Henry Virtue

c1831-1909

Henry, his parents, siblings and early life:

Henry was baptised on the 27^th March 1831 at St Mary the Virgin, Speen, Berkshire, the son of William (a Bricklayer) and Arabella Virtue (nee Aubery) who were married in 1827 in Speen.

Henry’s mother Arabella was baptised in 1797 in Peasemore, Berkshire, the daughter of William and Lucy Aubry (nee Green) who were married in 1794 in Peasemore. (surname recorded as Aubery/Aubury). Arabella died aged 70 in 1866, she was buried on the 3^rd June at St Mary the Virgin Speen.

According to census records Henry’s father William was born c1801 in Greenham, Berkshire. He died aged 85 in 1886 and was buried on the 30^th September at St Mary the Virgin Speen

William and Arabella also had the following children:

William baptised 27^th July 1828 in Speen

Arabella baptised 14^th July 1833 in Speen

Hannah born c1837 in Speen (died aged 13 in 1850, buried (as Ann), 21^st July at St Mary the Virgin Speen)

Louisa born c1837 in Speen

John born c1840 in Speen (died aged 7 in 1846, buried on the 19^th September at St Mary the Virgin Speen)

In 1841 Henry (10) was living in Speen with his father William (35) a Male Servant, his mother Arabella (40), and his siblings William (13), Arabella (7), Hannah (4), Louisa (4) and John (1) (surname recorded as Victorin on ancestry).

The 1851 census records Henry (20) as an Agricultural Labourer, living in Church Speen Village, with his parents and his sisters Arabella (17) and Louisa (14).

Henry in later life:

Henry married a spinster, Ellen Goward** in 1854.

Marriage details:

Place: St Mary the Virgin, Speen, Berkshire

Date: 7^th May 1854

Groom: Henry Virtue, bachelor, occupation, Labourer, abode, Speen

Bride: Ellen Goward***, spinster, abode, Speen

Fathers: William Virtue, a Bricklayer and John Goward*** a Gardener.

Witnesses: Arabella Virtue and George Low

Bride and Groom made their mark.

(**Although the marriage record records Ellen’s surname as Goward, Ellen made her mark, so was illiterate at the time of her marriage. Later records record that Ellen had an illegitimate daughter, Mary Ann Goddard born 1852, before she married Henry. All their children’s birth registrations record the mother’s maiden name as Goddard so it looks like Ellen was Ellen Goddard and her surname has been mistakenly recorded as Goward at the time of her marriage).

Ellen’s daughter Mary Ann was baptised as Mary Ann Winsor Goddard, on the 26^th December 1852, at St Nicolas Church, Newbury.

Henry and Ellen had the following children:

Ellen born 1868 (died aged 4 in 1873, buried in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 3^rd February)

Charlotte born 1870

William born 1871

Arabella born 1873

Lucy born c1877

Henry John born c1880

In 1861 Henry (30), an Agricultural Labourer, Ellen (27) and Mary Ann (8), were living in Nutley’s Yard, (off Bartholomew Street) Newbury.

The 1871 census records Henry (40) as a Labourer, living in the City, Newbury with Ellen (39), Mary Ann Goddard (18), Ellen (2) and Charlotte (11 months).

In 1881 Henry (50) was recorded as a Scavenger, living in the City, Newbury, with Ellen (47) and their children, Charlotte (11), William (9), Arabella (6), Lucy (4) and Henry (1).

The 1891 census records Henry (62) as a General Labourer, living in Derby Road, Newbury with Ellen (54), William (19), a Painter, Arabella (17) (recorded as Isabella), Lucy (14) and Henry (11).

In 1901 Henry (70), again recorded as a Scavenger, was living at 1 Bartholomew’s Almshouses, Newbury, with Ellen (68) and their son Henry (21), a Bricklayer.

Henry died aged 76 in 1909, he was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 14^th April (abode at time of death, Gosport Villa, King’s Road, Newbury)

The 1911 census records Ellen (77) living with her married daughter Mary Cooke (58) and her son-in-law William Cooke (71), at 14 Adey’s Buildings, Stroud Green, Newbury, Berkshire.

Ellen died aged 82 on the 19^th July 1915, she was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 23^rd July (abode at time of death, Hambridge Road, Greenham, Berkshire).

Author: Gambles
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