Martha Ann Purdue

1855-1898

Martha Ann was born in Woodspeen Berkshire the eldest child of Charles and Elizabeth Cooper (nee Jelliff/Geliff).

Martha Ann’s parents:

Charles was born in1821 in Kingsclere Hampshire and was a Mealman/Miller.

Elizabeth was born c1824 in Newbury the daughter of George and Jane Geliff (nee Shuttle) who were married on the 23^rd  November 1817 at St Nicolas Church Newbury (both were single and George was from Enborne)

Elizabeth’s father George Geliff died aged 48 in 1833 he was buried on the 1^st July at St Nicolas Newbury

The 1851 census records Elizabeth Geliffe (27), working as a Laundress living with her mother Jane (58), recorded as a Pauper, in Trafalgar Place, Bartholomew Street Newbury.

Elizabeth’s mother Jane Jeliffe (as recorded on the GRO website, freebmd recorded surname as Geliff) died aged 65 in 1857 she was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 27^th April

Charles Cooper married Elizabeth Jelliff in Newbury in 1853

Martha Ann’s siblings were:

George John 1857-1923

William c1859

Walter 1861 (died aged 22 on the 7^th March 1884 buried in the NRC on the 12^th March)

Rhoda Elizabeth 1863 (died aged 19 on the 28^th March 1882 buried in the NRC on the 3^rd April)

Henry Charles 1865 (died suddenly aged 14yrs 3 months on the 26^th September1879 following a fight, buried in the NRC on the 30^th September)

Kate 1868

The family were recorded living in Cheap Street Newbury in 1861 and Market Place Newbury in 1871.

 Martha’s father Charles died aged 55 on the 12^th December 1876 he was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 16^th December.

Martha’s mother Elizabeth was recorded as a Retired Miller living in Shaw Crescent Newbury in the 1881 census. By 1891 she had moved back to Cheap Street and was working as a Needlewoman.  She died aged 70 on the 5^th December 1894 she was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 8^th December.

Martha Ann:

Martha was recorded living at home with her parents and siblings in both 1861 and 1871 census.

She married Arthur Wellington Purdue in Newbury in 1877 and they had the following children:

Arthur Charles c1878

Jessy Elizabeth 1879

EllenMaud 1881(died aged 1 in 1882 buried in the NRC on the 3^rd May)

Walter Wellington 1884

Sidney Cooper 1886

Archie William c1888

Cecil Frank 1890

Edward Harold c1892

Reggie 1893 (died aged 0 in 1893 buried in the NRC on the 18^th April)

Albert Bernard 1894

Winifred Ruth 1896

The1881 census records Arthur (28), as a Corn Dealer, living at 30 Cheap Street Newbury with Martha (26), (recorded as Mary A), Arthur C (3) and Jessy E (1) (recorded as Isobel E)

By 1891 Arthur (38) had a Corn Dealers Shop in the Market Place Newbury he was recorded as a Corn Dealer and Carman in the census for this year, living with Martha (36) and their children,  Jessie (11), Walter (7), Sidney (5), Arthur (3) and Cecil (1).

Martha died aged 43 on the 6^th August 1898 she was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 10^th August

Arthur was still living in the Market Place, Newbury and was still working as a Corn Dealer in 1901. By 1911 he was a Farmer. He is recorded in the 1915 Kelly’s Directory of Berkshire as a Farmer at Fisher’s Farm Cold Ash Newbury.

Arthur died aged 65 on the 5^th February 1918 he was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 8th February.

Sources:as above