Life story retold by Pamela Moss, direct descendant
Content warning: contains details from an inquest into a baby’s accidental death.
Alfred LAKE, my 2x greatgrandfather, was born in Reading in 1847, the eldest child of George LAKE from Thatcham, and his wife Elizabeth Ann GUNDRY. He started out as a boilermaker, and in 1876 married Sarah Ellen EDGINTON at Reading St Mary’s. Sarah was born in Reading in 1854, the daughter of Richard EDGINTON, a general dealer from Faringdon, Berkshire (now in Oxon), and his wife Charlotte STURGES.
By 1881 they had taken over the Royal Sovereigh public house in King’s Road from Alfred’s widowed mother. They already had 3 children – Alfred Frank (born 1877), Elizabeth Ellen (born 1878) and Archibald Richard (born 1880). These were followed by Charlotte Annie, my great-grandmother(born 1882), and Martin Luther (born 1883). Sadly Martin died at just seven weeks old after a tragic accident. An inquest was held at the Royal Berkshire Hospital and was reported in the Reading Observer on 5/1/1884. Sarah, now known by her middle name Ellen, gave the following statement; “……On the 27th inst. I left 3 of my children upstairs for about 3 minutes to help my husband in the bar. While down there I heard screams. I went at once and met my little girl.,aged 5 years, holding the baby up in her arms. The clothes of the latter were burning. When I left the children I put the baby into the little girl’s arms, who was sitting by the fire. There was no guard on. I took the child to the Hospital at once, and remained there till his death at five this morning. I had heard from someone that the little girl said a stick fell out of the fire against the baby’s night dress. This is the first child I have lost.” Other witness statements were given, and a verdict of accidental death was recorded. Baby Martin was then laid to rest with his grandparents George and Elizabeth in Division 54 (grave 2646).
Despite the tragedy the family remained at the Royal Sovereign. They would have had little family support as, apart from (Sarah) Ellen’s father and Alfred’s two married sisters, all other family members had either died or moved away from Reading. Six years later in 1889 (Sarah) Ellen died, at the age of 34, due to the effects of chronic alcoholism, and was buried with her baby in the family grave.
Alfred married again in 1892. His new wife Ellen FISK had been working as a domestic servant for William Palmer, of Huntley and Palmer’s, at his home in Allcroft Road. By 1901 Alfred had retired and the family had moved to 135 Liverpool Street. The children were all still at home and all now in employment – Alfred was a railway engine stoker, Elizabeth was a barmaid, Archibald was a slater, and Charlotte was a machinist in a cloth factory.
Alfred and Ellen later moved to 26 Freshwater Road where Alfred died in 1917, at the age of 70, due to acute bronchitis and cardiac failure. Ellen went on to the age of 90 and died in 1943. They were both buried in the family grave.
Division 54, Plot 2646