Lydia SLADDEN (née BEDINGFIELD) (1828-1915)

Lydia Sladden, née Bedingfield (1828-1915), was the widow of Isaac Sladden (c1811-1895), who was the uncle of Julius Sladden. 

Lydia was born at Ash, Kent, in 1828, the daughter of Jarvis and Esther Bedingfield.  She was baptised at Ash on 6th July 1828.

At the time of the 1861 census, Lydia was a servant at High Street, Sandwich, in the home of 50-year-old Isaac Sladden, who described himself as a retired farmer.  Seven years later, Lydia and Isaac married at St George Hanover in September 1868.  Lydia, who was 17 years younger than Isaac, was living in London by then.  Isaac applied for a licence on 10th September so that the marriage could take place.  They had no children.

Lydia and Isaac lived at 23 Havelock Street, Canterbury, in 1881; Isaac was a brewer’s traveller.  By 1891 they had moved to 64 Havelock Street, Canterbury; Isaac described himself as a retired farmer.

Isaac died at Canterbury in 1895 and Lydia remained living at Havelock Street.  In a letter of 7th August 1914 written from Folkestone, Cyril Sladden referred to a visit to Canterbury in which his father, Julius, visited “the old woman”, ie his Aunt Lydia.

Lydia died at 64 Havelock Street, Canterbury, on 30th July 1915, aged 87.