John Partridge

c1788-1858

John, his parents, siblings and early life:

John Partridge was baptised on the 8^th June 1788, at St Nicolas Church, Newbury, Berkshire, the son of John and Ann Partridge.

His father John was born c1755. He died suddenly, aged 54, in 1809 and was buried on the 18^th March, at St Nicolas Church, Newbury.

His mother Ann was born c1749. The 1815 census of Newbury records Ann (65) as almost blind, she was recorded as a Rag Sorter, living on the west side of Cheap Street, Newbury with her children, Sarah (30) Ann (28), who was also recorded as almost blind and Maria (18). Ann died aged 75, in 1824, she was buried on the 5^th March, at St Nicolas, Newbury.

John and Ann also had the following children:

Sarah, born c1785

Ann, born c1787 (died 1843)

Elizabeth, baptised 25^th December 1791, at St Nicolas, Newbury

Mariah, 16^th December 1795, at St Nicolas, Newbury

John in later life:

John married Alice Willis on the 25^th June 1810, at St Mary’s Church Thatcham.

John and Alice had at the following children baptised at St Nicolas Church, Newbury:

Eliza, baptised 27^th January 1811, (born 28^th December 1810)

William, baptised 8^th November 1812 (born 10^th October 1812)

Alice, baptised 2^nd October 1814

Mary, baptised 18^th April 1819

Harriet, baptised 11^th March 1821

In 1815 John (27), Alice (30) and their three children Eliza, William and Alice, were living in Northcroft Lane Newbury.

John’s wife Alice took her own life (she hung herself) aged 38, in 1821. She was buried on the 15^th June at St Nicolas, Newbury. John was being held in Reading Gaol on charges of theft, at the time of Alice’s death. He was found not guilty the following month.

John remarried on the 28^th December 1828 at St Nicolas Church Newbury. His 2^nd wife was a widow, Harriet Bradley (nee Mial).

(Harriet was baptised on the 12^th April 1801, in Hamstead Marshall, Berkshire, the daughter of George and Mary Mial(l) (nee Goatley) who were married on the 14^th October 1790, in Hamstead Marshall. She married Joseph Bradley on the 10^th May 1819 in St Nicolas Church Newbury. They had the following two daughters baptised at St Nicolas Church Newbury: Emma, baptised 12^th March 1820 and Matilda, baptised 21^st August 1825. Harriet was widowed in 1827. Joseph Bradley died aged 30, in 1827 in Reading Prison. His body was brought to Newbury and he was laid to rest on the 26^th September at St Nicolas, Newbury. (On the 11^th February 1826, Joseph Bradley broke into the home of Stephen Playford and stole twenty pounds in weight of bread, the property of Joseph Champ. He was sentenced to two years hard labour).

John and Harriet had the following children:

 John, baptised 19^th July 1829

Hannah born c1833

Thomas, baptised 8^th March 1835 (born 17^th February)

George, baptised 18^th March 1838 (born 2^nd February)

Henry, baptised 28^th March 1841 (born 4^th March)

In 1841 John (50) an Engineer’s Labourer, Harriet (45), John (12), Hannah (8), George (4) and Henry (3 months), were living in Old Newtown Road, Newbury.

The 1851 census records John (62) a Pauper /Labourer, Harriet (54) and their sons, George (12) and Henry (10), living in Mayors Lane, Quaker’s Building (burial?) Ground, Newbury. Their son John (22), Agricultural Labourer, was recorded as a Prisoner in the Wakefield House of Correction Wakefield Yorkshire.

John died aged 72, in 1858 he was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 23^rd June.

In 1861 Harriet (66), a Laundress, was still living at Quaker’s Building (burial ?) Ground, Newbury. Her son John had returned to Newbury and was working as a Bricklayer’s Labourer living with Harriet.

Harriet’s son John died aged 33 in 1862, he was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 28^th November. (GRO website has age at death recorded as 36)

Harriet died aged 69 in 1869. She was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 8^th December

Sources: