1854 –1929
Daughter of a blacksmith, married a labourer, five children, widowed at 41, took in a lodger.
Research:
Hannah Redding – died 1929, aged 75 years
Hannah Redding was born Hannah Pocock in 1854 in Northchurch, Berkhamsted. We first find a definite record of her in the 1871 Census, aged 16. She is living in George Street, Berkhamsted with her father Joseph Pocock, a Blacksmith, aged 39, Joseph gives his birthplace as Dudswell, Herts.
In 1875 21 year-old Hannah marries Alfred Redding, a 21 year-old labourer who was born in Chesham.
By the time of the 1881 Census the young couple are living in the High Street, Berkhamsted and have three children. Their daughter Mary Ann is 7, son Frederick is 4 and baby Rose just one year old. Hannah’s father, Joseph, now aged 47, is also living with them but passed away in 1885, aged 51 years.
We find Hannah and Alfred in the 1891 Census now living at Highfield Road. Alfred, now 37, is listed as a Garden Labourer. Daughter Mary Ann is no longer at home, but son Frederick is 14 and still at school, as is Rose, now 11. They also have three more children, Ellen, aged 7, William Ernest aged 3 and baby Edith Hannah just 8 months old.
Hannah suffered a hard loss when her husband Alfred passed away in 1895 at the young age of 41, leaving her a widow with five children to support. By 1901 Hannah, now 47, was still living in Highfield Road. Her son Frederick (24) was with her and working as a Grocer’s Assistant, while 13 year-old William is doing his bit for the family finances by working as a Milk Carrier. The baby of the family, Edith, is now 10 years old and at school.
The 1911 Census finds Hannah at 31 High Street, Berkhamsted aged 58, her children have all left home, but she has a 29 year old lodger, Albert Lilley, to help with her income.
Hannah spent the last years of her life at 6 Highfield Road. She passed away in 1929, aged 75, and was interred at Rectory Lane Cemetery, where she now rests.