Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Edward was born on 18th November 1883 to Henry and Anne Biggerstaff (nee Grace).
Age 7 in the 1891 census, his family comprised his father, then a Drayman, mother and siblings Fanny 13, George 12, Alice 9, Harry 4, Ernest 2 and Grace 2 months.

By the time of the 1901 census, he was 17 and working as a Brewer’s Labourer. The family were still in Northchurch – Harry 14, Grace now 10 had been joined by a younger brother Fred aged 7.  (Fred was killed at age 55, while working as a porter at Berkhamsted station where he was struck by a train). Ernest, who would have been 12 had died in 1893.

On 19th April 1905 he married Fanny Caroline Gomm, a dressmaker, in Berkhamsted and they went on to have six children together:

• Edward James – 1905 – 1940
• Richard Mark -1909 – 2003
• Minnie V – born 1912
• Gwendoline L – born 1914
• Ronald F D -1916 – 1989
• Audrey Margaritte -1925 – 1944

By the time of the 1911 census, now aged 27, he and Fanny had set up home at No 9 Provident Place, Berkhamsted  and had their first child, a boy Edward James.

By the time of the 1939 Register Edward was working as an Estate Carpenter, living in Berkhamsted with Fanny and Audrey Marguerite. Edward James was away in the Royal Navy.

Edward died on 6th March 1958 aged 74 – he had outlived two of his children: Edward James was lost at sea on 27th June 1940 and Audrey Marguerite had died only four years later.

His wife lived on until 3rd January 1962.