Thomas Tibble (1828 – 1881)

                                    Maria Tibble (1830 – 1912)

                              Daug. Ann (Annie) Willis (-1951)

Thomas Tibble was baptized on 31 August 1828 at St Andrew in Boxford the son of Jonathan and Hannah, nee Hawkins, Tibble. He was recorded with his father Jonathan along with sisters Elizabeth aged 14 and Mary aged 10 in Boxford in the 1841 census, Jonathan was an agricultural labourer. In the 1851 census Thomas was living with his grandparents John and Elizabeth Tibble in Boxford, no occupation was recorded for him.

Maria Pocock was born in Ashmore Green and baptized on 28 November 1830 at St Mary in Thatcham, the daughter of Edith Pocock. In the 1841 census Maria was living with her grandparents, Joseph and Edith Pocock and four siblings in Ashmore Green, Thatcham. In the 1851 census Maria was still living in Ashmore Green with her grandparents and another granddaughter Ann aged 7. Her grandfather Joseph was a pauper agricultural labourer while Maria was recorded as a servant.

Maria married William Wigmore in 1851 at St Mary in Thatcham. William died in 1852 and was buried on 4 April 1852 at St Mary in Thatcham.

Thomas Tibble and Maria married on 18 October 1855 at St Andrew in Boxford. Thomas was recorded as a labourer and Maria as a servant, both residents of Boxford.

In the 1861 census Thomas and Maria were living in Boxford with children Betsy aged 4, Maria aged 3 and John aged 1 with Thomas recorded as an agricultural labourer. Ten years later in the 1871 census Maria was recorded living as an agricultural labourer’s wife in Boxford with children Maria aged 13, John aged 10, Caroline aged 8, Ann aged 5 and Sophie aged 2. Thomas was not recorded in the house nor can he be found elsewhere in the census, he was probably working away from home on the night of the census and not recorded.

In the 1881 census Thomas and Maria were living in Albert Place in Newbury Boxford with children John aged 21, Caroline aged 19 and Sophie aged 12. Thomas was recorded as a maltster, Maria a laundress, John a brush maker while Caroline was a general servant, unemployed.

Thomas Tibble died a few months after the census on 18 September 1881, he was buried on 23 September at Newtown Road Cemetery. His age was recorded as 50 although he was probably 53. An announcement appeared in the Reading Mercury dated 24 September 1881 as below.

TIBBLE – On the 18^th, at 5, Roseberry Place, Greenham, Thomas Tibble, aged 50.

In the 1891 census Maria was recorded living aa a servant at 4 Andover Terrace, Wash Road in Newbury, her occupation was a nurse.

Ten years later in the 1901 census Maria was living in Kennet Road in Newbury with her granddaughter Beth Willis aged 13 who was a nursemaid, Maria occupation was recorded as “living on her own means”.

Maria Tibble was recorded in Newbury Union Workhouse in the 1911 census. She died in April 1912 aged 83 and she was buried on 10 April 1912 at Newtown Road Cemetery.

Thomas and Maria’s daughter Ann (or Annie) Willis was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 26 October 1951.

Author: Gerald Soper
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