George Stratton

c1835-1883

George, his parents, siblings and early life:

George was baptised on the 31^st May 1835, in Speen, Berkshire, the son of Thomas (a Publican, abode, Woodspeen) and Eizabeth Stratton (nee Allen) who were married on the 16^th May 1831, at St Mary the Virgin, Speen, Berkshire.

George’s father Thomas was baptised 13^th January 1793, in Chaddleworth, Berkshire, the son of John and Catherine Stratton (nee Lewis) who were married in Chaddleworth on the 15^th January 1792. Thomas died aged 63, in 1856. He was buried on the 18^th June, at St Mary the Virgin, Speen.

George’s mother Elizabeth was born c1804, in Speen, Berkshire. (Possibly the daughter of John and Eleanor Allen (nee Canning) who were married on the 21^st July 1798, at St Mary the Virgin, Speen or Speen baptism: Elizabeth, 26^th April 1807, the daughter of David and Mary Allen). Elizabeth died aged 74 in 1878. She was buried on the 19^th May, at St Mary the Virgin, Speen.

Thomas and Elizabeth also had the following children:

Thomas, baptised 18^th September 1831, at St Mary, Speen (dad a Labourer, abode Bagnor)

Elizabeth Anne, baptised 23^rd March 1834, at St Mary, Speenhamland, (dad a Publican, abode, Woodspeen)

John, baptised 30^th April 1837, in Speenhamland (dad a Beer House Keeper, abode, Wood Speen East)

Henry born 1839

Sarah, born 1842, baptised 1^st January 1843 in Speenhamland (dad a working brewer of Woodspeen East))

William, born 1845, baptised 2^nd March 1845, in Speenhamland (dad a working brewer of Woodspeen East)

Eleanor, born 1847, baptised (as Ellen) 2^nd May 1847, in Speenhamland (dad a working brewer of Woodspeen East))

In 1841 George (6) was living in Kent Place, Speen, Berkshire, with his father Thomas (47), his mother Elizabeth (36), his siblings, Elizabeth (7), John (4), Henry (2) and possibly his grandfather John Allen (65)

The 1851 census records George (15) as a Cattle Boy/Ag Lab, living in Kennet Place, Speen, Berkshire, with his brother Henry Stratton (12), an Errand Boy, William Smith (26), a Retired Farmer, his wife Eliza Smith (23) and their children Eliza Ann (2), Edward Thomas (1).

George in later life:

George married in 1866

Marriage details:

Place: St John the Evangelist, Newbury

Date: 8^th July 1866

Groom: George Stratton, aged 31, bachelor, occupation, Corn Porter, abode, White’s Yard, St John the Evangelist, Newbury

Bride: Ann Maria Darling, aged 28, spinster, abode, White’s Yard, St John the Evangelist, Newbury

Fathers: Richard Darling, a Bricklayer and Thomas Stratton, a Brewer

(Anna Maria was baptised on the 9^th July 1837, in Clewer, Berkshire, the daughter of Richard (a Labourer and Elizabeth Darling (nee Haley) of Bier Lane, who were married in 1837, in Clewer)

Ann Maria had two illegitimate children. William Thomas Darling, born in 1864 in Speen, Berkshire and Elizabeth Ann Darling born in 1866 in Newbury, Berkshire.

George and Ann(a) Maria had the following two sons:

George, born in 1868 in Greenham, Berkshire

Henry, born in 1877 (died aged 5 months, buried in the NRC on the 7^th September).

Ann also gave birth to two stillborn babies. One in 1873, buried in the NRC on the 4^th July and one in 1874, buried in the NRC in 27^th August 1874.

The 1871 census records George (36), a Labourer, living in Chubb’s Yard, Newbury, with Ann (34) and their children, William (6), Elizabeth (5) and George (2).

Ann Maria died aged 39 in 1877. She was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 2^nd August.

In 1881 George (44) was living at 1 St Mary’s Court, Newbury, with his sons, William (17) and George (13). All three were working as Labourers.

George died aged 49, on the 29^th August 1883. He was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 1^st September.

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