Joseph Buxey (1836 – 1881)

                                    Elizabeth Buxey (1828 – 1906)

Reuben Buxey (1861 – 1888)

Sampson George Buxey (1869 – 1869)

Joseph Buxey was born circa 1836 in Inkpen, the son of William and Jane Buxey. He was baptized on 1 January 1837 at St Michael in Inkpen. He was recorded with his parents and five siblings at Upper Green in Inkpen in the 1841 census, his father William was recorded as an agricultural labourer. In the 1851 census Joseph was recorded as a servant living at West Court in Inkpen and his occupation was a fogger (a worker who feeds cattle working alongside milkers).

Elizabeth Bridgeman was born in 1828 in Bovey Tracey in Devon, the daughter of William and Elizabeth Bridgeman. She was baptized on 14 December 1828 in Bovey Tracey as Elizabeth Ann although in later years she was known as just Elizabeth. In the 1851 census Elizabeth was living with her widowed father and his granddaughter Mary Ann aged two, in Bovey Tracey, her father William was a farm labourer. Mary Ann may have been Elizabeth’s daughter.

Joseph and Elizabeth married in December 1860 at St Michael in Inkpen. A few months later in the 1861 census Joseph and Elizabeth were living at Upper Green in Inkpen with Joseph an agricultural labourer. A son Reuben was baptized on 18 August 1861 in Inkpen then two years later another son Maurice was baptized on 8 November 1863 at the same venue.

The family then moved to Newbury as a daughter Mary Jane was born 1866 in Newbury followed by Sampson George in 1869. Sadly, Sampson died aged only 5 weeks and was buried on 24 December 1869 at Newtown Road Cemetery.

In the 1871 census Joseph and Elizabeth with sons Reuben and Maurice along with daughter Mary Jane were living at 19 Jack Street in Newbury, Joseph was recorded as a drayman. In May 1875 Reuben and two others were found guilty of playing pitch and putt on a Sunday and fined 3 shillings.

A few years later in the 1881 census Joseph and Elizabeth with son Reuben and daughter Mary Jane were still living at 19 Jack Street, Joseph and Reuben were recorded as a brewer’s labourers and Mary Jane a general servant. Joseph died a few months later in October 1881 and was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 21 October 1881.

Reuben was fined one pound in January 1883 for obstructing the Salvation Army in Jack Street, the fine was reduced as he was led on by others. Five years later in January 1888 Reuben died and he was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 14 January 1888.

Elizabeth was recorded as a boarder living at The Shop in Chieveley in the 1891 census and her occupation was a monthly nurse. Ten years later in the 1901 census she was a boarder with the Hoskins family at Avonside in Charnham Street in Hungerford and still a monthly nurse.

A report in the Reading Mercury of 31 January 1903 recorded a Mrs Buxey of Charnham Street slipped the other morning leaving her back door and sustained a fracture in her arm.

In the Newbury Weekly News of 26 October 1905 there was an announcement that Elizabeth Buxey was elected to a vacant almhouse in St Mary’s charity. Elizabeth died living at St Mary’s Almhouses in October 1906 aged 77 and she was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 26 October 1906.

Author: Gerald Soper
© FNRC