Henry Purdue

c1839-1901

Henry was baptised in 1839 in Speen, Berkshire, the son 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 as recorded as Shapcot)

His 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)

His mother Ann 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 aged 64 (as Ann New) 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, baptised in March 1828 in Speen (Henry died aged 13 months in 1829)

Maria, baptised 4^th July 1830 in Speen

Henry, baptised 10^th June c1832 in Speen (died aged 3 in 1835)

Dorcas, baptised 7^th September 1834 in Speen

Leah born c1837

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

Henry’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 Henry (10) and his sister Leah (14) as inmates in the Newbury Workhouse. Their mother Ann New (49), step-father James New (34), a Labourer, their sister Esther Purdue (22,) their half-brother James George (8) and their half-sister Georgina Annie (4) were living in Deller’s Buildings, Speenhamland, Berkshire.

The 1861 census records Henry (20) working as a Bricklayer’s Labourer, lodging at the Star Inn, London Road, Speenhamland, Berkshire.

In 1881 Henry (38) was recorded working as a Blacksmith, lodging with an Eliza Griffiths (60) a Shopkeeper at 1, Lisle Court, Newbury, Berkshire.

The 1891 census records Henry (45), still living working as a Blacksmith and still living at 1, Lisle Court, with Elizabeth Griffiths (70). (Surname recorded as Perdue on ancestry)

The 1901 census records Henry (60) working as a General Labourer. He was still living with Eliza Griffiths at 1, Lisle Court.

Henry died aged 61, in the Newbury Workhouse, in 1901. He was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 13^th August.

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