Lucy Smith (3 Apr 1791 - 28 Jan 1875)

Bradfield, Berkshire in 2013

Lucy Smith was christened on 3 April 1791 at St Andrews Church, Bradfield, Berkshire, England to parents William and Elizabeth Smith.

The door of the Bradfield Church

Rumour has it she became pregnant to a Lord of a Manor or son of a Lord in a Manor where she worked as a domestic servant.  This would have been in around March of 1819.  Where she was working at this time is unknown.

She gave birth to Robert Smith on 9 January 1820 at St Andrew's Church, Bradfield, Berkshire, England.  She was 29 years old.

It is believed that Lucy and her parents William and Elizabeth raised Robert.

English census is as follows:

1841 - Living in South End Road, Bradfield, Berkshire, England.  She is listed as a 45 female servant living in same house as James BARLOW (b. c 1776 - male servant), Sarah LOADER (60), Frederick POCOCK (b. c 1827 - male servant) and John PUSEY (b. c 1786 - male servant).  Next door is James LOADER (50), a Baily and Jane LOADER (40).  Her son Robert would have been 21 by this time.

1851 - Living at 52 Oxford Place, Reading, England.  She is listed as a servant (unmarried) 59yrs with Sarah LOADER (70yrs, retired farmer's widow) and Fanny NEALE (visitor, 52yrs, companion to a lady).  Lucy's surname is recorded as "NEALE" and not "SMITH".  All three people were born at Bradfield.

1861 - Living at 52 Oxford Street, Reading, St Mary, England. Living as a Lodger & House Servant.  She describes herself as married. (Query: would she have described herself as "widowed" if she had ever been married?) Head of house was Sarah LOADER, aged 83 yrs and also born at Bradfield.  A nurse Fanny NEALE aged 61yrs was also in the house.

1871 -  Living in Burghfield (pronounced Berf-field), Berkshire, England with her son Robert Smith and his wife Lucy.  Aged 80yrs.

Lucy received parish relief for herself and her son Robert on a regular basis - payments began monthly then changed to fortnightly. The amounts ranged from 3/6 to 6/6. She also received the odd loaf of bread and money for a calico shirt for Robert. The fact that she received such relief suggests that the parish did not or could not find the father. It was normal practice to get the father to support the child where possible. So, perhaps the father was not known, had left the parish, was poor, or simply denied responsibility. The records are only a list of payments and give no other information. The records stopped at 1825.

The Return of Owners of Land of 1873 has a Miss Smith listed as having land at Ashampstead, Berkshire.  The extent of the land was 2 1 20 and the gross estimated rental was 77 pounds 13 shillings.

Lucy died on the 28 January 1875.