William Legg

1837-1915

William, his parents, siblings and early life:

William was born on the 25^th December 1837 in Newbury, Berkshire the son of John and Elizabeth Legg (nee Champ) who were married on the 1^st January 1836 at St Nicolas Church Newbury.

William’s father John was a Shoemaker he was baptised on the 9^th August 1801at St Nicolas Church Newbury Berkshire the son of William (a Chair Maker) and Christian Legge (nee Jennings) who were married on the 23^rd December 1788 at St Nicolas Church Newbury. (John was a widower when he married William’s mother. His first wife was Mary Ann Crossley (born c1803) they were married 11^th June 1821 at St Nicolas Church Newbury. John and Mary Ann had the following children, Leah c1822, James c1827, William Crossley c1830 (died 1833) and John 1832 (died 1832).  Mary Ann died aged 30 in 1833).

William’s mother Elizabeth was baptised on the 16^th February 1812 at St Mary, Greenham, Berkshire, the daughter of Stephen and Rachel Champ (formerly Stone, nee Farmer) who were married on the 29^th June 1807 at St Mary Thatcham, both were widowed and from Greenham. (Stephen Champ’s 1^st wife was Mary Horler, they were married on the 14^th April 1800 at St Nicolas Newbury. Rachel Farmer married Robert Stone on the 28^th June 1793 at St Nicolas Church Newbury.)

John and Elizabeth also had the following children:

Maria c1836

Mary 1840

Hannah 1849 (died in 1850, buried in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 11^th May)

In 1841 William (3) was living in Kimber’s Court, Newbury with his parents John (35) and Elizabeth (25), his half-sister Leah (15), his half-brother James (14) and his sisters Maria (4) and Mary (9 months).

John Leg died aged 48 in 1850, he was buried on the 4^th January at St Nicolas Newbury

The 1851 census records William (13) living in Mills Yard, Newbury with his widowed mother Elizabeth (39) a Silk Spinner and his two sisters Maria (14) and Mary (10).

His mother Elizabeth remarried in 1857, her 2^nd husband was Joseph Limpus (Joseph was an Ostler, born c1803 in Middlesex).

In 1861 Joseph and Elizabeth Limpus were recorded living in Kimber’s Yard, Newbury. William (24) was recorded as an Able Seaman in the Royal Navy, aboard the “Vixen” at sea off the west of Spain.

Elizabeth Limpus died aged 56 in 1867 (death registered in Camberwell).

William in later life:

William married Eliza(beth) Slade in 1866

Marriage details:

Place: St John the Evangelist Newbury

Date: 22^nd October 1866

Groom: William Legg, aged 28, Labourer

Bride: Elizabeth Slade, aged 20,

Fathers: John Legg, occupation, Shoemaker and David Slade, occupation, Labourer

Witnesses: James Legg and Alice Jane Legg

 (Eliza was born in 1847 in Brightwalton, Berkshire the daughter of David and Maria Slade (nee Minchin) who were married in 1840 (marriage registered in Wantage)).

William and Eliza had the following children:

Ernest William 1867

Rosa Jane 1868 (died aged 13 in 1881, buried in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 31^st December)

Emily 1870 (died aged 3 in 1873, buried in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 28^th April)

Leah 1871

Kate 1872 (died aged 3 months in 1873, buried in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 18^th February)

In 1871 William (33) was working as a Corn Porter, living at 9 Lewis’s Buildings, Bartholomew Street, Newbury with his wife Eliza (23) and their children Ernest W (3), Rosa Jane (2) and Emily (11 months). By 1874 the family had moved to Waterloo Place, Newbury.

Elizabeth died aged 27 on the 10^th January 1874, she was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 13^th January.

After his wife died William hired a housekeeper, Mary King.

(Mary was born in 1843 in North Stoke Oxfordshire the daughter of William and Elizabeth King (nee Wells))

The following newspaper report appeared in the Newbury Weekly News, dated the 25^th June 1874

Dishonest Housekeeper

Mary King was brought up on remand charged with illegally pawning a quantity of bedding and wearing apparel, the property of William Legg of Waterloo-place.

Prosecutor stated that the defendant was his housekeeper, and had pledged the articles unknown to him and without his authority. On finding that some garments were missing, he asked her where they were. She replied “Gone to be washed.” Witness replied that cloth waistcoats did not want washing. Then she replied they were gone to have the buttons sewed on. He continued to ask her and all he could get from her was that they were “gone up street,” and then he feared that they had been pawned. It was not until two or three days afterwards that he fully ascertained his loss.

