James Lait

1850-1916

James was born in Newbury, Berkshire, he was baptised as James Henry, on the 28^th July 1850, at St Nicolas Church Newbury, the son of Samuel Henry and Harriet Lait (nee Tooley) who were married in 1841 (marriage registered in Bicester, Oxfordshire).

His father Samuel Henry Lait was a Cooper. He was born in Faringdon, Berkshire and was baptised on the 31^st July 1814, the son of Samuel & Lucy Lait (nee Fellows) who married on the 31^st August 1806, in Marylebone. Samuel Henry died aged 74 in 1888 he was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 21^st July

His mother Harriet Tooley was born on the 1^st January 1819, she was baptised on the 7^th January 1819, in Bicester, Oxfordshire, the daughter of Richard and Ann Tooley (nee Blewitt) who were married on the 19^th January 1808 in Ambrosden, Oxfordshire. Harriet died aged 65 in 1883 she was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 3^rd November.

Samuel Henry and Harriet also had the following children:

Samuel, 1846-1850

George, 1848

Lucy, 1852

Samuel, 1855-1860 (buried in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 13^th January)

Sarah Ann 1861-1862 (buried in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 7^th March)

Henry 1858-1867 (buried in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 3^rd August)

Fred 1863

In 1851 James (10 months) was living at 17, Jack of Newbury Street, Newbury, with his father Samuel (36), his mother Harriet (33) and his brother George (2).

The 1861 census records Samuel (49) Harriet (40), George (12), an Errand Boy, James (10), Lucy (8), Samuel (5) and Henry (2), living in Jack of Newbury Street (surname recorded as Lair on ancestry)

In 1871 Samuel (57), Harriet (54), George (23), James (20) and Fred (8), were recorded living in Granger’s Yard, Newbury. George was working as a Smith and James, like his dad, was working as a Cooper.

James married in 1873

Marriage details:

Place: St Nicolas Church, Newbury

Date: 1^st June 1873

Groom: James Lait, full age, bachelor, occupation, Cooper, abode, Grey Friars, Reading

Bride: Mary Ann Prior, full age, spinster, abode, Newbury

Fathers: Samuel Henry, a Cooper and Thomas Prior, a Carpenter

Witnesses: George Lait and Lucy Lait

(Mary Ann was born in 1847, she was baptised on the 27^th February 1848, at St Nicolas Church, Newbury, the daughter of Thomas and Harriet Prior (nee Clements) who were married on the 19^th August 1841 at St Nicolas Newbury.)

James and Mary had a son Ernest Samuel James, born 1874, in Newbury.

In 1881 James (31) was working as a Cooper and Turner, living in Pembroke Road, Newbury with Mary (32) and Ernest (6).

The 1891 census records James (40), Mary (39), Ernest (16), a Cellarman and a daughter, Annie Elizabeth (8), living in Greys Road, Henley, Berkshire. (no birth or baptism found for Annie)

The 1901 census records James and Mary, both aged 50, living in Priory Road, Winkfield, Berkshire.

By 1911 the couple had moved back to Newbury, they were recorded living at 2, Alma Cottages, West Mills. James was recorded aged 61 and Mary was recorded aged 63.

By 1916 James and Mary were living at 11 Raymonds Almshouses, Newbury

James died aged 66 on the 7^th May, 1916. He was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 12^th May.

Mary Ann died aged 74 in 1922.  She was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 22^nd April.

Newbury Weekly News

Dated 18^th May 1916

LAIT – May 7, James Lait beloved husband of M. A. Lait, of 11 Raymond’s Almshouses, aged 66 years

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