Rachel Walker

1820-1897

Rachel was born on the 7^th January 1820, she was baptised 2^nd March 1820 at the Lower Meeting House Independent Newbury, Berkshire, the daughter of Joseph and Sarah Walker (nee Poole) who were married on the 22^nd September 1806 at St Mary the Minster Reading.

Rachel’s father Joseph (a Woollen Weaver) was baptised in 1783 in Newbury, the son of Joseph and Sarah Walker (nee Fuse) who were married on the 14^th December 1777 at St Nicolas Church Newbury.

Her mother Sarah was baptised in Reading Berkshire in 1787, the daughter of Richard and Rachel Poole (nee Whenmouth) who were married in 1786 in Reading.

Rachel’s siblings were:

William born 27^th November 1808, baptised 13^th January 1809

Samuel born 30^th March, 13^th January 1809 baptised 2^nd May 1811

Joseph born 30^th March 1815, baptised on the 16^th May 1815

Sarah born 29^th December 1817, baptised 17^th February 1818

Hannah born 3^rd December 1821, baptised 30^th January 1822

Esther born 2^nd July, baptised 31^st August 1823

Mary born 30^th March, baptised 30^th June 1828

In 1851 Rachel was working as a Cook for a Solicitor, Samuel Chase (63) and his family in Wellington Place, St Giles, Reading, Berkshire.

The 1861 census records Rachel working as a House Servant for a Mary Simmons (67), a Fundholder, at 75 Bartholomew Street, Newbury.

In 1871 she was working as a Domestic Servant for as Cornelius Doe, a Boarding House Keeper and his family, at Leslie House, South Parade Seafront, Portsea, Hampshire.

By 1881 Rachel (61) was working as a Housekeeper for a widower, Samuel Coxeter (71), a Retired Confectioner, at 3 Southampton Terrace, Newbury. She was still living with Samuel at 3 Southampton Terrace when the 1891 census was taken.

Rachel died aged 77 in 1897, she was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 24^th July

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