Thomas Ballard

1855-1900

Thomas, his parents, siblings and early life:

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.

His father Henry was baptised in 1823 in Chieveley, Berkshire, the son of Thomas and Hannah Ballard (nee Tidbury) who were married on the 5^th December 1816, at St Andrew, Bradfield, Berkshire. Henry died aged 63, in the Newbury Workhouse, on the 5^th August 1887, he was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 9^th August.

His mother Caroline was baptised in 1826, in Oare/Chieveley, Berkshire, the daughter of William and Lucy Pike (nee Sellwood) who were married on the 11^thJanuary 1824, in Chieveley. Caroline died aged 49, in 1875, she was buried on the 12^th September, at St Bartholomew, Oare, Berkshire.

Henry and Carloine also had the following children:

Amos, birth registered in the December quarter 1845 as Amos Ballard, mmn Pike, baptised as Amos Pike, 1^st March 1846, in Oare, child of Caroline Pike.

Maria, born 1846, baptised 3^rd January 1847

Mary Louisa, born 1848, baptised 3^rd September

Sarah, born 1849, baptised 24^th July 1850

Harriet, born 1851, baptised 1^st March 1854 (died aged 17, buried 6^th March 1868, at St Bartholomew, Oare)

Charles born 1853, baptised 5^th June

Thomas, born 1855, baptised 3^rd June

Alice Hannah, born 1858, baptised Alice Anna, 3^rd October

David, c1860, baptised 1^st April 1860

Twins: Matthew and Mark, born 1861, baptised 2^nd March 1862

Eliza, born 1865, baptised Eliza Jane, 1^st October

Charlotte, born 1867, baptised 25^th December

Harriet, born 1869

In 1861 Henry (37), an Agricultural Labourer, Caroline (35), Maria (14), Mary (13), Sarah (11), Harriet (9), Charles (8), Thomas (5), George (4), Alice (3) and David (1), were living in Crab Tree Road, Curridge, Chieveley, Berkshire.

The 1871 census records Thomas (16), working as a Labourer, living in Curridge, with his father Henry (47), a Labourer, his mother Caroline (45) and his siblings, Alice (12), David (11), a Labourer, Matthew (9), Mark (9), Eliza (5), Charlotte (3) and Harriet (1).

Thomas in later life:

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

(Ruth Bradley was baptised in 1857, in Speenhamland, Berkshire, the illegitimate daughter of Hannah Bradley. Like her mother, Ruth also had an illegitimate daughter, Edith Kate Bradley, born in 1879)

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)

Thomas died aged 45, in the Newbury Workhouse, on the 18^th May, 1900. 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 24^th May 1900

BALLARD – May 18, at the Union Workhouse, Thomas Ballard, aged 45 years

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