Life story retold by Paul Beecroft
Sacred to the Memory
of
THOMAS ROUND
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE
NOVR 15TH 1858
IN THE 61ST YEAR OF HIS AGE
IN HOPE OF A JOYFUL RESURRECTION
ALSO CHARLES
THIRD SON OF THE ABOVE
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE
DECR 23RD 1870
IN THE 41ST YEAR OF HIS AGE.
“FOR SO HE GIVETH HIS BELOVED SLEEP.”
In
Loving Memory of
JANE ROUND
DIED MAY 23RD 1889
AGED 55 YEARS
ALSO OF HENRY JAMES
HUSBAND OF THE ABOVE
DIED JULY 25TH 1901
AGED 67 YEARS
ALSO OF ARTHUR FREDERICK PAINTER
GRANDSON OF THE ABOVE
DIED AUG. 14TH 1894
AGED 5 YEARS
Thomas ROUND was born in Reading in 1798 and baptised at St. Lawrence’s in Reading on the 3rd November 1798. His parents were Thomas ROUND (1772-1817) and Elizabeth ROUND nee JERRUM (-1824). They were married in Reading in 1789. They had four children. Elizabeth (1790), Mary (1792), Charles (1794) and then Thomas who was the youngest in 1798.
Thomas married Anne STRATFORD in Reading on 22nd April 1824. They would have five children. William (1825-1909), Thomas (1827-1906), Charles (1830-1870), Henry James (1834-1901) and Anne Louisa (1836-). Anne Louisa was baptised at St. Mary’s, Reading on 5th June 1836. Thomas’s wife, Anne, died in 1836 the same year that Anne Louisa was born. She was buried in Binfield, Berkshire.
The census for 1841 shows Thomas residing in Chatham Street with his sons Thomas, Charles and Henry. There is no mention of Anne Louisa. His occupation is shown as a Cabinet Maker. The 1851 census shows Thomas and his sons Thomas and Charles residing at 64, Chatham Street. Thomas’s occupation is again shown as a Cabinet Maker. His son Thomas is a Baker and Charles is a Cabinet Maker like his father. Henry is now living at 125, London Street, Reading and is an Apprentice Upholsterer.
On Saturday, August 30, 1851 Thomas had an advert printed in the Berkshire Chronicle:-
49, BROAD STREET, READING
THOMAS ROUND
UPHOLSTERER, CABINET MAKER, PAPER
HANGER & HOUSE AGENT.
(For Thirty Years and upwards in the employ of Messrs. ALLAWAY of Minster street; and also of Mr. JAMES ALLAWAY, who has lately retired from business), BEGS respectfully to inform the Nobility, Gentry, and inhabitants of Reading and Neighbourhood, that he has commenced Business on the above premises, on his own account, and trusts that the experience he has had in the above branches, particularly in the Paper hanging department, together with prompt and careful attention in all orders, will enable him to give satisfaction, and obtain a share of public patronage and support.
Reading, August, 1851
The exact year is not known but Thomas’s son William emigrated to Australia and is known to have married there to Elizabeth CHAUNDY who had been born in Oxford. William and Elizabeth had many children. William died in 1909 and is buried at St. Kilda, Port Phillip City, Victoria.
Henry married Jane TURTON, who was born in Reading. They married in Middlesex on 15th January 1855. His occupation is shown as an Upholsterer. His brother Charles signed as a witness. Their marriage resulted in seven children, George Henry (1853-1925), Charles Frederick (1856-1930), Frederick William (1859-1925), Louisa Jane (1861-1865), Louisa Jane (1865-1924), William (1867-1873) and Elizabeth (1872-1963).
Thomas died in 1858 on November 15th and he was buried in Reading Old Cemetery. Probate was heard on 30th November at the Principal Registry on the oaths of Thomas and Charles the Executors. The record states that they were both of Broad Street and that Thomas was also of Broad Street and confirmed that he was also a Cabinet Maker.
Charles married Sarah Ann PICKWICK in April 1859 in Reading. They appear to have had one child, William Charles (1862-1931).
The census for 1861shows Charles and Sarah living at 49, Broad Street. His occupation now is shown as that of Paper Hanger. Also resident is Thomas ROUND and Frederick PICKWICK a visitor and undoubtedly a relative of Sarah. Henry and his wife Jane are resident at 64, Chatham Street with their children.
Charles and Sarah eventually moved away from Reading. It is not known exactly when. Charles died on 23rd December 1870. He had been living with his family in Upper Richmond Road, Putney.
The Reading Mercury reported:-
On the 23rd inst., at Putney, Surrey, after nearly three years of painful suffering, Charles, third son of the late Mr. Thomas Round, of Broad-street, Reading, in the 41st year of his age.
Charles’s body was brought back to Reading and he was buried with his father in Reading Old Cemetery.
In 1871, the census shows that Thomas is now residing with Sarah and Sarah’s son William Charles at the house in Upper Richmond Road, Putney. Thomas’s occupation is now shown as a China and Glass Dealer. Henry remains with his family at 64, Chatham Street and would remain there until 1901.
In 1881, Thomas is now living in Wandsworth and is employed as a Clerk. Sarah and her son William Charles have moved back to Reading and are living at 14, Carey Street.
In April 1889, Henry’s wife Jane died. She was buried in Reading Old Cemetery.
In 1891, both Sarah and Thomas are living at 68, Laleham Road, Staines. Sarah is shown as the head of the household, and both are shown as living on their own means.
By 1901 both of them have moved again. Thomas is now living in Eton and is shown as being 73 years old. Sarah is living in Jocelyn Road, Richmond and is 70 years old.
Henry died on 25th July 1901. The death was reported in the local newspaper stating that he had died at 42, Addington Road the residence of his daughter (Elizabeth Jane) and was late of Chatham Street. He was buried with his wife Jane in Reading Old Cemetery.
Both Thomas and Sarah died in 1906. Sarah died in Richmond and Thomas in Eton. It is not known where they are buried.
The inscription on the headstone of Henry and Jane also relates to their grandson Arthur Frederick PAINTER, aged 5 years. Arthur was the son of their daughter Louisa Jane (1865-1924). She married William Frederick PAINTER in 1887. At some point following the death of their son they emigrated to the United States.
Thomas is buried in Division 54, Row F, Plot 14.
Jane and Henry are buried in Division 44, Row C, Plot 3