William Butler (1837 – 1924)

                                    Harriett Butler (1827 – 1913)

                                    Harry Butler (1865 – 1865)

Kate Butler (1867 – 1937)

William John Butler (1870 – 1870)

Harriet Widdick was baptized on 29 April 1827 at St Nicolas in Newbury, the daughter of James and Hannah, James was recorded as a butcher. In the 1851 census Harriett was recorded as a servant living at 30 Chapel Street, St George Hanover Square in London and her occupation was house servant.

Harriett married Amos Smith on 18 December 1852 at St Mary in Speenhamland. Harriett was recorded as living at St Peter in Pimlico while Amos was a barge builder. They had a son Walter Widdick in 1853 and a daughter Clare in 1856, both born in Newbury. Amos died in April 1857 and was buried at London Road Cemetery in Reading on 5 April.

No trace of Harriett in the 1861 census. Walter and Clare were both recorded as boarders in Newbury, Walter in Northbrook Street and Clare in Wash Road.

Three years later in 1864 Harriet married William Butler in Newbury. William was born circa 1837 in Kingsclere. In the 1851 census William was living in Bartholomew Street in Newbury and was a shoemaker’s apprentice. He was a boarder living in Bartholomew Street in the 1861 census and his occupation was bootmaker.

William and Harriett had a son Harry in 1865 but sadly he died as an infant and was buried on 25 August 1865 at Newtown Road Cemetery.

Five years later in July 1870 William and Harriett had a son William John but sadly he died aged two months and was buried on 12 September 1870 at Newtown Road Cemetery.

In the 1871 census William and Harriett were recorded living at 35 Jack Street in Newbury with Harriett’s children from her first marriage, Walter and Clare along with three daughters, Alice aged 4, Kate aged 3 and Rose aged 2 from her marriage to William. William was recorded as a journeyman shoemaker.

Walter Widdick Smith died in April 1874 and was buried on 11 April 1874 at Newtown Road Cemetery.

In the 1881 census William and Harriett were still living at 35 Jack Street with daughters, Alice aged 14 and Rose aged 12, William was recorded as a journeyman cordwainer and Alice a general servant. No trace of daughter Kate in the census.

Ten years later in the 1891 census William and Harriett with daughter Rose and a lodger were living at 27 Marsh Street in Newbury. William was a cordwainer and Rose was a dressmaker. Another daughter Kate was recorded as living as a servant at 26 Upper Hamilton Terrace in Marylebone and her occupation was housemaid.

William and Harriett with daughter Kate and five boarders were living at 7 Carnarvon Terrace in Newbury in the 1901 census with William a bootmaker while Kate had no occupation recorded.

In the 1911 census William and Harriett with daughter Kate were living at 1 Bartholomew (or St John’s) Almhouses in Newbury. William was recorded as a retired bootmaker while Kate was a general servant domestic.

Harriett died December 1913 while still living at St John’s Almhouses and she was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 13 December 1913.

William with daughter Kate were still living at 1 Bartholomew (or St John’s) Almhouses in the 1921 census. William was recorded as a retired bootmaker while Kate was a general servant domestic.

William died May 1924 while still living at St John’s Almhouses and he was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 4 June 1924.

Kate continued to live in Newbury and died in April 1937 while living at 5 Stroud Green in Newbury. She was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 24 April 1937.

Author: Soper
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