Charlotte Empson (1805 to 1896)

Charlotte Roadnight (Roadknight in some records) was born in Birmingham in 1805. She married Thomas Empson in 1833 at Aston Juxta?). Thomas was a carpenter and joiner. By 1851 they had four living children: Joseph aged 13, Mary Ann aged 11; Elizabeth aged 5 and William aged 1.

By 1861 Thomas and Charlotte are living in Burford, Oxfordshire with their two youngest sons William and Dick. Thomas is still a carpenter. By 1871 William and Dick are working but their father is no longer living with them. He had probably been admitted to the Workhouse.

In 1881 Charlotte is also in Witney Union Workhouse. Her daughter Jane Davis was working as a housekeeper in 1881 so could not have offered her mother a place to stay. Thomas died in !885 in Witney Union Workhouse.

By 1891 Charlotte has moved to Newbury and is living with her daughter Elizabeth Davis and son-in-law John, on Northbrook Street. Elizabeth is no longer housekeeping for the brewer so presumably she can invite her mother to stay. John is a Caterer/Coffee House.

Charlotte’s son Dick (now calling himself Richard) moved to Newbury around this time, when he left the Army. He marries a local girl Charlotte Clarke in 1896.

Charlotte died in 1896 aged 91. We do not know whether she survived to see Richard and the new Charlotte Empson married.

Sources:as above