Thomas Dodson Hill (1797 – 1870)

Elizabeth Hill (1799 – 1890)

Thomas Dodson Hill was born circa 1797 in Newbury. He was baptized on 24 February 1797 at St Nicolas in Newbury, the son of Ann Hill. Thomas married Elizabeth Farr on 29 December 1822 at St Nicolas in Newbury. Elizabeth was born 27 January 1799 in West Grimstead in Wiltshire. She was baptized at St John in West Grimstead on 26 July 1800, the same day as her sister Caroline who was only a couple of weeks old. Her parents were John and Mary.

 In the 1841 census Thomas and Elizabeth with children Thomas aged 13, Elizabeth aged 11, Sarah aged 8, Emma aged 6, Lucy aged 4, William aged 2 and Jane aged 3 months were living in Middleton Court in Newbury. Thomas was recorded as a tailor.

 Ten years later in the 1851 census Thomas and Elizabeth were recorded in Bartholomew Street in Newbury with children Elizabeth aged 22, Sarah aged 19, Emma aged 16, Lucy aged 15 and William aged 13. Thomas was recorded as a tailor, Elizabeth, Sarah and Emma as servants and Lucy as a nursemaid.

By the time of the 1861 census Thomas and Elizabeth were living in Andover Road in Newbury with daughter Elizabeth aged 32. Thomas was recorded as a letter carrier, Elizabeth as a mangler and daughter Elizabeth as a school mistress.

 Thomas died 7 November 1870 while living at Wash Road in Newbury and by then was working as a postman. An announcement appeared in the Newbury Weekly News dated 17 November 1870, more details as below. He was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 14 November 1870. Thomas did not leave a will but administration of his estate was granted on 15 July 1871 at London to his son William John Dodson Hill, a smith of 76 Burrage Road in Plumstead. The value of the estate was under £100.

Nov. 8, at the Wash Road, Newbury, Thomas Dodson Hill, aged 73, for many years postman in Newbury.

In the 1871 census Elizabeth was living in Wash Road in Newbury with her daughter Elizabeth and a servant and she was recorded as laundress, as was her daughter Elizabeth.

Ten years later in the 1881 census Elizabeth was recorded with her daughter Sarah at 15 Cheap Street in Newbury and described as an almswoman while Sarah was a charwoman

Elizabeth died in January 1890 aged 89 and was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 13 January 1890.

Thomas and Elizabeth’s daughter Sarah died March 1921 and was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 15 March 1921. Another daughter Elizabeth married John Flitter on 27 July 1879 at St John in Newbury. She was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 15 March 1907.

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