Charles Thatcher who's born in March 1840 the son of Richard Thatcher and Susan, nee Rosier at shaw-cum-Donington.

In the 1851 census aged 11 he was described as an errand boy.

In October 1859 he married Rebecka Wheeler who came from Beedon in Newbury and they lived at Cheap St Newbury where Rebecka's father William Wheeler had a green-grocers business. (This was near the Chicago Rock/walkabout pub/nightclub).

He was described in 1861 census as a shoeingsmith/ journeyman. He had a blacksmith business in Bear lane and Kings Rd. (The blacksmith business in Bear lane was roughly where the Queens hotel car park now stands. NB The road was widened and the Bear hotel demolished together with the Smithy.)

They had six children:

William Walter

Ann

Joseph H

Ellen (the grandmother of Jenny Austin)

William Edward

and Charles Samuel.

Charles Thatcher died 3 February 1871 age 30 in Newbury and was buried in NRC.

Rebecka was a widow at the age of 32 and moved to Victoria Place and then to Alpha cottages, Greenham.

In 1890 she moved to Broadlayings to live with her daughter Ellen where she remained until her death in 1913.

Sources: