Ann Hale (1811 – 1866)

Ann Willis was born circa 1811 in Newbury, her father was Joseph Willis. She married John Nalder on 14 October 1832 at St Nicolas in Newbury. John was born circa 1811.

In the 1841 census Ann and John were living in Church Court, Bartholomew Street in Newbury and John was recorded as a tailor.

A daughter Emma was born in Newbury in 1844. John died the following year aged 34 and was buried on 4 July 1845 at St Nicolas in Newbury.

In the 1851 census Ann and her daughter Emma were recorded residing at Stillman’s Yard, Bartholomew Street in Newbury with Ann recorded as a needlewoman.

Ann married Charles Hale on 9 September 1856 at St Anne, Soho in Westminster. Both were living at 20 Gerrard Square at the time of the marriage. John was born circa 1816 in Banbury and was a carrier when he married.

In the 1861 census Ann and Charles with Ann’s daughter Emma and her father Joseph Willis were living in Elkins Yard off Bartholomew Street. Joseph was a tailor and Charles a carrier.

Ann’s father Joseph died in June 1863 and was buried on 10 June 1863 at Newtown Road Cemetery.

Ann was found drowned in the river Kennet on 4 September and was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 10 September 1866 aged 55. A report of the inquest appeared in the Berkshire Chronicle of 8 September 1866 as below.

On Thursday last an inquest was held on the body of Ann Hale, aged 55 years, wife of Charles Hale, carrier, of Ekin’s Yard, Bartholomew Street, Newbury, at the Swan Inn, Longbridge, Thatcham. She was found drowned in the Kennet on the previous day. It appeared that the deceased had lately been rather low and strange in her manners. She started from home on Tuesday evening, about six o’clock, with the intention of going to see a relative at Shaw Crescent; but she was seen in Newbury fair shortly afterwards. About half past seven o’clock the same evening she was seen by John Baker’s daughter, near Bull’s Lock. Nothing more was heard of her until next morning, when John Baker, the lock shutter, found her in the river Kennet quite dead, about half a mile from his house. The deceased had an umbrella when she started from home, but this has not been found. The weather was very rough on Tuesday night. Baker immediately gave information to P.C. Davis, 88, who had the body removed to the above inn. There being no marks of violence on the body, the jury returned an open verdict of “Found Drowned.”

Charles moved away from Newbury after the death of Ann.

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