Joseph Atkins

1839-1872

Joseph, his parents, siblings and early life:

Joseph was born in 1839 in Newbury, Berkshire, the son of Simon and Martha Atkins (formerly Burkett, nee Hopson)

His mother Martha was born on the 24^th August 1805, she was baptised on the 6^th October 1805 at St Nicolas Church Newbury, the daughter of William (c1769-1814) and Jane (c1767-1843) Hopson (nee Liddard) who were married on the 2^nd August 1790 at St Nicolas Newbury. Martha married John Burkett on the 7^th February 1831 at St Clement Danes, Middlesex. They had a daughter Charlotte born c1831 in Middlesex. John died aged 25 in the Smallpox Hospital in 1832 and was buried on the 22^nd May in Camden. After her husband’s death Martha moved back to Newbury. She remarried on the 13^th June 1836 at St Nicolas Church Newbury. Her 2^nd husband was Simon Atkins.

Joseph’s father Simon was born in 1812, he was baptised on the 18^th May 1817 at St Sidwell, Exeter, Devon (along with his brother William who was born in 1817), the children of Simon and Sarah Atkins. (Simon and Sarah moved to Newbury and had the following children, Sarah c1820, Joseph c1822, Ann c1825 and Mary Ann c1827). The 1839 Trade Directory records Simon as a Beer Retailer in Jack of Newbury Yard, Newbury.

Simon and Martha also had a daughter Sarah, born in 1837

Simon died aged 28 in 1840, he was buried on the 15^th August at St Nicolas Newbury.

The 1841 census records Joseph (2) living at 84 Northbrook Street, Newbury with his mother Martha (30,) a Beer Seller, his half-sister, Charlotte Burkett (10) and his sister Sarah Atkins (4). Living next door was a James Hibberd (20).

Martha gave birth to a daughter Elizabeth Harriet Adams in 1842 in Newbury, she was baptised on the 15^th May 1842 at St Nicolas Newbury (as Elizabeth, no father recorded).

Martha married again on the 25^th December 1848 at St Nicolas Church Newbury, her 3^rd husband was James William Hibberd, a Bricklayer (the next-door neighbour recorded in the 1841 census).

(James William was baptised on the 9^th April 1820 at St Martin with St Mary Magdalene Mission Church Salisbury, the son of James and Elizabeth Hibberd).

Joseph in later life:

Joseph was a Bricklayer.

The 1851, 1861 and 1871 census records record Joseph living in Northbrook Street, Newbury

In 1851 he was recorded living with his mother Martha (43), his step-father James Hibberd (31), his sister Sarah Atkins (14), and his half-sister Elizabeth Hibberd (8).

In 1861 he was recorded living with his mother Martha (54), his step-father James (41), his half-sister Elizabeth (19) and a nephew Frederick J Atkins (3).

Joseph married in 1865

Marriage details:

Place: St Nicolas Church Newbury

Date: 7^th May 1865

Groom: Joseph Atkins, full age, bachelor, occupation, Bricklayer

Bride: Mary Ann Seward, full age, spinster

Fathers: Simon Atkins, a Fellmonger and Daniel Seward, a Miller.

Witnesses: James William Hibberd and Susannah Pemberton

(Mary Ann was born c1837 in Newbury, Berkshire, the daughter of Daniel and Adah Seward (nee Newman) who were married on the 10^th January 1835 at St Mary Thatcham, Berkshire).

Joseph and Mary Ann had two children, a stillborn child born in 1869, buried in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 20^th September and a son William Simon born in 1871, who was baptised on the 31^st May 1871 at St Nicolas Church Newbury.

In 1871 Joseph was recorded living with his wife Mary (33), his widowed mother Martha (67) and his nephew Frederick Atkins (13)

Joseph died aged 32 on the 2^nd June 1872, he was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 7^th June 1872.

Mary Ann remarried in 1876, her 2^nd husband was Henry Portsmouth.

(Henry was baptised on the 27^th October 1844 in St Mary Bourne, Hampshire, the son of Mary Portsmouth (nee Sims). Henry’s father John died aged 47 in 1843. His mother married Charles Swain on the 15^th February 1845 in St Mary Bourne. Henry was also known as Henry Swain).

Mary Ann Portsmouth died aged 41 in 1878, she was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 24^th September.

Author: Gambles
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