William Dredge

c1792-1856

William was baptised on the 16^th May 1792, at St Nicolas Church, Newbury, Berkshire, the son of James and Anna Maria Dredge.

William’s father James was a Victualler and Basket Maker. He was born c1763. James died (of decline) aged 40, in 1803. He was buried on the 30^th March, at St Nicolas, Newbury

William’s mother Anna Maria was born c1765. She died aged 69 in 1834 and was buried on the 12^th December, at St Nicolas, Newbury.

James and Anna Maria also had the following children (baptised at St Nicolas, Newbury):

Nathaniel and David, (baptised together) 13^th November 1789

George, 18^th April 1794 (born 14^th March 1794)

Richard, 5^th August 1796

John, 22^nd June 1798 (born 21^st May 1798)

Anna Maria, 30^th October 1799 (born 22^ndSeptember 1799)

The 1815 census of Newbury records William’s widowed mother Anna Maria (47), living at the Nags Head, on the east side of Bartholomew Street, Newbury, Berkshire, with her children,  David (21), a Basket Maker, George (20), a Smith, Richard (17), a Basket Maker, John (16), a Locksmith and Anna Maria (15). William and his brother Nathaniel had left home before this census was taken.

William married Martha Boyer, a widow, (nee Ruddle) on the 29^thJanuary 1825, at St Nicolas Church, Newbury. (Witnesses were, John Ruddle, Ann Ruddle and Elizabeth Adams).

(Martha was baptised in 1785 in Kingsclere, Hampshire, the daughter of William and Mary Ruddle. Matha married William Boyer on the 14^thFebruary 1808 in Kingsclere, Hampshire (William was from Newbury, witnesses, Ann Ruddle, G. Boyer and Elizabeth Hobbs). They had the following children baptised at St Nicolas, Newbury: William, born 30^th December 1808, baptised 24^thFebruary 1809, Elizabeth, born 5^th December 1810, baptised 3^rdMarch 1811, George born and baptised on the 26^thOctober 1812 and Clara, baptised 2^ndJanuary 1814).

William was widowed in 1835. Martha died aged 49, she was buried on the 3^rd July, in Kingsclere, Hampshire. (Abode at time of death, Bartholomew Street, Newbury)

In 1835 William was elected a member of the Town Council and was elected an Alderman in 1841. He also served as Mayor of Newbury in 1843, 1850 and 1851.

The 1841 census records William (45) as a Carpenter, living in Bartholomew Street, Newbury, with is stepdaughters, Elizabeth Boyer (25) and Clara Boyer (25). (Both girls surnames were recorded as Dredge)

The 1851 census records William (58) as a Carpenter employing 6 men, living in Bartholomew Street, Newbury, with Elizabeth Boyer (40), Clara Boyer (37) (both recorded as Annuitants) and a House Servant.

William died aged 64 on the 4^th March 1856, he was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 10^th March. (William’s older brother, David was laid to rest with William on the 28^th September 1866).

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