Jane Chivers nee Jane Hayward was born in 1826 in Woolhampton, father George Hayward who was a gardener. In 1841, aged 15 yrs., she was working as a servant to Theophiles, a wine merchant, and Ann Turner who lived on Bartholomew Street with their five daughters and another servant . She married John Gibbons in 1849 but by the 1851 census was a widow with two young boys, George Hayward Gibbons aged 4yrs and Frederick Gibbons aged 1 yr. Was George illegitimate ? At this time she was back living with her father In Brown's Yard. She was described as a widow and pauper formerly a laundress.
In 1851 she married Frederick Chivers who on the census of that year was also living in Brown's yard with his parents and five siblings. He was a sawyer's labourer. By the 1861 census they were living in Knight's yard, Cheap Street. George and Frederick Gibbons were still with them as were four more sons including Arthur James Chivers. Frederick was now a bricklayer journey man.

No more records could be found until the 1881 census. Frederick was now a builder employing two men and two boys and they were living in West Fields. George and Frederick Gibbons had left home as had Arthur Chivers. The two eldest remaining Chivers sons, Thomas and Alfred were now bricklayers.

There was another son, Albert aged 7yrs who had been born in Paddington and a daughter Mary aged 17yrs. All the children except Albert were born in Newbury.
Jane died in 1881 and was buried on 21' April aged 56 yrs.
Sources Findmypast

Author: Sylvia Sellwood
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