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WILLIAM JOHN (aka JOHN WILLIAM) WALKER
John’s birth registration, baptismal & marriage records show his name to be John William though he did reverse the names at times. His death & burial records show him as William John. He was born in 1851 in Ashmansworth, Hampshire. His parents were Thomas & Sarah Walker.
In 1861 the family were living in The Mount area of Woolton Hill, near the Star Inn, a Beer House. Thomas, 40 & an Agricultural labourer & Sarah 37. John is 10 & his siblings are: Maria, 15 & Charlotte, 10.
No record has been found for 1871 but he may have been in the Army as he is listed as an Army Reserve Soldier in 1881.
By that time, he had married Maria Gore (Ref: 586) at St Thomas’, Woolton Hill, East Woodhay where they were both living. Q4 1876 Kingsclere 2c 502.
In 1881 they were living in Stroud Green, Greenham, Newbury. John is 29 & Maria, 25; Nellie, 3 & Hannah, 1.
There are newspaper reports of John, also being called William, being convicted of crimes such as gaining money by false pretences in the late 1880s. He also had convictions going back to 1884 – see attachments.
On 22 October 1890, he was sentenced to 6 months hard labour. This meant that he was not at home at the time of the 1891 census on April 5th.
1891 sees Maria, 36 & a Laundress living at Ward’s Building, Greenham with 4 children: Nellie, 13; Lucy 11 (Hannah), 11; Blanche, 5 & Ernest 6 months.
They move to 2, Fairleigh Cottages, York Road, Newbury by 1901. John is 47 & a general labourer. Maria is 45 & a Laundress Wash. Henry, 18 is a Bricklayer; Blanche, 15 & a Laundry maid; Ernest, 10 & a scholar; Kathleen, 8; Dora, 6 & Albert, 4.
In 1911, they are at the same address but Maria, 55, is listed as Head in the census. (John) William is 58 & a labourer; Nellie, 31& a Laundress; Ernest 20 & a Bricklayer’s labourer; Kathleen, 17 & at Home; Dora, 16 & a Linen Polishing Machinist & Albert, 14 & a Garden boy.
William John, aged 70, died on 27 March 1921 at 12, York Road. The daughter mentioned on the death certificate has also changed her name – she was originally Hannah & then Lucy.
He was buried at NRC on 2 April 1921.
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