Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Plot 1152 Ernest Charles Welch (1872-1945)

Ernest Charles Welch was born on 3rd May 1872 in Wraysbury, now a hamlet just west of Heathrow airport, to Josiah and Elizabeth Welch. His father was a police constable and he was their oldest child.

By 1877 they were living in Denham, Bucks, but had moved again by late 1880 to Bull Lane, Chalfont St Peter. By then his father wasemployed as a gamekeeper

On 19 December 1890 the Welchs’ life fell apart. Josiah was arrested on a charge of “Feloniously and carnally knowing Ellen Rice, a girl under the age of 13, at Berkhamsted, on 25th October.” He was tried on 17 March 1891 and pleaded Guilty to “attempting the act”. He was sentenced to 12 months hard labour in St Albans gaol.

By this time the family had moved to 35 Highfield Road, Berkhamsted. Ernest and his brother Frederick were employed as agricultural labourers and twelve year old Albert as a gardener’s labourer.

Despite Josiah’s conviction the family remained in Berkhamsted and at the time of the 1901 census they lived at 23 Highfield Road. Josiah was now a bricklayer and Ernest a bricklayer’s labourer. Beatrice was a dressmaker and Albert a packer at Cooper’s chemical works. The youngest,  twin girls, were also still at home.

Josiah’s behaviour was to cause the family more grief and it is clear that Ernest had taken over responsibility for the family. In August 1892 a case was heard at the Perry Sessions. According to The Bucks Herald, “Josiah Welch, Berkhamsted, was charged with assaulting his son Ernest C Welch. Complainant said defendant was away from home and he [Ernest] kept home for his mother. The defendant came home and pulled the things about, and his mother objected. They disagreed, and he and his father fell together… Mrs Welch, who was sent for, said she did not want anything to do with the matter: her husband had been better since he had received the summons. Defendant was bound over to keep the peace for six months and had cost of 11s 6d to pay.”

The Bucks Advertiser 4 November 1893 reported on that at the Petty Sessions. “Josiah Welch, of Berkhamsted, was charged with threatening his son [Ernest] Charles on the  29th [October]… Charles Welch said that his father threatened him, and his mother and two brothers and sisters, with the poker and the razor produced as they were sitting quietly at super on Sunday at about 10pm. He said he would bash their brains out and they all left the house and slept at a neighbour’s. Witness said he had taken the house and paid the rent for 2 years… The defendant was bound over to keep the peace towards his wife and family in £10, for six months, and has 12s and 6d costs to pay.”

Despite this, at the time of the 1901 census, Josiah and Elizabeth and family were living together at 23 Highfield Road. Josiah was still a bricklayer and Ernest a bricklayer’s labourer. Beatrice was a dressmaker and Albert a packer at Cooper’s chemical works. The twins were also still at home.

8 October 1905 Ernest married Annie Harriet Ashby in St Peter’s.

Josiah died in February 1909 aged 66 and sadly Annie Harriet died in October that year in West Herts hospital. She is buried in this cemetery.

On 6 August 1910, while living at 8, Highfield Road, he married widow Fanny Elizabeth Grisbrooke  aged 27. They were living at Highfield Road address in April the next year. Ernest was still a bricklayer.

Their daughter Gwendoline Phyllis was born in 1914.

The 1921 census shows the family at 8, Highfield Road. Ernest was employed as a bricklayer by Cooper’s chemical works, but was only working half-time – this may have been the result of cut backs due to the depressed economy. They were still at that address when the 1939 Register as drawn up. Ernest had retired.

Ernest died 5 May 1945. He left £383 (about £14,500 in 2025).

Fanny died in 1972 and is buried here.

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Ernest Charles Welch was born on 3rd May 1872 in Wraysbury.

By the time of the 1881 census he was aged 9  and living in Bull Lane. Chalfont St Peter; by 1891 aged 18 he was at 35 Highfield Road Berkhamsted; and in 1901 aged  28  he had moved down the road to 23 Highfield Road Berkhamsted

By 1910, aged 37 he was already a widower, and living at 8 Highfield Road when he married Fanny Elizabeth Grisbrooke  aged 27, herself a widow of “Coromandal”  in Charles Street  Berkhamsted.