William Tranter

c1818-1877

William was born in Newbury the son of Benjamin and Martha Tranter (nee Thorne) who were married on the 23^rd May 1816 at St Nicolas Church Newbury.

William’s parents:

The 1815 census of Newbury records William’s father Benjamin (35), living with his mother Mary (60) and his sister Sarah (30) on the east side of Bartholomew Street Newbury (Benj. Kimber’s).

Benjamin and Martha also had a daughter Ann born c1826

In 1841 William’s parents Benjamin (65), a Corn Porter and Martha (60), a Fruit Seller and his sister Ann (15) were living in Kimber’s Court Newbury. William was not recorded in the household with them.

His father died aged 70 1842 he was buried on the 12^th October at St Nicolas Newbury

William:

William married Mary Tucker in 1844 in Newbury and they had the following children:

Hannah Ann 1847

William c1850

Martha Elizabeth 1852

Charlotte 1856

Mary Jane 1861 (died aged 0 in 1861 laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 5^th April)

In 1851 William (31) was working as a Grocer’s Porter living in Kimber’s Yard Newbury with his wife Mary (26), their children, Hannah (3) and William (1), his mother Martha (63) a Pauper Greengrocer and his niece Mary Swain (6).

The 1861 census records William (42), as a Labourer, Mary (36), Hannah (13), William (11) and Charlotte (4), living in Robeson’s Yard Newbury.

William was widowed in 1864 Mary died aged 40 on the 29^th September, she was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 4^th October

William’s mother Martha died aged 78 two years later she was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 4^th June 1866

After his wife’s death William became involved with Ann Maria Giles (aka Maria). Maria was also known as “The Cunning Woman of Newbury”, an unsavoury character, often in trouble with the law.

On the 5^th March 1868 William was sentenced to 3 months hard labour and Maria, to 18 months hard labour for obtaining money by false pretences with intent to defraud.

William and Ann Maria married in Newbury the following year.

The 1871 census records William (57), as a Bricklayers Labourer, Maria (50), as a Midwife and Charlotte (14) living in the City Newbury.

William died aged 58 in 1877 as a result of a terrible accident he was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 18^th September

Sources: as above