Biography of Charity Ann HARDING
[Ref. P.271]
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Index for HARDING |
Biography of Charity Ann HARDING
[Ref. P.271]
| Ancestors | |
Profile | |
Index for HARDING |
Charity Ann Harding was the eleventh and last child of John and Mary Ann Harding and was born in Crawley in Hampshire on 21 October 1849, and was baptised there on 18 November the same year. The census of 1851 shows the family having moved back to Core Hill near Sidbury in Devon where her parents had originated. They were still there when the census was taken in 1861.
Charity married painter George Lee of Sidmouth on 18 October 1868. George was the same age as her and the wedding took place in the parish church in Sidmouth. Daughter Ann was born the following year. The 1871 census shows Charity and George with daughter Anne living in Woolbrooke in Sidmouth ahe her occupation is given as a dressmaker. Anne only survived a short while and died in 1873 aged four. Son Harry H was born about 1874 and daughter Annie M about 1877.
Her husband George died in 1881. When the census was taken that year, Charity was at home in Middle Woolbrooke in Sidmouth with her two surviving children which were mistakenly listed as grandchildren. She was listed a a charwoman. On 28 November 1885, she married bachelor naval pensioner Edwin Parsons at Exeter register office. He was five years her senior and their address was recorded as Paul Street in Exeter. Daughter Rose was born in Sidmouth about 1889 and Maud the following year.
The 1891 census records the family living at Stanley House, Russell Street in Sidmouth. Children Harry and Annie were recorded with the surname Parsons of their step-father although they were born with the surname Lee, Also daughter Rose's name is recorded as Rosa.
Charity lost her second husband Edwin when he died in 1899. The census of 1901 finds the family at 5 Alma Cottage in Sidmouth Road, Sidmouth, Devon with Charity working as a laundress. Son Harry Lee is still living with his mother as are daughters Rose, Maud and Margi There is also 19 year old boarder Herbert Archibald living there with his grandson Robert Grange and grandaughter Margie Grange. Charity's address in 1911 was at 1 Russell Street in Sidmouth.
Her son Harry had married in 1901 but passed away in 1909, leaving eight year old daughter Edith Mary and seven year old son Harry Channon living with her. The whereabouts of Harry's wife is not known. Charity completed the census form herself that year and it is full of mistakes and corrections which makes it hard to decipher. She describes herself as a laundress taking in washing at home. There are her two young grandchildren in the house as well as two boarders.
Charity lived until 1934 when she passed away in the Honiton registration district.
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