Stephen Elliott (1784 – 1860)

Margaret Elliott (1783 – 1864)

Stephen Elliott was baptized 29 July 1784 at St Mary the Virgin in Aldermaston, son of Thomas and Sarah. He married Margaret Steptoe on 4 March 1806 at St Peter in Brimpton. Margaret was born circa 1783. In the census her place of birth was recorded as Marcham although there was a Margaret Steptoe baptized 1 April 1783 at Little Wittenham which is nine miles from Marcham

Stephen and Margaret had eleven children baptized in Aldermaston, Harriet (1809), Thomas (1811), Stephen (1813), Henry (1815), William (1816), Mary (1819), Samuel (1820), Martha (1823), Elizabeth Ann (1823), Margaret (1825) & Henry (1828). Henry was buried aged one on 12 June 1816 at Aldermaston but the others all lived to adulthood.

In the 1841 census Stephen and Margaret were living in Aldermaston with son Thomas. Stephen was recorded as a butcher although Thomas had no occupation recorded.

Ten years later in the 1851 census Stephen and Margaret was recorded with daughter Mary and granddaughter Emily living at 4 Fredericks Cottages in Newbury. Stephen was recorded as a butcher and Emily as a dressmaker.

Stephen died 4 July 1860 and was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 7 July 1860. An announcement appeared in the Reading Mercury dated 7 July 1860 which read:-

“On the 4^th inst, after a painful illness borne with Christian fortitude, Mr. Stephen Elliott, of Newbury, but formerly of Aldermaston, Berkshire, in the 76^th year of his age.”

In the months after Stephen’s death three lots were sold by auction, which were advertised as part of the estate of the late Stephen Elliott. The first lot was 34 acres of rich arable land and a farmhouse at Chieveley. The second was 3 acres of freehold arable land at Snelsmore Common. The third lot was 15 and a half acres of luxuriant growing crops near Newbury. The farm at Chieveley was probably Radnall Farm where Stephen’s son William was recorded as a farmer of 35 acres in the 1851 census.

Stephen left a will and probate was granted on 11 September 1860 at Oxford to Thomas Pike of Bucklebury and his sons Thomas Elliott of Padworth and William Elliott of Chieveley. The value of the effects was under £800.

In the 1861 census Margaret was still living at 4 Fredericks Cottages along with her daughter Mary, who had no occupation recorded.

Margaret died 13 January 1864 and was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 21 January 1864. An announcement appeared in the Reading Mercury dated 16 January 1864 which read:-

“On the 13^th inst, Margaret, relict of Mr. Stephen Elliott, of Newbury, but formerly of Aldermaston, Berkshire.”

Four of Stephen and Margaret’s children were also buried at Newtown Road Cemetery. William Elliott was buried at Newtown Road on 4 November 1892, daughter Martha Sandford on 1 June 1894, Elizabeth Ann Elliott in 1 June 1911 and Margaret Elliott on 9 November 1911.

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Author: Gerald Soper
© Gerald Soper