Person:Ann Foster (15)

Ann Foster was baptised on 28th July 1833 at Flamstead in Hertfordshire, daughter of a straw plaiter called Ann Foster, formerly Simpson, and her husband Thomas Foster, an agricultural labourer. She appears in both the 1841 and 1851 censuses living with her parents and siblings in Flamstead.

In 1852, she had a son called John. Three years later, on 21st April 1855, she married an agricultural labourer named Thomas Neal at Flamstead.

The 1861, 1871 and 1881 censuses find Ann living with Thomas in Flamstead with their children. In each of those censuses she was described as making straw hats.

Thomas died in 1885, aged 52. The 1891 census finds Ann living with her youngest daughter in widows' almshouses in Flamstead. In 1901 she appears to have been visiting in the nearby town of Harpenden.

In 1906 Ann gave evidence at the inquest into the death of one of her neighbours in the almshouses, having found the body. At the inquest she called the almshouses Sebright Cottages, and said that she received two shillings per week and the cottage.

The 1911 census finds Ann still at the almshouses. She died in 1912, aged 78.

1. ↑ England. Births and Christenings, 1538-1975. (FamilySearch, Ancestry.com, Findmypast).

   ch. 28 Jul 1833, Flamstead, Hertfordshire: Anne daughter of Thomas & Anne Forster

   Needs to be confirmed at Hertfordshire Archives.

2. ↑ England. 1841 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class HO107; Piece 441; Book 1; Folio 43; Page 10, 6 Jun 1841.

   Address: Flamstead, Hertfordshire
   Thomas Foster, male, 45 [1791-6], Ag[ricultural] Lab[ourer], born in county
   Ann Foster, female, 45 [1791-6], born in county
   Sarah Foster, female, 19 [1821/2], born in county
   Zilphah Foster, female, 15 [1825/6], born in county
   William Foster, male, 10 [1830/1], born in county
   Ann Foster, female, 7 [1833/4], born in county
   Matilda Simpson, female, 24 [1816/17], born in county
   Edward Greenhill, male, 45 [1791-6], born in county

3. ↑ England. 1851 Census Returns for England and Wales. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class HO107; Piece 1715; Folio 386; Page 22, 30 Mar 1851.

   Address: Flamstead, Hertfordshire
   Thomas Foster, head, married, male, 56 [1794/5], Ag[ricultural] Lab[ourer], b. Hempstead, Hertfordshire
   Ann Foster, wife, married, female, 54 [1796/7], Straw Plaiter, b. Flamstead, Hertfordshire
   Ann Foster, daughter, unmarried, female, 17 [1833/4], Straw Plaiter, b. Flamstead, Hertfordshire
   Matilda Simpson, niece, unmarried, female, 34 [1816/17], Straw Plaiter, b. Flamstead, Hertfordshire
   Sarah Simpson, niece, female, 6 [1844/5], Straw Plaiter, b. Flamstead, Hertfordshire
   George Simpson, nephew, male, 3 [1847/8], Straw Plaiter, b. Flamstead, Hertfordshire
   Edward Greenhill, lodger, unmarried, male, 60 [1790/1], Draws Water, b. Flamstead, Hertfordshire, blind

4. ↑ England. 1861 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class RG9; Piece 840; Folio 65; Page 19, 7 Apr 1861.

   Address: Flamstead, Hertfordshire
   Thomas Neal, head, married, male, 29 [1831/2], Ag[ricultural] Lab[ourer], b. Dunstable Houghton Beds
   Anne Neal, wife, married, female, 28 [1832/3], Bonnet Sewer, b. Flamstead, Hertfordshire
   John Neal, son, male, 8 [1852/3], Scholar, b. Flamstead, Hertfordshire
   Thomas Neal, son, male, 5 [1855/6], b. Flamstead, Hertfordshire
   Frederick Neal, son, male, 4m [1860], b. Flamstead, Hertfordshire

5. ↑ England. England and Wales. 1871 Census Schedules. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class RG10; Piece 1388; Folio 54; Page 4, 2 Apr 1871.

   Address: Delmer End Cottages, Flamstead, Hertfordshire
   Thomas Neal, head, married, male, 40 [1830/1], Ag[ricultural] Lab[ourer], b. Bedfordshire
   Ann Neal, wife, married, female, 37 [1833/4], Straw hat sewer, b. Flamstead, Hertfordshire
   Frederick Neal, son, male, 11 [1859/60], Farmers boy, b. Flamstead, Hertfordshire
   Selina Neal, daughter, female, 7 [1863/4], Scholar, b. Flamstead, Hertfordshire

6. ↑ England. 1881 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands: . (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class RG11; Piece 1455; Folio 59; Page 17, 3 Apr 1881.

