Eliza Jane Thomas

1848-1851

Eliza Jane was born on the 26^th June 1848, Newbury, Berkshire. She was baptised on the 31^st December 1848, at St Nicolas Church, Newbury, the daughter of Francis and Caroline Thomas (nee Johnson) who were married on the 23^rd May 1840 at St Mary Cholsey, Berkshire.

Her father Francis Rathill was born c1815 in Cholsey, Berkshire, he was he was baptised on the 3^rd December 1815 in Cholsey, the son of Jesse and Elizabeth Thomas (nee Rathill) who were married on the 23^rd September 1815 in Cholsey.

Her mother Caroline was born c1821 in London.

Eliza’s siblings were:

Francis Coles born 1841 in Cholsey

George Alexander born 1842 in Cholsey

Caroline Ann born c1843 in Cholsey

Julia born 1844 in Cholsey

Emily Ellen born 1846 in Cholsey (baptised as Emma Helen in 1847)

Alice born 12^th September 1849 in Newbury, (baptised 29^th December 1850, died aged 6 in 1856, buried in the NRC on the 25^th August)

William Henry born 1^st April 1851 in Newbury

Edwin born 21^st October 1852 in Newbury (died aged 60 in 1913 buried in the NRC on the 5^th February)

Louisa Jane born 6^th January 1856 in Newbury

Alice Matilda born 9^th July 1857 in Newbury

Clara Henrietta born 20^th May 1860 in Newbury

Rosa born c1862 in Newbury (died aged 4 in 1866 buried on the 2^nd October in the NRC)

(William Henry, Edwin, Louisa Jane, Alice Matilda, Clara Henrietta and Rosa were all baptised at St Nicolas Church Newbury on the 1^st June 1862)

In 1841 Eliza’s father Francis (25) was working as a Baker living in Forty, Cholsey, Berkshire with his wife Caroline (20) and their son Francis Coles (2 months)

In 1851 Eliza (3) was living at 6 Montague Place, Newbury with her father Francis (36), a Sheriff’s Officer, her mother Caroline (30), her siblings Francis (9). George (8), Caroline (7), Julia (6), Emily (4), Alice (1) and her grandmother, Susan Johnson (63) an Annuitant.

Eliza died aged 3 in 1851 she was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 22^nd November.

In 1861 Francis (47), was recorded as an Auctioneer, living in Cheap Street, Newbury with Caroline (40) and their children, Emily (14), William (9), Edwin (7), Louisa Jane (5), Alice Matilda (3) and Clara Henrietta (11 months)

Francis died 46 on the 4^th July 1861 he was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 8^th July (MI has his age recorded as 44, GRO records aged at death as 46 and Berkshire Chronicle records his age as 47)

After her husband’s death Caroline worked as a Furniture Dealer. She continued to live in Cheap Street until at least 1881 but by 1891 she was living in West Field Newbury.

Caroline died aged 71 on the 23^rd May 1892 she was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery with Francis, on the 26^th May.

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