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Hi all, is anyone free to help search please?

Rachel Ockwell was born 1810 in Farringdon, Berkshire. She married a Richard Hambidge (born 1803 Eaton Hastings, Berkshire) and they had 4 children together (Maria, Louisa, Isaiah and Sarah) Richard died in 1838 and Rachel then went onto to live with Richard's brother George Hambidge (born 1809). They then had 9 children together (James, George, Elizabeth, Louisa, Harriett, Clara, Martha, William and Mary). We do not believe George and Rachel married though due to some law where you cannot married you deceased husband's brother?

I can last find Rachel on the 1881 census. Rachel is listed as widow and living with her daughter Clara and her family at Southampton Street, Farringdon, Berkshire

I have been told that Rachel died in 1902, aged 92, in Farringdon Union Workhouse. This is where I'm stuck as I'm really trying to find out when and why she ended up in the workhouse when she has such a large family. Seems so sad.

Is it possible someone could check census or other records after 1881 that may explain things or point me in the right direction? Would there be a record of her death in the workhouse at all?

Many thanks, Sarah

According to The Workhouse website for the Farringdon Union workhouse the Guardians minute books are held in the Berkshire Records Office, in Reading.

The elderly needing hospital care are often found in the workhouse hospital section.

According to freebmd a Rachel Hambidge died age 91 in Faringdon. You will be able to get her death certificate from the GRO.

Thank you for this info. Once its safe to do so we do plan to visit Berkshire's record office. I'm going to get on an order her death certificate.
It was more the actual census records after 1881 to see where she was living then.
Many thanks

Name: Rachel Hambedge
[Rachel Hambidge]
Gender: Female
Age: 80
Relationship: Mother-in-law
Birth Year: 1811
Child: Clara Haynes
Birth Place: Faringdon, Berkshire, England
Civil Parish: Great Farringdon
Ecclesiastical parish: Faringdon
Residence Place: Faringdon, Great Farringdon, Berkshire, England
Registration District: Faringdon
Sub registration district: Faringdon
ED, Institution or Vessel: 3
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 975
Folio: 33
Household Members:
Name Age
Mark Haynes 39
Clara Haynes 39
George W Haynes 15
Martha Haynes 14
Emily Haynes 9
Frederick Haynes 8
Oliver Haynes 5
Albert Haynes 3
Rachel Hambedge 80
Frederick Cox 61
Save.

1901 census.
Name: Rachel Hambidge
Age: 89
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1812
Relation to Head: Inmate
Gender: Female
Birth Place: N
Civil Parish: Great Faringdon
Search Photos: Search for 'Great Faringdon' in the UK City, Town and Village Photos collection
Ecclesiastical parish: All Saints and Little Coxwell St Mary
Town: Faringdon
County/Island: Berkshire
Country: England
Street Address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Education:

Employment status:

View image
Registration District: Faringdon
Sub-registration District: Faringdon
ED, institution, or vessel: Faringdon Union Workhouse
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 1128
Folio: 133
Page Number: 2
Household Schedule Number: 1
Household Members:

Thank you Kay. This is my husband's x 4 great grandmother. Just seems such a sad end for her.

As Nameslessone has said, workhouses were often used by those needing medical care.

It doesn't mean she was a pauper, necessarily - but just a patient in hospital.

These records are from fmp. Bit of discrepency in burial dates. Looks like she died on the 17th and buried on the 21st.

Berkshire Burial Index

First name(s) Rachel
Last name Hambidge
Age 91
Birth year 1811
Residence admitted from the parish of Gt Faringdon
Death year 1902
Burial year 1902
Burial date 17 May 1902
Church Union Workhouse
Place Faringdon
Notes buried at Gt Faringdon
County Berkshire
Country England
Record set Berkshire Burial Index



Berkshire Burial Index

First name(s) Rachel
Last name Hambidge
Age 91
Birth year 1811
Residence Faringdon
Death year 1902
Burial year 1902
Burial date 21 May 1902
Church All Saints
Place Faringdon
County Berkshire
Country England


Hambidge—On the 17th inst, at Faringdon, Rachel Hambidge, aged 92.

24 May 1902 - Faringdon Advertiser and Vale of the White Horse Gazette - Faringdon, Berkshire