Ashley Fisher

c1830-1924

Ashley, his parents, siblings and early life:

Ashley was baptised on the 26^th September 1830, in Thatcham, Berkshire, the son of John and Ann Fisher (nee Wilkins) who were married on the 23^rd October 1826 at St Nicolas Church, Newbury.

According to census records his father John was an Agricultural Labourer, he was born c1795 in Thatcham, Berkshire. His mother Ann was born c1805 in Newbury, Berkshire.

John and Ann also had the following children:

Leah baptised in Newbury in 1827

Emma born in Thatcham c1835

Henry born in Thatcham c1837

John born in Thatcham c1839

Ann born in Thatcham c1843

Elizabeth born in Thatcham c1845

The 1841 census records John (40), Ann (35), Leah (14), Ashley (10), Emma (6), Henry (4) and John (2), living in Duck Street, Thatcham.

In 1851 Ashley (21) was working as an Agricultural Labourer, he was living in Chapel Street, Thatcham, Berkshire, with his parents John (56) and Ann (46), a Rag Sorter at Paper Mill, his brothers, Henry (13) and John (11), both Agricultural Labourers and his sisters Emma (16), Ann (8) and Elizabeth (6).

Ashley in later life:

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

(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.)

Ashley and Elizabeth 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), who was 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 and was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 6^th March.

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