Missing Mary!! Abery nee Brant

[MarksWife]

Hi,

I cannot find Mary Abery (Avery) nee Brant in the 1861 census.  Please can anyone find her for me??

Mary b 1789 Whitchurch, husband Abraham, he is in Burghfield in 1861.

They lived in Tilehurst.

Thanks 

[KGarrad]

Could this be her?
Reference RG09, Piece 755, Folio 36, Page 8
Binfield, Berkshire

North, John  Head  M  76  Farmer  b Binham
North, Dihanna  Wife  F  72  b Early, Berkshire
Avery, Mary  Servant  F  73  General Servant  b Tilehurst
Simmond, Richard  Servant  M  50  Carter  b Hurst
Taylor, Thomas  Servant  M  16  Carter  b Hurst
Smith, Robert  Servant  M  12 Cow Boy  b Binfield

[MarksWife]

Oh my!! I really hope it's not. A servant at her age with family she could live with.

Thank you. How did you find her?

[KGarrad]

I just searched 1861 for a Mary Avery in Berkshire, born 1789!
I did, at first search for a birthplace in Oxfordshire, but this was the best I could find.

Not all data on a census can be relied on to be accurate!!

[Vicwinann]

Markswife
This is indeed Mary nee Brant.  Part of my family again. I don't know why you should be so shocked that she was still someone's servant.

It was not always the case that relatives could afford, or had the space, to look after elderly family, any more than it is today. That is another middle class fallacy perpetuated by school history lessons.

The fact is that until the advent of the NHS, very often you worked until you were no longer able to do so, then either went into the workhouse, or dropped dead before that happened.  A few had generous employers who gave them a pension.
In 1871 Mary is a widow with her 8yr old grandson back in Tilehurst.
She died in 1878 as Mary ABERY  She had 9 children but not all survived to adulthood. Her father died a few weeks before she was born. Of worm fever, whatever that was.
Vicwinann

[MarksWife]

Thanks kgerrard, it would seem it is my Mary after all.

Hi , vicwinann.  Thank you for confirming Mary as being a servant. I guess I was surprised to find her as a servant because her husband was with family on the same census year.

It is difficult to imagine such a hard life for someone especially at that time in their life. No relaxing retirement!

I have her in 1871 with grandson as a pauper in that lovely address known as 'the gutter' in Tilehurst.


Thanks
Markswife