Throughout this challenge, you may have noticed that I haven’t written about my Newell ancestors, today though I will break the silence, after all, Newell is my family name, my Dads name, my name. A name and family I’m extremely proud of, to be part of.
In true open honesty, I’ve been in a battle with myself over the fact that we may not really be Newell’s by blood, due to my great, great-grandmother, Estella Rudgley, giving birth to my, great-grandfather, Frank Rudgley, out of wedlock.
Estella married Alfred Newell, a short while after Frank was born but was he the father?
Hopefully we will be able to solve the mystery, with my lovely Uncle Steve’s, dna results.
At the end of the day, Alfred Newell, took in Estella’s, three illegitimate children and brought them up as his own, in my book that makes him family, blood or not.
With great pride, I’m going to tell you all about, the life of his Alfred’s Father,  Joseph Newell, my 3rd Great-Grandfather.

Joseph Newell was born in Awbridge, Hampshire, England about 1828, to Joseph Newell and Louisa Newell Nee Roude.
Joseph was baptised on the 26th October 1828 at Saint Leonard’s, Sherfield English, Hampshire.

Between the years of 1828 and 1841, he welcomed 4 sisters, Emma, Phoebe, Mary Ann, Sarah and 2 brothers, Enos and David, into their family’s hearts and home. I’ll tell you a little more about them at a later date.

The 1841 census was taken on the 6th June, which finds Joseph (Junior/Jr) and his family residing at Awbridge, Hampshire, England.
His father Joseph was working as a Labourer.
Their neighbors were, John Mason, his wife Elizabeth, their daughters Elizabeth and Sarah. Also David Newell, my 5th great uncle and his wife, Ann Newell nee Head/Day.

Name Age Joseph Newell 36 Louisa Newell 36 Joseph Newell 13 Emma Newell 11 Pheby Newell 9 Eneas Newell 7 Mary Newell 5 David Newell 3 Sarah Newell 1

Over the next ten years, Joseph and Louisa had two more children, two daughters called, Eliza and Jane. Joseph Jr, now has 6 sisters and two brothers. Being the eldest I’m sure he would have his hands full helping out and keeping his siblings in line.

On the 30th March 1851, the census was taken.
It shows Joseph Jr, his father Joseph, his mother Louisa and his siblings, Sarah, Eliza, Emma, Jane, Enos,  and Mary Ann,  residing at Upper Ratley, Awbridge, Hampshire, England.
Joseph and his father were working as Broom Makers, Emma and Mary Ann were working as, Shirt Makers and Enos was a Ploughboy.
Their neighbors were, John Cooksey and his wife Rachel. Also James Gardener, his wife Ann and their children, Absolom, James and Mary Ann.

Name Age Joseph Newell 46 Louisa Newell 46 Joseph Newell 22 Emma Newell 20 Enos Newell 16 Mary Ann Newell 14 Sarah Newell 11 Eliza Newell 8 Jane Newell 2

Joseph Marries Jane Wilton daughter of, Moses Wilton and Sarah Carley, on the 29th January 1853, at St Mary’s, The parish church of Michelmerch, Hampshire, England.
Joseph and Jane were both employed as Labourers. Their parents Joseph Newell and Moses Wilton were also both employed as Labourers.
The witnesses to their marriage were Robert Wilton and Phoebe Newell. They both signed with an X.
Joseph and Jane also signed with an X.

It looks as Joseph and Jane have been a tad naughty and did the business way before the married, as a few months later, Jane gave birth to a son called Edward Newell.
Edward was born on the 8th March 1853, at Michelmersh, Hampshire, England.
Joseph was working as a Labourer.
Edward’s mother, registered his birth on the 8th April 1853. She signed with a X.

Edward was baptised on the 10th April 1853, at St Mary’s, Michelmersh, Hampshire, England.

On the 10th December 1854, Jane gave birth to their second son, Frederick Newell.
Frederick was born at Awbridge, Hampshire, England.
Joseph was employed as a Agricultural Labourer.
Jane, registered Frederick’s birth on the 12th January 1855. She signed with a X.

Frederick was baptised on the 28th January 1855, at St Mary’s, Michelmersh, Hampshire, England.

Jane and Joseph welcomed a daughter into the household on the 14th July 1856.
They named her Mary Emily Newell.
She was born at Awbridge, Michelmersh, Hampshire, England.
Joseph was working as a Agricultural Labourer.
Jane, registered her birth on the 5th August 1856. She signed with an X.

Joseph and Jane baptised, Mary Emily as Emily on the 17th August 1856 at St Mary’s, Michelmersh, Hampshire, England.

