ALBERT ROBERT HEATH - 7 December 1840 – 16 March 1891
Albert Robert Heath was born on 7th December 1840 at Pound Street, Newbury. His birth was registered by his father on 30th December 1840. He was recorded as the son of “Ralph Heath, Baker and Harriet Heath, formerly George”.
Albert was baptised on 22nd January 1841 in Newbury, the son of Ralph and Harriet Heath.
In the 1841 census Albert Heath (6 months) was living with his parents at Pound Street, Faircross, Newbury.
In the 1851 census Albert R Heath (10) a “Scholar” was living with his parents at Pound Street, Newbury.
In the 1861 census Albert R Heath (20) an “Boot Closer Journeyman” was still living with his parents at Pound Street (off Bartholomew Terrace), Newbury.
In the 1871 census Albert R Heath (30) a “Postman” was living with his widowed mother and younger brother at Bartholomew Terrace.
In 1875 Albert Robert Heath was in trouble: Reading Mercury - Saturday 02 January 1875.
BOROUGH MAGISTRATES’ OFFICE
Monday Dec 28
(Present: The Mayor and J.H. Mason Esq.)
A POSTMAN IN TROUBLE - Albert Robert Heath, a rural postman, was summoned for having on the 16th of December, loitered, been intoxicated, and kept back certain letters undelivered”
Mr King (from Mr Cave’s office) appeared for the defendant.
Mr Adams, the postmaster at the Newbury office, stated that on the 16th of December, the mails were very late, in consequence of the snow.; defendant could not be dispatched until 12.35. He returned to the office at 8.25, without satisfactorily accounting for his time, and brought back a number of letters undelivered. He was then in a state of intoxication. Witness kept back his return two days in order to give defendant an opportunity of explaining, but he refused.
Corroborative evidence was given by Thomas Harris Thompson and Joseph Philip Brown, two clerks in the post-office. The latter said defendant hardly knew how to carry himself. He stumbled up the stairs and turned round to the Postmaster saying “That’s not through drunkenness”.
Mt King said his client had been in the service of the Post-office for nearly 10 years. Defendant admitted the delay of the letters, but denied drunkenness. He came at six in the morning, but had to wait until half-past 12 before starting. During that time he had two or three glasses, but left perfectly sober. From that time as he states until he returned, he had not a drop of beer and did not even enter a public house. He arrived at Highclere Castle at four o’clock ad then went two miles to the other side of the parish. Finding he had but few letters beyond, and had beside the mail bags from the Castle and Post-office, he determined to return. As for the stumble, that was caused by his shoes being “balled” with snow, and his not standing steady was through fatigue. Beside he was only two hours late, although he had started six hours behind time. His client was disappointed in getting witnesses, and, therefore asked for a remand.
Mr Adams and the Time papers showed that he left Burghclere Post-office at the right time, and was two hours in returning to Newtown. This round would take five hours and 50 minutes. He was eight hours in doing only half his work.
The Mayor said the case would be adjourned until Friday.
On Friday, the case was again heard, and the charge was dismissed.”
This may explain why he stopped being a postman and returned to Shoe making.
On 30th May 1880 Albert Robert Heath (38) married Mary Ann Jones nee Richmond (33) at Newbury Parish Church. Albert Robert was described as a “Batchelor” and a “Cordwainer” (a Cordwainer is a shoemaker/cobbler who makes fine soft leather shoes). He had been living in Newbury and was the son of “Ralph Heath, Baker”. Mary Ann Jones was described as a “Widow” who had been living in Newbury and was the daughter of “Norman Richmond, Carter”. Interestingly Mary Ann Richmond had previously married Thomas Eden Jones, a “Chimney Sweep” in Newbury in 1863. Thomas Eden Jones had then died (aged 42) in 1879 and been buried at Newbury, Newtown Road Cemetery on 11th October 1879.
In the 1881 census Albert Robert Heath (40) a “Shoemaker” was living with his wife Mary Heath (42) a “Chimney Sweeper” at Ashdown Court, Newbury. Mary was obviously carrying on the business of her first husband.
Family records suggest that Albert Robert Heath had a child called Rose Heath– but I can’t trace this record or any trace of her in any census however it could be that this child was the daughter of Mary Ann and Thomas Eden Jones as opposed to Mary Ann and Albert Robert Heath or more likely that there was confusion with Rose who was a daughter of Alexander George Heath (Albert Robert Heath’s brother).
Albert Robert Heath died (aged 45) on 15th March 1891 at Ashdown Court, Newbury. He was recorded as a “Shoemaker, Journeyman” and his cause of death was recorded as “Phthisis (Tuberculosis), Exhaustion certified by A J Wilson MRCS”. His death was registered on 16th March 1891 by “F A Heath (Frederick Anthony Heath) Brother, in attendance, Bartholomew Street, Newbury”.
Interestingly Albert’s sister had died of Phthisis (Tuberculosis) 5 years earlier and his brother Alexander George Heath died of it 14 years later.
The Newbury Weekly reported: …
"HEATH: Mar 16th at Ashdown-Court, Newbury, Albert Heath aged 45”
Albert Robert Heath was buried on 20th March 1891 in Newton Road Cemetery burial record number 11273.
Interestingly I can’t find Mary Ann Heath anywhere in the census after 1881.
Rosemary Winter-Scott
October 2019
