Biography of Mary Ann DAVIS
[Ref. O.54]
| Ancestors |  |
Profile | |
Index for DAVIS |
Biography of Mary Ann DAVIS
[Ref. O.54]
| Ancestors | |
Profile | |
Index for DAVIS |
Mary Ann Davis was born in Outwell, Cambridgeshire and was baptised in March on 3 October 1813. She was the daughter of Joseph and Ann Davis but it is not known if she had any siblings.
Mary moved to Shoreham in Kent where she became pregnant and, in 1932, bore a child which she named Mary Ann. She had met James Smith in Shoreham and it can be supposed that he was the father of her child. They decided to get married so the banns were read on 1, 8 and 15 September 1833. The marriage took place in the parish church at Shoreham on 16 September 1833.
Their next ten children were all born in Shoreham. Son William was born in 1834, daughter Sarah was in 1836 then Ellen in 1837. Son Henry followed in 1839. The census of 1841 shows the family resident in the Pig and Whistle pub in Shoreham.
Daughter Ann was born in 1841 then son James William around 1845. Daughter Fanny followed in 1846 then son Thomas in 1850. The family seem to have moved around 1851 as the census of that year shows the family living with James' widowed mother in Romney Street, Eynesford. Son John was born in 1853.
James' mother passed away some time in the next decade but Mary and James and their family remained in Romney Street until James' death. The census of 1861 confirms the family in Romney Street. Sometime thereafter, Mary Ann took lodgings in Eynsford. However, on the census of 1871 they were living at Romney Street Beer House where James was listed as the publican. James died on 20 November 1872 at home in Romney Street, Shoreham. It is probable that Mary continued at the beer house until moving to Eynsford.
The census of 1881 shows Mary lodging at Vine House in High Street, Eynsford, the home of grocer Charles Williamson and his wife Elizabeth. She is listed as a retired licenced victualler. In 1891 Mary is one of two boarders at 1 Church Cottages in Eynsford Street, Eynsford, the home of gardener Richard Childs and his wife Annie.
Mary suffered with bronchitis in her later years. On 4 May 1891, she fell in the road and broke her leg and subsequently died on 4 July the same year. The death certificate records that an inquest held on 9 July found that Mary Ann had died of chronic bronchitis and that the fracture had accelerated her death. She was buried in Eynsford churchyard the day after the inquest.