Mary Ann Smith

c1827-1911

Mary Ann was born in Newbury the daughter of William and Sarah Parker (nee Crofts) who were married on the24th November 1818 at St Nicolas Church Newbury.

Mary’s parents and her early life:

Mary’s father William was a Tailor he was born c1783 in Speenhamland Newbury the son of William (a Coachman) and Martha Parker (nee Biddis) who were married in Speen in 1781,

 Her mother Sarah was born c1793 in Newbury the daughter of Thomas (a Watchmaker) and Mary Crofts.

Mary Ann’s siblings were:

Johanna c1818 (married as Joan Parker Crofts in 1841 to George Hatter so possibly born before her parents married)

Caroline c1822

Lydia c1824

Martha c1826

George c1829

William c1834

Henry c1835

The 1841 census records Mary (14) living in Stroud Green Newbury with her parents William (50) and Sarah (45) and her siblings, Joann (20), Caroline (15), Lydia (15), Martha (15), George (12), William (7) and Henry (6). Also recorded in the household were Matilda (5) and Eliza (1). (In the 1851 census these two children were recorded as grandchildren and were recorded with the surname Crofts, so possibly Johanna’s illegitimate children)

In 1848 Mary gave birth to a daughter Fanny.

The 1851 census records Mary (24) and Fanny (2) living in Simmons Yard Newbury with Mary’s parents William (68) and Sarah (58), her siblings, Lydia (27), George (22), William (17) and Henry (16) and Mary’s nieces Matilda Crofts (15) and Eliza Crofts (10).

Mary Ann’s mother died aged 65 in 1857 she was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 30^th June.

Her father died aged 88 in 1864 he was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the17th October.

Mary Ann:

Mary Ann married George Smith in 1857. (George was born in Ecchinswell he was baptised on the 23^rd November 1834 in Kingsclere, the son of John and Mary Smith (nee Aldridge) who were married in Kingsclere on the 10^th March 1832. He worked as a Sawyer most of his life having previously been in the Army).

They had the following children;

Mary Jane born 1861 (died 1861 buried in the NRC on the 25^th September)

John Henry born 1862 (died 1863 buried in the NRC on the 9^th February)

Arthur born 1863 (died 1864 buried in the NRC on the 20^th April)

Sarah Ann born 1865

Ellen born 1868

The family were recorded living Newbury, Mayor’s Lane (1861 and 1871), The Folly Greenham (1881 and 1891) and 14 New Church Almshouses (1901)

In the 1901 census George was recorded as an Army Pensioner. He died aged 68 on the 20^th January 1904 and was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the28th January.

Mary Ann died aged 84 on the 8^th February 1911 she was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 14^th February. The burial record records her abode as 1 Yew Villas Queens Road Newbury. This was the home of her daughter and son-in-law Sarah Ann and Harry Alder.

Mary’s year of death has mistakenly been recorded on the Memorial Inscription as 1910

Sources:as above