Lydia Parker

1824-1895

Lydia was baptised on the 13^th January 1824 at St Nicolas Church Newbury Berkshire, the daughter of William and Sarah Parker (nee Crofts) who were married on the 24^th November 1818 at St Nicolas Church Newbury.

Her father William was a Tailor. He was born in Speenhamland, Berkshire, he was baptised on the 13^th July 1782 at St Mary the Virgin, Speen, Berkshire, the son of William and Martha Parker (nee Biddis) who were married on the 3^rd November 1781 at St Mary the Virgin, Speen. William died (age at death recorded as 88) in 1864, he was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 17^th October.

Her mother Sarah was born c1793 in Newbury. In 1815 she was living in Union Court, with her parents Thomas (56), a Watchmaker and Mary (47). Sarah died aged 65 in 1857, she was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 30^th June.

Sarah had a daughter, Johanna, born c1818 before she married William.

William and Sarah also had the following children baptised at St Nicolas Church Newbury:

William baptised 17^th January 1821 (died aged 1+ as William Henry, buried 28^th June 1822 at St Nicolas Newbury)

Caroline baptised 29^th January 1823

Martha baptised 1^st March 1826

Amelia baptised 15^th November 1831 (died aged 7 months buried 19^th November at St Nicolas Newbury)

Mary born c1827    ***

George born c1829   ***

William born c1833   ***

Henry born c1834    ***

*** All four younger children were baptised together on the 30^th January 1835

Lydia: 

The 1841 census records Lydia (15) living in Stroud Green, Newbury, with her parents William (50) and Sarah (45) and her siblings Johanna (20) (recorded as Joann on ancestry), Caroline (15), Martha (15), Mary (14), George (12), William (7) and Henry (6) Newbury. Also recorded in the household were Matilda (5) and Eliza (1). (Family surname recorded as Pucker on ancestry. In the 1851 census these two children were recorded as grandchildren and were recorded with the surname Crofts, so possibly Johanna’s illegitimate children)

In 1851 Lydia (27), and Errand Woman, her father William (68), her mother Sarah (58), and her siblings Mary (24), George (22), William (17) and Henry (16) and her nieces, Matilda Crofts (15), Eliza Crofts (10) and Fanny Parker (2) (her sister Mary’s illegitimate daughter) were recorded living in Simmons Yard, Newbury.

Lydia had at least three illegitimate children, Julianah (Julia Hannah) born in 1854, William born c1858 and Emily born c1864. Julia and William were baptised on the 24^th October 1858 at St Nicolas Church Newbury.

The 1861 census records Lydia (36) as a Needlewoman, living in Northcroft Lane, Newbury, with her widowed father William (79), her daughter Julia (5) and her son William (3).

In 1871 Lydia was working as a Rag Sorter, she was living in Robeson’s Yard, Newbury with her three children Julia (15), a Rag Sorter, William (12), a Milkman’s Errand Boy and Emily (7).

The 1881 census records Lydia (55) as a Tailoress, living at 2 Clare Place, Newbury, with her children William (22) a General Labourer and Emily (18) a General Servant. Her married daughter Julia Hazell and her son-in-law Albert Hazell were living next door at number 1.

The 1891 census records Lydia (61) visiting an Emily Gregory (25) and Alfred Gregory (27), a Gardener’s Assistant, at Island Villa Cottage, Snelsmore, Donnington, Berkshire.

Lydia died aged 71 in 1895, she was laid to rest in the Newtown Road cemetery on the 18^th October.

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