James Purchell

c1804-1869

James was baptised on the 25^th May 1806, along with his sisters, Mary and Patience, at St Nicolas Church, Newbury, Berkshire, the children of John and Elizabeth Purchell.

James married in 1827

Marriage details:

Place: Woolhampton, Berkshire

Date: 30^th January 1827

Groom: John Purchell, bachelor, abode, Beenham, Berkshire

Bride: Susannah Turner, spinster, abode, Woolhampton

Witnesses: John Henry Stair and Jane Stair

(Susanna was baptised in 1791, in Beenham, Berkshire, the daughter of John and Mary Turner (nee Butler) who were married on the 5^th March 1783, in Beenham.  John was from Beenham and Mary was from Aldermaston).

James and Susanna had the following children baptised in Padworth, Berkshire:

Mary Ann, 4^th May 1828

William, 5^th April 1830             (on all baptisms James was recorded as a Carpenter)

Elizabeth, 1^st January 1832

The 1841 census records James (35) as a Publican, living in the Old Cattle Market, Newbury, with Susanna(h) (35), Mary (14), William (11) and Elizabeth (9)

In 1851 James (46), a Carpenter, employing 3 men, Susanna(h) (50) and their son William (21) were recorded living in London Road, Speenhamland, Berkshire

In 1861 James (57), a Master Builder and Susan (70), were living in Pelican Yard, Speenhamland, with their married son William (31), a Master Builder, their daughter-in-law, Rhoda (29) and Susanna’s nephew, Henry Turner (18), a Builder’s Apprentice.

James was widowed in 1862. Susanna(h) died aged 71. She was buried on the 13^th October, at St Mary the Virgin, Speen.

On the 2^nd March 1864 James became bankrupt.

The following appeared in the newspaper:

Berkshire Chronicle

Saturday 16^th April 1864

THE BANKRUPTCY ACT, 1861.

In the County Court of Berkshire, holden at Newbury. In the matter of JAMES PURCHELL of Speenhamland, in the parish of Speen, in the County of Berkshire, Carpenter, adjudged Bankrupt on the Second day of March 1864.

An Order of Discharge will be delivered to the Bankrupt after the expiration of thirty days from this date, unless an appeal be duly entered against the Judgment of the Court, and notice thereof be given to the Court.

Dated this 14^th day of April 1864.

JOSEPH VINES, Registrar.

Four years later an auction was held, the following reported in the local newspaper:

Newbury Weekly News

Dated 12^th March 1868

SPEENHAMLAND NEWBURY

Five capital Freehold Brick and Slate COTTAGES

producing a Rental of £42 18s per annum

Messrs. MAY and FULLER

Having received instruction from Mr. James Purchell to SELL BY AUCTION at the Pelican Hotel, Speenhamland, Newbury, on Tuesday the 7^th April 1868, at Two o’clock, the above- mentioned desirable PROPERTY, situate in the Back-way, let to Widow Taylor, Pottinger, Dugwell, and two others.

May be viewed by permission of the tenants, and further particulars obtained of Joseph Vines, Esq., Solicitor, Newbury, and at the offices of Messrs. May and Fuller, Land Agents and Surveyors, Newbury and Marlborough.

 James remarried in 1869, his 2^nd wife was Sarah Ann Swain

(Sarah Ann Swaine was baptised on the 29^th November 1822, at St Nicolas Church, Newbury, Berkshire, the daughter of William (a Miller) and Hannah Swain (nee Love) who were married on the 6^th June 1818, at St Michael, Tilehurst, Berkshire. Sarah Ann Swain had an illegitimate son, John James, born 1863, baptised in Speenhamland in 1864. After she married James in 1869 John James was known as John James Purchell. James Pruchell was probably the biological father of John James but this would need confirming by DNA)

James died aged 66, in 1869, in Speenhamland. He was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 14^th December.

Sarah after James death:

The 1871 census records Sarah (48), a Charwoman and her son John (7), living in Speenhamland. (Surname recorded as Fenchell on ancestry)

In 1881 Sarah (58) was recorded as a Charwoman, living in Speenhamland, Berkshire, with her son John (17), a Painter.

The 1891 census records Sarah (68) and John (27), a Coach Painter, living at 2, Gilder’s Square, Speenhamland.

In 1892 Sarah was allocated an Almshouse.

The 1901 and 1911 census records both record Sarah living alone, at 8, Bartholmew’s Almshouses, Argyle Road, Newbury, Berkshire (surname recorded as Puchell in 1901)

Sarah died aged 94, in the Workhouse Infirmary, in 1915. She was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 11^th September.

Author: gambles
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