Ruth Ballard

c1857-1905

Ruth was baptised in 1857, in Speenhamland Berkshire, the illegitimate daughter of Hannah Bradley.

In 1861 Ruth (3) and her mother Hannah (23) were living in the Lamb and Castle Yard, Speen, Berkshire, with Ruth’s grandfather William Bradley (55), a House Painter, her grandmother, Susannah (54), her aunts, Emma (26), Sarah (18), Silvia (13), her uncles, William (11) and George (8) and her cousin, Eliza (13).

Ruth’s mother Hannah married Henry Cook in Speenhamland Berkshire, in 1865.

Henry and Hannah Cook had the following children:

Elizabeth Ann, baptised 1867, in Speenhamland

Susannah, baptised 1868, in Speenhamland

George Edward, baptised 1870, in Speenhamland

Isabella, baptised 1873, in Speenhamland (died aged 5 months, buried 21^st November 1873, at St Mary the Virgin, Speen)

The 1871 census records Ruth (14), (as Ruth Cook) living in Speenhamland, with Henry Cook (34), a Groom, Hannah (30), Elizabeth (4), Susannah (2) and George (1).

Ruth had an illegitimate daughter, Edith Kate Bradley, born in 1879.

Ruth married (as Ruth Bradley) Thomas Ballard in 1880 (marriage registered in the June quarter, in Newbury)

(Thomas was born in 1855, in Curridge, Berkshire. He was baptised in 1855, in Chieveley, Berkshire, the son of Henry and Caroline Ballard (nee Pike/Pyke) who were married on the 15^th January 1845 in Oare, Berkshire).

Thomas and Ruth had the following children:

Thomas Henry, c1882

Ernest Edwin, 1884

A stillborn baby buried in the NRC on the 2^nd April 1887

Charles William, 1888

Susanna Maria, 1891

George, 1894

Florence Caroline, c1899

The 1881 census records Thomas (24), an Agricultural Labourer, Ruth (21) and Edith (2), living in Shaw Bridge, Speenhamland, Berkshire.

In 1891 Thomas (33) was working as a Bricklayer’s Labourer, living at 3 Union Court, Newbury, Berkshire, with Ruth (32), Kate (11), (Edith Kate) Thomas (10), Erney (7), (Ernest Edwin) and William (3) (Charles William)

Ruth was widowed in 1900. Thomas died aged 45, in the Newbury Workhouse, on the 18^th May. He was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 23^rd May.

The 1901 census records Ruth (44) and her children, Thomas (20), a Groom, Charles (12), Susanna (9), George (7) and Florence (2), living at 1, Smith’s Buildings, Newbury.

Ruth died aged 49, on the 22^nd December 1905. She was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 26^th December.

Newbury Weekly News

Dated 4^th January 1906

BALLARD – Dec. 22, at Marsh-lane, Newbury, Ruth Ballard, in her 49^th year.

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