When hunting never rely on either Ancestry or FMP coming up with alternative possibilities! In 1871 George Reeves was just that - it has taken days to find him in 1861 and 1851 - and this is why.
1861 - Ancestry - REVES
1861 - FMP - READ

1851 - Ancestry - REIVES
1851 - FMP - REWES
None of these names came up in the searches - however vague I made them!
Hard slogging but at least another (knee high) brickwall smashed!
Marion