Harry Walter Samuels (1856 – 1938)

                                    Rosa Ellen Samuels (1858 – 1905)

Harry Walter Samuels was born in 1856 in Newbury, the son of George and Eliza, nee Davis, Samuels. He was baptized on 31 August 1856 at St Nicolas in Newbury. He was recorded with his parents and sister Kate in the 1861 census in Greenham Street in Newbury, his father George was recorded as a cordwainer.

Harry’s father George died in September 1866 while living in Cheap Street and he was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 1 October.

In September 1867 Harry received a prize and a certificate of first class as a result of the Diocesan examination held on 24 May at the National School in Newbury.

Four years later in the 1871 census Harry was recorded with his mother Eliza and sisters Eliza and Alice residing at 7 Garland Yard in Newbury with his mother recorded as a boot binder, Harry was a carpenter’s apprentice while his sisters Eliza and Alice were scholars.

Harry married Rosa Ellen Northway on 10 November 1879 at St Nicolas in Newbury. Rosa was born in 1858 in Newbury the daughter of Charles and Rose Hannah, nee Fisher, Northway. Rosa was recorded with her parents and siblings in the 1861 census in Newbury and in the 1871 census in Bucklebury, her father Charles was a shoe maker.

Harry and Rosa had nine children all born in Newbury, George Walter (1880), Alfred Herbert (1882), Henry Charles (1883), William (1885), Ernest (1888), Arthur (1889), Rosa (1891), Ella (1895) and Richard (1896).  

In the 1881 census Harry and Rosa were recorded with son George William living at Falkland Terrace, Andover Road in Newbury with Harry recorded as a carpenter.

Ten years later in the 1891 census Harry and Rosa were recorded with children George William, Alfred Herbert, Henry Charles, William, Ernest and Arthur living at Falkland Cottage, Wash Road in Newbury with Harry recorded as a carpenter.

In the 1901 census Harry and Rosa were recorded with all nine children living in Andover Road in Newbury with Harry and sons George, Alfred and William all recorded as carpenters while Harry junior was an assistant in a boot shop.

Rosa died on 8 May 1905 and was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 11 May. An announcement appeared in the Newbury Weekly News dated 18 May 1905 as below.

SAMUELS – May 8, at Falkland House, Wash Road, Newbury, Rosa Ellen, the beloved wife of H. Samuels, aged 47.

Harry remarried on 26 February 1906 at St John in Newbury to Edith Annie Isles. Edith was born on 26 October 1877 in Tangley in Hampshire the daughter of Alfred Frederick William and Emily Isles. She was baptized on 9 December 1877 at St Thomas of Canterbury in Tangley. Edith was recorded with her parents and siblings in the 1881, 1891 and 1901 censuses in Faccombe (1881), East Woodhay (1891) and Andover Road in Newbury (1901). Her father was a carpenter in all three censuses.

In the 1911 census Harry and Edith were recorded with five of Harry’s children living in Enborne Road in Newbury with Harry and son Ernest both recorded as carpenters, Arthur a boot repairer, Edward an assistant in a baking powder factory, Ella a mother’s help and Richard an office boy for a timber merchant.

Ten years later in the 1921 census Harry and Edith were recorded with Harry’s son Harry, his daughter Ella Gore and her husband Edward George Gore along with Edith’s brother Frederick and a boarder at 58 Bartholomew Street in Newbury. Harry was a carpenter and joiner, Edith a shopkeeper (confectioners), Harry junior a boot maker, Ella was assisting her mother in the sweet business at home while Edward was a miller.

Harry died 5 March 1938 while living at 37 Essex Street in Newbury and was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 9 March.

Edith continued to live at 37 Essex Street until her death on 23 July 1959. She was cremated at Henley Road Crematorium in Caversham on 27 July and her ashes buried on 27 July at the Lower Meeting House in Newbury.

Harry’s parents George and Eliza were buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 1 October 1866 and 24 June 1880 respectively.

Author: gambles
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