Where to go now?

[Libby56]

Hi everyone!
I'm trying to find my ggGrandmother's parent's marriage record, Joseph Reeves bap 02 jun 1822 Bilston, staffs. and Elizabeth Goodman bap 29 feb 1824 Tamworth, staffs. I've done all the obvious things but they're just not there However I have just found a Joseph Reeves (birth year declared 1820) in the army deserters register of 1839. Can you tell me how to proceed now, I can't see any way to a) confirm this is the same man I'm looking for or b) what happened to him? I thought they were shot so at least that would prove something!
My ggGrandmother was Ann Maria Reeves b 1853 her birth cert, gives Sedgley as the place of birth.
Any push in the right direction would be much appreciated. 



 

[garstonite]

Do you know which Country Joseph deserted from ?   was it India - ?  if so - could they have married in India - when he was charged he was only 19 ?
ADDED
1839 - 1842 the British Army were fighting in Afghanistan - can't see them marrying there

Between 1839 and 1842, British imperial forces fought a bitter war in Afghanistan. Initially successful, the campaign ended with Britain withdrawing from the country having suffered one of the worst military disasters of the 19th century.

[maddys52]

The Joseph REEVES who is on the deserted list in 1839 (also in 1838 and 1844) is from 83rd Foot, born West Bromwich, a hinge filer. In 1838 he deserted from Chester, in 1839 from Newcastle upon Tyne and 1844 from Weedon.

Modified:
Do you have the family in any of the census? What was Joseph's occupation? Are there any other children?

[maddys52]

Is this the family in 1861 at Leicester?

Elizabeth REEVES  34  Leicester  (wid)
Elizabeth                 13  Leicester
Ann Maria                 7  Deepfields [?] Staffordshire
Mary                         2   Leicester
Emma GREAVES    18  Leicester  (boarder)
Oliver                         6m
RG9/2294/97 pg20

Elizabeth (1847), Ann Maria (1853) and Mary (1858) all have mmn GOODMAN.

There is a baptism at St George, Leicester for Elizabeth REEVES, parents Joseph and Elizabeth on 24 Nov 1847.
I can't see the image so don't know what other info it may contain (Joseph's occupation).

So presumably if they married it was around 1846/7. Elizabeth GOODMAN may have been a widow? Will keep looking to see if I can find a marriage. 

[Girl Guide]

What occupation, if any, was given for Joseph on Ann's birth certificate?

[mckha489]

Elizabeth’s Baptism, Joseph is a Brickmaker. Wheat Street,

[softly softly]

Quote

Ann Maria                 7  Deepfields [?] Staffordshire,

Can confirm Deepfields is between Coseley & Bilston Staffs, all my ancestors come from exactly the same area.

John

[Andy J2022]

Joseph Reeves (birth year declared 1820) in the army deserters register of 1839. I thought they were shot so at least that would prove something!

Capital punishment was only available in time of war ('when on active service'), and then generally only in the face of the enemy or when ordered into such operations. In fact later during the First World War only around 10%* of men found guilty of desertion were actually executed. The remainder had their sentences commuted to imprisonment.

* Random statistics from WW1: There were 7,371 courts martial for desertion, which resulted in 3000 (approx) death sentences, of which only 288 were carried out.

[Libby56]

Wow! thanks everyone for the input. Maddys52 I've been trawling the census records for ages and the only 1 found was 1841 Reeves, there are 3 males, no names only ages 55 (b1786), 50 (b1791), 19 (1822)the town is Bilston, the registration district is Wolverhampton. the address is Stone st, Wolverhampton, staffs. there are no other details. Maybe he was a serial deserter! 
While looking for other children I found George, he was baptised 15 Aug 1853, Ann Maria was born 24 march 1853. the address is Deepfields. The 1861 census is a complete surprise and thank you for that as most of the details fit.
Thank you Johnhood, as usual you've come good. i studied an old map and all the different places mentioned Wolverhampton, sedgley, cosely, Bilston, willenhall and west Bromwich are indeed all very close so I'm hoping to be able to move from this quagmire I'm in at the moment.
I have been looking for a marriage between Joseph and Elizabeth from 1846-1853 and there are no results. Thanks again for all the help I will crack this one.