Louisa L Newton 1850-1913

Sandpaper manufacturer.

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Facts

Date   Event   Source
25 Jan 1850   Louisa Lewitt Newton was born at 4 Halfords Square, in Charles Street, Leicester. She was the first child of James Newton, a fancy framework knitter, and Ann Cooke. The origin of her christian names is not obvious prima facie - no one in either parent's family is known to have been called Louisa or Lewitt. See James Newton for theories.   Birth certificate
20 Feb 1850   She was christened at St George's church, Leicester, at 26 days old.   St George's parish register
30 Mar 1851   The following year, she was living with her parents at 3 Wigston Street, Leicester.   Census
1852-1868   Over the next few years, 6 sisters and a brother were born, at about 2-year intervals - Ann, Alice, Richard, Nellie, Maria, Ada and Betsy.   St George's parish register
7 Apr 1861   By the time she was 11, the family were living at 7 Hunt's Yard, Short Street, Leicester, and she was employed as a 'warehouse girl'.   Census
Jul-Sep 1861   Her brother, Richard Cooke Newton, died aged 1.   BMD index
1 Oct 1868   At 18, she married John Thacker (also 18), a shoe finisher, at St Margaret's church, Leicester. Her address at the time was Wilton Street. She could not read and write at this stage in her life. She was between 3 and 6 months pregnant (see next)   Marriage certificate
Jan-Mar 1869   Her first child, Annie Louisa, was born.   BMD index
27 Jun 1869   Annie Louisa was christened at St Margaret's.   St Margaret's parish register
7 Oct 1870   Her second child, George, was born at 105 Birstall Street.   Birth certificate
1871   The family had now moved to 15 Syston Street.   Census
30 Mar 1872   George died of smallpox, aged 1.   Death certificate
Abt Jul 1872   Her third child, William, was born.   Assumed from next
20 Feb 1873   William died aged seven months of 'inflammation of lungs'. The family's address was now 30 Willow Street.   Death certificate
1 Jun 1873   Her sister, Annie, married Thomas Smith, shoe hand.   LDS Church records
Jul-Sep 1874   Her 4th child, Arthur James, was born.   BMD index
19 Aug 1874   Her mother died aged 44 of bowel cancer.   Death certificate
Apr-Jun 1876   Her 5th child, John Albert (Jack), was born.   BMD index
Oct-Dec 1877   Her sister, Alice, married Thomas Barwell, shoe hand.   BMD index; census
Jan-Mar 1878   Her sixth child, Ada Gertrude, was born.   BMD index
Jul-Sep 1879   Her sister, Ada Catherine, married William Henry Parker, shoe finisher.   BMD index; census
Oct-Dec 1880   Her seventh child, Edith, was born.   BMD index
1881   At 31, she was still living at 30 Willow Street.   Census
Jul-Sep 1882   Her 8th child, Horace, was born.   BMD index
Oct-Dec 1884   Her 9th child, Lizzie, was born.   BMD index
Jan-Mar 1885   Lizzie died a few months later.   BMD index
Jan-Mar 1887   Her 10th child, Clara Lynda, was born.   BMD index
23-30 Jan1888   Her unchristened children to date were all christened, at St Luke's church, Leicester.   St Luke's parish register
Jan-Mar 1888   Her sister, Nellie, married Charles Allen, bricklayer's labourer.   BMD index; census
15 Nov 1888   When she was 38, she had her 11th and last child, William Ernest. The family's address was now 2 Palmerston Street. She was still leaving her mark rather than signing her name.   Birth certificate
Jul-Sep 1889   Her eldest daughter, Annie Louisa (20), married James Burrows, who later became manager at John Thacker's shoe finishings business.   BMD index; John Thacker
Oct-Dec 1889   Her youngest sister, Betsy, married Tom Hastings, shoe clicker   BMD index; 1891 census
20 Apr 1890   William Ernest was christened at St Luke's.   St Luke's parish register
Jul-Sep 1890   Her sister, Maria, married William Todd, corn miller   BMD index; 1891 census
5 Apr 1891   The family were living at 2-4 Palmerston Street.   Census
Oct-Dec 1894   Her eldest surviving son, Arthur James (20), married Mary Emma Wells.   BMD index
Oct-Dec 1897   Her sister Betsy's husband Tom died, aged 32.   BMD index
19 Mar 1898   She was present at the death of her grandmother, Mary Ann Cooke (formerly Earl), at 1 Court a, Charles Street, Leicester.   Death certificate
2 Jul 1898   Her husband died of stomach cancer, aged 48.   Death certificate
Jul-Sep 1899   Her sister, Betsy, married James Arthur Allsop, shoe rivetter.   BMD index
1900   Her address was 358 Humberstone Road.   Wright's Directory
19 Jun 1900   Her son, John Albert (24), married Mary Ellen Iliffe of Nottingham at the Register Office, Nottingham. When the couple later divorced (see 1906, below), this was referred to in the press as a 'secret marriage'.   Marriage certificate;

Nottingham Evening Post
1901   Now 51, her address was 148 Humberstone Road and her occupation sandpaper manufacturer (employer). Her daughter Edith (forewoman sandpaper manufacturer) was living at the same house, and her eldest son, Arthur, was at 375 Humberstone Road.   Census
1902   Her son, Horace, was a private in the Cape Colonial Force in South Africa (Second Boer War).   War Office: medal roll
Jul-Sep 1902   Her daughter, Edith, married William Henry Harris.   BMD index
25 Oct 1904   Her youngest son, William Ernest, (aged 15) was apprenticed to Thomas Forknall, engineer, of Blake Street. Her address was 15 Melbourne Road. She signed the indenture document - she had learnt to read and write.   Indentures, William Ernest Thacker
21 Jan 1905   Her eldest son, Arthur, died of pneumonia after influenza, aged 30.   Death certificate
Jun 1906   Her oldest surviving son Jack's divorce proceedings were reported in the press, including his admission of adultery ('misconduct'), and his plea for forgiveness for bringing disgrace on his 'dear mother'.   Dundee Courier;
Nottingham Evening Post
btwn 1905-10   She sat for a studio photograph with her seven surviving children.   Photograph
12 Dec 1905   Her son Jack's wife Ellen petitioned for divorce, on the grounds of his adultery (with one Hannah Davies) and cruelty towards her.   Civil divorce records
2 Apr 1906   She was staying in Bournemouth.   Postcard home
14 Jan 1907   Jack and his wife were divorced.   Civil divorce records
Oct-Dec 1907   Her daughter, Clara Lynda, married Cyril Ebenezer Earl.   BMD index
21 Sep 1909   Her son, Horace, married Catherine Annie Webb (formerly Berridge) at St Saviour's Church, Leicester.   Marriage certificate
2 Apr 1911   On census night she was at 'Oaklands', Scarborough Avenue, Skegness, with her daughter, Ada Gertrude.   Census
19 May 1911   At 61, she made a will. Her address was 120 Evington Road.   Will
25 Feb 1913   She died at the age of 63 at 'Loxley Grange', Lansdowne Road, Bournemouth, of 'pneumonia; 5 days'. William E Thacker, her youngest son, was present at the time of death.   Death certificate

  She was buried at Welford Road Cemetery, in plot CM 703, with her husband.   Welford Road Register
1913   She left £3705 1s 10d.

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