Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Jane Bates

25/05/1852 –1940

A domestic servant who married a french polisher; she ended her days in Red Lion Yard

• Melanie Hilton

Unmarked grave Jane Bates (née Alder) (1852-1940)

Jane was born 25 May 1852 in Chesham to Thomas and Elizabeth Alder. Her father, born in Islip, was a shoe maker and her Chesham-born mother a shoe closer. She was their oldest child and by 1861, when they were living in the High Street, Whitney, Oxfordshire, she had three sisters and a brother. The family had moved to the town by at least 1859.

Jane became a domestic servant and the 1871 census records her at Sussex Place, Kensington, employed by solicitor Thomas Everall and his wife.

Jane married Frederick Bates, a French polisher, in 1878 in Chesham.

The couple moved to Clerkenwell by the time of John’s birth in 1879. Frederick was born there in 1881.

They moved to Chesham where George was born in 1882, followed by Harry (1884), Elizabeth Mary (1886 died 1887), Robert (1889) and Rose (1891).

In 1891 their address was 159, Berkhamsted Road, Chesham.

Elizabeth was born in 1892 in Chesham.

The 1901 census records the family at 21, Missenden Road, Chesham. George was a coal carman, Harry a toy shovel maker.

It would seem that the family’s fortunes took a downward turn as the 1911 census places them at 11, Red Lion Yard. It was 4 room cottage, but the Yard was a near slum and most of the occupants were labouring families, unlike Frederick’s skilled occupation. The record reveals that Jane had given birth to 8 children of whom 4 were dead.

They were still at the same address in 1921. Son Henry was at home –he was an agricultural labourer out of work as so many people were recorded as being in that census.

Frederick died February 1922 and is buried in this cemetery in a parish grave,

In the 1939 Register Jane is still at 11, Red Lion Yard Widow with Henry a labourer.

She died there in March 1940, aged 88.

She is buried with an unrelated man which would indicate that this was a parish grave.

Thomas Munkton

07/05/1861 –1940

A butcher

Relatives

Elizabeth Munckton — wife

• Melanie Hilton

Unmarked grave Tom Munckton (1861-1940) 

Tom was born 7 May 1861 in Wimborne Minster, Dorset to William and Sarah Munckton. It is probable that his father was a farmer.

At the age of 9, in 1871, he was attending a private school in Wimborne Minster along with five other boys.

In 1881 he was living at Wimborne Petersham Farm, Wimborne Minster with his widowed mother, a farmer employing 9 men and 3 boys. Also at home were his three older unmarried sisters. The family employed a domestic servant.

Tom became a butcher and in 1891 was lodging at 6, Gloucester Square, Southampton with the very large Hatch family.

He married Elizabeth Ellen Cheater 19 January 1892 in St Matthew’s, Southampton. The couple do not appear to have had any children.

The 1911 census records Tom and Elizabeth at the home of her parents in Southampton. It is not clear whether they were living there or just visiting at the time. Her father was a retired police officer.

In June 1921 they were living at 3, Roseant Crescent, Finchley, Middlesex. Tom was a butcher and manager for a firm in Cricklewood. Residing with them was his niece Muriel.

By the time of the 1939 Register Tom was living in Woodland Avenue, Berkhamsted with Elizabeth and Muriel.

Tome died at 3, Woodlands Avenue in April 1940 aged 78.

He is buried with an unrelated woman which would suggest that this is a parish grave.

Elizabeth died in 1942 and is buried in this cemetery.