Monument to Mary Ann and Maurice Seabury, Bray Parish Cemetery, Holyport, Berkshire.
"In
loving remembrance
of
Mary Ann Seabury
born March 4th 1858
died January 6th 1923
Also Maurice Seabury
born March 16th 1900
died July 23rd 1904
In The Hand of God."
Mary Ann Seabury was born Mary Ann Coombs on 4th March 1858 in Fifield, Bray Berkshire to Thomas Coombs/Hopkins, a labourer, and his wife Sarah Lovejoy.
Mary Ann first appears on the 1861 Census aged 3, listed as Mary Ann Hopkins, living at her 72-year-old grandfather John Coomb's home in Fifield, Bray, Berkshire, with her parents and siblings. Living with the family is 63-year-old Ann Maria Hopkins, who is listed as a housekeeper.
On the 1881 Census Mary Ann is listed as a housemaid with the Duncombe family of 8 Ashwood Road, Chelsea. Mary married Joseph Seabury, a coachman and groom in 1887. Their first son Joseph Neville Seabury was born in 1889, followed eleven years later by Maurice Henry Seabury.
On the 1881 Census Mary Ann is listed as a housemaid with the Duncombe family of 8 Ashwood Road, Chelsea. Mary married Joseph Seabury, a coachman and groom in 1887. Their first son Joseph Neville Seabury was born in 1889, followed eleven years later by Maurice Henry Seabury.
In 1891 Mary Ann, Joseph, and their 2-year-old son Neville at living at 15 Warwick Street, London.
On the 1901 census, three years before Maurice was to pass away, the one-year-old boy can be found living with his parents and elder brother at 88 Ebury Mews in St George Hanover Square, London. After Murice's death on the 1911 Census, the family can be found living at 205 Pavillion Road, Chelsea London. Mary Ann was to pass away on January 6th 1923 in London.
Joseph Seabury was to live without his wife for a further eighteen years, he passed away in 1941 aged 82.
How did Mary Ann and her son Maurice come to be buried in a small village cemetery not far from her place of birth? A family plot passed down the generations or did Mary simply want to rest in her 'home'?
The ferns carved into the top of Mary and Maurice's gravestone symbolise sorrow and sincerity.
Buried next to Mary Ann and Maurice is Mary Ann's father Thomas Coombs, who passed away on 18th March 1903. Thomas was born in Fifield, Berkshire in 1834 to John Coombs a farmer. Unfortunately, I cannot seem to find any information on Thomas's mother. It is possible that Ann Marie Hopkins was his mother since he switched between the name Hopkins and Coombs throughout his life.
On the 1901 census, three years before Maurice was to pass away, the one-year-old boy can be found living with his parents and elder brother at 88 Ebury Mews in St George Hanover Square, London. After Murice's death on the 1911 Census, the family can be found living at 205 Pavillion Road, Chelsea London. Mary Ann was to pass away on January 6th 1923 in London.
Joseph Seabury was to live without his wife for a further eighteen years, he passed away in 1941 aged 82.
How did Mary Ann and her son Maurice come to be buried in a small village cemetery not far from her place of birth? A family plot passed down the generations or did Mary simply want to rest in her 'home'?
The ferns carved into the top of Mary and Maurice's gravestone symbolise sorrow and sincerity.
Buried next to Mary Ann and Maurice is Mary Ann's father Thomas Coombs, who passed away on 18th March 1903. Thomas was born in Fifield, Berkshire in 1834 to John Coombs a farmer. Unfortunately, I cannot seem to find any information on Thomas's mother. It is possible that Ann Marie Hopkins was his mother since he switched between the name Hopkins and Coombs throughout his life.
At first, I thought the stone said 'In the hand of Cod'! Such clarity in the first shot. What camera are you using? I like the research you do as well.
ReplyDeleteI have to argee that when I first saw the stone I too thought it said, 'In the hand of Cod.' I may have that on my own gravestone.
DeleteThe above pictures were taken with the Nikon Coolpix S3000 compact camera. However I also use a Nikon Coolpix P100 Bridge camera.
Thank you, I really enjoy the research, it helps me relax.
Maybe she wanted to be with her son. Fifield is now in West Oxfordshire
ReplyDeleteThis Fifeld in near Holyport and Bray in Berkshire. This Fifeld was also the site of a fmaous murder were the victim was fed to some pigs. I was unaware that there was a Fifield in West Oxfordshire too.
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