Ellen Virtue

c1833-1915

Ellen, her parents, siblings and early life:

Ellen was baptised on the 20^th March 1833 at St Nicolas Church Newbury, Berkshire, the daughter of John and Sarah Goddard (nee Burford) who were married on the 30^th June 1822 at St Nicolas Church Newbury. (Sarah’s surname was mistakenly recorded as Burfoot at time of marriage)

According to census records Ellen’s father John was born c1801 in Greenham, Berkshire. He was   recorded working as a Gardener in 1835, a Gardener’s Labourer in 1841 and an Agricultural Labourer in 1851. John died aged 56 in 1857, he was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 7^th December.

Census records record Ellen’s mother Sarah’s date and place of birth as c1805 in Newbury, Berkshire. She was baptised on the 11^th December 1803 at St Leonard, Heston, Hounslow, Middlesex, the daughter of Edward and Mary Burford (nee Reeves) who were married at St Leonard, Heston on the 21^st February 1803. The 1815 of Newbury records Sarah (10) living in the City, Newbury with her father Edward (40), a Smith, who was recorded as being blind, her mother Mary (40), who was recorded as being deaf and her brother Joseph (3). Sarah died aged 66 in 1872, she was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 21^st June.

John and Sarah also had the following children:

George baptised 25^th September 1822

John baptised 16^th January1825

Thomas baptised 20^th August 1826

Mary Ann baptised 10^th February 1828

Elizabeth baptised 27^th October 1830

Charlotte baptised 9^th October 1835 (died in 1861 (age recorded at death, 24 on the GRO and 25 on the NBI) she was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 22^nd February)

William born c1838 (died aged 3 weeks)

Fanny born 1839 (died aged 10 months in 1840 name recorded as Frances)

Lucy baptised 30^th April 1843

Henry baptised 28^th September 1845

Isaac 1848 baptised 30^th April 1848 (died 1848)

In 1841 Ellen (5) (recorded as Eleanor) was living in the City, Newbury, with her father John (40), her mother Sarah (35) and her sisters Mary (13), Elizabeth (10) and Charlotte (3).

Ellen’s grandparents Edward Burford (60) and Mary Burford (65) were recorded living in Church Almshouses, Newbury in 1841.

The 1851 census records Ellen (17) as a Servant, living with her grandparents Edward (75) and Mary Burford, (surname recorded as Barrett on ancestry) in Church Almshouses, Newbury.

Ellen in later life:

Ellen married in 1854

Marriage details:

Place: St Mary the Virgin, Speen, Berkshire

Date: 7^th May 1854

Groom: Henry Virtue, bachelor, occupation, Labourer, abode, Speen

Bride: Ellen Goward***, spinster, abode, Speen

Fathers: William Virtue, a Bricklayer and John Goward*** a Gardener.

Witnesses: Arabella Virtue and George Low

Bride and Groom made their mark.

*** This surname should read Goddard. Both bride and groom were illiterate at the time of their marriage. Records show that Ellen gave birth to an illegitimate daughter Mary Ann Goddard in 1852, she was baptised on the 26^th December 1852 at St Nicolas Church, Newbury, as Mary Ann Winsor Goddard.

Henry and Ellen had the following children (all birth registrations record mother’s maiden name as Goddard):

Ellen born 1868 (died aged 4 in 1873, buried in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 3^rd February)

Charlotte born 1870

William born 1871

Arabella born 1873

Lucy born c1877

Henry John born c1880

In 1861 Henry (30), an Agricultural Labourer, Ellen (27) and Mary Ann (8), were living in Nutley’s Yard, (off Bartholomew Street) Newbury.

The 1871 census records Henry (40) as a Labourer, living in the City, Newbury with Ellen (39), Mary Ann Goddard (18), Ellen (2) and Charlotte (11 months).

In 1881 Henry (50) was recorded as a Scavenger, living in the City, Newbury, with Ellen (47) and their children, Charlotte (11), William (9), Arabella (6), Lucy (4) and Henry (1).

The 1891 census records Henry (62) as a General Labourer, living in Derby Road, Newbury with Ellen (54), William (19), a Painter, Arabella (17) (recorded as Isabella), Lucy (14) and Henry (11).

In 1901 Henry (70), again recorded as a Scavenger, was living at 1 Bartholomew’s Almshouses, Newbury, with Ellen (68) and their son Henry (21), a Bricklayer.

Henry died aged 76 in 1909, he was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 14^th April (abode at time of death, Gosport Villa, King’s Road, Newbury)

The 1911 census records Ellen (77) living with her married daughter Mary Cooke (58) and her son-in-law William Cooke (71), at 14 Adey’s Buildings, Stroud Green, Newbury, Berkshire.

Ellen died aged 82 on the 19^th July 1915, she was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 23^rd July (abode at time of death, Hambridge Road, Greenham, Berkshire).

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