Lydia Watson

Born 1805, died 1863
Pauper Nurse at Mitford and Launditch Union workhouse, May 1841
Researched by Dauna Coppin

Lydia was born Lydia Abel in Wymondham, Norfolk on 7th August 1805 and baptised on the 25th. Her parents were Anthony Abel and Elisabeth Scales. When Lydia was aged 19 years, she married shoemaker, Henry Watson, in Wymondham on 6th January 1825.They had three boys, Royal, Henry and Rix.

In about 1837, Lydia’s husband, Henry, sadly died aged just 32 years old. As a result of this, Lydia and her children turned to Mitford and Launditch Union Workhouse. In May 1841, whilst an Inmate, Lydia was able to secure some employment as a Nurse, following the resignation of the previous Nurse, Mary Kittle. The Workhouse Guardian’s Minutes of  May 24th recorded they were “Resolved upon the recommendation of the Visiting Committee that Lydia Watson an inmate of the workhouse belonging to the parish of Hardingham be employed as a Nurse in the workhouse in the place of Mary Kittle.  Mary Kittle’s bed be purchased for £2 for the use of the Nurse employed in the workhouse.”

Her children, Royal, Henry and Rix were also inmates, aged 11 years, 9 years, and 7 years respectively. They remained in the Workhouse for the next few years even after Lydia had moved on. The Guardian’s minutes of 2nd January 1843, show that Lydia was then working as a nurse in King’s Lynn. They wrote to her with an order to pay maintenance of 2/6 per week for the children whilst they remained in the Workhouse. This was extended to a request for £5 for the year 1843-1844. However, at least two of the children were able to leave the Workhouse. In April 1843. Royal went into service for a hairdresser and in September 1847 Rix left to live with her.

By 1851, Lydia was working as a Women’s Nurse at the West Norfolk and Lynn hospital in the St Margaret’s area of King’s Lynn. Her three children were lodging with William Page, a master shoemaker, and his family at St James’ Place, St Margaret’s, King’s Lynn. Royal and Henry both worked as Press and Compositor Printers and Rix was a Tobacco Pipe Maker. Royal, later became a schoolmaster to the Lynn Union Workhouse.

In 1853, Lydia married for the second time. Her husband was James Norton, a shoemaker, like her former husband. By 1861, Lydia, aged 51, and her new family were living at The Common, West Winch, Freebridge Lynn.

Sadly, just two years later, Lydia died aged 52 years. She was buried on 24th January 1863 in West Winch.