Emily died on the 25th March 1858, aged 1, at Awbridge, Michelmersh, Hampshire, England.
Her cause of death was unknown.
Jane, registered her death on the 29th March 1858. She signed with an X.

I can’t even begin to understand the heartbreak of loosing a child. I swear it has to be the worst feeling in the world. The feeling of helplessness when your child lays in your arms, loosing their battle.
My heart aches for all the mummy’s and daddy’s out there who have ever had to face such a devastating loss.

Joseph Jane, Edward and Frederick, laid Emily to rest on the 30th March 1858, at St Mary’s, Michelmersh, Hampshire, England.

Hopefully Joseph and Jane found a little peace, when Jane gave birth to their second daughter Ellen Newell, on the 22nd September 1859, at Awbridge, Michelmersh, Hampshire, England.
Joseph was working as a Farm Labourer.
Her Mother, Jane, registered Ellen’s birth on the 25th October 1859. She signed with a X.

Joseph and Jane baptised Ellen on the 16th October 1859 at St Mary’s, Michelmersh, Hampshire, England.

On the 7th April 1861, the census was taken. Joseph, Jane, Edward, Frederick and Ellen are found residing at Michelmersh, Hampshire, England.
Joseph was working as a Agricultural Labourer.
Their neighbors were, George Baker, his wife Mary, and their children, William, Harry, Tom and Lydia.

Name Age Joseph Newell 31 Jane Newell 29 Edward Newell 10 Frederick Newell 6 Ellen Newell 1

Jane gave birth to their third son, Harry Newell, on the 8th August 1862, at Awbridge, Michelmersh, Hampshire, England.
Joseph was working as a Farm Labourer.
Jane, registered Harry’s birth on the 2nd September 1862. She signed with an X.

Harry was baptised on the 12th October 1862, at St Mary’s, Michelmersh, Hampshire, England.

Jane found herself in the family way again and she gave birth to my great, great-Grandfather, Alfred Newell on the 5th January 1864 at Awbridge, Hampshire.
Joseph was working as a Farm Labourer.
Jane registered Alfred’s birth on the 5th February 1864. She signed with an X.

Little did Joseph and Jane know, their new born son would be the saving grace to my great, great grandmother, Estella Rudgley and her children.
The baby that laid in their arms, would change the life’s of so many. His love would entwine, radiate and humble the descendants yet to come.

Joseph and Jane, baptised Alfred on the 14th February 1864, at St Mary’s, Michelmersh, Hampshire, England. The perfect date, for a soul so full of love.

Joseph and Jane faced another gut wrenching, heartbreak when their, 1 year old son, Harry dies on the 10th April 1864.
He died from Bronchitis, at Awbrigde, Michelmersh, Hampshire, England.
Jane registered his death on 11th April 1864. She signed with an X.

Harry was buried at, St Mary’s, Michelmersh, Hampshire, England, on the 15 April 1864.

The pain, the sorrow, the screams of a mother who has lost her baby boy, plays torment in my mind. I have no idea, no idea at all, how they got through it, how any one can recover from loosing a child, let alone two.
It saddens me to my soul, I wish I could reach out and give them a huge heartfelt hug and let them know that they will be ok, their lives will be different but they will get through the heartbreak. 💔

On the 9th of January 1866, Jane gave birth to their third daughter, Rose Newell, at Awbridge, Hampshire, England.
Joseph was working as a Farm Labourer.
Jane Newell nee Wilton, registered Rose’s birth on the 17th March 1866. She signed with a X.

Rose was baptised at St Mary’s, Michelmersh, Hampshire, England, on the 13th April 1866.

Jane and Joseph were still on full form in the bedroom, as Jane gave birth to their 5th son, Ephraim Newell, on the 26th April 1867.
Joseph was working as a Farm Labourer.
Jane, registered Ephraim’s birth on the 25th May 1867. She signed with a X.

Ephraim was baptised on the 16th June 1867 at, St Mary’s, Michelmersh, Hampshire, England.

Janes childbearing days were still not over, as on the 20th October 1868, Jane and Joseph welcomed their 4th daughter into the world.
They named her, Emmeline Newell.
Emmeline was born at Awbridge, Hampshire, England. Her mother Jane Newell nee Wilton, registered her birth on the 1st December 1868. She signed with an X.
Joseph was working as a Farm Labourer.

Emmeline was baptised on the 22nd January 1864, at St Mary’s, Michelmersh, Hampshire, England.

On the 2nd of April 1871, the census was taken, which finds, Joseph, Jane, Rose, Edward, Ephraim, Frederick, Emmeline, Ellen and Alfred residing at Upper Ratley, Awbridge, Hampshire.
Joseph was working as a Agricultural Labourer. Edward and Frederick were working as Shepherd’s.
Their neighbors were James Terry, his wife Elizabeth and their daughter Elizabeth A Terry.

