Cuckoos, Great Canfield
Same address as Burials of Stephen Reeve buried 15 Feb 1927 ad Sarah Reeve buried 24 Mar 1931

[Martin17]

Hi JenB and trish1120

I was in the process of replying to JenB when your reply was coming through so my reply seems to have disappeared. Thank you both for your replies.

JenB was spot of with the daughter crossed out and visitor inserted. I wonder who did the crossing out? I think that Eliza is Stephens daughter, but at this stage can not 100 per cent prove that.

trish1120. I had just found the burial that you mention at Great Canfield, but did not have the Cuckoo's address that you supplied. I know a few of my ancestors resided at Cuckoo's so this almost to me confirms Eliza was his daughter. On the back of that I am still unable to find a marriage for Eliza Reeve and Mr Matthews.

Regards

Martin17

[JenB]

The handwriting of the word ‘visitor’ is very much like that of the enumerator, which you can see on the address form.

The fact that Stephen entered her as his daughter has to be significant.

[softly softly]

Looking closely at the census image I think her aged reads 38 years 4 months giving a birth year of 1883.

SS

[Milliepede]

To date I can find no marriage for Eliza Reeve to a Mr Matthews from 1910 to 1922.

Does it say she is married? 

[Martin17]

Hi Milliepede

On the 1921 it states Eliza Matthews is married and living with what I now believe is her father Stephen Reeve, but no sign of Mr Matthews.

I have tried different spellings of Matthews, but to date no marriage found. Eliza is single in 1911.

Regards

Martin17

[JenB]

There need not necessarily have been a marriage. Maybe Mr Matthews was already married and she simply adopted his surname?
She wouldn’t be the first woman to do this - my mother in law did exactly this in the 1960’s.