Rebecca Laws

1846-1875

Rebecca was born in Newbury, Berkshire, the daughter of John and Hannah Whiting (nee Alderidge/Aldridge) who were married on the 23^rd April 1837 at St Mary’s Church Thatcham.

Her father John was baptised on the 18^th September 1808 in Thatcham, Berkshire, the son of Joseph and Sarah Whiting (nee Rowlan) who were married on the 20^th December 1808 at St Nicolas Church Newbury (surname recorded as Whiteing). John died aged 73 in 1880, he was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 23^rd January.

Her mother Hannah was baptised in 1813 in Inkpen Berkshire, the daughter of William and Susan Alderidge (nee Curr) who were married in Inkpen in 1811 (Susan was recorded as Susanna). Hannah died aged 78 in 1896, she was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 8^th April.

John and Hannah also had the following children:
Joseph born 1837 in Thatcham

Henry John born c1839 in Newbury

Elizabeth born c1840 in Newbury

Sarah born 1842 in Thatcham

Susan born 1844 (died aged 1 in 1845, name at death recorded as Sussanna, buried at St Mary Thatcham on the 31st July as Susannah aged 11 months)

Thomas c1848 in Newbury

Mary Ann born 1853 in Newbury

In 1851 Rebecca (5) was living in Shaw’s Lane, Newbury with her parents John (42) a Sugar Boiler (Sweet Maker), and Hannah (36) and her siblings Joseph (13), Henry (12), Elizabeth (10), Sarah (8) and Thomas (3).

The 1861 census records Rebecca (15) as a Scholar, living in West Mills, Newbury with her parents, siblings, Henry (22), a Baker, Elizabeth (21), a Shoe Binder, Thomas (13), Mary (7) and Elizabeth’s illegitimate daughter Bessey (4) (baptised Elizabeth on the 24^th January 1858 at St Nicolas Church Newbury)

Rebecca married Charles Laws in 1864 (marriage registered in Newbury).

They had a son, Henry Charles born in 1865 in Newbury.

In 1871 Rebecca (24) was working as a Glove Maker. She was recorded living in Shaw’s Lane, Newbury with her parents, her brother Thomas (23), her sister Mary Ann (16) and her son Charles (5) (Henry Charles).

Rebecca died aged 29 on the 6^th July 1875, she was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 9^th July.

Rebecca’s widow Charles (50), a Watercress Hawker and her son Henry (15) were recorded living with her mother, her brother Henry (42) and her niece Sarah Cox (13) (daughter of her married sister Elizabeth Joynson formerly Cox) in West Mills, Newbury.

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