Elizabeth Bowditch

1863-1876

Elizabeth was born 15^th February 1863, she was baptised 12^th March 1865 in Greenham, Berkshire, the daughter of Thomas (a Lawyer’s Clerk) and Ann(e) Bowditch (nee Barnard) who were married 23^rd April 1848, at St Martin in the Fields, Middlesex.

Elizabeth’s father Thomas was baptised on the 19^th March 1827, in Dalwood, Devon, the son of Thomas and Sarah Bowditch (nee Mercer) who were married on the 26^th August 1823, at St Margaret, Westminster

Her mother Ann was born on the 6^th October 1829, she was baptised on the 1^st November 1829 at St George Hanover Square, Westminster, Middlesex, the daughter of Charles and Mary Hannah Barnard (nee Elliott) who were married on the 24^th December 1826, at St Giles Cripplegate, London

Thomas and Ann also had the following children:

Thomas Charles, born 19^th October 1848 in Chelsea, Middlesex

James, born 29^th June 1850 in Clerkenwell, Middlesex

William, born 12^th July 1852 in St Clement Danes, Middlesex    

(All 3 baptised 29^th January 1854, at St Saviour, Chelsea)

John Samuel, born 1856 in Thatcham, Berkshire, privately baptised 30^th May 1859, in Speenhamland, then again with sisters Elizabeth and Mary Ann and brothers Edmund Alfred and Edwin Richard, on the 12^th March 1865, in Greenham.

Edmund Alfred, born 7^th April 1858 in Speenhamland, Berkshire

Edwin Richard, born 21^st September 1860 in Speenhamland, Berkshire

Mary Ann born 1865 in Newbury

(In 1841 Mary Ann’s father Thomas (14) was recorded working as a servant at Syon House, Isleworth, Middlesex, the home of Hugh Percy, 3^rd Duke of Northumberland).

In 1851 Thomas (24), Ann (22) and their sons Thomas Charles (2) and James (9 months) were recorded living in Clerkenwell, Middlesex.

In 1858 Thomas was working as a Clerk for the Newbury Post Office. On the 2^nd November he found guilty of embezzling monies, the property of the Postmaster General and was sentenced to 1 year with hard labour.

In 1861 Thomas (34), a Solicitor’s General Clerk, Ann (31) and their sons, Thomas Charles (12), James (10), William (8), John Samuel (6), Edmund (4) and Edwin Richard (6 months) were living in Stroud Green, Greenham, Berkshire.

Thomas died aged 39 on the 4^th February 1867, he was buried on the 9^th February at St Mary, Greenham, Berkshire.

The 1871 census records Ann(e) (40) as a Needlewoman, living in Hereford Place, Newbury, with her children, Alfred (12), (Edmund Alfred) Edwin (10), Elizabeth (8), Mary Ann (6) and her widowed mother-in-law Sarah Bowditch (72) an Annuitant.

Elizabeth died aged 13 on the 8^th June 1876. She was buried in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 12^th June.

Her sister Mary Ann died aged 12 on the 6^th April 1877. She was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 13^th April.

Her mother Sarah died aged 80 on the 15^th April 1879, she was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 19^th April.

Sources: