James Ayres

1841-1889

James was baptised on the 26^th December 1841, at St Nicolas Church, Newbury, Berkshire, the son of John (a Labourer) and Fanny Ayres (nee Foster) who were married on the 20^th May 1839, at St Nicolas, Newbury.

His mother Fanny was baptised on the 12^th May 1819, at St Nicolas Church, Newbury, the daughter of James (a Sawyer) and Fanny Foster (nee Chubb) who were married on the 1^st February 1802, at St Nicolas, Newbury. (Surname mistakenly recorded as Forster on Fanny’s the baptism record). Fanny died on the 17^th January 1892. She was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery (as Frances Fanny) on the 21^st January.

His father John was baptised in 1812, in Uffington, Berkshire, the son of William and Anne Ayres (nee Harrord) who were married in 1799, in Uffington. John died on the 3^rd March 1895. He was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery with his wife Fanny on the 7^th March.

John and Fanny also had a son Thomas, baptised on the 20^th October 1839, at St Nicolas.

The 1841 census records John Ayers (25) an Agricultural Labourer, living in Old Newtown Road, Newbury, with Fanny (20) and their son Thomas (2).

In 1851 John was mistakenly recorded as Thomas Ayres (38), an Agricultural Labourer, living in Bartholomew Street Newbury, with Fanny (34), Thomas (11) and James (9).

James married Jane Cummins in 1863 (marriage registered in Newbury)

(Jane was born in Burghclere, Hampshire. She was baptised on the 1^st November 1840, in Burghclere, the daughter of William (a Labourer) and Mary Cummins (nee Blackford) who were married on the 10^th February 1838, in Burghclere).

James and Jane had the following children:

John James, born 1864

Robert Thomas, born 1866

Sarah Jane, born 1868

Frances Fanny, born 1870

A stillborn child in 1873 (buried in the NRC on the 4^th April)

Phoebe Annie, born 1877

In 1871 James Ayres (29), a Blacksmith, employing 2 apprentices, Jane (29), Thomas (4), Sarah Jane (2) and Frances Fanny (5 months)

The 1881 census records James Ayres (39), a Blacksmith, Jane (39), Robert (14), a Boat Builder, Sarah (12), Frances (10) and Phoebe (4), living in Speen, Berkshire.

James and Jane’s son John James died aged 17, on the 29^th March 1881, he was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 4^th April.

Jane Ayres died aged 48, in Wallingford, Berkshire, (possibly the Berkshire Lunatic Asylum) on the 4^th August 1888. She was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery, with her son John James, on the 11^th August. (Note: The Memorial Inscription records Jane as Mary Jane)

James Ayres died aged 46, in July 1889, he was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery with Jane and their son John James, on the 24^th July.

Newbury Weekly News

Dated 25^th July 1889

AYRES – July 19, at 10 Craven-court, Newbury, James Ayres, aged 46.

Mrs P’s    Page 76    Code NCh 26

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