JOSEPH WALKER

Joseph was born on 28 May 1845 (Q2 1845 Lambeth 4 310) & baptised on 13 May 1845 at Lambeth St Mary.

His parents were Joseph (Ref: 12160) & Martha (nee Myhill & Ref: 4008) Walker.

By 1851 they had moved to Northcroft Lane, Newbury. Joseph was 5 & his father, 36, was a Shoe Maker & his mother, 36, was a Boot Binder. There were two other children: Hanna, 8 & Elizabeth,1. An apprentice was also living with them.

In 1861 the family were living in Nursery Garden Cottage, Newbury (near Old Newtown Road). Joseph, 15, is an Apprentice Bootmaker. His father, 46, now employs 3 boys: Joseph Maskell, 18; Frank Hughes, 16 &William Walker, 19. William was born in Hungerford & is probably a relation but no relationship is shown on the census. Martha, 46, has had another child, Eliza Jane, 7. Hannah is 18 & Elizabeth, 11.

1871 sees the family living at 103, Northbrook Street, Newbury. It appears they now run a shop as Hannah, 28 & Elizabeth, 21, are Assistants. Joseph is a Boot maker, aged 25.

Joseph marries Emily Sarah Mathews (Ref: 2006) in Q4 1871 Newbury 2c 471.

In 1881 they are living at 1, Falkland Terrace, Andover Road, Newbury. They are both 35 & Joseph continues to be a Boot maker. They have 5 children:

Annie, 7; Joseph, 6; Louise, 5; William, 3 & Alice, 2.

They had another son in 1882, Frederick Ernest (Ref: 4638) but he sadly died in 1883.

In 1891 the family are living at 24, Cheap Street, Newbury. Joseph & Emily are 45 & their son, Joseph H, 16, is now an Apprentice Bootmaker. Annie, 17, is a Kitchenmaid; William, 13 & Alice, 12.

1901 sees them at 1, Highgate Villas, Queen’s road, Newbury.  Joseph, 54, is now recorded as a Bootmaker & a Shopkeeper. Emily is 54 with Joseph, 26, & Alice, 22, being Bootmaker’s assistants.

Joseph dies on 17 September 1905, aged 60. Q3 1905 Newbury 2c 140. He was buried at NRC on 20 September 1905.

Probate of £708 17s 6d went to his son, Joseph, & to William Walker – both Bootmakers. William is presumably the apprentice mentioned in the 1861 census.

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