Dorcas Purdue

c1834-1890

Dorcas was baptised on the 7^th September 1834 at St Mary the Virgin, Speen, Berkshire, the daughter of Samuel and Ann Purdue (nee Shapcott) who were married on the 5^th June 1820 at St Mary the Virgin, Speen. (Ann’s surname recorded as Shapcot)

Her father Samuel was a Cordwainer, he died in 1840 and was buried on the 22^nd March, at St Mary the Virgin, Speen (age at death recorded as 35, NBI and BBI records him aged 39)

Her mother Ann(e) was born on the 22^nd May 1801, she was baptised on the 14^th June 1801 at St Nicolas Newbury the daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth Shefcott (nee Bowles) who were married on the 20^th June 1790, at St Nicolas Church Newbury (surname recorded as Shapcott) Ann died as Ann New aged 64 in 1866, she was buried on the 5^th February, at St Mary the Virgin, Speen.

Samuel and Ann also had the following children:

Harriet baptised 27^th January 1822, at St Nicolas Newbury (dad a Cordwainer)

Samuel Thomas and Esther Ann, baptised on the 24^th December 1826, at St Nicolas Newbury (dad a Cordwainer) (Esther Ann died aged 9 months in 1827 and Samuel Thomas died aged 16 in 1840)

Henry and Esther c1828 in Speen (Henry died aged 13 months in 1829)

Maria c1830 in Speen

Henry c1832 in Speen (died aged 3 in 1835)

Leah born c1837

Henry born c1839

In 1841 Dorcas (6) (recorded as Brown) was living in Speenhamland, Berkshire with her widowed mother Ann (30) and her siblings, Harriet (15), Esther (12), (recorded as Hester) Maria (9), Leah (4) (recorded as Seab) and Henry (2).

Dorcas’s mother Ann remarried in 1843. Her 2^nd husband was James New. They had a son, James George, born c1843 and a daughter, Georgina Annie, born c1847.

The 1851 census records Dorcas (16) as a Nursemaid, working for a Schoolmaster, John Moss (47) and his family, in Market Place, Newbury. (Name recorded as Diveas Burdue on ancestry)

The 1861 census records Dorcas (24) as a Parlourmaid, at The Vicarage, Sunbury, Middlesex. (Vicar, Henry Vigne)

In 1871 Dorcas (32) was recorded as a Servant, living at Stoke Lodge, Kensington, London.

The 1881 census records Dorcas as a Nurse, living at Little Stoke House, Checkendon, Oxfordshire, with a Farmer, William Dodd and his family.

In April 1883 Dorcas went to work as a cook for the Rev. Thomas Onslow and his wife Mary, in Benham.  

The following appeared in the newspaper:

Reading Mercury

Dated 21^st April 1883

SUDDEN DEATH AT BENHAM – Mr. J. C. Pinniger, County Coroner, held an inquest on Saturday, at the Nags Head Inn, Stockcross, on the body of Elizabeth Hamblin, 51 years of age, wife of Ambrose Hamblin, gardener, Speen, and a cook in the service of the Rev. T. G. Onslow, of Benham Cottage. The deceased had signified her intention of leaving Mr. Onslow’s service, and another person named Dorcas Purdue was engaged to fill her place. On Friday evening the deceased had sent in the dinner at seven o’clock and then went out. Returning shortly before 10, she ate a hearty supper, and soon after went to bed with Dorcas Purdue. At half-past three Purdue was aroused by the heavy snoring of deceased, who slept in the same bed. She shook the deceased and tried to rouse her. Being unable to do so she called Mr. and Mrs. Onslow, and further efforts were made to being deceased to a state of consciousness, but without effect. A doctor was then sent for, but the deceased died before he arrived. Dr. Ryott said his opinion was that deceased died of sanguineous apoplexy, and the jury returned a verdict accordingly.

Dorcas died aged 52 on the 5^th January 1890. She was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 8^th January.

Marlborough Times

Dated 11^th January 1890

Jan. 5^th at Park-street, Newbury, Dorcas Purdue, aged 52.

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