Martha Cooper

c1844-1905

Martha was born c 1844 in Chisbury, Wiltshire. She was baptised on the 17^th March 1844 in Little Bedwyn, Wiltshire, the daughter of Henry and Anne Chandler (nee Baldwin) who were married on the 3^rd February 1839 in Little Bedwyn. (Henry’s surname was recorded as Henry Chandler alais Clifford on the marriage record).

Her father Henry was a Labourer. He was baptised on the 16^th April 1815 in Little Bedwyn, Wiltshire, the illegitimate son of Martha Chandler.

Her mother Anne was baptised on the 10^th August 1818 in Bedwyn, Wiltshire, the daughter of William and Priscilla Baldwin (nee Lockey) who were married on the 19^th July 1815 in Shalbourne, Wiltshire.

Henry and Anne also had the following children:

Eliza baptised 21^st April 1839

John baptised 19^th September 1841

William baptised 27^th December 1846

Priscilla baptised 2^nd January 1853

Elizabeth baptised 1^st March 1857

In 1851 Martha (7) was living in Chisbury, Wiltshire, with her father Henry (35), her mother Anne (25) and her siblings, Eliza (12), and William (4) and her uncle Charles Chandler (24).

The 1861 census records Martha (19) working as a Kitchen Maid at Blenheim House, London Road, Reading (a school)

 Martha married Robert Kewell on the 23^rd June 1866 at St Michael and All Saints Enborne, Berkshire.

(Robert was born on the 7^th July 1834, he was baptised on the 17^th August 1834 in Ecchinswell, Hampshire, the son of William and Sarah Kewell).

Robert and Martha had a son William born c1867, a son Joseph born c1869, (died aged 2 in 1871, buried on the 5^th February at St Michael and All Angels Enborne) and a daughter Annie Elizabeth born 1871.

In 1871 Robert (35) a Labourer, Martha (27) and their son William (4) were lodging in Enborne (near Wash Common) Berkshire,

 Martha was widowed in 1873. Robert Kewell died aged 37, he was buried on the 15^th April at St Michael and All Angels Enborne.

Martha gave birth to a daughter Alice in 1875.

Martha remarried in 1878

Marriage details:

Place: St Nicolas Church Newbury

Date: 29^th December 1878

Groom: John Cooper, full age, widower, occupation, Labourer, abode, Newbury

Bride: Martha Kewell, full age, widow, abode, Enborne

Fathers: John Cooper and Henry Chandler, both Labourers

Witnesses: William Bellinger and Ellen Jane Bellinger

Bride and Groom both signed

(John was born in Basildon, Berkshire, the son of John and Elizabeth Cooper (nee Champ) who were married on the 30^th November 1835 in Hampstead Norris, Berkshire. John had been married twice before. His 1^st wife was Emma Perris (nee Bradley, a widow) in 1862, they had a daughter Sophia later that year. Emma died aged 29 in 1866 and John remarried in 1867. His 2^nd wife was Emily Adams (nee Always, a widow). Emily married Andrew Adams in 1854. They had three sons, Henry born 1855, David Robert born 1857 (died aged 1 in 1859, buried in the NRC on the 11^th February) and William born 1862 (died aged 3 in 1865, buried in the NRC on the 31 March). Andrew Adams died in 1864. John and Emily had a son Thomas William born in 1867. Emily died aged 40 in 1873, she was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 28^th June).

John and Martha had a son Frederick William born in 1879.

The 1881 census records Martha (38) living in Northcroft Lane, Newbury, with John (40) a Labourer, her stepson Thomas William Cooper (13) and her children Annie Kewell (7), Alice Kewell (5) and Frederick Cooper (17 months).

John died aged 53 on the 3^rd April 1891, he was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 6^th April.

In 1891 Martha (49) was working as a Laundress, she was recorded living in Northcroft Lane, Newbury with her stepson Thomas William Cooper (23) a Builder’s Labourer, her daughter Annie Kewell (19) A General Domestic Servant and her son Frederick Cooper (11).

The 1901 census records Martha (56) as a Retailer of Beer, (Own Account, At Home) at The Vine Inn, Bartholomew Street, Newbury. Two lodgers were recorded living with her, John Pope (63) a House Painter and a John Taylor (38) a Bricklayer’s Labourer.

Martha died aged 65 on the 29^th June 1905 in the Workhouse Infirmary, she was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 3^rd July.

Sources: