Joseph Samuels (1860 – 1898)

Joseph Charles Henry Samuels was born in 1860 in Newbury, the son of Charles and Eliza Maria, nee Parr, Samuels. He was baptized on 5 August 1860 at St Mary in Greenham.

In the 1861 census Joseph was recorded living with his parents at St Mary’s Hill in Newbury, Charles was recorded as a journeyman tailor and Eliza as a shoe binder.

Ten years later in the 1871 census Joseph was living his parents and sisters Isabella aged 9, Rose aged 5, Edith aged 3 and Sarah Ann aged 1 at Bradley’s Yard in Newbury with his father Charles recorded as a tailor and Joseph a scholar.

On Monday 20 November 1876 Joseph appeared before Newbury Borough Police court with George Bryant accused of stealing one pound of pork, the property of Thomas White, provision merchant of Northbrook Street. They were found guilty and committed for 21 days with hard labour, the Mayor stating but for their insolence it would have been 14 days.

Two years later on Monday 21 November 1878 Joseph appeared before Newbury Borough Police magistrates accused of stealing a pair of trousers, the property of Mrs. Legg, second hand clothes dealer. He was found guilty and sentenced to three months imprisonment.

Joseph signed up to join the Army Hospital Corp on 9 October 1879 at Aldershot. His occupation prior to signing up was a labourer. He was recorded as 5 foot & 5 inches with brown hair and eyes with a tattoo on his right forearm. He was discharged from the army on 7 December 1879, as a result of his court appearance (see below for more details).

A few weeks later on Saturday 8 November 1879 Joseph appeared before the Newbury Borough Police magistrates charged with stealing 2s 1d from the tills of Samuel John Hamblin, greengrocer of Northbrook Street. He was committed to trial at the Quarter Sessions. Joseph appeared before Newbury Quarter Sessions on Friday 9 January 1880 dressed in the uniform of the Army Hospital Corps. He was found guilty and sentenced to imprisonment for one month with hard labour.

There is no trace of Joseph in the 1881 census.

A Joseph Charles Henry Samuels married Harriet Maria Parr on 4 April 1986 at St Nicolas in Newbury. There is no trace of Harriet in her married name in subsequent censuses.

On Monday 18 November 1889 Joseph appeared before Newbury Borough Police court with Daniel Buckland accused of stealing a ham, value 3s, the property of Mr. W Higgs, of Northbrook Street. They were found guilty and sentenced to 3 months imprisonment with hard labour.

In the 1891 census Joseph was recorded an inmate in Newbury Union Workhouse, single and a general labourer.

Joseph died on 18 October 1898 in Newbury Union Workhouse and was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 22 October. An announcement appeared in the Newbury Weekly News of 27 October 1898 as below.

SAMUELS – Oct. 18, at the Union Workhouse, Joseph Samuels, aged 38.

Joseph’s parents are buried at Newtown Road Cemetery, his father Charles on 5 June 1901 and his mother Eliza Maria on 23 February 1928.

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