Charles Hill (1840 – 1928)

Harriet Hill (1839 – 1928)

Annie Maria Hill (1872 – 1877)

Alice Hill (1879 – 1880)

John Hill (1868 – 1921)

Frank Hill (1875 – 1922)

Charles Hill was born in Newbury in 1840 the son of Charles and Eliza, nee Heath, Hill. In the 1841 census Charles was living with his parents Charles and Eliza in a yard just off Bartholomew Street in Newbury with siblings Louisa aged 15, Sarah aged 8 and Caroline aged 5. Charles senior did not have an occupation recorded.

Ten years later in the 1851 census Charles was recorded with his parents Charles and Eliza in Bartholomew Terrace just off Pound Street in Newbury with siblings Caroline aged 13, Henry aged 6 & Charlotte aged 5. Charles senior was recorded as a coal merchant.

In the 1861 census Charles was recorded with his mother Eliza in Robson’s Yard just off Bartholomew Street in Newbury with his brother Henry and sister Caroline. Eliza was recorded as a charwoman, Charles and Henry as general labourers and Caroline as a general servant.

Shortly after the 1861 census Charles married Harriet Richardson in Newbury. Harriet was born in 1839 in Ham in Wiltshire, the daughter of Henry and Mary, nee Chowles, Richardson. She was baptized on 19 May 1839 at All Saints in Ham. Harriet was recorded with her parents and brother in Ham in the 1841 census. Ten years later in the 1851 census she was still living in Ham with her parents and six siblings and recorded as a scholar.

In the 1861 census Harriet was recorded as a general domestic servant living in Market Street in Newbury. Later in the year Harriet married Charles Hill in Newbury.

In the 1871 census Charles and Harriet were living in Northbrook Street in Newbury with children Kate aged 8, Henry Charles aged 6, William aged 5, John aged 2 and Albert Edward aged eight months. Charles was recorded as a groom.

A daughter Annie Maria was born in 1872. Sadly, she died aged four and was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 23 January 1877. An announcement appeared in the Newbury Weekly News dated 25 January 1877 which read as below.

HILL – January 20, at Enborne Road, Annie Maria, the beloved daughter of Charles and William (sic) Hill, aged four years.

Another daughter Alice was born in 1879. She died aged twenty months and was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 17 September 1880. An announcement appeared in the Newbury Weekly News dated 23 September 1880 which read as below.

HILL – September 13, at Gilbert Court, Newbury, Alice child of Charles Hill, aged 1 year and 8 months.

In the 1881 census Charles and Harriet were living at 2 Gilbert Court in Newbury with children Kate aged 18, Charles aged 17, John aged 12, Albert Edward aged 10, Frank aged 5 and Edith aged 2. Charles was recorded as a gardener, Kate was not employed and Charles junior a labourer.

Ten years later in the 1891 census Charles and Harriet were living in Greenham with children William aged 24, John aged 22, Frank aged 16 and Edith aged 11. Charles was recorded as a jobbing gardener, William a station porter, John a groom and Frank a general labourer.

Charles died January 1892 aged 51 and was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 13 January 1892. At that time the family was living in Laundry Road in Newbury.

In the 1901 census Harriet was living at 21 Waterloo Place in Newbury with children John aged 32, Frank aged 26 and Edith aged 23. John was recorded as a bricklayer’s labourer, Frank a groom (not domestic) and Edith a general servant domestic.

Charles and Harriet’s son Albert Edward Hill died July 1908 in Newbury Union Workhouse and was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 27 July 1908. He had spent over 16 years serving in the Royal Berkshire Regiment.

In the 1911 census Harriet was living at 5 Waterloo Place in Newbury with sons John and Frank. John was recorded as a groom domestic and Frank a bricklayer’s labourer.

In the 1920 electoral register Harriet with sons John and Frank were recorded at 6 Northcroft Lane in Newbury. Harriet was still recorded at this address in 1924 but in 1925 she was recorded at 10 Northcroft Lane.

John died October 1921 and was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 14 October 1921.

Frank died just seven months later and was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 9 May 1922.

Harriet died 24 April 1928 while living at 11 West Street in Newbury and was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 28 April 1928. She left a will and probate was granted on 17 May 1928 at Oxford to her sons Henry Charles, a painter, and William, a general labourer. The value of the estate was £63 15s 4d.

Charles’s parents were buried at Newtown Road Cemetery, his father Charles on 22 July 1853 and his mother Eliza on 8 November 1880.

Author: Gerald Soper
© FNRC