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Ellen Breadman
c1796-1877
Ellen was born in Newmarket, County Cork, Ireland.
She married (as Ellen Haims) Thomas Breadman on the 25th May 1836, in Abbey, Renfrewshire, Scotland.
Thomas was baptised in 1807, in Highclere, Hampshire, the son of James and Hannah Breadman (nee Avery) who were married in 1791, in Highclere. Thomas joined the Army (76th Regt of Foot) aged 18, in 1824, he left the Army in 1838.
Thomas and Ellen had the following two children:
Hannah Ellen (aka Ellen) baptised on the 28th April 1837 in Highclere, Hampshire
Thomas baptised on the 25th July n 1839, in Highclere.
Ellen was widowed in 1939 (before her son Thomas was born). Her husband died aged 32, he was buried on the 6th February, in Highclere.
Her son Thomas died aged 2 in 1841, he was buried on the 5th June, in Highclere.
Ellen had the following three illegitimate sons. (Fathers, unknown)
Robert, baptised on the 28th February 1844 in Highclere
Thomas, born c1847 in Newbury
William, baptised on the 6th March 1850 at St Nicolas, Newbury
Ellen’s daughter Ellen (Hannah Ellen) died aged 15 in 1851, she was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 13th January.
The 1851 census records Ellen (44), her children, Alfred (7), (possibly Robert) Thomas (4), William (1) and a lodger, living in Bartholomew’s, Newbury.
Ellen’s son William died aged 4 in 1854, he was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 22nd October.
In 1861 Ellen (44), a Labourer and her son Robert (17), a Bricklayer’s Labourer were recorded living in the City, Newbury. Thomas (15) was working as a Farm Servant for farmer Thomas Tubb, at Netherton Farm, Faccombe, Hampshire.
On Saturday the 9th April 1864 Ellen was brutally assaulted by her son Robert, the following appeared in the Reading Mercury on the 16th April 1864.
BOROUGH MAGISTRATE OFFICE
Tuesday April 12
(Present: The Mayor, J. H. Lucas Esq., and J. P. Jackson Esq.)
BRUTAL ASSAULT ON MOTHER BY HER SON. – Robert Breadman was charged with violently assaulting his mother.
Police Constable Justice stated that on Sunday morning last in consequence of information received he went to the house of the prisoner’s mother, situated in the Old Newtown Road, when he saw Mrs. Breadman kneeling on the floor; she complained of brutal treatment she had received on the night previous from her son. Witness saw that she had two black eyes, and her face was bleeding; he also saw that she had the mark as if of fingernails in her face; he lifted her up and went again to the house about one o’clock, and also saw her again that morning. He had known her to have been illtreated by the prisoner on former occasions.
James Haines said he lived next door to Mrs. Breadman. On Saturday night last she fetched him (the prisoner) home between ten and eleven o’clock and said, “there is your supper,” which he began to find fault with, and to use very bad language towards his mother. After that witness heard the sound of blows and also heard the mother cry out. Someone fell down, and witness heard her say, “for God’s sake, Bob don’t kill me.” Prisoner said “you old – I will be hung for you.” After that witness heard more blows struck. There is a hole in the wall through which witness looked, and saw the prisoner kneeling on his mother and beating her head against the bricks. Heard the door locked. There was no one else in the house.
The prisoner said he was very sorry he did it.
The Mayor told him that he was charged with a very serious offence – that of assaulting his mother, whom he was bound by every tie of nature to protect, and although she did not appear against him, the law allowed the evidence of other witnesses. The Bench would not be doing its duty to the public if they did not pass a severe sentence, and they should therefore commit him to the house of correction for two calendar months with hard labour.
Ellen’s son Thomas (16) was killed in a Chalk Pit in 1864, he was buried on the 6th August in East Woodhay, Hampshire.
The 1871 census records Ellen (66) as infirm, she was an inmate in the Newbury Workhouse.
She died aged 81 on the 9th May 1877, in the Workhouse and was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 12th May.
Newbury Weekly News
Dated 17th May 1877
BREADMAN – May 9, at the Union Workhouse, Newbury, Ellen Breadman, aged 81.
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