Mary Ann Lait

1847-1922

Mary Ann, her parents, siblings and early life:

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

Her father Thomas was baptised on the 20^th March 1803, in Enborne, Berkshire, the son of Isaac and Anne Prior (nee Holley) who were married in 1788 in Greenham, Berkshire. Thomas died aged 57 in 1860. He was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 1^st June.

Her mother Harriet was baptised on the 1^st December 1816, at St Nicolas Church, Newbury, the daughter of John (a Miller) and Lucy Clements (nee Gudger) who were married on the 4^th August 1816, at St Nicolas, Newbury (witnesses: Richard Powell and Ann Foster) Harriet remarried in 1866, her 2^nd Husband was James Taylor, a Tinman and Brazier. She died aged 76 in 1893 and was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 21^st June.

Harriet had the following two illegitimate sons:

 William Henry Clements, baptised 5^th February 1837 (father recorded as Joseph Henwood, a Carpenter of Greenham, Berkshire)

Richard Clements, baptised 22^nd September 1839 (no father recorded)

Thomas and Harriet had also the following children baptised at St Nicolas Newbury:

Eliza, born c1842 (no baptism found)

Charlotte, baptised 26^th November 1843 (dad recorded as a Labourer)

Isaac, 1845, baptised 12^th May 1846 (dad recorded as a Labourer) (Isaac died aged 7months, buried 20^th May, at St Nicolas, Newbury)

Hannah Maria, born 1850, baptised 23^rd February 1851 (dad recorded as a Labourer)

Alice, 1853, baptised 30^th March 1856 (dad recorded as a Labourer)

In 1851 Thomas (46), Harriet (36), a Laundress, William Clements (14), an Errand Boy, Richard Clements (12), Eliza (9), Charlotte (7), Mary Anne (3) and Hannah Maria (6 months) were recorded living in the Rose and Thistle Yard, Northcroft Lane, Newbury.

The 1861 census records Mary Ann (13) living at the Rose and Thistle Yard, with her widowed mother Harriet (43), a Laundress, her half-brother Richard Clements (21), a Grocer’s Porter (recorded as Richard Prior) and her sister Alice (7).

Mary Ann later in life:

In 1871 Mary Ann was recorded working as a General Domestic Servant, in Kensington London (name recorded as Maryte Priar on ancestry)

Mary married in 1873

Mariage 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

(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).

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.

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