Michael Stratton

c1802-1859

Michael and his brother Richard were baptised on the 4^th July 1802, at St Michael and All Angels, Inkpen, Berkshire, the sons of John and Phoebe Stratton (spelt Febe on baptism record) (nee Bennett) who were married on the 12^th October 1797, in Shalbourne, Wiltshire.

Michael’s father John was born c1768. He died aged 64, in 1832 and was buried on the 23^rd October, at St Michael and All Angels, Inkpen

Michael’s mother Phoebe was born c1766. She died aged 84, in 1850 and was buried on the 26^th September, at St Michael and All Angels, Inkpen

John and Phoebe also had the following two sons baptised in Inkpen, James in 1798 and Thomas, 12^th May 1799.

Michael married Sarah Rawlins on the 31^st May 1829, at St Nicolas, Newbury.

(Sarah was born c1807, the daughter of John and Ann Rawlins (formerly Winter, nee Paine) who were married in 1806, in Thatcham, Berkshire. In 1815 Sarah (8) was living in the City, Newbury, with her father John (50), a Horsekeeper, her mother Ann (45), her half-brother Joseph Rawlins (14) and her half-siblings, Joseph Winter (24), Thomas Winter (22), Eliza Winter (17) and William Winter (14))

Michael and Sarah had the following children baptised at St Nicolas, Newbury:

Eliza, 10^th March 1830 (died aged 3 weeks, buried 17^th March 1830, at St Nicolas, Newbury)

Mary Ann, 27^th March 1831 (died aged 1 month, buried 8^th April 1831, at St Nicolas, Newbury)

John, 9^th December 1832

George 18^th January 1835

They also had

Sarah, born c1836

Charles, born c1837

Emma, born 1838

William, born 1840

Elizabeth, born 1846

The 1841 census records Michael (35), an Agricultural Labourer, Sarah (30) and their children, John (9), George (6), Charles (4), Emma (2) and William (6 months), living in Stroud Green, Greenham, Berkshire.

Michael was widowed in 1848, Sarah died aged 40. She was buried on the 18^th April, at St Nicolas, Newbury.

The 1851 census records Michael (48), an Agricultural Labourer, living in Plummer’s Yard, Newbury, with his children, Sarah (17), Charles (15), Emma (12), William (10) and Elizabeth (4).

Michael remarried in 1852

Marriage details:

Place: St Nicolas Church, Newbury

Date: 15^th August 1852

Groom: Michael Stratton, widower, occupation, Labourer, abode, Newbury

Bride: Sarah Arnold, widow, abode, Newbury

Fathers: John Stratton and William Ward, both Labourers

Witnesses: George Stillman and Charlotte Stanfield

(Sarah was baptised on the 22^nd March 1807, in Thatcham Berkshire, the daughter of William and Elizabeth Ward (nee Palmer) who were married on the 19^th September 1804, in Thatcham. She married William Arnold on the 29^th August 1830, at St Nicolas, Newbury. The had the following three children: Esther Jane, 1831, (died aged 4 years 5 months, in 1835), William, born c1833, (died of smallpox, aged 2 years 2 months, in 1835 and William John, 1838. Sarah was widowed in 1848)

Michael died aged 56, in 1859. He was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 25^th January.

Sarah after Michael’s death:

The 1861 census records Sarah Stratton (54) a Charwoman, living in West Mills, Newbury. Also recorded in the household were her son William (23), (recorded as William Arnold) a Bricklayer’s Labourer and her stepdaughter Emma Stratton (22), a General Servant.

Emma Stratton died aged 26, in 1865, she was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 2^nd June.

In 1871 Sarah Stratton (64), a Charwoman, was recorded living at 24, West Mills, Newbury. Her granddaughter Alice Jane Arnold (5), was recorded living with her.

The 1881 census records Sarah Stratton (71), living at 5, Trafalgar Place, Newbury. Her son William Arnold (42), an Auctioneer’s Porter and her granddaughter Fanny Arnold (8) were recorded living with her.

Sarah Stratton died aged 79, in 1889, she was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 19^th July.

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