George Clements

c1826-1903

George, his parents, siblings and early life:

George was baptised as George Walker Clements, on the 9^th August 1826, at St Nicolas Church, Newbury, Berkshire, the son of George (a Labourer) and Sarah Clements (nee Walker) who were married on the 6^th August 1826, at St Nicolas, Newbury (both were single, witnesses, John Walker and Elizabeth Stillman)

George’s father George was baptised on the 18^th July 1802, in Thatcham, Berkshire, the son of Thomas and Sarah Clements (nee Emmory/Emery/Emmery) who were married on the 20^th March 1786, in Thatcham. George (67) committed suicide (by hanging) on the 29^th January 1866, he was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 31^st January.

His mother Sarah was born on the 7^th September 1800, she was baptised on the 5^th October 1800, at St Nicolas Church, Newbury, the daughter of William and Mary Walker (nee Buffin) who were married on the 19^th May 1798, at St Nicolas, Newbury (both were single, witnesses, Samuel Purdue and John Cooper.) In 1815 Sarah (15) was living in Kember’s Yard, on the east side of Bartholomew Street, Newbury, with her father William (37), a Horseler, her mother Mary (36) and her siblings, John (13), William (9), Eliza (5) and Charles (2).

George and Sarah also had the following children baptised at St Nicolas, Newbury:

Emma, 19^th October 1828 (dad a Servant)

Frederick, 27^th March 1831 (dad a Servant)

George’s mother Sarah died aged 31, in 1832, she was buried on the 21^st May, at St Nicolas, Newbury

His father remarried on the 18^th June 1833, at St Nicolas, Newbury. His 2^nd wife was Maria Dobson, a spinster. (Witnesses: George Stillman and Ann Lewis)

(Maria Dobson was baptised at St Mary the Virgin, Speen, Berkshire, on the 2^nd August 1795, the daughter of Thomas and Deborah Dobson (nee Mayres/Mayers/ Maynes) who were married in October 1786, in Bucklebury, Berkshire. Maria died aged 76, in 1872, she was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 25^th January)

George and Maria had a daughter, Ellen, baptised at St Nicolas, Newbury, on the 17^th January 1836 (dad a Carrier)

In 1841 George (15) was living in Newbury, with his father George (35), a Carrier, his stepmother Maria (35), his sister Emma (12), his brother Frederick (10) and his half-sister Ellen (5). (Surname recorded as Clemons on ancestry)

George in later life:

Like his father, George was also a Carrier. He married Sarah Ashley in 1847 (marriage registered in Newbury)

(Sarah was born c1827, in Newbury, Berkshire, the daughter of William and Mary Ashley (nee Gerrish) who were married on the 22^nd December 1799, in Wilton, Wiltshire (surname recorded as Ashly)

George and Sarah had the following two daughters:

Emily, born 1847, in Hurstbourne, Hampshire

Ellen, born 1848, in Newbury, Berkshire

The 1851 census records George (24), Sarah (23) and their daughters Ellen (3) and Emily (2), living in Trafalgar Place, Bartholomew Street, Newbury, with Sarah’s parents, William Ashley (69), an Independent Minister and Mary Ashley (71).

Sarah’s father William Ashley died aged 79 in 1861, he was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 2^nd February.

The 1861 census also records George (34), Sarah (34), Emily (13), Ellen (12) and Mary Ashley (81), living in Trafalgar Place.

Sarah’s mother Mary Ashley died aged 83 in 1862, she was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 3^rd March.

In 1868 the following appeared in the local paper:

Newbury weekly News

Dated 30^th January 1868

NOTICE OF REMOVAL

GEORGE CLEMENTS

CARRIER FROM NEWBURY TO READING

AND ANDOVER

BEGS to announce that he has removed to No. 1 NEW STREET where he solicits a continuance of the patronage bestowed for so many years in the past.

The 1871 census records George (44), a Retired Carrier, living at 1 New Street, Newbury, with Sarah (44), their daughter Ellen (22) and a boarder, Marcus Carter (21), a Carrier.  Their married daughter Emily West (23) and her husband Samuel West (25), a Grocer’s Shopman, were living next door at number 2.

George was widowed on the 16^th March 1878, Sarah died aged 51. She was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 20^th March, as Sarah Symons Clements.

In 1881 George (54) was recorded living in Carnarvon Terrace, Newbury, with his daughter Emily (33), his son-in-law Samuel (34) and his grandsons, Arthur (9), Samuel (4), Frank (1) and Harry (5 months).

The 1891 census records George (64) living on his own means, at 34 Northbrook Street, Newbury, with Samuel (44), Emily (43) and their children, Emily (17), Samuel (14), Frank (11), Henry (10) and Gordon (6).

The West family were again recorded living at 34 Northbrook Street, in 1901, as follows: Samuel (54) a Grocer’s Clerk, Emily (53), Harry (20), an Architect’s Clerk, Gordon (15) a Junior Corn Merchant’s Clerk and John William (8). George (74), was still living with them.

By 1903 the family were living in Gloucester Road, Newbury.

George died aged 76, on the 23^rd February 1903, he was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 25^th February, with his wife Sarah.

Newbury Weekly News

Dated 26^th February 1903

CLEMENTS – Feb. 23, at Merton-villa, Gloucester-road, Newbury, George Clements, aged 76.

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