SARAH  JANE  HESTER

Sarah Jane Liddiard – my Great Grandmother – was born in 1841 to George Liddiard and his wife Sarah and lived at Chapel Yard, Northbrook Street in 1851with parents and 6 siblings. The cottages are those in Cromwell Place recently refurbished, absolutely miniscule dwellings originally!  George Liddiard, Sarah’s father, is listed as being a “Post Messenger”, in fact he worked as a postman all his life.

There appears to be no trace of Sarah in 1861, but in 1865 she marries for the first time William Moulton, possibly from out of the area.  1871 finds her living back with the family, plus a nephew, at Hazells Yard, Bartholomew Street, Newbury.  Sarah is now 30 years old and her occupation is given as Laundress, her father George is now listed as “Pensioner, Post Office”. From research it appears that Sarah did in fact divorce her first husband !

In 1875 Sarah marries for the second time, her new husband is William George Hester (my great grandfather) and in 1881 they are living at The City with 3 small children, including my grandfather Harry Hester.  William sadly dies at only 42years of age in1885 and in 1891 Sarah is living at Derby Road with 3 children and a nephew.

1890 finds Sarah still at Derby Road and still with the 3 children (now grown up) and a granddaughter.  One son, William, is listed as a bricklayer and the otherson Harry (my grandfather) is a carpenter.

By 1911 Sarah is 70 and lives alone at Raymonds Almhouses.

She died at the age of 81 in 1922 and was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 11 November 1922

Author: Sylvia Green
© FNRC