Mary Purdue

1796-1880

Mary, her parents, sibling and early life:

Mary was born on the 5^th February 1796, she was baptised on the 10^th April 1796 at St Nicolas Church Newbury, the daughter of William and Elizabeth Cook (nee Smith) who were married on the 20^th January 1795 at St Nicolas Church Newbury (Surname spelt Cooke at time of marriage)

Mary’s mother Elizabeth died aged 36 in 1798, she was buried on the 28^th December at St Nicolas, Newbury.

Her father remarried on the 4^th June 1800 at St Nicolas Church Newbury. His 2^nd wife was Mary Seward.

William and Mary had the following children:

Jane Cook, born 15^th April 1801, baptised 10^th May 1801

Samuel Cooke, born 18^th January 1804, baptised 12^th February 1804 (died aged 18 months, buried 23^rd August 1805, at St Nicolas Newbury)

Charlotte Cooke, born 3^rd November 1806, baptised 30^th November 1806

Eliza Cook, born 20^th December 1810, baptised 20^th January 1811

Mary Ann Cook, baptised 22^nd August 1813, (dad recorded as a Porter, abode, West Mills Newbury)

(Mary also possibly had another half-brother, Thomas Lamdin, born and baptised on the 9^th December 1810, Mother Charlotte Lamdin, father William Cooke)

In 1815 Mary (20) was living with her stepmother Mary (34) and her half-sisters, Jane (14), Charlotte (8), Eliza (4) and Mary Ann (2), in Almshouse Yard, West Mills, Newbury

Mary in later life:

Mary married George Purdue on the 5^th February 1823, at St Nicolas Church, Newbury. (Witnesses: Samuel Purdue, Maria Purdue and Millicent Purdue)

(George Perdue was born 11^th October 1800, he was baptised 7^th November 1800 at St Nicolas Church Newbury, Berkshire, the son of James and Hannah Purdue (nee Skinner) who were married on the 5^th July 1784, at St Nicolas, Newbury (witnesses, Samuel Purdue and Jane Cook)).

They had the following two sons baptised at St Nicolas Church Newbury:

Edmund, baptised 21^st May 1823

William born 28^th September 1831, baptised 25^th March 1832 (died aged 1 year 8 months, buried 21^st June 1833, at St Nicolas Newbury)

In 1841 George (40), a Shoemaker, Mary (40) and their son Edmund (15), a Carpenter’s Apprentice, were recorded living in West Mills, Newbury, Berkshire. (surname recorded as Junone on ancestry)

The 1851 census records George (50) as a Shoemaker, living in Old Newtown Road, Newbury, with Mary (53) and their grandson William George Purdue (4) (the son of Edmund and Ann Purdue (nee Everest)) (surname recorded as Tinden on ancestry)

In 1861 George (60) was recorded as a Gardener, living at 8 Railway Terrace, Newbury, with Mary (65), a Dressmaker, their son Edmund (39) a Carpenter, their daughter-in-law Ann (49) and their grandson son, Henry Purdue (10).

George died aged 62 in 1863. He was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 18^th August.

The 1871 census records Mary (75) as an Almswoman, living in Raymond’s Almshouses, Newbury. Her grandson Henry (21), a Journeyman Carpenter, was recorded living with her.

Mary died aged 84 in 1880. She was laid to rest on the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 25^th March.

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