Newman Mead (1849 - 1922)

Born 16 Jul 1849 in Long Marston, Hertfordshire, England

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth Newens — married Jun 1871 in Berkhampstead, Hertfordshire, England

Husband of Martha Ann (Roberts) Mead — married 12 Oct 1875 in Long Marston

Descendants

Died 16 Nov 1922 at age 73 in Long Marston, Hertfordshire, England

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Biography

Newman was born in Long Marston, Hertfordshire, on the 16th July 1849. He was the second of four children preceded by Charlotte and followed by William and Mary Elizabeth (commonly called Polly).

In the 1861 census Newman, aged 11, was listed as an agricultural labourer. He obviously had a short childhood before joining his father doing farm work – not that there would have been much choice for them.

In the April 1871 census Newman, aged 21, was an agricultural labourer and was still living with his parents and siblings in Long Marston. It was probably around this time that he started working more with cattle becoming, eventually, a herdsman.

In the June quarter of 1871 he married Elizabeth NEWENS. The NEWENS family lived two households away from the MEAD family in 1871. Her parents were Thomas and Elizabeth and she in the census, 'Betsy' was a straw plaiter, the same occupation as Newman's sisters and quite a few other younger women in the area. (see MEAD Josiah 1841 census)

In 1874 a birth was registered for Walter MEAD and in the same quarter a death was registered for Walter MEAD aged 0. In the June quarter there is a death entry for Elizabeth MEAD aged 30 and, sadly, in the September quarter of 1874 there is yet another death entry for William Thomas MEAD aged 0.

I think we can safely assume that Elizabeth gave birth in, or around, March 1874 to twin boys. One died at birth and the other died some time later. Elizabeth herself died in or around June quite probably from complications casued by a difficult childbirth.

On October 12 1875 Newman MEAD, now 26, married Martha Ann ROBERTS in Long Marston Parish Church. Poignantly, on the same day Charlotte NEWENS (Elizabeth’s sister?) was also married.

At the time of the 1881 census Newman and Martha were living in Willesden, Middlesex. William and Elizabeth were with them and Gertrude would have been born soon after. Ellis James was 4/5 years old and, in the census,was listed as staying with his maternal grandparents in Cheddington Lane, Long Marston.

In between the 1881 census and Albert's birth in 1887 the family moved to Upper Clapton where Newman was working on Clapton Common, as a herdsman for United Dairies. A large quantity of milk was sent down to London from the Long Marston area and it's possible that Newman was known to United Dairies whilst he was still living in Long Marston.

In 1887 when Albert Josiah was born the family was living at 13 Dudlington Tce, Southwold Rd, Upper Clapton, Middlesex, District of Hackney.

Ten years later, at the time of the 1891 census, the family had moved yet again, this time they were living to 13 Dudlington Road, Hackney which is just around the corner from the 1881 address.

Finally, in the 1901 census, they were living at 6 Conduit Street, Hackney. Susan, the last child, was born in the registration district of Hackney so the last 4 children were born at one of the above three addresses.

Two years later, in 1903, Martha died at the London Hospital, Whitechapel with Gert by her side. The cause of death on her death certificate was appendicitis/general peritonitis. She was probably worn out from being pregnant for 7 ½ years. She was buried in Whitechapel.

At some point after Martha's death Newman returned to Aylesbury, to 67 Chiltern Street. Susan was married in Aylesbury in December 1919 and he is present in her wedding photograph. so, presumably, she'd returned with Newman or perhaps was looking after him. Did any of the other children return to Aylesbury? Newman doesn't appear in any local directories around that time but he is listed on the electoral register from 1918-1922 at that address. He qualified under residency rather than occupation.

Newman died in 1922, Mary was with him, and doesn't appear to have left a will, nor is there an obituary for him in the local paper. He is buried in an unmarked grave.

Sources

Birth: "England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2XSX-RPM : 1 October 2014), Newman Mead, 1849; from "England & Wales Births, 1837-2006," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Birth Registration, Berkhampstead, Hertfordshire, England, citing General Register Office, Southport, England.

Marriage to Elizabeth: "England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2DLH-VHJ : 13 December 2014), Newman Mead, 1871; from “England & Wales Marriages, 1837-2005,” database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing 1871, quarter 2, vol. 3A, p. 559, Berkhampstead, Hertfordshire, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.

Marriage to Ann: "England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2DPC-763 : 13 December 2014), Newman Mead, 1875; from “England & Wales Marriages, 1837-2005,” database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing 1875, quarter 4, vol. 3A, p. 683, Berkhampstead, Hertfordshire, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.

Death: "England Deaths and Burials, 1538-1991," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J8M3-GMF : 24 December 2014), Newman Mead, burial 16 Nov 1922; citing Long Marston, Hertford, England, index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 1,040,844. No image available England Deaths and Burials, 1538-1991

Certificates:

Newman MEAD m Elizabeth NEWENS Berkhampstead RD 3a 559 June quarter 1871 Walter MEAD b Berkhamstead 3q 443 March quarter 1874 Walter MEAD d Berkhamstead 3q 296 March quarter 1874 Elizabeth MEAD d Berkhamstead 3q 251 June quarter 1874William Thomas MEAD b Berkhamstead 3q 443 March quarter 1874 William Thomas MEAD d Berkhamstead 3q 255 September quarter 1874 Martha MEAD d 6/11/1903 aged 52 Whitechapel 1c 177 Newman MEAD d 16/11/1922 aged 73 Aylesbury 3a 969