62 Cheap Street, Newbury ©FNRC 62 Cheap Street, Newbury

John Henry Digweed

1859-1929

John’s father and grandparents:

Richard Digweed was born c1823, he was baptised in Wallingford Berkshire in 1823 the son of Thomas and Jane Digweed (nee Gutteridge) who married in Wallingford in 1821.

 In 1841 Richard (18) was recorded living with his parents Thomas (45) and Jane (50) and a William Digweed (35), in the High Street, St Mary-le-More Wallingford.

Jane died aged 84 in 1859 she was buried on the 9^th January at St Mary the More Wallingford. Thomas died aged 81 in 1866 he was buried on the 1^st November at St Mary the More Wallingford.

John’s mother and grandparents:

Eliza Leader was born c1825 she was baptised on the 12^th June 1825 in Thatcham Berkshire the daughter of John and Mary Leader (nee Minall) who were married on the 16^th June 1822 at St Mary’s Church Thatcham (both were single).

In 1841 Eliza (15) was living in Wood Street St Mary-le-More Wallingford and was working as a Servant. John died aged 50 in 1852 in Henley and Mary died aged 77 in 1874 in Henley Oxfordshire.

John’s parents:

Richard Digweed and Eliza Leader (surname mistakenly recorded as Leaver) were married on the 13^th February 1845 at St Mary (The Minster) Reading Berkshire.

They had the following children:

Richard born 1845 (died 1846 buried on the 27^th May 1846 at St Mary the More Wallingford)

Mary Jane born 1852

 Ellen Maria born 1856

John Henry 1859

William born 1862

Richard was recorded as a Groom (1845 and 1851), a Brewer’s Labourer (1861 and 1871) and an Unemployed Drayman (1881), the family were recorded living in Hart Street St Mary-le-More Wallingford Berkshire.

Richard died aged 67 in 1891 he was buried on the 15^th January at St Mary the More Wallingford. After his death Eliza (65) was recorded in the 1891 census living in Hart Street but by 1901 she had moved into an Almshouse in Reading Road Wallingford. The 1911 census records her living with her married daughter Ellen Maria Naish and her family at 2 Royal Crescent Southampton. She died aged 88 in 1915 (death registered in Portsmouth).

John Henry:

The 1861 census records John (1) (recorded as Henry) and his mother Eliza visiting his aunt, Christina Eames (33) and her family, in Harrow Middlesex (Christina was his mother’s sister). John was again recorded as Henry in the 1871 census, he was living with his parents in Hart Street Wallingford.

John Henry was a Butcher he married Charlotte White (born c1859 in Thame Oxfordshire) in 1879 (marriage registered in Thame).  Their first child, Charlotte was born c1880 but sadly she died aged 16 days, she was buried on the 19th January at St Peter and St Paul Wantage.

In the 1881 census John Henry and Charlotte were recorded living in Newbury Street Wantage. Later that year their second child, Sidney George arrived, followed by two daughters, Ellen Maria born in 1882 and Elsie born in 1885, Elsie died aged 3 months she was buried on the 8^th June 1885 at St Peter and St Paul Wantage.

 By 1891 the family had moved to 66 Cheap Street Newbury. The following year Charlotte gave birth to another son, John Henry.  

By 1901 the family had moved to 62 Cheap Street Newbury. John was recorded as a Butcher/Shopkeeper in this census. (62 Cheap Street was previously occupied by William Clinch, a Butcher who died in 1895)

Both the 1907 and 1915 Kelly’s Directories record John as a Butcher at 62 Cheap Street Newbury

Charlotte died aged 44 on the 29^th January 1906 she was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 31^st January.

John Henry remarried in 1910 in Newbury his 2^nd wife was Grace Stagg (nee Standen, born1876 in Kent, a widow with two children).

The 1911 census again records John living at 62 Cheap Street Newbury also living with him was his wife Grace (36), his John Henry (18), recorded as Assisting in the Business, and his two step-sons Charles Aldington Stagg(13) and Archibald Cranleigh Stagg (11).

John’s son John Henry died aged 27 on the 4^th November 1919 he was laid to rest in the Newtown road Cemetery on the 8^th November.

John died aged 70 on the 21^st April 1929 he was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 24^th April.

Grace died aged 58 on the 1^st April 1934 at 334 Oxford Road Reading

Probate:  Digweed John Henry of 199 Caversham-road Reading died 21^st April 1929 Probate Oxford 6^th May to Grace Digweed widow Effects: £453 11s 4d

Sources: as above