SARAH MASON

TOWN’S CENTENARIAN

Mrs. Sarah Mason Dies at 103

Had she lived until August 2^nd, Mrs. Sarah Mason, of 196, Andover-Road, Newbury, would have been 104 years of age. Born in the borough, she was baptised in St. Nicolas’ Church on August 31^st 1843, and was taken then to live in Northcroft-lane.

She went to school at Miss Chance’s, a dame school of the old-fashioned type, and, on leaving, became sewing-maid to the wife of the late Dr. Stephen Hemsted, who then lived in the beautiful old Georgian house now occupied by Messrs. Thake and Paginton, Bartholomew-street.

At the age of twenty-five she married and went to live at Marlborough, moving to Hungerford later. Her husband died in 1900 and she then went to live at Maidenhead, but never really settled there, and came back to Newbury in 1917, finally taking a house near Wash Common, partly because, as a small girl of eight, she remembered playing there.

Mrs. Mason had six children, one son and five daughters, all of whom are living except the son who died in 1943 at the age of seventy-two.

There were great rejoicings in the neat little house on Wash Common on August 2^nd, 1943, when she was 100, and the charming little lady was indeed queen of the celebrations.

The Royal telegram read; “The King and Queen are much interested to hear that you are celebrating your hundredth birthday and send you hearty congratulations and good wishes.”

In the early hours of last Saturday morning she was found to have slept peacefully away.

THE FUNERAL

The funeral service took place on February 18^th in the Chapel at the Old Newtown-road Cemetery, where all Mrs. Mason’s family are buried, and the committal followed. The Rev. Hilburn, of St George’s Church, Wash Common, officiated.

The chief mourners were Miss Jane and Miss Evelyn Mason (second and third daughters, who had lived with their mother always); Miss Matilda Mason, eldest daughter, who had lived at home for the last 30 years, was too ill to attend; Mr Martin (nephew), Miss Young, Mrs. Spicer and Miss Lamdin.

Newbury Weekly News 20 February 1947

Mrs P. p 187 C32 died 18 February 1947

Buried 18 February 1947 from 196 Andover Road Bk 1917 page 265 No. 11720