Edwin Thomas

1852-1913

Edwin, his parents, siblings and early life:

Edwin was born on the 21^st October 1852 in Newbury, Berkshire, the son of Francis and Caroline Thomas (nee Johnson) who were married on the 23^rd May 1840 at St Mary Cholsey, Berkshire.

His 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.

His mother Caroline was born c1821 in London.

Edwin’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)

Eliza Jane born 26^th June 1848 in Newbury (died aged 3 in 1851, buried on the 22^nd November in the NRC)

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

William Henry born 1^st April 1851 in Newbury

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 Edwin’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 Francis (36), working as a Sheriff’s Officer living at 6 Montague Place, Newbury with Caroline (30), their children Francis (9). George (8), Caroline (7), Julia (6), Emily (4), Eliza (3), Alice (1) and Caroline’s mother, Susan Johnson (63) an Annuitant.

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

Edwin’s father 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)

The 1871 census records Edwin (18) as a Plumber’s Apprentice, living in Cheap Street, Newbury with his widowed mother Caroline (50), a Furniture Dealer and his sister Alice (13)

His mother continued to live in Cheap Street until at least 1881 but by 1891 she was living in West Field Newbury.

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

Edwin in later life:

Edwin married Mary Jane Tennant on the 29^th November 1873 at the Independent Chapel, Thatcham, Berkshire.

(Mary Jane was born in Thatcham, Berkshire, in 1848, she was baptised on the 8^th December 1848 in Thatcham, the daughter of Richard and Olive Tennant (nee Parr) who were married on the 29^th April 1830, at St Nicolas Church, Newbury, Berkshire.)

Edwin and Mary Jane had the following children:

Rose Caroline born 1874 (died aged 4yrs. 10 months in 1879, buried in the NRC on the 19^th April)

Ellen Clara born 1877 (died aged 47 in 1924, buried with her father on the 11^th March)

Francis William born 1878

Henry Edwin born 1880

Celia Marion born 1882

Albert Edward born c1887

In 1881 Edwin (28) was working as a Painter, living in West Fields, Newbury, with Mary (32) and their children, Ellen (4), Francis (2) and Henry (2 months).

By 1891 Edwin (39), a Painter, Mary (42), Ellen (14), Francis (12), Henry (10), Celia (8) and Albert (4) were living at 3 Gloucester Road, Newbury.

The 1901 census records Edwin (48) a House Painter, Mary (50), Celia (18), a Dressmaker and Albert (14), a Grocer’s Apprentice, living at 3 Gloucester Road, Newbury.

By 1911 all their children had left home, the census for this year records Edwin (58) as a House Painter living at 95, Gloucester Road, Newbury, with Mary (62) and a lodger, Henry Aldridge (17), a Grocer’s Apprentice.

Edwin died aged 60 on either the 2^nd or the 4^th February 1913, he was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 5^th February. (The NWN obituary records the date of death as the 2^nd and the MI records the date of death as the 4^th)

Mary Jane died aged 82 on the 29^th January 1931, she was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery with her husband Edwin and her daughter Ellen Clara, on the 2^nd February.

Mrs P    Page 30    Code NE 27

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