Edith Briggs

c1819-1889

Edith, her parents, siblings and early life:

Edith was baptised on the 25^th April 1819, at St Nicolas Church, Newbury, Berkshire, the daughter of William and Mary Morris (nee Matthews) who were married on the 1^st August 1814, at St Nicolas.

Her father William was a Blacksmith.  He was baptised on the 29^th August 1790, at St Nicolas Church, Newbury, the son of Benjamin and Elizabeth Morris (nee Eells) who were married on the 17^th May 1774 at St Nicolas.

Her mother Mary was baptised on the 5^th October 1794, in Newtown Hampshire, the daughter of George and Edyth/Edith Matthews (nee Keens) who were married on the 19^th April 1791, at St Nicolas Church, Newbury.

Willam and Mary also had the following children baptised at St Nicolas Church:

William, 21^st October 1814

Benjamin, 12^th January 1817

Charles, 23^rd September 1821

George, 15^th February 1824

Mary, 17^th April 1825

Eliza Ann, 15^th July 1827

Elizabeth, 6^th December 1829

Henry Philip, 11^th March 1832

Michael, 17^th November 1833

Thomas, 7^th August 1836

Cornelius James, born 1839 (no baptism found)

In 1815 Edith’s parents William (23), a Founder, Mary (22) and her brother William (an infant) were recorded living in Moss’s Yard, in the City, Newbury, Berkshire.

In 1841 William (50), Mary (45), Charles (20), a Gardener’s Apprentice, Mary (15), Elizabeth (12), Michael (8), Thomas (5) and Cornelius James (2), were recorded living in Newtown Road, Newbury. (No record of Edith found in the 1841 census)

The 1851 census records William (59), Mary (57), Michael (17), a Tin Plate Maker, Thomas (14), a Brush Maker and James (12) (Cornelius James), living in Old Newtown Road, Newbury.

Edith’s father William died aged 64 on the 4^th February 1855, he was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 9^th February.

Edith in later life:

Edith married in 1849

Marriage details:

Place: St George, Hanover Square, Middlesex

Date: 26^th July 1849

Groom: Mark Briggs, full age, bachelor, occupation, Servant, abode, Mount Row

Bride: Edith Briggs, full age, spinster, abode, Mount Row

Fathers: William Morris, a Smith and James Briggs, a Servant

Witnesses: Valentine Webb and Sophia Briggs

(Mark was baptised on the 23^rd November 1823, at Weston Longville, Norfolk, the son of James (a Servant) and Catherine Briggs, of St George, Hanover Square)

The 1851 census records Mark (27) as a Servant, living in Portman Mews, Marylebone, London with Edith (32).

In 1861 Mark (38) was recorded as a Coachman, living at 23 Hyde Park Garden Mews, Paddington, London with Edith (42) and a nephew, Arthur Briggs (4).

Edith was widowed in 1864, Mark died aged 41, at 10 Grosvener Mews, Berkeley Square, he was laid to rest in the Old Brompton Cemetery, on the 5^th December.

In 1871 Edith (52) was recorded living in Church Almshouses, Newbury with her widowed mother Mary Morris (76).

Edith’s mother died aged 80 on the 22^nd April 1874, she was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery, with her husband, on the 27^th April.

(In 1879 Edith’s sister Mary, married Benjamin Weller. She died the following year and was laid to rest with her parents on the 13^th February 1880)

The 1881 census records Edith (62) as a Housekeeper, living at 9 Victoria Place, Newbury, Berkshire. She had two lodgers living with her.

Edith died aged 70, in the Newbury Workhouse, on the 3^rd October 1889. She was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 7^th October.

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