Ruth Hawker, and Mary Ann Hawker, wives of John Hawker, Baker of King Street Maidenhead, and his son Albert Hawker

 

 

Monument to Ruth Hawker, Albert Hawker and Mary Ann Hawker, All Saint's Maidenhead Cemetery, Maidenhead, Berkshire, England.

 

 

"In Loving Memory of 

Ruth Hawker wife of John Hawker 

Died Nov 4th 1865 aged 47 

- Interred in Wesleyan Churchyard -

 

Albert Hawker fourth son of 

Ruth and John Hawker 

Died July 8th 1892 aged 42.

 

Mary Ann Hawker second wife of 

John Hawker 

Died May 26th 1896 aged 83"

 

 

Ruth Hawker was born Ruth Hester in Ascot, Berkshire in 1818 to Giles Hester, a wheelwright, and his wife Susannah Redrup.  In 1838 Ruth married John Hawker, a baker from Boyn Hill, Maidenhead.  In 1839 they celebrated the birth of their first child, a son, John Giles Hawker.

 

In 1841 the young family can be found living in Boyn Hill Maidenhead.  However by the 1851 Census Ruth and family had moved to Maidenhead High Street.  The family had since welcomed the births of Fanny, Mary Ann, William, and baby Albert.  Living with the family at the time was 17 year old George Smith, a baker's apprentice.

 

In 1861 the family were still living in Maidenhead High Street, young John Giles, Albert, and Frederick had joined the family bakery business and Fanny contributed to the household as a milliner (hat maker).  William has since become an apprentice draper in the household of Julius Neve.  Young Louisa, Frederick, and baby Robert had joined the family. 

 

Sadly in 1862 Fanny passes away.

 

In 1863 Ebenezer, the last child of John and Ruth Hawker was born.  Sadly two after her youngest son's birth, Ruth passed away on 4th November 1862.  

 

In 1869 John married his second wife, Mary Ann Brant, a dressmaker, in Eton, Berkshire.

 

Mary Ann Brant was born in Cookham Berkshire in 1812 to Thomas Brant and his wife Mary Maria Duckett.

Mary Ann first appears on the 1841 Census, aged 25, living with her widowed mother Mary Maria, and her younger brother Thomas Brant, in Market Street, Maidenhead. Mary, her mother, and brother Thomas were still living and working in Market Street in 1851.

1861 finds Mary living on her own in Park Street, Maidenhead, Berkshire.

 

By 1871 John and his second wife Mary had moved to King Street along with Albert, Louisa, Frederick, and Ebenezer.

 

1881 the family has moved again to 3 Lansdowne Villas, Norfolk Road, Maidenhead.  John is now listed as a retired baker, young Ebenezer is now an architect.  Living with John and Mary Ann is Louisa, her husband Henry and their two young children. 

  

Albert, now 29 years old, is a pauper patient at Berks County Moulsford Lunatic Asylum, listed as a lunatic, where he remained until his death on 8th June 1892

 

John and Mary Ann had moved again by 1891, into Holly Cottage on Norfolk Road. 

 

Mary Ann passed away on 26th May 1896. On the 27th May 1896 the Maidenhead Advertiser reported:

"DEATH OF AN OLD RESIDENT.

—The death has occurred, at the ripe age of 83, of Mrs. Mary Ann Hawker, wife of Mr. J. Hawker, who formerly carried on business as a baker and confectioner in King-street, but some years since retired and now resides in Norfolk park. Mrs. Hawker was well-known, having lived in Maidenhead for very many years. The funeral will take place at the Cemetery tomorrow (Thursday)."

John was to pass away three years later on 3rd December 1899. On 13th December 1899 the Maidenhead Advertiser reported:

"DEATH AND FUNERAL OF AN OLD TOWNSMAN. 

On Thursday last the funeral took place, at the Cemetery, of Mr. John Hawker, of St. Luke's-road Maidenhead, whose death ( on the 3rd inst.) we announced in our obituary column last week. The deceased gentleman was of independent means, having retired from business upwards of 21 years ago. He was in his usual good health up to within a few days of his death, and was to be seen in the streets on his tricycle, but he became ill somewhat suddenly and succumbed practically to senile decay, having attained the patriarchal age of 83 years. 

He was widely known and universally respected. The deceased gentleman had been closely associated with the trade of Maidenhead for well-nigh 60 years, for though be himself retired from active business life a couple of decades ago, he was succeeded by his son, Mr. Fredk. Hawker, as baker, &c., in King-street, who so developed the business that he now occupies one of the finest blocks of shops in the town, known as " Hawker's Market." Mr. John Hawker commenced business as a baker at Boyn Hill. He subsequently took a shop in High-street, where Mr. A. C. Rippon's tobacconist's shop now stands, and where his son Fredk. was born. When Queen-street developed into a business thoroughfare Mr. Hawker's establishment was pulled down, and the business was removed to King-street, where the "Royal Dairy" now is. The late Mr. Hawker owned a good deal of property in Maidenhead. The deceased leaves four sons, viz., Mr. John Hawker, a missionary in India; Mr. Fredk. Hawker. Mr. Wm. Hawker, and the Rev. Ebenezer Hawker. The funeral took pace on Thursday afternoon last, at the cemetery, the Rev. T. F. Lewis officiated."