Ann Few

1839-1896

Ann was born in Kintbury Berkshire (surname spelt Lawrance at birth) she was the daughter of William and Eliza Lawrence (nee Jacobs) who were married in Kintbury on the 12^th March 1836. Her mother Eliza was baptised on the 27^th December 1818 and was the daughter of John and Mary Jacobs. William was born c1795. William and Eliza also had two son, John, born c1837 and Thomas born 1845 (surname spelt Laurance at birth).

The 1841 census records William Lawrence (50), as an Agricultural Labourer living at Godfrey, Kintbury, Berkshire, with Eliza (20), John (4) and Ann (2). Living next door was Ann’s grandmother, Mary Jacobs (70), her married aunt Amy Stratford (nee Jacobs) (25) and Amy’s children, Louisa (4), Caroline (3) and Sarah (1).

Ann’s father died aged 53 in 1848 he was buried on the 16^th January at St Mary Kintbury. Her mother remarried later that year her 2^nd husband was Thomas Smart, (born c1822 in Kintbury) an Agricultural Labourer/ General Labourer. Thomas was a neighbour of Eliza’s he was recorded on the same page as Eliza in the 1841 census, living at Gravel Pits Kintbury with his parents Thomas (50), an Agricultural Labourer and Harriet (55).

Thomas and Eliza had two daughters, Louisa born in 1858 and Sarah Jane born in 1860. Sarah Jane died aged 10 months she was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 25^th February 1861.

In 1851 Ann (10) was recorded living in Kintbury with her step-father Thomas (28), her mother Eliza (29) and her brothers, John (13) and Thomas (5).

Ann’s mother and step-father were recorded living Bartholomew Street (1861), St John’s View (1871-1881) and New Church Almshouses (1891). Her step-father died aged 78 in 1895 he was buried in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 2^nd January 1896. Her mother continued to live in New Church Almshouses after Thomas’ death. She died aged 87 in 1904 and was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 14^th April.

Ann doesn’t seem to be recorded in the 1861 census. She married Henry Few (born c1836 in Newbury), in 1862 in Newbury. Henry was a Cordwainer/Shoemaker/ Bootmaker.

Ann and Henry had the following children:

Harry 1863

Lavinia c1865

George William c1867

Rose Eliza c1869

Harriett Louisa 1872

Thomas 1874

Annie Maria 1877

The 1871 census records Ann (31), living at Kimber’s Yard Newbury with Henry (35) and their children, Harry (7), George (4), Lavinia (6) and Rose Eliza (2). By 1881 the family were living at 7 Chestnut Court and by 1891 they had moved to Hampden Place Newbury.

Ann was widowed in 1894, her husband went missing on the 9^th December (The week before his disappearance he had been feeling unwell, suffering from dizzy spells and after visiting the doctor, had been told that he was suffering with constipation which was the cause of his dizziness.) searches were carried out and the river dragged on several days but without success. His body was discovered in the river (near the old Bone Mill below Greenham Lock) on the 31^st December by Mr Ralph Gunter. An inquest was held and an open verdict of “Found Drowned” was recorded.

Henry (58) was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 2^nd January 1895.

Ann died aged 57 the following year she was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 18^th July 1896. She is recorded on a Memorial Inscription alongside her step-father Thomas Smart.

Sources:as above