Elizabeth Fisher

c1836-1911

Elizabeth, her parents, siblings and early life:

Elizabeth was baptised on the 1^st January 1837 at St Mary, Bathwick, Somerset, the daughter of Joseph (a Labourer) and Sarah Rowles (nee Huzzey) who were married on the 3^rd June 1833 at St Nicolas Church, Newbury, Berkshire.

Her father Joseph was born c 1808 (Possibly this Joseph, not proved: Joseph Rowls aged 7 recorded in the 1815 census of Newbury, parents John (55) and Lydia (51) and children Hester (14), Sarah (11) and William Nelson ((9), living in Be Yard, on the east side of Bartholomew Street, Newbury.) Joseph died aged 35 in 1843, in Somerset.

According to census records her mother Sarah was born c1817 in Sydmonton, Hampshire.

Joseph and Sarah also had the following two children baptised at St Mary, Bathwick:

Sarah Rolles baptised 10^th December 1837

John Rolles baptised 20^th October 1839

On all 3 baptism records, Joseph was recorded as a Labourer, the family were recorded living in Sydney Wharf.

The 1841 census records Joseph (30) as a Bargeman, living in Sydney Wharf, Bathwick, with Sarah (25), Elizabeth (5), Sarah (3) and John (1). (According to this census, only the three children were born in Somerset).

In 1851 Elizabeth (14) was living in Mills Yard, Newbury, Berkshire with her widowed mother Sarah (37), recorded as a Pauper Charwoman, her brother John (11) and a lodger.

Elizabeth in later life:

Elizabeth Rowles married Ashley Fisher in 1854 (marriage registered in Newbury)

They had the following children (births registered in Newbury):

Sarah 1855

Alice c1857

Henry 1858

Arthur 1861 (died 1862, buried in the NRC on the 15^th January)

Francis 1862

Charles Ashley 1864

Elizabeth 1867

George c1870 (no birth registration found)

Edith 1872

Kate 1874

Albert Ashley c1877

Edward Rowes 1879

Emily Jessy c1882 (Emily Jessie died in 1883, buried in the NRC on the 30^th May1883)

By 1861 Ashley was working as a Bricklayer. The census for this year records him aged 30, living in Quaker’s Building Yard, Cheap Street, Newbury with Elizabeth (24), Sarah (5), Alice (4), Henry (2) and his mother-in-law, Sarah Rowles (49) recorded as Infirm.

The 1871, 1881 and 1891 census records also record Ashley as a Bricklayer and record the family living in Quaker’s Building Ground, as follows:

1871: Ashley (42), Elizabeth (34), Sarah (16), Alice (14), Henry (12), Francis (8), Charles Ashley (6), Elizabeth (3) and George (1).

1881: Ashley (50), Elizabeth (46), Francis (18), a Bricklayer’s Labourer, Charles (16), Elizabeth (13), George (11), Edith (9), Kate (7), Albert (4) and Edward (1).

1891: Ashley (61), Elizabeth (55), (now working as a Laundress) Charles (26), a Bricklayer’s Labourer, George (22), a Bricklayer and Albert (14), a Bricklayer’s Labourer.

The 1901 census records Ashley (70), a Bricklayer, Elizabeth (64) and their son Edward (21), a Bricklayer’s Labourer, living at 9, Mayor’s Lane, Newbury.

By 1911 Ashley (80) had retired, he was recorded living at 3, Coxedd and Pearce’s Almshouses, Enborne Road, Newbury with Elizabeth (75)

Elizabeth died aged 75 on the 4^th July 1911, she was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 8^th July

Ashley continued to live at 3, Coxedd and Pearce’s, Almshouses until his death. He died aged 93, on the 2^nd March 1924, he was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 6^th March.

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