Mary Samuels (1782 – 1856)

Mary Boshear was born circa 1782 in Newbury, probably Greenham. She was baptized on 9 July 1782 at St Mary in Greenham, the daughter of John and Mary.

Mary married Thomas Samuels, a widower, on 1 February 1819 at St Mary in Greenham. Thomas was born circa 1783.

Mary and Thomas had 4 children all baptized at St Nicolas in Newbury, Eliza (1817), Thomas (1820), Francis Boshear (1821) and Mary Ann (1823). Sadly, Eliza and Thomas died as infants and were buried at St Nicolas on 18 August 1819 and 31 January 1820 respectively. Francis Boshear died aged 11 and was buried on 30 March 1832 at St Nicholas. Thomas was recorded as a barber in all four baptisms.

Thomas died in April 1828 aged 45 and he was buried at St Nicolas in Newbury on 7 April.

In the 1841 census Mary was recorded with her daughter Mary Ann living in Cheap Street in Newbury with Mary a green grocer and her daughter Mary a servant.

Ten years later in the 1851 census Mary was recorded with her married daughter Mary Ann Paice, her husband Henry and their two children Daniel and Mary Ann living in Cheap Street in Newbury. Mary was a schoolmistress, her daughter Mary Ann a dressmaker and Henry an iron moulder.

Mary died in May 1856 aged 74 and she was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 5 May.

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