Operated by East Boldre Community Stores Limited.
Community Benefit Society, number 8481
THOMAS READ
DORCAS READ
MARTHA READ
Reflectance Transformation Imagery
In Affectionate Remembrance of
THOMAS READ
WHO DIED OCTOBER 21ST 1884
AGED 55 YEARS
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RESTING ON THE PROMISE OF GOD
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And
DORCAS READ
DAUGHTER OF THE ABOVE
WHO DIED MAY 29TH 1871
AGED 7 YEARS
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Also
MARTHA READ
WHO DIED OCTOBER 25TH 1884
AGED 52 YEARS
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IN THE MIDST OF LIFE WE ARE IN DEATH
Thomas Read was born in 1829 to William (a woodman) and Mary Ann (nee Andrews) in Denny Lodge, the third of their seven children. According to the 1841 census they lived outside the Beaulieu parish boundary, probably near Otterwood.
Thomas married Miriam Prince (1827 - 1884) of Furzey Lodge in Boldre church on 11th July 1850. The 1851 census shows the couple living in Beaulieu Rails (East Boldre) and Thomas working as an agricultural labourer.
Over the next 17 years they had seven children together. The 1861 census shows the family living in Otterwood Cottage with William working as an agricultural labourer, possibly on Otterwood Farm and their four eldest children at school. By 1871 the family are living at Hilltop with Thomas working on the Beaulieu estate. The 1881 census shows them living with their two youngest children at Humminks and Thomas working as a woodman.
Thomas died 3 years later and was buried at the chapel by the Rev John Bartlett Burt.
The 1891 census shows Miriam as a widow living alone and working as a nurse. She married John Bound in 1892 but the 1901 census shows her as a widow again.
Dorcas Read was the 6th of Thomas and Miriam's children she was born in the first quarter of 1863. The 1871 census shows her as at school aged 8. She was buried on 2nd June 1871 by the Rev John Bartlett Burt, one of six children to be buried in East Boldre's chapel graveyard that year.
Martha Read was Thomas' sister, born in 1831. Martha never married and lived with her parents into her 30’s. The 1861 census shows her living with their 62-year-old parents at Hill Top.
When her brother George’s wife, Louisa, died in 1868, Martha moved in with him and his two children (Frances Louisa and Ernest) to act as their housekeeper. In the 1871 census they lived at North Gate, Beaulieu. By 1881 they were living at Otterwood Gate where George was a farmer of nearly 5 acres and general dealer.
She was buried at the chapel by the Rev John Bartlett Burt on 30th October1884.
Researched by St Barbe Museum's young curators.
3D photogrammetry model