Edith Annie Ferry (1875 – 1937)

Edith Ann Seward was born on 25 May 1875 in Newbury, the eldest daughter of Henry and Sarah Maria, nee Pullin, Seward. She had eight brothers and sisters but sadly six of them died as infants and were buried at Newtown Road Cemetery.

In the 1881 census Edith was recorded with her parents Henry and Sarah living at Westcombe’s Buildings in Newbury along with brothers Alfred Henry aged 2 and Ernest aged 2 months. Henry was a carpenter.

Ten years later in the 1891 census Edith was still living at Westcombe’s Buildings in Newbury with her parents, brother Ernest aged 10 and sister Gertrude Ida aged 1. Henry had no occupation recorded, Edith Annie was a pupil teacher and Ernest a scholar.

Edith’s mother Sarah passed away on 22 March 1900 aged 52. She was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 26 March.

The following year in the 1901 census Edith was living at 2 Albert Place in Newbury with her father Henry and sister Gertrude aged 11. Henry was recorded as a carpenter and Edith had no occupation recorded, so was probably running the house.

A few months after the census Edith married Edward James Ferry in Newbury. Edward was born 6 December 1873 at Itchenor, near Chichester in Sussex. In the 1901 census Edward was recorded living as a boarder at 2 Rosemary Terrace in Newbury and he was a railway porter.

Edith’s father Henry died just over five years later on 15 June 1906 aged 59 and he was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 18 June.

In the 1911 and 1921 censuses Edith and Edward were living at 69 York Road in Newbury with Edward a railway porter working for Great Western Railways at Newbury.

Edith died 18 January 1837 aged 61 while still living at 69 York Road and she was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 22 January 1937.

Edward remarried in 1938 in Newbury to Hannah Langton. In September 1939 Edward and Hannah were living at 69 York Road with Edward now recorded as a railway porter retired. He died 26 October 1952 still living at 69 York Road and was buried at Henley Road Crematorium in Reading on 30 October.

Sources: