Emma Wheeler

c1834-1917

Emma, her parents, siblings and early life:

Emma Skinner was baptised on the 16^th February 1834 at St Mary Greenham Berkshire the daughter of Samuel and Mary Skinner (nee Everett) who were married in Greenham on the 30^th June 1823.

Her father Samuel was born c1801 in Berkshire he died aged 47 in 1847 and was buried on the 12^th October at St Mary Greenham.

Her mother Mary Anne was born on the 1^st August 1801 she was baptised on the 23^rd August 1801 at St Nicolas Church Newbury the daughter of Mark (a Collar and Harness Maker) and Mary Everett (nee Oram) who were married on the 5^th July 1795 at Holy Trinity Dartford Kent.

Other known children of Samuel and Mary were (all baptised at St Mary Greenham):

Edwin baptised 9^th April 1826 (died aged 1+ buried on the 17^th March 1828 (as Edwin Collins Skinner) at St Nicolas Newbury)

Edward baptised 21^st September 1828

Amelia baptised 12^th June 1831 (died aged 5 buried 22^nd August 1836 at St Nicolas Newbury)

Sarah baptised 20^th November 1836

William baptised 11^th August 1839

Caroline born 1841

Samuel born 1844

In 1841 Emma (7) was living with her parents Samuel (40), a Cabinet Maker and Mary (35) and her siblings Edward (11), Sarah (4) and William (1) in Geenham Street Thatcham Berkshire.

The 1851 census records again records the family living in Greenham Street Thatcham, Emma (19) was recorded as a Dressmaker, her mother Mary (49) was recorded as a Charwoman/Pauper and her brother Edward (21) was recorded as a Journeyman Shoemaker.  Sarah (14), William (11), Caroline (9) and Samuel (6) were recorded as Scholars.

Emma:

Emma married Thomas Wheeler in 1858 (Marriage registered in Newbury. Thomas was baptised on the 29^th July 1832 at St Nicolas Church Newbury, the son of Thomas and Ann Wheeler (nee Collins) who were married on the 25^th December 1818 in Speen Berkshire)

Thomas was recorded as a Shoemaker in 1861, a Brush Maker in 1871 and a Journeyman Brush Maker in 1881.

The 1861 census records Thomas (26) and Emma (25) living in Kennet Place Speen Berkshire.

Thomas and Emma had the following children:

Charles William 1861

Samuel 1863

Caroline Ann 1865

Thomas 1868

Emma 1869

Edward Collins 1872

Eliza Kate 1875 (died aged 5 months in 1875 buried in the NRC on the 7^th September)

Eliza Kate 1879

In 1871 the family were living in Bartholomew Street Newbury.

In the 1881 census Thomas (48), Emma (46) and their children Charles (19), a Bricklayer’s Labourer, Samuel (17) an Engine Fitter, Caroline (15), Thomas (13), Emma (11), Edward (9) and Eliza Kate (1) were recorded living in Marsh Road Newbury.

Thomas died aged 57 on the 12^th October 1889 he was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 15^th October.

In 1891 Emma (57) was living at 7 Charles Place Newbury, Her youngest four children were still living with her. By 1901 she was living with her married daughter Caroline and her son-in-law John Quelch at 4 Sunny Bank Terrace King’s Road Newbury. She continued living with John and Caroline at Sunny Bank Terrace until her death.

She died aged 83 on the 29^th May 1917 and was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 2^nd June.

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