Mary Ann Powers (1827 – 1914)

Mary Ann Powers was born circa 1827 in Newbury, the daughter of Thomas and Sarah. She was baptized on 21 October 1827 at St Nicolas in Newbury.

In the 1841 census Charlotte was recorded with her parents along with sisters Charlotte aged 20, Harriet aged 9 and Maria aged 8 in Back Lane in Newbury, her father Thomas was a bricklayer.

Ten years later in the 1851 census Mary Ann was still living in Back Lane with her parents and sister Harriet and she was working as a hat trimmer.

Mary was residing as a servant in Oxford Road in Speen in the 1861 census working as a house maid. It looks like Mary was living as a servant in Cheltenham in the 1871 census although her birthplace was recorded as Reading rather than Newbury. Her occupation was recorded as a general servant.

In the 1881 census Mary was living with her nephew Jesse Miles at 9 Richard Street in Alverstoke with no occupation although she was recorded as formerly being a nurse. She was still living in Alverstoke, although now at 9 Willis Street, in the 1891 census with no occupation recorded.

She was recorded at 2 Raymond’s Alms House in Newbury in the 1901 census living with her sister Charlotte Salter. A few months later in October 1901 an announcement appeared in the Newbury Weekly News that Mary had been elected to one of Raymond’s Upper Alms Houses. She was recorded at 9 Upper Raymond’s Alms Houses in the 1911 census, with her occupation recorded as formerly a hospital nurse.

Mary died on 9 June 1914 at Newbury Hospital while still living at Raymond’s Upper Alms House and she was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 11 June. An inquest was held into her death on 10 June 1914 at St John’s Schoolroom which heard she broke her hip on 31 May after a fall. A verdict of death by heart failure from pain and exhaustion due to the injuries was returned.

Mary Ann’s parents and sister were also buried at Newtown Road Cemetery, her mother Sarah on 16 November 1858, her father Thomas on 1 February 1871 and sister Charlotte Salter on 9 April 1902.

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