James Gillam died 1819 & Sarah Gillin died 1826

[mirl]

Hi,

Wondering is anyone can find more details of these two burials which I am hoping are husband and wife.

James Gillam buried at Speen 1819 born 1757 so aged 62

Sarah Gillin buried at Speen 1826 born 1758 so aged 68

Many thanks in advance,
Colin

[ribbo39]

Hi Colin,

The burials CD (ex Berks FHS) show;

James Gillam bur. 11-6-1819 arged 62 of Speen

and

Sarah Gillin bur. 23-8-1826 aged 68 of Newbury.

Both buried in Speen St.Mary.

Thats all that is recordecd but ties in with your records.

Alan

[mirl]

Hi Alan,

Thank you for finding those details.

On face value they appear to be the James Gillan & Sarah Chaney who married in Speen in 1776.

I am trying to connect them to the the James (a soap boiler or maker) & Sarah Gillin who had six children in London; Maria 1779 Finsbury, Sarah 1781 Finsbury, James 1782 Finsbury, Charlotte 1784 Clerkenwell, Charles 1786 Shoreditch, and George 1789 Clerkenwell.

George lived in the Speen/Newbury area from about 1816 to 1864 and that just seems too coincidental to me.

[Capetown]

?  Reading Mercury - Saturday 19 March 1864

On the 15 inst., at Gravel Hill, Sheen, Mr GILLAM late of Newbury, aged 78.

-----

??

Saturday 9 November 1845, Berkshire Chronicle

NEWBURY

FIFTH OF NOVEMBER

This being the anniversary of the gunpowder plot, was as usual a busy evening at Newbury, where a great number of fireworks were according to custom let off in Northbrook Street.

We have not heard of any very serious accident, although a son of Mr Gillam's had a narrow escape, a large quantity of combustibles in his pocket having taken fire, and before he could get his coat off it was torn to pieces by the explosion of the contents.

[mirl]

Thanks, Capetown,

The one source I hadn't looked at, a newspaper.

I shall look for more.

[Capetown]

I only have access to Family Search now, but see the Gillam's did live in Northbrook Street 1841 (as mentioned in the article).

Not sure if this article helps

Newbury Weekly News and General Advertiser - Thursday 20 February 1890

WHISPERS FROM SPEEN

At the same time a baker's and confectioner's business was carried on by Mr Benjamin Curry in the house now know as "Alma Cottage" and a baker's and grocer's by Mr James White in the know known as "Bath Cottage".

After a few years Mr Freebody (having previously had the two private houses turned into one, and had suitable shop windows put in) removed to where Mr Lewendon now carries on the grocery business, continuing there till his removal from the village.

'Succeeding tenants probably did not understand the business, for none seemed to make it answer (although in the meantime the other two shops had been given up) until the late Miss Gillam came, whose father had formerly kept a grocer's shop in Northbrook-street Newbury, where Mr Long's china and glass warehouse now is.  After her decease as it well known, the premises were again made into two houses, being some four years later made into one, when Mr Lewendon became the purchase.