Biography:
Benjamin Pratt
1831 –1878
Benjamin Pratt
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Unmarked grave Benjamin Pratt (1831-1878)
Benjamin was born in 1831, the son of farm labourer Richard Pratt and his wife Elizabeth. He was baptised 2 February 1834 in St Peter’s.
In 1841 he was at the Agricultural School adjacent to Ashridge House, one of sixteen resident boys. “The seventh Earl of Bridgewater (1753-1823) was interested in new farming methods and kept a close eye on his vast estate. At a meeting in Aylesbury, he is noted as saying that he was “shocked to find the boys knew nothing of farming; nothing but the straw-plaiting and lace-making their mothers had taught them” and he at once set out “to root out their effeminacy and instil into them manly principles” by setting up an agricultural school in Little Gaddesden which continued for many years (D. Coult, A Prospect of Ashridge).
Benjamin became a farm labourer and in 1851 was living in Frithsden with his widowed father, five sisters and two brothers.
He had a son, Joseph, in 1850 with Emma Tompkins whom he married in 1852. Elizabeth was born in 1853 followed by Caroline (1859).
In 1861 the family were living in Ravens Lane with his widowed mother-in-law. Benjamin was a labourer and Emma and her mother were straw plaiters.
George was born in 1862 followed by Frederick (1864), Clara Ann (1864) and William Charles (1870).
In 1871 the family was still in Ravens Lane. Joseph was a labourer like his father, the two eldest girls were straw plaiters and his mother was an invalid.
Arthur was born in 1873 and Harry in 1875.
Benjamin died June 1878 aged 48 leaving Emma with nine children. She became a laundress and must have had a hard time supporting her family.
Their son Arthur is buried in this cemetery.
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Unmarked grave Benjamin Pratt (1831-1878)
Benjamin was born in 1831, the son of farm labourer Richard Pratt and his wife Elizabeth. He was baptised 2 February 1834 in St Peter’s.
In 1841 he was at the Agricultural School adjacent to Ashridge House, one of sixteen resident boys. “The seventh Earl of Bridgewater (1753-1823) was interested in new farming methods and kept a close eye on his vast estate. At a meeting in Aylesbury, he is noted as saying that he was “shocked to find the boys knew nothing of farming; nothing but the straw-plaiting and lace-making their mothers had taught them” and he at once set out “to root out their effeminacy and instil into them manly principles” by setting up an agricultural school in Little Gaddesden which continued for many years (D. Coult, A Prospect of Ashridge).
Benjamin became a farm labourer and in 1851 was living in Frithsden with his widowed father, five sisters and two brothers.
He had a son, Joseph, in 1850 with Emma Tompkins whom he married in 1852. Elizabeth was born in 1853 followed by Caroline (1859).
In 1861 the family were living in Ravens Lane with his widowed mother-in-law. Benjamin was a labourer and Emma and her mother were straw plaiters.
George was born in 1862 followed by Frederick (1864), Clara Ann (1864) and William Charles (1870).
In 1871 the family was still in Ravens Lane. Joseph was a labourer like his father, the two eldest girls were straw plaiters and his mother was an invalid.
Arthur was born in 1873 and Harry in 1875.
Benjamin died June 1878 aged 48 leaving Emma with nine children. She became a laundress and must have had a hard time supporting her family.
Their son Arthur is buried in this cemetery.
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