Name	Age
Joseph Newell	23
Jane Newell	39
Edward Newell	18
Frederick Newell	16
Ellen Newell	11
Alfred Newell	7
Rosa Newell	5
Ephraim Newell	3
Emeline Newell	2

Joseph and Jane welcome their, 6th son into their household. On the 2nd Match 1872.  Jane gave birth to Robert Newell, at Awbridge, Michelmersh, Hampshire, England.
Joseph was still humbly working as a Farm Labourer.
Jane, registered his birth on the 4th April 1872. She signed with an X.

Robert was baptised on the 27th October 1872 at, St Mary’s, Michelmersh, Hampshire, England.

Heartbreak followed a few years later. Joseph’s mother Louisa Newell nee Roude died on the 25th November 1878.
She died at Newtown, Hampshire at the age of 74, from Paralysis.
Her husband Joseph Newell was present at her death and registered it on the 27th November 1878.

Joseph losses his brother David Newell on the, 11th December 1879, at Newtown, Michelmersh, Hampshire, England.
David was 41 years old.
His cause of death was from, Disease of the Heart.

The 1881 census shows, Joseph, Jane, Robert, Alfred, Rode, Ephraim and Emmeline residing at Ratley, Awbridge, Hampshire.
Joseph and Alfred were working as General Farm Labourers, Rosa was a, General House Servant and Ephraim was a Post Boy (C S Man).
Their neighbors were, Joseph’s uncle, George Newell, his wife Sarah Newell nee White, and their 7 children, Alan, Leonard, George, Florence, Ernest, Margaret and Truman.

Name Age Joseph Newell 52 Jane Newell 49 Alfred Newell 17 Rosa Newell 15 Ephraim Newell 13 Emilene Newell 12 Robert Newell 9

Joseph’s sister Emma Turton nee Newell, dies on the 22nd September 1889 at, 3 Houndwell Place, Southampton, Hampshire, England.
Her cause of death was Pneumonia.
Emma’s husband, William Turton, registered her death on the 23rd September 1889. William signed with an X.

1891 brought more sorrow to the Newell household. On the 19th November, Joseph’s father, Joseph Newell, dies at, Butts Green, Lockerley, Hampshire, England. Aged 86 years old.
His cause of death was from, Decay of Nature.
His daughter Eliza Emm nee Newell, registered her death on the 21st November 1891.

The 1891 census was taken on the 5th April, which shows, Joseph, Jane, Alfred and Robert residing at Ratley, Awbridge, next door to the Vicarage.
Joseph, Alfred and Robert were all working as General Labourers.
Their neighbours were, George H Jones (Vicar), Mary Roud, Charles and Jane Jopp. Also James Terry, his Wife Ellen Terry nee Ventham and their children, Walter, Edith and Arthur also Ellen’s father, James.

Name Age Joseph Newell 62 Jane Newell 59 Alfred Newell 27 Robert Newell 19

Joseph’s world must have come crashing around him, when his wife and mother to his children, died on the, 11th December 1897, at Awbridge, Hampshire. Jane was 65 years old and died from Phthisic and Morbus Cardis.
Joseph was present at Janes death. He registered it on the 13th December 1897. He signed with an X.

The 1901 census finds Joseph living alone at Ratley, Awbridge, Hampshire.
He was still working as a General Labourer.
His neighbors are, James Terry, his wife Ellen and their granddaughter, Jenny Vickery, also his Uncle, George Newell, and his Aunt, Sarah Newell nee White.

Name Age Joseph Newell 72

On the 13th February, Joseph died at Romsey Workhouse, Romsey, Hampshire, England.
He died from, Congestion of the Lungs and Heart Failure.
E Simmonds, matron of the workhouse Registered his death on the 15th February 1909.

How very, very sad that he died all alone in a workhouse. I wonder where his children were, why they did not register his death?
I hate to think of him there alone, when he had worked hard all his life, giving his family the best he could with his humble upbringing and occupation. It’s so sad, so desperately sad. 😢

Joseph worked the fields around the area I live, he saw happiness, faced heartbreak and felt sorrow only a father could feel or understand. He worked hard to keep a roof over the heads of his family and food in their belly’s.
I take my hat of to him and I’m more than proud of the man who brought up my, great, great grandfather, my great, great- grandmother Estella’s hero, Alfred.
I feel extremely proud and honoured to be part of this family, and to call myself a Newell.

Sleep well, Great Great, Great-Grandfather,
Joseph Newell
1828- 1909.

🦋🦋🦋