William Payne (1817 – 1890)

        Jane Payne (1820 – 1901)

William Payne was baptized on 20 July 1817 at St Leonard in Mundford in Norfolk, the son of Robert and Lydia, nee Neal, Payne. His father Robert was a labourer. 

There is no trace of William in the 1841 census, he was not living with his parents in Norfolk. In the 1851 census William was recorded as a visitor in Keppel Terrace, Clewer in Berkshire. His occupation was servant. Ten years later in the 1861 census William was recorded living on a farm in East Anstey in Devon, his occupation was coachman. 

William married Hester Prewett on 1 August 1854 at St John, Elberton near Bristol. Hester was baptized on 16 November 1823 at St Mary, Olveston in Gloucestershire, the daughter of Thomas, a farmer, and Mary. In the 1851 census she was living as a servant at Court Farm, Elberton in Gloucestershire and her occupation was house servant. 

In the 1861 census William and Hester were living in East Anstey in Devon with other servants and their four children, Harry aged 5, Greville aged 4, Rodney aged 3 and Frances Kate aged 2 months. William was record as a coachman.

Hester died in September 1865 aged 41 and she was buried on 19 September at St Mary in Olveston.

William remarried on 4 February 1868 at St John in Elberton to Jane Munro. Jane was baptized on 13 February 1820 at St Andrew in Newcastle on Tyne, the daughter of Daniel, a watch glass cutler, and Margaret. In the 1851 census Jane was recorded living as a servant at Burdon near Easington in Durham and a cook. Ten years later in 1861 she was living at Sidbrook House, West Monkton in Somerset and working as a lady’s maid.

In the 1871 census William and Jane were living in East Anstey in Devon with William’s daughter Frances Kate aged 10 and son Mordaunt aged 6. William was record as a groom There were four other servants living in the house.

Ten years later in the 1881 census William and Jane were living in the Black Bear, Market Place in Newbury with William’s daughter Frances Kate aged 20 and son Mordaunt aged 16. William was recorded as a licensed victualler while Frances and Mordaunt were both inn servants.

William died on 7 November 1890 at Wash Common aged 73 and he was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 11 November. An announcement appeared in the Newbury Weekly News dated 13 November and Berkshire Chronicle of 15 November as below. 

PAYNE – Nov. 7, at Wash Common, late of the Bear Inn, Newbury, William Payne, aged 73.

William left a will and probate was granted on 28 February 1891 at Oxford to his widow Jane. The value of the estate was £452 2s.

The following year in the 1891 census Jane was living in Wash Common with her step son Harry, who was a clerk. Ten years later in the 1901 census Jane was living with her widowed sister Anne Close in Wash Common.

Just over a week after the census Jane died on 8 April 1901 at The Cottage, Wash Common aged 82 and she was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 12 April. An announcement appeared in the Newbury Weekly News dated 11 April as below.  

PAYNE – April 8, at The Cottage, Wash Common, Jane Payne, in her 83rd year.

Two of the sons of William and Hester were buried at Newtown Road Cemetery Mordaunt Froude on 21 November 1894 and Harry on 3 March 1895.

Jane’s sister Anne Close was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 10 February 1911.

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