Henry Plumb

c1838-1888

Henry, his mother, siblings and early life:

Henry was born in Newbury, Berkshire, the illegitimate son of Elizabeth Plumb. (Possible father Robert Walding)

His mother Elizabeth was baptised on the 17^thMay 1795, in Hampstead Marshall, Berkshire, the illegitimate daughter of Ann Plumb.

Henry’s mother Elizabeth never married. She also had the following three illegitimate children:

William baptised on the 24^thMay 1822, at St Peter and St Paul, Marlborough, Wiltshire (Reputed father, Richard Holloway)

Ann, born c1826, in Greenham, Berkshire

James born c1828 in Newbury

In 1841 Henry was recorded as Henry Walding (3), living in Middleton Yard, Newbury, Berkshire, with his mother Elizabeth Walding (45), (Elizabeth Plumb) his siblings, Ann Plumb (15), William Plumb (15) and James Plumb (14) and Robert Walding (45).

The 1851 census records Henry Plumb (12) living in Newbury, with his mother Elizabeth Plumb (56) and Robert Walding (59), an Agricultural Labourer, recorded as a Lodger.

Henry in later life:

Henry married Eliza Powers in 1859 (marriage registered in the March quarter, in Newbury)

(Eliza was born in 1839, in Greenham, Berkshire, the daughter of Charles and Mary Powers (nee Pearce) who were married on the 22^ndMarch 1835, in Thatcham, Berkshire).

Henry and Eliza had the following children born in Newbury:

Ellen, 1859

William, 1861

Henry, 1864 (died aged 3 months, in 1864, buried in the NRC on the 6^t May)

James, 1865

Robert, 1867 (died aged 3 in 1870, buried in the NRC on the 12^thDecember)

Emily Louise, 1869

Amelia, 1875 (died aged 4 months, in 1876, buried in the NRC on the 21^stMarch)

The 1861 census records Henry (22), a General Labourer, Eliza (20) and their daughter Ellen (1), living in Old Road, Newbury, with Henry’s mother Eliz. Plumb (67), a Charwoman and a lodger, Robert Wallen (70), a General Labourer.

Henry’s mother Elizabeth Plumb died aged 73 in 1866, she was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 27^thAugust.

The 1871 census records Henry (35) as a Labourer, living in Old Road, Newbury, with Eliza (32), their children, Ellen (11), William (9), James (5), Emily (1) and Robert Walding (67), a Labourer.

Henry (44), a General Labourer, Eliza (43) and their children William (19), a Bricklayer’s Labourer and Emily (12) were still living in Old Road, Newbury in 1881.

Henry died aged 48, on the 25^thMay 1888, he was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 30^thMay.

The 1891 census records Eliza (50), living alone, in Old Newtown Road, Newbury.

Eliza died aged 57, on the 5^thMarch 1897. She was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 9^thMarch.

Newbury Weekly News

Dated 31^st May 1888

PLUMB – May 25, at Old Newtown-road, Henry Plumb, aged 48 years; for many years servant for the Board of Health.

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