Sarah Elizabeth Stillman (1863 – 1942)

                             Sarah Elizabeth Smith was born 1863 in Newbury, the daughter of Henry and Elizabeth, nee Sheppard, Smith.

In the 1871 census Sarah was living with her parents Henry and Elizabeth, brother Frederick Henry aged 16 and sisters Fanny Caroline aged 12 and Mary Ann aged 10 at Alton Place, Magdala Terrace in Newbury. Henry and Frederick were both recorded as a coach trimmer.

Ten years later in the 1881 census Sarah as living with her parents and sister Mary Ann at 137 Bartholomew Street in Newbury. Her father Henry was still a coach trimmer and both Sarah & Mary Ann were recorded as dressmakers.

Sarah married Francis Herbert Stillman on 26 August 1884 at St Nicolas in Newbury.

In the 1891 censuses Sarah and Francis and children Frank aged 4, Percival aged 2 and Leslie Frederick aged 10 months were living at 6 Craven Street in Newbury with Francis working as a newspaper reporter. Sadly just a few weeks after the census Sarah and Francis’s son Leslie Frederick died on 22 April 1891 at 78 Weldale Road in Reading and was buried 29 April 1891 at Newtown Road Cemetery. Leslie was just over 10 months old having been born 1 June 1890 at 6 Craven Street.

Ten years later in 1901 Sarah and Elizabeth were living at 31 Craven Road with children Dorothy Ethel aged 9, Cecil George aged 6 and Harold Brice aged 4 along with a servant. Francis was recorded as a journalist reporter. Sarah and Francis were still living at 31 Craven Road in the 1911 census along with four children, Frank Stanley aged 24 a journalist reporter, Dorothy Ethel aged 19 a clerk, Cecil George aged 16 a clerk at timber merchants and Harold Brice aged 14 still at school. Francis was now a journalist sub editor and reporter.

Francis Herbert Stillman died 11 August 1929 and was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 14 August 1929. He worked for many years for the Newbury Weekly News rising to the post of editor, further details can be found on the Newtown Road Cemetery website.

Sarah died 11 May 1942 while living at 94 Craven Road and was buried 14 May 1942 at Newtown Road Cemetery. She left a will and probate was granted 12 October 1942 at Llandudno to her sons Percival Herbert Stillman, schoolmaster, Cecil George Stillman, architect, and Harold Brice Stillman, inspector Ministry of Supply. The value of the estate was £8,923 10s 7d.

Sarah’s parents were buried at Newtown Road Cemetery, her father Henry Smith on 11 June 1904 and her mother Elizabeth Smith on 10 January 1924.

Author: Gerald Soper
© Gerald Soper