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Thomas Pether born east hurstbourne, Berkshire.
A horse dealer, licensee of the lion, West St before he died suddenly.
Inquest.
Husband of Harriet Heather.
There is some confusion about the spelling of his name.
THOMAS PETHER
ALTERNATIVE SURNAMES TRANSCRIBED: PITHER AND PITHERS
He was baptised Thomas Pether on 1 May 1808 at East Hagbourne, Berkshire: his parents were Robert and Mary Pether.
Before he married, he was lodging at the Black Bear Inn, Market Place, Newbury: his occupation was horse dealer.
He married Harriett Meddings in 1841 (4Q); the marriage was registered in the district of Basingstoke, Hants, They had three children: Thomas born in 1842 (4Q); Harriett Eva born in 1847 (10) and Robert born in 1851 (10) — they were all born in Greenham: they were registered under the surname of Pether.
From the 1851 census, aged 49 years, he was farming 11 acres at the Red House, Thatcham Road, in the Chapelry of Greenham, and employing one agricultural labourer. All members of his family were living with him, and a nursemaid, Harriet Meddings, aged 12, had been employed to help his wife following the birth of his son Robert. Harriet Meddings is likely to be a relative — possibly a niece: her parents were Matthew and Charlotte Meddings.
In June 1853 he was charged with having horse-whipped John Dibley for not supplying some straw he had purchased from him. Thomas Pether admitted the assault, and although the judge said there were extenuating circumstances, Pether could not take the law into his own hands. The Newbury Bench fined him 6d and costs of 10 shillings
On 27 January 1855 his name appeared among others in the Berkshire Chronicle under the heading of Insolvent Debtors. His case was to be heard before the Judge of the County Court of Berkshire on 13 February 1855. Thomas had moved from the Red House, Greenham, to 21 West Street, Newbury, the address of the "Lion" public house. When the case was heard, it was reported that Thomas Pether had the misfortune in 1846 to act as surety to the tune of £843 for a man called McGraw, a sheriff's officer, who turned out to be a defaulter and absconder. In a letter from a Newbury elector in September 1837 McGraw was compared to a chameleon "from the various changes of habiliments in which he at times appears in the streets of Newbury". Pether also lost £250 from 9 horses dying from distemper. From the lengthy report in the Reading Mercury (17/2/1855), it was stated that for nearly 9 years he sold several horses on behalf of Thomas Chillingworth who did not press him for the money but allowed him to retain the money to use in future dealings. The judgment deemed it was not fraud just bad bookkeeping and Pether was discharged.
It was not until 21 April 1860 that the licence of the "Lion" was transferred from Henry Deane to Thomas so it could be that previously he was lodging at the "Lion" before he became the landlord.
On 31 October 1860 he died suddenly aged 57 years at the "Lion". An inquest was held and it appeared that earlier he had been injured at Marlow by a horse rolling over him and he suffered chest pains.
He was buried on 5 November 1860.
His wife Harriet died on 23 December 1879 and she was buried on 27 December.
Their son Thomas was buried in the cemetery on 25 November 1889 and their daughter-in-law Maria Ann Pether on 19 May 1899.
Mrs. P. Code NW(C) 7, Page 105: recorded under the names of Thomas and Harriett Pether.
Sources: England Births & Baptisms 1538-1975 in the name of Thomas Pether; Marriage Index 4Q 1841 in the name of Thomas Pether; 1841 (surname Pither)/1851 census (surname Pithers); Children Birth Index — Thomas 4Q 1842, Harriett Eva 1Q 1847 and Robert 101851 (all surnames are Pether); Death Index 4Q 1860 (surname Pither); Berkshire Burial Index in the name of Thomas Pither and his birth year is given as 1803.
Character of McGraw — Reading Mercury dated 9/9/1837
Assault Charge — Berkshire Chronicle dated 18/6/1853
Insolvency Hearing — Reading Mercury dated 17/2/1855
Licence Transfer — Berkshire Chronicle dated 21/4/1860
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