Martha Hibbert/Hibberd

1805-1879

Martha was born on the 24^th August 1805, she was baptised on the 6^th October 1805 at St Nicolas Church Newbury, the daughter of William (c1769-1814) and Jane (c1767-1843) Hopson (nee Liddard) who were married on the 2^nd August 1790 at St Nicolas Newbury.

In 1815 Martha (9) was living at The Marsh, on the east side of Northbrook Street, Newbury, with her widowed mother Jane (44) and her siblings, John (17), William (15), Elizabeth (13), Sarah (12), Ann (7), Mary (3) and Henry (2).

Martha married John Burkett on the 7^th February 1831 at St Clement Danes, Middlesex. They had a daughter Charlotte born c1831 in Middlesex. John died aged 25 in the Smallpox Hospital in 1832 and was buried on the 22^nd May in Camden.

After her husband’s death Martha moved back to Newbury. Her daughter Charlotte was baptised on the 26^th May 1833 at St Nicolas Church Newbury, her father was recorded as Thomas Burkett (Deceased), a London Policeman.

Martha remarried on the 13^th June 1836 at St Nicolas Church Newbury. Her 2^nd husband was Simon Atkins (born c1812, recorded in 1839 Trade Directories as a Beer Retailer in Jack of Newbury Yard, Newbury). The had 2 children, Sarah born c1837 and Joseph born 1839. Simon died aged 28 in 1840, he was buried on the 15^th August at St Nicolas Newbury.

The 1841 census records Martha (30) as a Beer Seller, living at 84 Northbrook Street, Newbury with her children, Charlotte Burkett (10), Sarah Atkins (4) and Joseph (2). Living next door was a James Hibberd (20).

Martha gave birth to a daughter Elizabeth Harriet Adams in 1842, she was baptised on the 15^th May 1842 at St Nicolas Church Newbury (as Elizabeth, no father recorded).

She married again on the 25^th December 1848 at St Nicolas Church Newbury, her 3^rd husband was James William Hibberd, a Bricklayer (the next-door neighbour in 1841).

(James William was baptised on the 9^th April 1820 at St Martin with St Mary Magdalene Mission Church Salisbury, the son of James and Elizabeth Hibberd).

The 1851 census records Martha (43) and James Hibberd (31), Sarah Atkins (14), Joseph Atkins (12) and Elizabeth Hibberd (8) living at 21 Northbrook Street, Newbury.

In 1861 Martha (54) and James (41) (surnames recorded as Hibbert) were still living in Northbrook Street. Joseph Atkins (21), a Bricklayer, Elizabeth Atkins ((19) and a grandson Frederick J Atkins (3), were also living with them.

James William Hibberd died aged 46 in 1866, he was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 27^th July. (Surname mistakenly recorded as Hilliard in the Cemetery Accounts Book)

The 1871 census records Martha (67) as a Beer House and Green Grocer living at 67 Northbrook Street, Newbury. Her son Joseph Atkins (31), his wife Mary Ann (33) and Martha’s grandson Frederick Atkins (3) were also recorded in the household.

Martha died aged 78 on the 17^th June 1879, she was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 20^th June. (surname recorded as Hibbert on GRO and FREEBMD website)

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