Sidney Hieatt (1876 – 1937)

Elsie May Hieatt (1895 – 1987)

Sidney Hieatt was born in 1876 in Aynho in Northamptonshire the son of John and Elizabeth, nee Ranson, Hieatt. In the 1881 census Sidney was living in Aynho with his parents and four brothers and a sister, his father John was recorded as a coal merchant. In the 1891 census Sidney and his parents and siblings were living in Deddington in Oxfordshire, his father John was still a coal merchant and Sidney was assisting in the business. No trace of Sidney in the 1901 census.

Elsie May Stephens was born 23 November 1894 in Newbury, the daughter of Joseph William James and Mary Jane, nee Eggleton, Stephens. In the 1901 census Elsie May was living with her parents at 1 East View Cottages, Livingstone Road in Newbury along with her sister Daisy aged 5 and brother William (Joseph) aged 3. Her father Joseph was recorded as a plumber.

In the 1911 census Elsie May was living with her parents at North Villa, Kings Road in Newbury and also with her sister Daisy Annie aged 14, brother Joseph William James aged 13 along with a cousin Millicent Martha Houstan aged 6. Joseph senior was recorded as a store keeper, Elsie as a nurse girl domestic, Daisy as a general servant domestic while Joseph junior was still at school. There was also a boarder in the house, Elsie’s future husband Sidney Hieatt who was recorded as a butcher.

Sidney and Elsie May married in 1916 in Newbury. In July 1916 and May 1917 Sidney was given exemption from call up for military service because of his occupation.

Sidney and Elsie May were recorded in the electoral registers at 17 Stanley Road in Newbury from 1925 to 1929. In 1930 and subsequent years they were recorded at 97 Greenham Road.

Sidney died on 2 June 1937 aged 60 and he was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 7 June 1937. He left a will and probate was granted on 13 August 1937 at Oxford to his widow Elsie May and Benoni Lawrence Hieatt, a butcher. The value of the estate was £2,768 4s 7d.

In September 1939 when the National Register was compiled Elsie May was living at 97 Greenham Road in Newbury with her daughters Joan and Brenda and four others. Elsie’s occupation was recorded as unpaid domestic duties, Joan was a child’s nurse and Brenda a cashier.

Elsie May died on 6 January 1987 aged 92 while living at 97 Greenham Road and she was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 9 January 1987. She left a will and probate was granted on 17 March 1987 at Oxford. The value of the estate was £2,053.

Elsie’s parents were both buried at Newtown Road Cemetery, her father Joseph William James on 12 December 1953 and her mother Mary Ann on 19 April 1943.

Author: G Soper
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