Martha Prior

c1808-1877

Martha, her parents, siblings and early life:

Martha was baptised on the 22^ndMay 1808, at St Michael and All Angels Enborne, Berkshire, the daughter of John and Sarah Bulpit (nee Smith) who were married on the 15^thJanuary 1799, at St Mary, Marlborough, Wiltshire. (Surname recorded as Bulpet at time of marriage.)

John and Sarah also had the following children:

William baptised 4^thJuly 1799, at St Mary, Marlborough, Wiltshire.

Elizabeth privately baptised 18^thAugust 1801, admitted into the church St Peter and St Paul, Marlborough, Wiltshire, on the 4^thJune 1802

Joseph baptised 25^th August 1805, at St Michael and All Angels, Enborne.

The 1815 census of Newbury records John (44), Sarah (40), William (15), Elizabeth (13), Joseph (9) and Martha (7), living on the east side of the Wash Newbury.

Martha’s mother Sarah died aged 43, in 1818, she was buried on the 24^thMay, at St Michael and All Angels, Enborne. Her father John died aged 67, in 1836, he was buried on the 14^thMay, at St Nicolas, Newbury.

Martha in later life:

Martha married Thomas Dowland on the 13^thDecember 1828, at St Michael and All Angels, Enborne. She was widowed in 1837. Thomas died aged 47, he was buried on the 17^thOctober, at St Nicolas, Newbury.

Martha remarried on the 24^thFebruary 1840, in Thatcham, Berkshire. Her 2^nd husband was Daniel Prior.

(Daniel was baptised in May 1808, at St Michael’s and All Angels, Enborne, Berkshire, the son of Isaac and Ann Prior (nee Holley) who were married on the 18^thNovember 1788, in Greenham, Berkshire. Daniel (surname recorded as Pryer) married Elizabeth Herman on the 10^thFebruary 1834, in Thatcham, Berkshire. They had a daughter, Eliza, born on the 19^thOctober 1935. Eliza was baptised on the 15^thNovember 1935, at St Nicolas Church, Newbury (dad record as a Labourer, abode, The Wash). Eliza died aged 11 months, she was buried on the 4^thOctober 1836, (as Elizabeth) at St Nicolas, Newbury. (Parents recorded as Daniel and Elizabeth of Wash Common). Daniel was widowed in 1838, Elizabeth died aged 23, she was buried on the 14^thSeptember, at St Nicolas, Newbury.

Daniel and Martha had the following children:

Isaac, born 11^th May 1841, baptised 25^th July 1841 (dad a Labourer, abode, Wash Common)

William, born c1843

Sarah, born 8^th September 1848, baptised 8^th December 1848 (dad a Labourer, abode, Newbury)

The 1841 census records Daniel (30), an Agricultural Labourer, Martha (30) and their son aged 1 month, (name not known, later named Isaac) were recorded living at the Wash, Newbury, Berkshire.

In 1851 Daniel (44), an Agricultural Labourer, Martha (43), Isaac (9), William (8) and Sarah (2), were living in Wells Yard, Bartholomew Street, Newbury

The 1861 census records Daniel (55), an Agricultural Labourer, Martha (52) and their son Isaac (19), an Agricultural Labourer, living in Eyles Yard, Bartholomew Street, Newbury.

Martha was widowed again in 1869, Daniel died aged 65, on the 6^thDecember. He was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 10^thDecember.

The 1871 census records Martha (67) as a Charwoman, living alone, at 6 Bartholomew Place, Newbury.

Martha died on the 17^thJanuary 1877, (aged at death recorded as 73) she was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 19^thJanuary.

Newbury Weekly News

Dated 25^th January 1877

Jan. 17, at Bartholomew-place, Newbury, Martha Prior, aged 73.

http://www.fnrcnewbury.org.uk/persondetails.asp?PersonID=3712

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