Cemeteries and graveyards, full of love, betrayal, tragic deaths, murder, and suicide. What will you find?

Friday 18 July 2014

Flashback Friday - Emma, Edward and Edward Simmonds - Mother, Father and Son




Monument to Emma Simmonds, Edward Simmonds and Edward Simmonds, Bray Parish Cemetery, Holyport Berkshire.


"In Loving Memory Of
Emma Simmonds
Died Feb 17th 1917. 
Also of Edward
husband of the above
Died Dec 20th 1920. 
Also of Edward
son of the above
Died Jan 22nd 1917."


Emma Simmonds was born Emma Johnson in 1846 in Bray Berkshire to Frederick Johnson, a labourer and his wife Charlotte.

On the 1861 Census, Emma is listed aged fourteen living with her parents and siblings at Oakley Green.  Living a few houses away was Edward Simmonds and his family.

Edward Simmonds was born in 1849 in Bray Berkshire to William Simmonds, a wheelwright and his wife Caroline Allen.  Edward and Emma married in Cardiff in 1875.  They can be found on the 1881 Census living at 20 Topaz Street, Cardiff Wales with their three young daughters, Louisa aged four, Charlotte aged two and five month old Elizabeth.  At that time Edward was working as a carpenter, but he was soon to follow in his father's footsteps.

In 1891 Edward and Emma have moved back to Fifield in Berkshire and Edward is working as a wheelwright.  The family has expanded to include eight year old Caroline, six year old Albert, four year old George and two year old Edward.

In 1901 the family are still living in Fifield, but Emma is now listed as Louisa E.  Albert is now a domestic gardener and George is an apprentice wheelwright.  Living next door is Emma's spinster sister Sarah Johnson.

By 1911 Edward has followed his brother Albert into the gardening business, yet he is still living at home in Fifield with Edward and Emma.

After the outbreak of World War I, Edward Jr enlisted with the Devonshire Regiment.  Sadly he was to die as a result of service, either through injury or illness on 22nd January 1917 in Eton Buckinghamshire.  He is buried in a Commonwealth War Grave at St Peter's Churchyard in Burnham Buckinghamshire I picture of Edwards gravestone can be found here.


Tuesday 15 July 2014

Tombstone Tuesday - William John and Mary Ann Hamaton - West End Farm and the White Hart Maidenhead



Monument to William John Hamaton and Mary Ann Hamaton, St Michael's Churchyard, Bray, Berkshire, England.

"To The Memory Of
William John Hamaton
Died Novr 13th 1862
Aged 70 Years
Fear God And Keep His Commandments:
For This Is The Whole Duty Of Man.
 
Also Mary Ann
Reclict of the above
Departed this life March 7th 1876
Aged 82 Years."
 
 
William John Hamaton was born on 29th February 1792 to William Hamaton and his wife Elizabeth Dobbs.  William was christened on 30th March 1792 at St Michael's Church in Bray, Berkshire.  At the same church on 1st May 1817 William married Margaret Randall. 
 
I am unable to find any further information on William and Margaret.  However, some time before 1850 William marries Mary Ann Dancer and started up West End Farm in Warfield, Berkshire.
 
On the 1851 Census both William and Mary Ann appear living at West End Farm in Warfield were William is listed as farming 80 acres and employing 4 labourers.
 
On 21st July 1856 William took over the licence for the White Hart Public House, High Street, Maidenhead, Berkshire, where they can be found on the 1861 Census.  A year later William was to pass away.
 
On the 1871 Census the widowed Mary Ann has moved to Flackwell Heath, Wycombe to live with her sisters Rosanna and Ann.  Five years later Mary Ann was to join her husband in his grave.
 
 
Linked with:
 
 
 
 
Sources
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Sunday 13 July 2014

Cemetery Sunday - Weep Not My Husband Dear I Pray

St Michael's Churchyard
Bray, Berkshire, England
 
 
"Sacred
To The Memory Of
Harriet wife of
Mr. Wm Chapman
Who Died Dec 19th 1841
Aged 30 Years.
Also their infant child
Aged 5 months
 
Weep Not my Husband dear I Pray,
It was Jesus called us both away.
With my sweet babe upon my breast
I now enjoy perpetual rest."
 
 
 
 

Friday 11 July 2014

Flashback Friday - Mary and Richard Gorton of Chuffs Farm Holyport




Monument to Mary Sarah Gorton and Richard Gorton of Chuffs Farm, Bray Parish Cemetery, Holyport Berkshire.


"Sacred To The Memory Of
Mary Sarah
beloved wife of Richard Gorton
(of Chuffs Farm Holyport)
Who died August 10th 1904
Aged 76 years.

Also

Richard Gorton
Who died July 29th 1915
Aged 85 years."


Mary Sarah Gorton was born Mary Sarah Snook in 1830 in West Knoyle, Wiltshire to William Snook, a farmer, and his wife Jane Ovens.

Mary lived on her parents farm until her marriage to Richard Gorton, a farmer and baker in 1853 in Highworth Wiltshire.

Richard was born in 1831 in Highworth Wiltshire to Charles Gorton, a baker, and his wife Jane Yeats.

Richard, Mary and their family of twelve children moved around Wiltshire farming until the late 1890s when they moved to Holyport in Berkshire to run Chuffs Farm and Diary.  The 1901 Census shows Richard and Mary living at Chuffs Farms with their daughter Mary.  However Mary Sarah was to pass away three years later.

The 1911 Census shows widowed Richard living with his spinster daughter Mary at 8 Broadway, Maidenhead, Berkshire.  Richard was to pass away in 1915.

Their daughter Mary was to pass away in 1929, 14 years after the death of her father.  Unfortunately I have been able to trace her place of burial.





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