Mr. Helmore deposed to the pledging of the various articles–fourteen in all-some by prisoner and the remainder by other persons. He had declined to receive anything further from prisoner as she had deceived him. He had no reason to suspect prisoner’s honesty as she had been in the habit of pledging things for many years.

Mrs. Wyatt deposed pledging a shawl and two waistcoats on the same day for Mary King, who said that he (meaning Mr. Legg) was waiting at home for the money as he had had no work that week. The articles were taken to Mrs. Chivers’, in the Eagle-yard. Witness also pawned a pair of trousers. She received a penny from Mary King for each pawning. Pawned also a blanket for 2s., King saying that Legg was waiting to pay the rent.

Mr. Mason – Are you in the habit of pawning things? – Yes sir, for people I know. Didn’t think King was doing anything that was wrong.

Mr. Mason - You knew she had not been out of prison long? – I didn’t thing Mary King was telling a story; but I did ask Mrs. Chivers.

Mr Mason – If you were suspicious enough to ask Mrs. Chivers, why did you not go to Legg himself? – Well she did bring some little jackets afterwards, but I refused.

Eliza Willis, wife of Robert Willis, living in Porter’s-yard, said that Mary King came to her on Monday week with a coat to pledge, for which she got 3s. King gave her a penny. This was the general charge, but some gave more.

The Mayor said it was very wrong to take property in this way. -  It was a great encouragement to crime.

Mary Bradley said that on Wednesday week she pawned a frock and jacket for 1s. 3d. King brought it to her in the street, and said she wanted to get something for “his dinner,” but did not say who. King gave her three half-pence. Witness pawned things for people. When she knew whose things they were she did not inquire, but she asked about people she didn’t know.

This being the whole of the evidence prisoner pleaded guilty to the charge and

The Mayor said it was a very bad case. She had been taken into service and an opportunity was given for her to redeem her character, but she so far abused this confidence as to commence systematic robbery almost as soon as she had entered her situation. She would be fined £1 for illegally pawning, £3 the value of the goods, with 9s. 6d. costs; in default two months’ imprisonment.

Mr. Mason told prisoner that the sooner she separated herself from the lot she as connected with the better, as bad companionship had a good deal to do with her trouble.

Supt. Goddard said he had reason to believe that she had taken to drinking at the house of the woman Chivers, together with other women.

The Mayor rebuked the three witnesses who had pawned for prisoner, and said he hoped her punishment would be a warning to them. A great deal of blame was to be attached to them and especially to Mrs. Wyatt. The system they had spoken to held out an encouragement to servants to rob their employers and was most dangerous to society.

Prisoner who was unable to pay, was locked up on default.

Mr. Mason asked Mr. Helmore if half-a-sovereign were paid whether all the articles would be handed back to Legg. (The articles had been pawned for £1 2s. 6d.)

Mr. Helmore replied in the affirmative.

Mr. Mason thereupon offered to see that the money was paid, and the articles were returned to prosecutor.

(This wasn’t Mary’s 1^st offence and she went on to commit more offences being jailed at various times for theft).

William married Mary King two years later.

Marriage details:

Place; St Nicolas Church, Newbury

Date: 22^nd May 1876

Groom: William Legg, widower, occupation Labourer, abode, Newbury

Bride: Mary King, spinster, abode, Newbury

Fathers: John Legg, a Bootmaker and William King, a Policeman

Witnesses: John Stillman and Sarah Stillman

Groom signed, Bride made her mark.

The following announcement appeared in the Newbury Weekly News dated the 12^th April 1877

WILLIAM LEGG

DREDGE’S YARD NEWBURY

Begs to give notice that after this date he will not be answerable for any DEBTS contracted by his wife MARY LEGG

April 11^th 1877

The 1881 census records William (43) as a General Labourer/Greenwich Pensioner, living in Ashdown Court, Newbury with Mary (38), Ernest William (13), Rosa Jane (12) and Leah (9).

In 1891 William (52) was recorded as a General Labourer, living in Percy Place, Bartholomew Street, Newbury with Mary (47), Leah (19), Lucy (1) and Ada (3 months).

(Lucy and Ada were recorded as William and Mary’s daughters on this census. They were actually Leah’s illegitimate children. Lucy was baptised on the 26^th November 1889 and Ada was baptised on the 16^th June 1891 (no father recorded on either baptism))

William was widowed for the 2^nd time in 1898, Mary was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 15^th June. (Age at death recorded as 60)

The 1901 census records William (62) as a Pauper/Naval Pensioner in the Newbury

Workhouse.

The 1911 census records William (73) as a Navy Pensioner (Sailor) in the Newbury Workhouse.

He died aged 74 in 1915 in the Workhouse and was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 7^th December. (Age at death recorded as 74).

Author: C Gambles
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