Mary Ann Prior

c1870-1907

Mary Ann, her parents, siblings and early life:

Mary Ann was born in Chaddleworth, Berkshire. She was baptised on the 25^thDecember 1870, in Chaddleworth, the daughter of Walter (a Labourer) and Eliza Tarrant (nee Brown) who were married on the 3^rdAugust 1867, at St Mary Bourne, Hampshire.

Mary Ann’s father Walter was baptised on the 10^thMay 1840, in Chaddleworth, the son of William and Susan(nah) Tarrant (nee Arnold) who were married on the 17^thDecember 1836, in Chaddleworth.

Mary Ann’s mother Eliza was born c1843, in Upton Hampshire, the daughter of Thomas and Mary Brown (nee Lambdin) who were married on the 16^thOctober 1838 in East Woodhay, Hampshire.

Mary Ann’s siblings were (all born in Chaddleworth):

Albert, born 1869, baptised 29^th August 1869

Emily, born 1872

George, born 1874

Elizabeth Agnes, born c1876

William Thomas, born 1877

Kate, born c1879

Walter, born c1881

John, born 1882

Alice, born 1884

Agnes, born 1886

In 1881 Walter (41) an Agricultural Labourer, Eliza (40), Mary (10), Emily (8), George (7), Elizabeth (5), William (4), Kate (2) and Walter (4 months) were recorded living in Chaddleworth.

Mary Ann in later life:

In 1891 Mary A. (21) was working as a General Domestic Servant for a Merchant, James Asprey (79) and his family, at Sandleford ? (possibly Grove, “near the Rokeby Arms”), Newbury, Berkshire.

Mary Ann married Albert Pearce in 1896, in Chaddleworth

(Alfred was baptised on the 27^thMay 1860, in Chaddleworth, the son of Joseph and Mary Pearce)

Alfred and Mary Ann had the following two children:

Alfred, born 1897

Florence May, born 1901

The 1901 census records Alfred (41) a Farm Carter, Mary A. (31) and their son Alfred (3), living at Greenham Cottages, Greenham, Berkshire.

No record of Alfred has been found between 1901 and 1907.

Mary Ann remarried in 1907. Her 2^nd husband was Joseph Prior. Newtown Marriage Banns dated 21^st & 28^th July and 4^th August 1907 record Joseph Prior as a bachelor, of the parish of Newtown and Mary Ann Pearce as a widow, of the parish of Greenham.

(Joseph was born on the 12^thApril 1872, in Chilton, Berkshire, the son of John and Lucy Prior (nee Culley) who were married in 1871, in Hampstead Marshall, Berkshire).

Mary Ann died aged 37, on the 4^thNovember, 1907, she was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 7^thNovember.

Joseph after Mary Ann’s death:

Joseph remarried in 1909. His 2^nd wife was Laura Pounds (married in Chaddleworth)

Joseph and Laura had the following children:

Evelyn Amelia, born 1910, in Newbury, Berkshire

Albert Edward, born 4^thMay 1911, in East Woodhay, Hampshire

Ernest Frank, born 1914, in Highclere, Hampshire

Alfred John, born 11^thMay 1916, in Highclere, Hampshire

William Henry Owen, born 24^thNovember 1917, in Highclere, Hampshire

Elfreda Maude, born 1920, in Chieveley, Berkshire

Beatrice Ivy, born 1923, birth registered in Newbury

The 1911 census records Joseph (38), a Farm Labourer, living at 23 Hollington Cottages, Woolton Hill, East Woodhay, Hampshire, with Laura (28), their daughter Evelyn Amelia (10 and a half months), Alfred Pearce (13) and Florence May Pearce (9).

In 1921 Joseph (49) working as a Farm Carter, for a Farmer Mr. W. G. H. Webber, at Down Farm Chieveley. He was recorded living in Downend, Chieveley, with Laura (38) and their children, Evelyn Amelia (11), Albert Edward (10), Ernest Frank (7), Alfred John (5), William Henry (3) and Elfreda Maude (1)

In 1939 Joseph, a Farm Carter, Laura and their children, Albert, a Farm Carter, Alfred, a General Farm Worker and William, a Farm Carter, were recorded living in Roughdown Cottages, Wantage Road, Berkshire.

Joseph died aged 85 in 1957 (death registered in Wantage in the June quarter)

Laura died aged 77 in 1961 (death registered in Reading in the June quarter)

Newbury Weekly News

Dated 21^st November 1907

PRIOR – Nov. 4, at Brixton-rise, Cheap-street, Newbury, the beloved wife of Joseph Prior, aged 37.

Sources: