Ann French

c1828-1879

Ann, her parents and siblings:

Ann was baptised on the 6^th January 1828, at St Nicolas Church Newbury, the daughter of William (a Labourer) and Martha Harris (nee Andrews).

Her brother Charles Harris Andrews, was baptised on the on the 31^st January 1826, at St Nicolas, Newbury, the illegitimate son of William Harris, a Bargeman of Newbury and Martha Andrews

William and Martha were married on the 21^st March 1826 at St Mary, Greenham, Berkshire.

Ann’s sister Harriet Eliza, was baptised on the 30^th May 1830, William was recorded as a Labourer (Harriet Eliza died aged 5 months, cause of death, smallpox, buried 11^th September 1830, at St Nicolas Newbury)

In 1841 Ann (13) was recorded living in Bradley Yard, Newbury with her father William (40) a Porter, her mother Martha (35) and her brother Charles (15) (surname recorded as Hanis on ancestry)

Ann married in 1844

Marriage details:

Place: St Nicolas Church, Newbury

Date: 22^nd August 1844

Groom: Elijah Harris, full age, bachelor, occupation, Labourer, abode, Newbury

Bride: Ann Harris, aged 19 years, spinster, abode, Newbury

Fathers: Joshua Harris and William Harris, both Labourers

Witnesses: John Totty Mayo and George Stillman

(Elijah was baptised on the 16^th March 1823, in Kingsclere, Hampshire, the son of Joshua (a Labourer) and Ann(e) Harris (nee Baker) who were married on the 11^th October 1806, in East Woodhay, Hampshire)

Elijah and Ann had the following children (all baptised at St Nicolas Church):

Israel, 27^th October 1844 (born 11^th September 1844, dad a Labourer)

Emily Jane, 31^st October 1847 (born 13^th April 1847, dad a Labourer)

Mary Ann 26^th August 1849 (born 19^th July 1849, dad a Bargeman).

Harriett Maria 31^st August 1851 (born 5^th August 1851, dad a Bargeman)

In 1851 Elijah (28), a Bargeman, Ann (24) and their children, Israel (6), Emily Jane (3) and Mary Ann (1), were recorded living in Mayor’s Lane, Newbury, Berkshire. Ann’s parents William (54), a Corn Porter and Martha (46) were recorded also recorded living in Mayor’s Lane.

Elijah Harris died aged 28 in 1851, he was buried on the 7^th December at St Michael and All Angels, Enborne, Berkshire.

Ann remarried in 1856 (marriage registered in the March quarter, in Newbury). Her 2^nd husband was James French

(James was a Labourer/Bricklayer’s Labourer. He was baptised on the 2^nd September 1832 in Thatcham Berkshire, the son of James and Maria French (nee Pizzey) who were married on the 21^st November 1824, at St Mary, Thatcham, Berkshire)

James and Ann had the following children baptised at St Nicolas, Newbury:

William, 17^th January 1859 (died aged 4 months, buried in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 29^th January).

Jane Maria, 7^th March 1861

Louisa Maria, 18^th June 1862 (born 15^th April 1856)

James William, 12^th April 1865

Ellen, 5^th April 1868

The 1861 census records James (25), Ann (33), Mary Ann (11) (surname recorded as French, born Harris) Louisa Maria (4) and Jane Maria (2 months) living in Bradley’s Yard, Cheap Street, Newbury.

In 1871 James (38), Ann (47), Mary Ann Harriss (22) a Charwoman, Louisa (15), Jane (11), James (6) and Ellen (3), were recorded living in Robeson’s Yard, Newbury.

Ann died aged 52 on the 13^th July 1879. She was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 18^th July.

James remarried a couple of months after Ann died.

Marriage details:

Place: St Nicolas Newbury

Date: 28^th September 1879

Groom: James French, full age, widower, occupation, Labourer, abode, Newbury

Bride: Eliza Young, full age, widow, abode, Newbury

Fathers: James French, a Labourer and Thomas Crofts, a Hairdresser

Witnesses: John R Stillman and Sarah Stillman

The 1881, 1891 and 1901 census records record James and Eliza living at 1 Quakers Burial Ground, Newbury. In 1881 Ellen (13) was living with them

By 1911 they were living at 14 Church Almshouses, Newtown Road, Newbury. Joseph was recorded as Formerly a Plasterer

Eliza died in 1914 (age at death recorded as 86). She was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 4^th July.

James died aged 85 in the Newbury Infirmary, in 1917. He was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 25^th October.

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