Lucy Ann Samuels 

She was the daughter of Edwin Messenger and his wife Ann, née Head. Her parents married on 2 November 1843 at Chaddleworth. Her father was the eldest son of Thomas Messenger, and her mother was the daughter of Henry Head. From Lucy Ann's marriage record, she was born in 1844 in Woolhampton where her father was a baker and shopkeeper. Four brothers followed: Henry born in 1846, James born in 1848 (3Q), Francis Head born in 1851 (1Q) and Walter Edwin born on 16 May 1853 Thatcham (source 1939 census). Her brother James died in 1856 (4Q) Newbury. Four years later her mother died on 17 January 1860 at Greenham. From the 1861 census Lucy Ann has become head of the household, her occupation domestic servant, her brother Henry is a farmer's boy aged 15, and her two younger brothers Francis Head and Walter Edwin are at school. In the same census year her father is recorded lodging with James and Mary Benham in Aldermaston, his occupation agricultural labourer. He died in 1867 (4Q) aged 49 years; registration Wantage.

Two years later, on 11 September 1869 at St. John's Church, Newbury, Lucy Ann married William Samuels, a bricklayer: their residence recorded at Blue Ball Yard, Greenham. Their son Henry is born a year later in 1870 and by the 1871 census the family are still living at Blue Ball Yard, Greenham Street. Her brothers Francis Head and Walter Edwin are lodging with the family, also Lucy's daughter Kate Messenger (Selina Kate Messenger born in 1866 (10) Newbury). Lucy's occupation is laundress and William continues to be a bricklayer. By the 1881 census, the family has moved to Stroud Green East Side, Wards Cottages, and expanded: Alice born in 1872 (3Q); Emma in 1876; and Walter Edwin in 1878 (40). Selina Kate's surname has changed to Samuels and brother Walter Edwin is still lodging, aged 27, and a bricklayer. William is now working for the GWR railway as a labourer, and he remains with GWR for the next 30 years as a railway packer/plate layer. During this time more children were born: Edward born in 1880; Annie in 1881 (10); Ada in 1883 (10); Edith in 1885 (40) and Ellen Louisa in 1889 (10). Also the family had moved to Poplar Cottages, 7 Jubilee Road.

By 1911 three of their children had died: Annie died 1898 (4Q) aged 17 years; Edith, a pupil teacher, in 1903 (2Q) aged 17 years; Alice, who married Albert Gibbs on 27 December 1897, died in April 1906.

Her husband William died in September 1921 aged 75 years and he was buried on 9 September. Lucy Ann died at 41 Jubilee Road on 7 January 1924 aged 77 years and she was buried on 11 January.

Mrs. P. Code Ma20, page 194.

Four of their children are also buried in the cemetery: Ada Samuels, a dressmaker, on 12 December 1920, aged 37 years. Alice Gibbs on 9 April 1906, aged 32 years. Her husband Albert Gibbs died at the age of 59 on 11 June 1934 and he is buried alongside his second wife Eliza Louisa who died on 18 June 1933. Mrs. P. Code 25, page 2. Also in the same plot are Lily Mary Crocker, buried on 25 June 1921, and her brother James Crocker, buried on 26 October 1923.

Emma Samuels on 4 September 1912. Her daughter Violet Lindsay Samuels died in 1924, aged 16 years, in Headington, Oxford. Henry Samuels died on 12 December 1949, aged 79 years, and he is buried alongside his wife Kate Theresa Samuels who died on 13 October 1930, aged 59 years. Mrs. P. Code NAl2, page 51.

Her husband William Samuels was buried on 9 September 1921, aged 75 years.

Sources: Parents' marriage announcement, Reading Mercury dated 4/11/1843; mother's Death Index 10 1860 and father's Death Index 4Q 1867; 1851 to 1911 census; Marriage Index 3Q 1869; Death Index 10 1924 and BBI.

Author: D Duff
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