James Razey

He was baptised on 27 April 1834 in the parish of Wilcot, Wiltshire. His parents were James and Elizabeth Razey. 

It is difficult to confirm with confidence the 1841 and 1851 census as to his whereabouts.  The next record is his marriage at the age of 24 to widow Hannah Penny, aged 34, on 7 October 1858 at the Parish Church, Huish, Wilts. His father’s name is confirmed as James Razey, labourer.  Matthew and Sarah Baiden are witnesses: they could either be her parents or her brother and sister-in-law.  Hannah’s maiden name was Baiden and she married James Penny in 1841. They had two children, Rebecca and Abraham.  James Penny died on 17 July 1848, age 29.

For the next 30 years James and Hannah lived in Huish Hill with James working as a farm labourer. Abraham Penny (aged 16) is recorded staying with them in 1861, occupation groom.  Their first son George was 10 months old.  Three more children followed: Martha (b. 1861); James (b. 1864) and Ann (b. 1867).

Albert Lambourne, aged 21 and a blacksmith from Hungerford, is recorded in the 1891 census visiting James and Hannah.  He later married their daughter Ann on 19 March 1892 at the Parish Church, Huish.

Hannah died in 1895 (1Q) aged 73 years.  James moved to Newbury to live with his daughter Ann and her husband Albert who was the landlord of the Anchor Inn in Northbrook Street.

James died aged 67 years at the Anchor Inn on 13 November 1902 and he was buried on 17 November 1902.

His son-in-law Albert Absalom Lambourne died in January 1908 and James’s son, George Razey, took over the licence of the Anchor Inn.

No Mrs. P. Code

Sources: Wiltshire Baptisms; Wiltshire Church of England Marriages 1754 – 1916; 1861 to 1901 census; Death Index of Hannah Razey 1Q 1895

Sources:as above