This wonderful group of six old postcards I recently bought from Paul on eBay, not only were they all sent to the same lady but they are all great pictures too!

All are sent to Minnie Reeves.

I fairly quickly matched up Minnie with the clues I had from the postcards, also Paul had shared another postcard sent to Minnie that I didn’t have, that was a Birthday greeting to her stating her birthday was the 10 June, a great clue and sent from Sandhill Farm, Shrivenham, Oxfordshire from A.M.S.

I have found some really interesting info about the Farm and its owners, here’s a snippet “At the farm in 1901 was listed John Snook, aged 65 with his wife Martha, aged 64 and four children. But just before the census of April 1911, the head of the household, John Snook died aged 76 and was buried in St Andrew’s churchyard, Shrivenham on 21st January. Upon his father’s death, George Harvey Snook took over as head of the farm, aged 28.” Full information here in PDF format: Sandhill Farm information

So A.M.S. Was this a member of the Snook family? Here’s the 1911 census mentioned above and in it, we can see Alice May Snook a single lady, daughter to the new head of household Martha Snook, a widow. I haven’t explored this family any further than this but it would be interesting to know if they were indeed related to Minnie or were Alice and Minnie were just good friends.

Minnie Reeves Postcards

This is Minnie’s birth registration from the GRO: REEVES, MINNIE COUZENS GRO Reference: 1878 S Quarter in WELLS Volume 05C Page 518. So now I know her mother’s maiden name Couzens. I have noticed that a few people have the wrong Minnie recorded on their trees, easy to make a mistake if you don’t check thoroughly as always.

A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year with love from LP.

So who was Minnie Reeves the recipient of these postcards?

Minnie Reeves was born on 10 June 1878 in Wells, Somerset, her father was William and her mother was Mary Couzens/Cozens. She had four brothers and three sisters.

Minnie never married and died on 27 October 1966 in Gloucestershire at the age of 88, and was buried in Bishop’s Cleeve, Gloucestershire. I found a lovely mention of her on the BBC website by Tim Curr titled ‘Under A Cotswold Height – Station Road’ “Osbourne House.  The house is built of dressed Cleeve Hill Stone and was the home of Miss Reeves.  She sold fresh free-range eggs, the hens scratching at your feet as you stood knocking on the back door“.  Full article here: Osborne House, Station Road, Bishops Cleeve

“Dear Minnie. Thank you so much to for doing the work it is good of you. I am feeling very poorly at present been in bed two whole days so please don’t expect one next week. Come over when you want?a nice little shall be so pleased to see you. With love Emily”

The Reeves Children

Minnie was the second born of the Reeves children, first to arrive was Frances Maria Reeves who was born in 1877, she married John Edward Webb on 4 June 1902 in Hardwicke, Gloucestershire. Frances and John had five children, sometime before 1911 they emigrated to Canada where they stayed. Frances died 4 Aug 1962 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Next born after Minnie was William Robert Reeves who was born on 26 January 1880, he married Kate as he was married by the time of the 1939 register but I’ve not found the marriage yet. William was a Dairy Farmer. He died on 1 August 1963. After William came Frederick George Reeves who was born on 3 Sep 1881 and died aged 2 years 5 months in early 1884.

Next born was Frank Sidney Reeves who was born on 18 May 1883, he married Annie Finlayson, and he emigrated to Canada too, first arriving in New York in 1915 he died on 10 August 1948 in Langenburg, Saskatchewan, Canada, at the age of 65.

Next, another boy Reginald Edward Reeves was born on 12 November 1884. He married Brenda Rose Short in Ashchurch, Gloucestershire on 13 October 1915. He died on 16 October 1960 in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, at the age of 75. This is a newspaper report below of his funeral, with lots of family history information as they often are with a full report like this.

Next was a daughter Eleanor Mary Reeves was born in July 1886, she is on the 1901 census with her family and then moved to Middlesex as a Lady’s maid in 1911, but after this I cannot confirm any other records, there was a possible Eleanor in 1921 in Kent but she is stated as being born in Whitstable, Kent not Wells, Somerset, an error, I don’t know?

The youngest child was a daughter, Mabel Sarah Reeves, who you would have seen earlier on the 1939 register with Minnie Reeves, her sister, living at Osborne House, Bishops Cleave. Mabel was born on 19 Jan 1888. She, like Minnie never married she died on 2 Mar 1967 at Tredington Hospital, Gloucestershire. Just six months after Minnie had died, the sisters left their money to their brother Reginald Edward’s son Eric Reginald Reeves (1917-2014)

“Yarslade, W Wells. Dear Minnie. Thanks for your PC we shall not be coming until the end of this month Oct. We are very busy just now & W is away. I can’t tell you what date as I am not sure as Mother is going away for a few days sometime this month but will give you at least a weeks notice. All news when I see you. Your affect’ cousin Lilly. I hope you recognise the other side” (referring to the photo)

“Dear Minnie. Just a PC in remembrance of the girls suppose you have heard the news of my departure from England for a time. I am sailing next week from London. I am quite well except a“…

…”cold. Trust you are all quite well. Please give our love to all. I have sent one to Nellie so good-bye dear. With love from your ever loving cousin Lillie“.

“Dear M, Sorry I did not see you Sat. Hope you like your hat. I had a lovely time at Worcester. Come down again soon. Mr E just gone back. Love Agnes“.

I haven’t ventured to find out who Lilly/Lillie was as it looks like Minnie’s parents had quite a few siblings but if you know of the family and can tell me a bit more I’d love to know.

Till next time then…….