Maria Allen

1834-1908

Maria, her parents, siblings and early life:

Maria was born on the 15^th January 1834, in Newbury, Berkshire. She was baptised on the 2^nd March 1834, at St Nicolas Church, Newbury, the daughter of Thomas (a Bricklayer) and Sarah Powers, (nee Oliver) of Back Lane, Newbury. Thomas and Sarah were married on the 24^th December 1810, in Church Oakley, Hampshire.

Maria’s mother Sarah was baptised on the 13^th December 1789, in Church Oakley, Hampshire, the daughter of Abraham and Ann Oliver (nee Cripps) who were married on the 21^st September 1786, in Church Oakley. (Possibly died aged 65 in 1855, not proved)

Her father Thomas was born c1788, in either Shaw or Newbury, Berkshire. Thomas died aged 79 in 1867. He was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 22^nd April.

Thomas and Sarah also had the following children:

Eliza, baptised 2^nd July 1815, in Church Oakley, Hampshire

John, born 26^th January 1812, baptised 23^rd February 1812, at St Nicolas, Newbury

Charlotte, baptised 27^th May 1818, at St Nicolas, Newbury

Israel, baptised 12^th May 1825 at Northcroft Lane, Baptist Church, Newbury (died aged 13, buried 23^rd January 1839, at St Nicolas, Newbury).

Mary Ann, baptised 21^st October 1827, at St Nicolas, Newbury

Harriet, baptised 20^th June 1830, at St Nicolas, Newbury

In 1841 Maria (8) was recorded living in Back Lane, Newbury, with her father Thomas (45), a Bricklayer, her mother Sarah (50) and her sisters, Charlotte (20), Mary (13), Harriet (9) and Eliza Wheeler (25) (her married sister) and her nephew, Israel Wheeler (4 months).

The 1851 census records Maria (18) as a Servant, she was living in Greenham Mills, Greenham, Berkshire, with her married sister Eliza Miles (36), her brother-in-law, John Miles (36), an Agricultural Labourer, her nephews, Oliver Miles (2), (Henry Oliver) Frederick Miles (9 months) and a visitor, Mary Beale (18). (Her widowed sister Eliza Wheeler remarried in 1848, in Newbury). Her father Thomas (61), her mother Sarah (62), her sisters Mary Ann (22), Harriet (20) and her nephew, Richard Wheeler (5) (son of her married sister Eliza Wheeler) were living in Back Lane, Newbury.

Maria in later life:

In 1861 Maria (29) was recorded as the wife of Peter Allen (42) a Sawyer, living in Back Lane, Newbury, with their son Frederick (1), her nephew, Richard Wheeler (15) and her father Thomas Powers (72) (recorded as a lodger).

Although Maria was recorded as Peter’s wife in 1861, they did not marry until 1869 (see marriage details below***)

Maria had the following children before she was married:

Frederick Allen Powers, 1859

Maria Allen, 1861

Thomas Allen, 1863 (aged 6, in 1869.  buried in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 17^th September).

Walter Allen, 1868 (died age 1, in 1869, buried in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 8^th October).

Maria also gave birth to a son, Henry Peter Allen in 1871.

***Marriage details:

Place: St Michael, Mark Street, Shoreditch

Date: 13^th December 1869

Groom: Peter Allen, aged 49, bachelor, occupation, Timber Agent, abode, 60 Leonard Street

Bride: Maria Powers, aged 38, spinster, occupation, Servant, abode, 60 Leonard Street

Fathers; John Allen, a Sawyer and Thomas Powers, a Bricklayer

(Peter was baptised on the 28^th March 1820, in Bucklebury, Berkshire, the son of John and Elizabeth Allen (nee Money) who were married on the 21^st May 1804, in Bucklebury)

In 1871 Peter (51) was recorded as a Timber Dealer, living in Cheap Street, Newbury, with Maria (39) and their children, Frederick (11) and Maria (9).

The 1881 census records Peter (60) as a Timber Dealer, living in Ham Lane, Greenham, Berkshire, with Maria (48), Frederick (21), a Sawyer, Maria (19), a Laundress and Peter (9) (Henry Peter)

In 1891 Peter (70), a Timber Dealer, Maria (57), their daughter Maria (30), and their grandson Thomas (10) (Maria’s illegitimate son) were living in Gas House Road, Greenham.

Peter died aged 78 on the 20^th October 1897. He was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 25^th October.

The 1901 census records Maria (66) living at 3 Derby Cottages, King’s Road, Newbury. Her daughter Maria (38) and her grandsons, Thomas (20) a Printer/Compositor and Frederick (14), (Peter Frederick) a Timber Merchant’s Office Boy were recorded living with her.

Maria died aged 75 on the 15^th December 1908. She was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 21^st December.

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