Biography:
Emily Barber (557)
1879 –09/04/1936
Emily Barber (557)
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Emily Barber (née Geary) (1879-1936)
Emily Elizabeth Geary was born in Berkhamsted in 1879 and baptised on 1st December that year. She was the daughter of James and Catherine (née Rance) Geary.
James was a carter and the family lived in Holliday Street. In 1881 they had three daughters and two sons.
Ten years later they were still living in Holliday Street. James and his eldest sons Alfred and Ernest were timber carters. The family now consisted of four sons and four daughter and Emily, now twelve, is listed as a scholar.
In all there were to be eleven Geary siblings – seven girls and five boys – nine of whom lived to adulthood.
On 5th April 1897 eighteen year old Emily married Frederick Pope Barber at Berkhamsted. Frederick was a wine merchant’s labourer, according to the 1901 census, and he, Emily and their two sons – Albert Frederick aged three and four month old Edward Ernest – lived at 7, Bridge Street.
The 1911 census, which asks for the nationality of anyone born “in a Foreign Country” notes that Frederick was a “British subject by parentage” which seems strange as he gives his place of birth as Berkhamsted. Perhaps he was confused by the question, which was new to that census.
Since the previous census children Leonard Frank and baby Doris Emily had joined the family and Frederick was now a “wine merchant’s assistant” and they were living at 20, Ravens Lane.
On 24th April 1917 Frederick signed up to fight, despite being over forty. He served as a gunner in the Royal Garrison Artillery and, although the poor condition of his army record sheets make tracing his postings impossible, his demob certificate states that he served in France. He was demobbed 6th May 1919.
It must have been a huge relief for Emily to have him home safely and, apparently, without any wounds, but tragically, at almost the same time, their son Leonard Frank, aged only fourteen, died. He is buried in this cemetery.
The family remained at 20, Ravens Lane, but although Frederick had entered the army as the foreman at the wine and spirits merchant, by 1921 he was working as a general labourer for H F J Matthews, builders.
Emily died the 9th April 1936 aged fifty seven, survived by Frederick who lived until 1964, and their four children.
View this burial in the cemetery
Emily Barber (née Geary) (1879-1936)
Emily Elizabeth Geary was born in Berkhamsted in 1879 and baptised on 1st December that year. She was the daughter of James and Catherine (née Rance) Geary.
James was a carter and the family lived in Holliday Street. In 1881 they had three daughters and two sons.
Ten years later they were still living in Holliday Street. James and his eldest sons Alfred and Ernest were timber carters. The family now consisted of four sons and four daughter and Emily, now twelve, is listed as a scholar.
In all there were to be eleven Geary siblings – seven girls and five boys – nine of whom lived to adulthood.
On 5th April 1897 eighteen year old Emily married Frederick Pope Barber at Berkhamsted. Frederick was a wine merchant’s labourer, according to the 1901 census, and he, Emily and their two sons – Albert Frederick aged three and four month old Edward Ernest – lived at 7, Bridge Street.
The 1911 census, which asks for the nationality of anyone born “in a Foreign Country” notes that Frederick was a “British subject by parentage” which seems strange as he gives his place of birth as Berkhamsted. Perhaps he was confused by the question, which was new to that census.
Since the previous census children Leonard Frank and baby Doris Emily had joined the family and Frederick was now a “wine merchant’s assistant” and they were living at 20, Ravens Lane.
On 24th April 1917 Frederick signed up to fight, despite being over forty. He served as a gunner in the Royal Garrison Artillery and, although the poor condition of his army record sheets make tracing his postings impossible, his demob certificate states that he served in France. He was demobbed 6th May 1919.
It must have been a huge relief for Emily to have him home safely and, apparently, without any wounds, but tragically, at almost the same time, their son Leonard Frank, aged only fourteen, died. He is buried in this cemetery.
The family remained at 20, Ravens Lane, but although Frederick had entered the army as the foreman at the wine and spirits merchant, by 1921 he was working as a general labourer for H F J Matthews, builders.
Emily died the 9th April 1936 aged fifty seven, survived by Frederick who lived until 1964, and their four children.
Military graves