   Address: Delmer End Cottage, Flamstead, Hertfordshire
   Thomas Neal, head, married, male, 49 [1831/2], Ag[ricultural] Lab[ourer], b. Toddington, Bedfordshire
   Ann Neal, wife, married, female, 46 [1834/5], Bonnet Sewer, b. Flamstead, Hertfordshire
   Selina Neal, daughter, unmarried, female, 16 [1864/5], Bonnet Sewer, b. Flamstead, Hertfordshire
   Jane Neal, daughter, female, 8 [1872/3], Scholar, b. Flamstead, Hertfordshire
   ~ [next household at Delmer End Cottage] ~
   Thomas Neal, head, married, male, 25 [1855/6], Ag[ricultural] Lab[ourer], b. Flamstead, Hertfordshire
   Mary A. Neal, wife, married, female, 26 [1854/5], Straw Hat Finisher, b. Dinton, Buckinghamshire

7. ↑ England. 1891 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class RG12; Piece 1125; Folio 55; Page 22, 5 Apr 1891.

   Address: Widows Cottages - Almshouses, Flamstead, Hertfordshire
   2 rooms occupied
   Ann Neal, head, widow, 58 [1832/3], Straw Hat Maker, employed, b. Flamstead, Hertfordshire
   Jane Neal, daughter, single, female, 18 [1872/3], Straw Hat Machinist, employed, b. Flamstead, Hertfordshire

8. ↑ England. England. 1901 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class RG13; Piece 1310; Folio 6; Page 3, 31 Mar 1901.

   Address: Wheathampstead Road, Harpenden, Hertfordshire
   5 or more rooms occupied
   William Reed, head, married, male, 51 [1849/50], Straw Hat Manufacturer, Own account, b. Harpenden, Hertfordshire
   Louisa Reed, wife, married, female, 45 [1855/6], Straw Hat Manufacturer, Own account, b. Preston, Hertfordshire
   Philip Henry Reed, son, single, male, 19 [1881/2], Riveted Boiler Maker, worker, b. Harpenden, Hertfordshire
   Violet Rosalie Reed, daughter, single, female, 12 [1888/9], b. Harpenden, Hertfordshire
   Leslie William Reed, son, single, male, 10 [1890/1], b. Harpenden, Hertfordshire
   Anne Neal, visitor, widow, female, 60 [1840/1], b. Flamstead, Hertfordshire

9. ↑ England. 1911 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom: The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.))
   Class RG14; Piece 7764; Schedule 131, 2 Apr 1911.

   Address: Widows Cottages, Flamstead, Hertfordshire
   1 room occupied - Almshouse
   Mrs Neal, head, female, 78 [1832/3], widow, 6 children born alive, 4 children still living, b. Flamstead, Hertfordshire

10. ↑ Deaths index, in General Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration. (London: General Register Office).

    d. Annie NEAL, March Quarter 1912, Hemel Hempstead Registration District, Volume 3a, page 969, aged 79 [1832/3]

11.   Herts Advertiser, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Page 2, 10 Feb 1906.

    FLAMSTEAD.
    SUDDEN DEATH.-An inquest was held on Monday last in the Sebright Room, Flamstead, before Mr. Lovel Smeathman, coroner, and a jury, of which Mr. Thomas Mew was elected foreman, upon the body of Elizabeth Robinson, aged 74 years, widow of James Robinson, an agricultural labourer.-Ann Neal, widow, of Sebright Cottages, stated that deceased lived next door to her but one in the Sebright Widow's Cottages. They got 2s. a week and the cottage, and the deceased had also 2s. a week from the parish. Deceased had a cough and seemed short of breath at times. Witness saw her alive the last time on Saturday. She came to witnesses's room about 9 o'clock in the morning, and stayed about five minutes. About a quarter ten on Saturday night she went to deceased's door, as she had not seen her since the morning. It was not locked. She opened it a little way and saw the deceased lying on the floor behind the door on her broom, the handle of which was against the door. Witness saw that she was dead as soon as she got a light. She went to the son of deceased, who lived at Trowley Bottom, and left other neighbours with deceased. Deceased's son came back with her.-Sarah White and William Robinson (son of deceased) gave confirmatory evidence as to the finding of the deceased.-Dr. Harford N. Edwards said he attended deceased some two years ago. He thought it probable she had fatty disease of the heart. She was very stout, and used to complain of shortness of breath. He was sent for on Saturday last at 11.30 p.m., and found deceased at the foot of the bed in the downstairs room. Witness examined the body. The legs and feet were rather swollen, suggesting hear failure. Deceased had probably been dead some hours, but he could not say how long. It was possible she died on Saturday morning. He thought her death was due to syncops from heart disease.-The jury returned a verdict accordingly.