Martha Stillman

Author: Gerald Soper
Date published: 10/08/2020
© Gerald Soper

Martha Stillman (1806 – 1888)

                             

 Martha Stillman was born circa 1806 in Newbury the daughter of William and Sarah Stillman, nee Challis.

 

William was born circa 1774 in Newbury and married Sarah Challis on 19 May 1805 at St Mary in Hamstead Marshall. Sarah died October 1815 aged 37 and was buried on 18 October 1815 at St Nicolas in Newbury. William remarried on 25 November 1816 at St Nicolas in Newbury to Elizabeth Clayton.

 

In the 1841 census Martha was living with William and Elizabeth in Bartholomew Street in Newbury along with her sister Sarah.

 

Martha’s father William died May 1849 and was buried 9 May 1849 at St Nicolas in Newbury.

 

No trace of Martha in the 1851 census.

 

Martha was recorded living with her step mother Elizabeth in Wash Road in Newbury in the 1861 census. Ten years later in 1871 Elizabeth and Martha were still living in Wash Road. They were still living in Wash Road in 1881 along with another of Martha’s sisters Sarah Pendle. Elizabeth was recorded as an annuitant and both Martha and Sarah had their employment recorded as “no occupation”.

 

The Newbury Weekly News edition of 12 January 1888 reported in a short article the death of Martha on Sunday (8 January) and her sister Sarah on Tuesday (10 January) and that their step mother Elizabeth was still alive and would celebrate her 102nd birthday in April. Martha and Sarah were both buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 14 January 1888.

 

Martha left a will and probate was granted on 18 April 1888 at Oxford to her nephew William Stillman, a seedsman of 60 Wigmore Street in Cavendish Square, and her niece Ada Collett, of 29 Hatcham Park Road in New Cross. The value of the estate was £24 16s 7d.

 

Martha’s mother Elizabeth died just a few weeks after Martha on 28 January 1888 and she was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 4 February 1888.

 

 

 

 

 

Sources:as above

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