Daniel Seward (1811 – 1892)

                                    Ada Seward (1810 – 1888)

                                    Henry Seward (1835 – 1857)

                                    Elizabeth Seward (1841 – 1864)

                                    Jane Seward (1843 – 1868)

Daniel Seward was born in 1811 in Crookham, the son of Joseph and Ann, nee Hughes, Seward. He was baptized on 26 May 1811 at St Mary in Thatcham. On the baptism of Daniel’s sister Lucy in 1821 Joseph was recorded as a servant to Mr Tull, the Tull family were major landowners in the district.

Ada Newman was born in 1810 in Great Bedwyn in Wiltshire, the daughter of John and Mary. She was baptized on 8 April 1810 at St Mary in Great Bedwyn as Adah. She also used the name Adah on marriage and on the baptism of her children but in later years she used Ada.

Daniel and Ada married on 10 January 1835 at St Mary in Thatcham. Both were recorded as residing in Thatcham at the time of the marriage.

Daniel and Ada had eight children all born in Newbury and baptized at St Nicolas. They were Henry (1835), Mary Ann (1837), Susannah (1839), Elizabeth (1841), Jane (1843), Charles Edward (1845), Harriett (1848) and Eliza (1852). Daniel was recorded as a miller in all the baptism records.

In the 1841 census Daniel and Ada along with children Henry, Mary and Susannah were living with Daniel’s parents John and Mary and Daniel’s sister Lucy aged 20 at West Mills in Newbury with Daniel recorded as a labourer.

Ten years later in the 1851 census Daniel and Ada along with children Mary, Susanna, Elizabeth, Jane, Charles and Harriett were living at Caroline Place in Newbury with Daniel recorded as a meal man and Mary a dressmaker. Daniel’s son Henry was recorded as an inmate of Holborn Union workhouse in the 1851 census.

Henry, son of Daniel and Ada, died on 26 May 1857 at Caroline Place from phthisis (tuberculosis) which he had suffered from for 18 months. His occupation was recorded as a whitesmith. Henry was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 30 May 1857.

A few years later in the 1861 census Daniel and Ada along with children Charles, Harriet and Eliza were living in Dore Court, Bartholomew Street in Newbury with Daniel recorded as formerly a miller, Ada a laundress and Charles an apprentice house carpenter. Also recorded in the house was Alice Seward aged 3 who was described as a daughter of Daniel but was probably a grand-daughter. Another daughter Elizabeth was living as a servant at Castle Place in Speen, her occupation was recorded as under nurse. Also, daughter Jane was living as a servant in Oxford Road in Speen and her occupation was recorded as a house servant.

Elizabeth, daughter of Daniel and Ada, died on 26 September 1864 at Dore’s Yard in Newbury from phthisis (tuberculosis) which she had suffered from for several years. Her occupation was recorded as a domestic servant, the death was reported by her sister Jane Seward. Elizabeth was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 3 October 1864.

Four years later Jane another daughter of Daniel and Ada also passed away from phthisis (tuberculosis) which she had suffered from for several years. She died on 29 February 1868 at 1 Dore’s Yard in Newbury. The death was reported by her sister Harriett Seward. Jane was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 6 March 1868.

In the 1871 census Daniel and Ada along with children Charles and Eliza were living at 2 Dore Court, Bartholomew Street in Newbury. Daniel was recorded as a miller, Ada a washer woman, Charles a porter and Eliza a domestic servant. Also recorded in the household was Daniel and Ada’s married daughter Harriett Gore, her husband George and daughter Emily Jane aged 11 months. George Gore was a gardener born in Greenham.

Ten years later in the 1881 census Daniel and Ada along with grandson William Simon Atkins aged 9 were living at Bolton Place in Newbury. Daniel was recorded as a retired meal man.

In January 1895 at a meeting of the trustees of the Kimber Charity Daniel was elected to be a resident of the almshouses in Cheap Street, he was described as formerly a miller.

Ada died on 13 October 1888 aged 78 at the Kimber’s almshouses and was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 19 October. An announcement appeared in the Newbury Weekly News dated 18 October 1888 as below.

SEWARD – Oct. 13, at Kimber’s almhouses, after a long and painful illness, Ada, the beloved wife of Daniel Seward, aged 78; her end was peace.

Daniel remarried on 21 October 1889 at St Paul, Kingston Hill in Surrey to a widow Eliza Lawrence. Eliza Edmonds was baptized on 31 May 1818 at St Mary in Kintbury, daughter of John and Lucy. She married William Lawrence, a widower, on 18 May 1850 at St Nicolas in Newbury.

In the 1891 census Daniel and Eliza were living at 11 Kimber’s almshouses in Market Place in Newbury with Daniel recorded as an alderman. 

Daniel died on 15 July 1892 aged 78 at the Kimber’s almshouses and was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 19 July. An announcement appeared in the Newbury Weekly News dated 21 July 1892 and also Berkshire Chronicle of 23 July 1892 as below.

SEWARD – July 15, at Kimber’s almhouses, Newbury, Daniel Seward, aged 81.

Susannah, daughter of Daniel and Ada, married James Pemberton on 11 October 1863 at St Mary the Virgin in Aldermaston. Susannah and James were both buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 20 October 1911 and 15 October 1920 respectively.

Author: Soper
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