The Tragic Osborne Family, Bakers of Maidenhead High Street - A Family Separated by Tragic Circumstances

 

 

 

Monument to Arthur William Osborne and William Herbert Osborne, infant sons of James and Jane Osborne, All Saints Churchyard, Boyne Hill, Maidenhead, Berkshire.

 

 

"In sweet remembrance of Arthur William infant son of James and Jane Osborne who died March 15th 1865 aged seven months - In hope of a joyful resurrection - Also William Herbert Osborne."

 

 

Arthur William Osborne was born in the August of 1864 to James Osborne, a baker, and his wife Jane Mary Charman.

 

William Herbert was born and died in 1872.

 

James Osborne had married Jane Mary Charman in Maidenhead in 1856.  Their first child Henry James was born in 1858, closely followed by Louisa in 1859, Alice Mary in 1860, Georgina Emily in 1862, Florence Alexandra in 1864, Charles in 1866, John Aubry in 1868, Sarah Jane in 1870, Frederick George in 1873, and Frances Lillian on 1st June1875.

 

It must have been devastating for James and Jane to have lost two children in infancy.

In 1861 the family can be found living in Maidenhead High Street. Living with them and assisting in the bakery was James's 15-year-old nephew Thomas Osborne

 

On 11th August 1875 James was to pass away from heart disease, leaving Jane with no means of support and several children to look after.  Unfortunately, the family was to be split up and more tragedy was to follow in the September of 1875, when there was in inquest into the sudden death of little Frances Lillian. The Maidenhead Advertiser reported on 25th September 1875:

"Inquest at Cookham.— Mr. W. Weedon, county coroner, held inquest Monday the body Frances Lillian Osborne at the Uncle Tom’s Cabin, at Cookham.

—Jane Mary Osborne said; I am widow of James Osborne, baker, Maidenhead, and mother of this child. It was born on the 1st June last. It was with Anna Cordery with whom the child had been just fortnight. The child generally was considered healthy. It was brought up by hand. Two others of my children have been with Mrs. Cordery, one for twelve months. She was always very kind and attentive to them. The deceased child was sent to her for a short time in place of another I had home. My husband died on the 11th ult. from heart disease. I am quite satisfied that justice was done to my other child and I have reason to doubt it was to the deceased. The Corderys are strangers to me but well known in the neighbourhood, I have never known them take in other children than own.

—Charles said: l am shoemaker. The deceased child was placed with wife to nurse had been with a fortnight. It had violent crying fits, which would last two hours. The child slept in a cradle in our room. I got up to it at 4.15 on Saturday morning and fed it with a bottle. She seemed very composed and I got into bed again, and in about half an hour I got to go to my work. I did not like the look of the child and on examination found it dead. There was nothing particular in its appearance. I told my wife to send for the doctor before touching the child. We have had two other children of Mrs. Osborne's. The child was not under medical treatment while with me. The child had thrush very bad when she came to us. We fed her on biscuits and water directed her mother.

—Dr. Montgomery said: I first saw the child between nine and ten on Saturday morning. I found it dead. Its lips, hands, and feet were livid and fingers clenched, and its thumbs drawn in. The child struck me being a delicate child. There were no external marks of violence. There were no signs of any neglect. Most probably from what last witness said the child had a convulsion, which caused death. I do not know the Corderys

.—A verdict Died from "convulsions" was returned."

 

In 1881 Henry James is working as a baker for Hannah Mitchell in Chobham, Surrey.  Georgina Emily is living with her sister Louisa, and her husband James Scudamore in Shoreditch, London.  Florence Alexandra is working as a barmaid at The Ship Public House in Southwark, London.  Later on the 23rd April 1883, she marries Edwin Watson.  Charles aged just 15 is a solicitor's clerk, boarding at 17 Dame Street, Islington, London with Charles and Jane Cawley. John Aubry Osborne is a scholar at Royal British Orphan Asylum, Slough Berkshire.  Sarah Jane, now known as Jane, is lodging with the McCormick family in Laverstoke, Hampshire.  Lastly 8-year-old Frederick is boarding with the Clayton family in Maidenhead.

 

 

Royal British Orphan Asylum, Slough Berkshire.
Once stood across from Slough Railway Station.

 

 

I am unable to locate Jane on the 1881 Census, however she remarries on 20th February 1888 to Charles Twyman in Peckham, London.  Her son-in-law Edwin Watson, and daughter Florence Watson were witnesses.  Jane was widowed again and remarried on 17th October 1904 to John Roberts.  Jane's son Frederick George was a witness.

 

So sad that this family were cast to the four winds after James Osborne's death.  I hope that they managed to find some happiness in their lives.