Stephen Thatcher

c1830-1906

Stephen was baptised in 1830 in West Shefford, Berkshire the son of Charles and Maria Thatcher (nee Hatt) who were married in West Shefford in 1824.

 His father Charles was a Master Blacksmith, baptised in 1798 in East Garston, Berkshire the son of James and Elizabeth Thatcher. He died aged 72 in 1871 and was buried on the 26^th March at St Mary West Shefford.

 His mother Maria was baptised on the 4^th February 1798 in Shalbourne, Wiltshire, the daughter of Thomas and Mary Hatt. She died aged 73 in 1872 and was buried on the 7^th February at St Mary West Shefford.

 Charles and Maria also had the following children baptised in Shefford:

Thomas 1824

John 1824

Charles 1826

Ann 1827

Mary 1829 (died aged 4 in 1832 buried 25^th December at St Mary West Shefford)

Emma 1832

Frederick 1834

Henry 1835

Mary Elizabeth 1838

The family were recorded living in West Shefford in 1841, 1851 and 1861.

 Like his father, Stephen was also a Master Blacksmith. He married Martha Belcher in 1859 (marriage registered in Newbury, no children found for this couple).

 (Martha was born in 1837 in West Hanney, Berkshire the daughter of William and Mary Ann Belcher (nee Giles) who were married in 1812 in West Hanney)

 In 1861 and 1871 Stephen and Martha were recorded living in the village of Streatley, Berkshire.

 The 1881 census records them living in Henley on Thames Oxfordshire. By 1901 they had moved to Newbury (Newmarket Street)

 Stephen died aged 75 in the Newbury Workhouse in 1906, he was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 3^rd February.

 The 1911 census records Martha (73) in the Newbury Workhouse. She died aged 82 in 1922 and was buried in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 7^th April.

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