Page 54 - ‘A Blaker Family History’ The family history of Joseph Blaker (1916-2007; ‘Joe’)

© The Blaker Society
© The Blaker Society

Thomas’ parents were William Smith and Jane Barton. Nothing is known
about Thomas’ early life. At the age of 27 years, he married Hannah
Blaker.

St. Katherine’s Church, Merstham – Possible Site of Marriage

6.19.2.2 Hannah Blaker and Thomas Smith
After their marriage, Hannah and Thomas lived in Merstham, Surrey.
Thomas worked as a ‘Bricklayers Labourer’.

Hannah and Thomas had six children all of whom were born in Merstham,
Surrey:
• Mary: b. 1829,
• William: b. 1837
• Jane: b. 1840
• Thomas: b. 1844
• Richard: b. 1847
• Susannah: b. 1849

By the time of the 1851 Census, Hannah and Thomas were living together
with five of their children in rooms at ‘The Old Fox’, Merstham, near
Reigate, Surrey. Their eldest daughter, Mary, had married a farm labourer,
Reuben Baldwin (1828-1891), in January 1851, and was living with her
husband in Chipstead, Surrey.

Ten years later Hannah and Thomas were still living at ‘The Old Fox’,
together with 2 of their children. Thomas was then described as a
‘Bricklayer’.

In the 1871 Census, Hannah and Thomas were recorded living with two of
their children in Workhouse Row, Merstham, Surrey. It is not clear
whether they were living as members of the Merstham Workouse
governed by the Reigate Poor Law Union, or in a property nearby, but
unassociated with it.

Ten years later, in the 1881 Census, Hannah and Thomas were living in
Merstham Village, Merstham, Surrey. Thomas was then described as an
81 year-old ‘Bricklayers’ Labourer’.

In 1887, Thomas died, leaving Hannah as a widow. Hannah continued to
live in Merstham and was recorded in the 1891 Census as an 85 year-old
widow living in Poor House Cottages, Well Head, Merstham.

In 1898, Hannah died in Workhouse Row, Merstham Road, Reigate,
having survived her husband by some 11 years. Her daughter, Susannah
Bowyer, was with her when she died. The cause of her death was certified
as ‘Senile Decay’. It is not known where either Hannah or her husband is
buried. Hannah led a long, but very hard life.