Edith Annie Percy (1859 – 1926)

Edith Annie Percy was born in 1859 in Newbury the daughter of George Peover and Hariet Mary, nee Pullen, Percy. In the 1861 and 1871 censuses she was recorded living with her parents and siblings at St Mary’s Hill in Newbury, her father George was a currier.

By the time of the 1881 census Edith was living at 17 High Street in Yeovil and was working as a draper’s assistant. There was a draper plus 11 assistants and two servants living in the house.

Subsequently in the 1891 census Edith was recorded with her parents and siblings Isabel, Arthur, Charlie, Harold and Harry living at 64 Cheap Street in Newbury. Her father George was a leather seller while Edith had no occupation

Edith’s father George died on 10 May 1899 and he was buried on 13 May at Newtown Road Cemetery.  In the 1901 census Edith was still living at 64 Cheap Street with her mother and sisters Ada and. Isabel, Edith had no occupation recorded but her mother and sisters were all shop keepers selling fancy articles. Just two years later Edith’s mother Harriet Mary died in September 1903 and she was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 9 September.

In the 1911 census Edith was recorded as the head of the house living at 2 Hampstead Terrace with her sisters Ada Gordon and Isabel and a domestic servant. All three sisters were recorded as being of private means.

Ten years later in the 1921 census Edith and her sister Isabel were still living at 2 Hampstead Terrace, their sister Ada having died just months before the census and she was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 28 January 1921.  Both Edith and Isabel were recorded as being of independent means.

Edith died in February 1926 aged 66 and she was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 3 March. There is an inscription for Edith and her sisters Isabel and Ada on their shared grave.

Edith’s parents George Peover and Harriet Mary Percy were buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 13 May 1899 and 9 September 1903 respectively. In addition, five of her sisters were also buried at Newtown Road Cemetery, Florence on 24 July 1865 aged 7, Eva on 15 April 1874 aged 19, Ethel Florence Mary on 1 October 1890 aged 17, Ada Eliza Gordon on 28 January 1921 and Isabel on 27 June 1942.

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