Elizabeth Parr

1798-1878

Elizabeth was born on the 8^th April 1798, she was baptised on the 20^th May 1798, at St Nicolas Church, Newbury, the daughter of Thomas and Frances Showell (nee Bayle) who were married on the 6^th April 1789, in Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire.

Her father Thomas was baptised at St Nicolas Church Newbury, in 1769. He died aged 42 in 1811 and was buried on the 12^th October, at St Nicolas, Newbury.

Her mother Frances as born c1771. In 1815 Frances (42) was recorded living on the west side of Cheap Street, Newbury (Factory), with her children, Hannah (26), Mary (19), Ann (12) (Nancy), William (10), Thomas (3) and her grandchildren, Maria (6), James (2) and Benjamin (an infant). Frances died aged 56, in 1827 and was buried on the 16^th February, at St Nicolas, Newbury.

Elizabeth’s siblings were (all baptised at St Nicolas, Newbury):

Hannah, 12^th July 1789

Jane and George, 24^th October 1792,

Mary, 15^th November 1795

Sarah, 25^th December 1799, (born 24^th November)

Nancy, 7^th February 1802 (born 10^th January)

William, 18^th January 1804 (born 21^st December 1803)

Thomas, 17^th May 1812 (born 18^th April)

Elizabeth had an illegitimate son, William Parr, baptised on the 22^nd July 1821, at St Nicolas Church, Newbury. (Father recorded as William Parr, an Ostler.)

She married William Parr on the 7^th June 1824, in Thatcham, Berkshire.

(William was baptised on the 25^th December 1795, at St Nicolas Church, Newbury, the son of William and Mary Parr (nee Witherell) who were married on the 25^th May 1795, at St Mary, Greenham, Berkshire).

William and Elizabeth also had the following children:

Frances Ann, baptised 27^th January1828, at St Mary, Greenham

Eliza, baptised 25^th May 1830, at St Mary, Greenham

Ellen, 25^th June 1837, at St Nicolas, Newbury (dad a Publican) (died aged 5 months, buried 10^th Oct. at St Nicolas, Newbury)

Ellen, 1^st September 1839, at St Nicolas, Newbury (dad a Publican)

By at least 1836 William was the Publican of the Royal Oak, in Northbrook Street, Newbury.

The 1841 census records William (40), a Publican, Elizabeth (35), their daughters Fanny (13), (Frances Ann) Eliza (10) and Ellen (2) and a Harriett Parr (13), living in Northbrook Street, Newbury.

In 1846 William became the Publican of the Weaver’s Arms, in Cheap Street, Newbury.

The 1851 census records William (55), an Innkeeper, Elizabeth (53), their daughter Eliza (21), their married daughter Frances Taylor (23), their grandchildren, George Taylor (2), Elizabeth Taylor (1), a servant and seven lodgers, living in St Mary Hill, Newbury. (The Weaver’s Arms)

Elizabeth was widowed in 1854. William died aged 58, on the 10^th March, in Woodspeen, Berkshire, he was laid to rest in a private grave in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 15^th March 1854.

In 1861 Elizabeth (63) was recorded as, formerly a Laundress, living in Westcombe Buildings, Northbrook Street, Newbury. Her married daughter Eliza Rowell (30), a Dressmaker and her grandson, Henry Robert Rowell (7), were recorded living with her.

In 1871 Elizabeth (72) was recorded as a retired Publican, she was still living in Westcombe Buildings, but was now living alone.

Elizabeth died aged 80, on the 27^th October 1878, she was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery with William on the 30^th October.

Mrs P’s    Page 114    Code LN X3

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