John Purdue

c1828-1862

John was born in Newbury he was the son of William and Ann Purdue (nee Groves) who were married on the 9^th May 1824 at St Nicolas Church Newbury. William was a Hairdresser he was born c1796 in Newbury and Ann was born c1797 in Kintbury.

In 1841 William (45), Ann (40) and their children, John (15), Louisa (13) and  Martha (5) were living in Cheap Street Newbury

In the 1851 census John (23) was recorded as a Servant living at St Mary’s Hill Newbury with his father William (55) and his sisters Louisa (24) and Martha (14).

His father died aged 56 in 1852 he was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 13^th November.

The 1861 census records John (30) as a Servant and Ostler at the Jack of Newbury Hotel Commercial Inn Newbury, His mother is recorded in this census living with her married daughter Louisa Wilder and her family in Jack of Newbury Street.

John died aged 34 in 1862 he was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 25^th March.

His mother died aged 67 in 1864 she was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 14^th December.

Author: Christine Gambles
© FNRC

William Purdue (1796 – 1852)

                                    Ann Purdue (1795 – 1864)

                              Son John Purdue (1838 – 1862)

                              Daughters Louisa Wilder (-1889)

 and Martha Willis (-1875).

Ann Groves was born circa 1795 in Elcot, Kintbury. She was baptized on 29 November 1795 at St Mary in Kintbury, the daughter of Robert and Sarah.

Ann married William Purdue on 9 May 1824 at St Nicolas in Newbury. William was born circa 1796 in Newbury. They had at least three children, Louisa born circa 1827, John circa 1828 and Martha circa 1837.

In the 1841 census William and Ann with children Louisa aged circa 15, John aged 13 and Martha aged 5 were living in Cheap Street in Newbury along with John Shaw aged 45 and Eliza Shaw aged 11. William was a hairdresser.

Ten years later in the 1851 census Wiliam was recorded with his children Louisa, John and Martha at St Mary’s Hill in Newbury. William was still a hairdresser, Louisa a milliner, John a servant while Martha was recorded as a scholar. Ann was living as a servant in Donnington Road in Speen and her occupation was a nurse.

William Purdue died in the following year aged 56 and he was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 13 November 1852. An announcement appeared in the Reading Mercury dated 13 November 1852 as below.

On the 8^th inst., Mr. William Purdue, of Newbury, hairdresser, aged 56.

In the 1861 census Ann was recorded living with her daughter Louisa Wilder, her husband Henry Thomas and their children in Jack of Newbury Street in Newbury. Ann’s occupation was recorded as formerly being a nurse.

Also, in the 1861 census John Purdue was recorded as a servant at the Jack of Newbury Hotel in Newbury, his occupation was recorded as servant and ostler.

John Purdue died in March 1862 aged 34 and was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 25 March 1862.

Ann Purdue died in December 1864 and was buried in Newtown Road Cemetery on 14 December 1864.

William and Ann’s daughters Louisa and Martha were also buried at Newtown Road Cemetery, Louisa Wilder on 14 September 1889 and Martha Willis on 7 January 1875.

Author: Gerald Soper
©