Mary Payne (1853 – 1855)

                                    Unnamed Payne (1858 – 1858)

Harriet Payne was born in 1838 in Thatcham, the daughter of Benhamin and Harriet, nee Allen, Payne. She was baptized on 28 January 1838 at St Mary in Thatcham.

In the 1841 census Harriet was recorded living with her parents Benjamin and Harriet along with brothers Benjamin aged 7 and William aged 5 in Cheap Street in Thatcham. Her father Benjamin was a chair maker.

Ten years later in the 1851 census Harriet was recorded with her parents and siblings Benjamin aged 16, William aged 14, John aged 8 and Eleanor aged 4 in Mills Yard off Cheap Street in Newbury. Benjamin senior was a chair maker and turner.

Harriet gave birth to a daughter Mary on 1 October 1853 at Mills Yard off Cheap Street in Newbury. The birth was recorded by Harriet on 24 October.

Sadly, Mary died in September 1853 aged only 2 at Mills Yard and she was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 1 October.

On 30 January 1858 a stillborn child of Harriet Payne was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery. The only Harriet Payne recorded living in Newbury in either the 1851 or 1861 censuses was Harriet baptized in 1838 in Newbury. Births of stillborn children in 1858 were not recorded so although the exact details of the mother cannot be verified it is extremely likely this is the correct mother.

Harriet’s mother Harriet died in July 1858 aged 54 and she was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 30 July.

Harriet married Jospeh Alexander Brownjohn in 1862 in Newbury. Joseph died a few months after the marriage and he was buried on 8 November 1862 at St Mary in Greenham. Harriet remarried on 26 June 1869 at St John in Newbury to George Lake. Harriet and George continued to live in and around Newbury and in 1901 were living in Shaw cum Donnington. Harriet died on 28 November 1904 at Malta Villa in Speen and she was buried on 1 December 1904 at St Mary the Virgin in Shaw.

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