Fred Church (1859 — 1924)
Sarah Church (1848 — 1915)
Sarah Pocock was born in 1848 in Thatcham, the daughter of William and Elizabeth, nee Mountford, Pocock. She was baptized on 10 September 1848 at St Mary in Thatcham. Sarah was recorded with her parents and various siblings in both the 1851 & 1861 census living in Ashmore Green, Thatcham.
Sarah married Henry Hill in 1869 in Newbury. Henry was born in Newbury in circa 1845 the son of Charles and Eliza, nee Heath, Hill. In the 1851 census Henry was living with his parents and three siblings in Bartholomew Terrace just off Pound Street in Newbury. In the 1861 census Henry was recorded with his mother Eliza and two siblings in Robson's Yard in Newbury. Eliza was recorded as a charwoman and Henry a general labourer.

In the 1871 census Henry and Sarah were living at 11 Staples Yard off Northbrook Street, Henry was recorded as a bus conductor.
A few weeks after the census a son Henry was born in April 1871. Sadly, he died aged one day and was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 2 May 1871. Henry and Sarah had two further sons both born in Newbury, Henry William in 1872 and John in 1877.
Henry died 1 October 1879 and was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 4 October 1879.

Sarah remarried in Newbury in 1881 to Fred Church. Fred was born 1859 in Greenham, the son of William and Ann, nee Preston, Church. In the 1861 census he was recorded with his parents living in Donnington village, his father was a miller. Ten years later in the 1871 census Fred was still living in Donnington with his parents and also four siblings, Thomas aged 9, Ann aged 4, Frank aged 2 and Charles aged 2 months

A few weeks after the marriage in the 1881 census Fred and Sarah were living in Northbrook Place in Newbury with Sarah's sons Henry William and John. Fred was recorded as a shoeing smith.

Fred and Sarah were living in Donnington in the 1891 census with Sarah's sons Henry William and John plus four children of their own, Fred aged 9, Edith aged 7, Annie aged 5 and Florence aged 3. Fred was still a shoeing smith.

In the 1901 census Fred and Sarah were living at 20 West Street in Newbury with Sarah's son John plus two children of their own, Fred aged 19 and Florence aged 13. Fred senior was still a shoeing smith, John a gardener and Fred junior an errand boy. Ten years later in the 1911 census Fred and Sarah were still living at 20 West Street with a boarder, the house had five living rooms. Fred was still a shoeing smith.

Sarah died October 1915 aged 67 while still living at 20 West Street and was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 13 October 1915.

Fred continued to live at 20 West Street after Sarah's death and died there in March 1924. He was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 21 March 1924.

Author: Gerald Soper
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