Lydia Punter

1838-1906

Lydia, her parents, siblings and early life:

Lydia was born on the 1^st August 1838, she was baptised on the 2^nd September 1838, at All Souls, St Marylebone, Middlesex, the daughter of Edward (a Bookbinder) and Lydia Austin (nee Sumner) who were married on the 11^th November 1823, at St George the Martyr, Queen Square, Camden. The family were living in Foley Street, St Marylebone, at the time of Lydia’s baptism.

Edward and Lydia also had the following children:

Edmund, baptised 27^th April 1827, at St Martin in the Fields, Westminster, abode 6 Broad Street

Henry, born 13^th Oct. 1829, baptised 25^th November 1830, at All Souls, St Marylebone, abode 24, Foley Street

James, born 16^th Oct. 1832, baptised 17^th February 1833, at All Souls, St Marylebone, abode 24, Foley Street

Alfred, born 25^th Sept. 1835, baptised 12^th November 1835, at All Souls, Marylebone, abode 24, Foley Street

Ann Jane, born 11^th June 1841, baptised 18^th July 1841 at All Souls, St Marylebone, abode, 24, Foley Street

The 1841 census records Edward (40), a Bookbinder, living in Foley Street, St Marylebone, with Lydia (40) and their children, Edward (15), Henry (10), James (5) and Lydia (2).

Lydia’s mother died aged 52 in 1849. She was buried on the 18^th January in St Marylebone. Her father Edward remarried on the 22^nd June 1849, at St James, Westminster. His 2^nd wife was Jane Wright.

In 1851 Lydia (12) was recorded living at 24 Foley Street, St Marylebone, with her father Edward (49), a Bookbinder & Tobacconist, her stepmother Jane (41), her brother Henry (21), a Porter, her brother James (19), a Stationer’s Assistant, her brother Alfred (15), an Errand Boy and her sister Ann (9). (Surname recorded as Austen on ancestry).

Lydia’s stepmother Jane died aged 50, in 1860, in St Marylebone. Her father continued to live at 24 Foley Street until his death on the 26^th December 1865.

Lydia in later life:

In 1861 Lydia (21) was recorded working as a House Servant, at 42, High Street, St Marylebone. (Surname recorded as Auther on ancestry)

The 1871 census records Lydia (30) as a Housemaid, in Hainton, Lincolnshire, the home of Edward Heneage (31), a Justice of the Peace and his family.

In 1881 Lydia (38) was recorded as an Upper Housemaid. She was living at Nork House, Banstead, Surrey.

Lydia married in 1883

Marriage details:

Place: Hampstead Marshall, Berkshire

Date: 21^st July 1883

Groom: Augustus Punter, aged 34, bachelor, occupation, Painter, abode, Hampstead Marshall

Bride: Lydia Austin, aged 39, spinster, occupation, Servant, abode, Hampstead Marshall

Fathers: Edward Austin, a Bookbinder and Robert Punter, a Plumber

Witnesses: Frederick Punter and Annie Collins

(Augustus was born in 1850, in Hampstead Marshall, Berkshire, the son of Robert and Betsy Punter (nee Burton) who were married on the 11^th June 1832, in Hampstead Marshall)

Both the 1891 and 1901 census records Augustus as a Painter, living in the village of Hampstead Marshall, Berkshire, with Lydia.

Lydia died aged 65, on the 22^nd February 1906, in the Newbury Workhouse. She was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 27^th February.

The 1911 census records Augustus (50) as a Plumber and Decorator, living with his brother, Frederick (60) and his sister-in-law, Ann (67), in Hampstead Marshall.

Augustus died aged 63, in 1913 (death registered in Newbury)

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