GEORGE LANGFIELD

He was baptised on 25 April 1813 in Chieveley.  His parents were William and Hannah Langfield.  His father was a labourer.

In 1839 he married Lucy Wheeler in Newbury. By the 1841 census they are living in Greenham Mills, Thatcham.  He is a 25-year old labourer. His wife is 35 years old, no occupation.  Also they are looking after 1-year old Eliza Perkins, who was not born in the parish.

Lucy died in 1847 (4Q) and a few months later George married a widow, Sophia Pope, née Chandler.  Her husband, George Pope, had also died the previous year.  George and Sophia were married on 13 March 1848 at St. Nicolas Church. The witnesses were John Chandler and George Stillman. George’s occupation is listed as carrier.

George then suffered ill-health and the 1851 census finds him a patient at The Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading.  Elsewhere in the 1851 census his wife Sophia is recorded living in Greenham Street, Thatcham, wife of a victualler and employing a housemaid, Harriett Brooks.

George is listed in the 1854 Post Office Directory as a shopkeeper at St. Mary’s Hill.  George and Sophia took over the “Steamer” beer-house, 16 Cheap Street, from Philemon Hamblin who died in March 1855 (buried in the Cemetery on 23 March 1855).

From a report in the Berkshire Chronicle dated 24 January 1857 about an incident involving his wife (refer his wife‘s record under the name of Sophia Andrews – burial date 24 February 1897), he was unwell and he died a few months later on 15 April 1857, aged 43 years (calculated, actual birth date not known).  He was buried on 20 April.

No Mrs. P. Code

Sources: Births and Baptisms 1538-1975; Marriage 1Q 1839 to Lucy Wheeler; 1841 and 1851 census; Death Index 4Q 1847 for Lucy Langfield; Marriage Index  dated 13 March 1848 to Sophia Pope; 1854 Post Office Directory;  Death Index 2Q 1857.

Author: Deirdre Duff
© FNRC