Jesus Hospital, Bray, Berkshire, UK |
Sunday 31 March 2024
Jesus Hospital - Thomas, Amelia and Edward Prince
Sunday 24 March 2024
"No Greater Honour and No More Worthy" - James and Eleanor Burnham
All Saint's Cemetery, Maidenhead, Berkshire UK |
"In Loving Memory of James Burham Died 1914 and of his wife Eleanor Burham Died 1929 and of their grandaughter Veronica Stenberg Born 1929 Died 1993 a dear wife to Rudy Stenberg Born 1930 Died 2018."
James first appears on the 1861 Census living in Maidenhead High Street with his parents and his four brothers, William, Joseph, Tom, and Frank. In 1867 their mother Matilda Burnham passed away aged 50. William was remarried in Maidenhead in 1868 to Jane Fenner.
No greater honour and no more worthy and appropriate tribute of respect for one who during his life had rendered most valuable service for the good of the community among who he lived, could have been accorded by that by the townspeople on Thursday afternoon at the funeral of late Mr. James Burham, who on the 27th July passed away at his residence, Hope Villa, Marlow-road, Maidenhead, after a long illness. Generally, there seemed to be a desire on the part of the inhabitants to publicly express their regret at the loss of a good fellow-citizen, and to pay their last respect to one who had been so highly esteemed, and who won the affection of all with whom he came into contact. Thousands of people of all classes were present in the streets and at the Cemetery, and the funeral was a profoundly impressive spectacle. The members of the Maidenhead Fire Brigade laid their late Chief Officer to rest with all honour due to a fireman, and, moreover the deceased, who had served with distinction in the Maidenhead Company of the Berkshire Volunteers, and who ranked as an hon, lieutenant of the Maidenhead companies of the Berkshire National Reserves, was accorded the privilege of a military burial."
Sunday 17 March 2024
And I Will Give You Rest - John and Mary Ann Thomas - Fairground Proprietors
All Saint's Cemetery, Maidenhead, Berkshire, UK. |
In loving memory of John Thomas who passed peacefully away Nov 2nd 1914 aged 53 years.
Farewell dear wife my life is past.
I loved you well while it did last.
John Thomas was born in Walworth, Surrey in 1861 to parents Evan John Thomas, a Travelling Hawker from London, and Sarah Ann. On 23rd of August 1880 at Holy Trinity Church, Newington, Surrey, John Thomas married Mary Ann Smith.
Mary Ann Smith was born in Blackwater Hampshire in 1858 to parents William Smith, a Travelling Hawker and later a Steam Circus (Fairground) Proprietor, and Mary Ann.
In 1881 the newlyweds John and Mary Ann can be found living with Mary Ann's parents on Chertsey Road, Windlesham, Surrey, in three fairground carts. Both John and Mary Ann's occupation is listed as Games Assistant.
Types of Living Waggons |
1891 finds both the Smith and Thomas families living in a collection of caravans on the Bath Road in the village of Colnbrook, Buckinghamshire. Living with John and Mary Ann are their children, Mary Ann born in 1881, Lavinia born in 1882, Sarah born in 1885, John (Jonto) born in 1887, and Lousia born in 1889. Two further children were to join the family, Albert in 1891 and Willaim Lewis in 1892.
No trace of the family can be found on the 1901 Census, which is not unusual for travelling or fairground families. However, in 1904 Mary Ann was summoned to court in Windsor for noise nuisance at Windsor Fair. The Slough, Eton, and Windsor Observer reports as follows:
"Mary Ann Thomas, William Hastings, Samuel Jones, Richard M. Warrick; and William Biddell were summoned at Windsor under a new bye-law for causing to be made by an organ a loud and continuous noise to the annoyance of residents and passengers.
John and Mary reappear on the 1911 Census living in caravans at Fair Field, Guildford Street, Chertsey, Surrey. John is listed as being a Fair and Roundabout Proprietor and Mary Ann as an Assistant to the Business. Living nearby in another caravan is their son William Lewis Thomas, his wife Lillian, and their one-year-old son William. It is possible John and Mary Ann, and their son were in Guildford Street for the annual Black Cherry Fair, held in Chertsey.
Guildford Street, Chertsey, Surrey c1910 |
Colourised Photograph of the Black Cherry Fair, Chertsey, Surrey. |
John was to pass away in Reading, Berkshire, on 2nd November 1914 aged just 53. Mary Ann passed away in Reading, Berkshire, aged 77 in 1935.
Sunday 10 March 2024
Left Me for a Little While - Jane Hughes
All Saint's Cemetery Maidenhead, Berkshire, UK |
All Saint's Cemetery Maidenhead, Berkshire, UK |
"In Ever Loving Memory of my dear wife Jane Hughes who left me for a little while on Febry 18th 1903 aged 66."
Jane Hughes was born Jane Green in 1837 in Dorchester, Oxfordshire, England. In 1859 Jane married Samuel John Hughes in Stepney, London.
The first record found on Jane and Samuel is the 1871 Census where Samuel is the Master and Jane is the Matron of the West Ham Union Workhouse. Samuel and Jane are still Master and Marton of the Union Workhouse in 1881, living with them are their daughter Caroline born in 1863, and their son Frank born in 1873. In 1891 their daughter Kate, a High School Mistress born in 1864 has joined her parents in living at the Workhouse.
By the 1901 Census both Samuel and Jane have retired to College Avenue in Maidenhead, Berkshire. Jane was to pass away on 18th February 1903. After that Samuel seems to disappear from the records.
Sunday 3 March 2024
Grandmother and Granddaughter - Eliza King and Helena Margaret Kempton
All Saint's Cemetery Maidenhead Berkshire UK |
The newly married couple can be found on the 1861 Census living at 24 Gold Street, Northampton, Northamptonshire, England, along with their 8-month-old son Thomas Taplin King, their servant Annie Hillyard, and Thomas's Assistant Outfitter, Thomas Sands.
Gold Street, Northampton, Northamptonshire |
Eliza and Thomas's daughter Helena Eliza King was born in 1864 in Maidenhead, Berkshire. On the 1871 Census she is listed as Eleaner E King, aged 7, a visitor at the home of Charles Denison, a Shorthand Clerk living at 5 Park Terrace, Islington, London.
By 1871 the family had moved to Harcourt Villa, Broadway, Maidenhead, England, where the family had expanded to include, William born in 1863, Frank born in 1867, and Herbert Sidney born in 1868.
On the 1881 Census, Helena can be found living with her mother, elder brother Thomas Taplin, and younger brother Herbert Sidney at Harcourt Villa, Broadway, Maidenhead, Berkshire. Thomas Sr, now listed as a Commercial Traveller, can be found at Blossoms Hotel, 10 Foregate Street, Cheshire,
Helena Eliza was to lose her daughter Helena Margaret on 28th February 1962 aged 72. She was laid to rest with her grandmother at All Saint's Cemetery, Maidenhead, Berkshire.
Helena Eliza was to be reunited with William when she passed away on 1st September 1962 aged 97, they are buried together a short distance from Eliza King and Helena Margaret Kempton.