Francis Tompkins | Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Biography:
Francis Tompkins
d. 09/04/1851

Francis Tompkins was a High Street butcher, born in Berkhamsted on 4 April 1795 and christened on 3 May 1795. His parents, Francis and Hester/Esther Tompkins, nee Ironmonger, born in Northchurch, also had a flourishing butcher’s shop in Berkhamsted in 1792. On 1 April 1828, he married Sarah Emmet (who was born in St Giles, Camberworth, Surrey on 16 November 1795). He was a butcher by trade operating from premises on Berkhamsted High Street between 1841 -1851 (85 High Street in 1851, according to the census).  Close by at 88 High Street lived John Tompkins, age 49, also a butcher, with his wife Sarah and 7 children.   [I have been unable to find a link between these two families sharing the same surname and trade but is likely they were related in some way.] Francis and Sarah had 5 children:
  • Francis born 1830
  • Sarah born 1831
  • Charles born 1832
  • Thomas born 1834
  • Harriet born 1 August 1839
Just ten days after the 1851 census was taken Francis died on 9 April at the age of 55 years.  In his will he left his whole estate including the butcher’s shop and property to his wife Sarah and subsequently his youngest son Thomas Tompkins upon her death. ‘I do not know when the first butcher of this name started a business in Berkhamsted, but Francis Tompkins had a flourishing shop here in 1792. For long periods there were two and sometimes three separate butcher’s shops in the town bearing this family name.’ Beorcham Aug 1968.  
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Francis Tompkins was a High Street butcher, born in Berkhamsted on 4 April 1795 and christened on 3 May 1795. His parents, Francis and Hester/Esther Tompkins, nee Ironmonger, born in Northchurch, also had a flourishing butcher’s shop in Berkhamsted in 1792.

On 1 April 1828, he married Sarah Emmet (who was born in St Giles, Camberworth, Surrey on 16 November 1795).

He was a butcher by trade operating from premises on Berkhamsted High Street between 1841 -1851 (85 High Street in 1851, according to the census).  Close by at 88 High Street lived John Tompkins, age 49, also a butcher, with his wife Sarah and 7 children.   [I have been unable to find a link between these two families sharing the same surname and trade but is likely they were related in some way.]

Francis and Sarah had 5 children:

  • Francis born 1830
  • Sarah born 1831
  • Charles born 1832
  • Thomas born 1834
  • Harriet born 1 August 1839

Just ten days after the 1851 census was taken Francis died on 9 April at the age of 55 years.  In his will he left his whole estate including the butcher’s shop and property to his wife Sarah and subsequently his youngest son Thomas Tompkins upon her death.

I do not know when the first butcher of this name started a business in Berkhamsted, but Francis Tompkins had a flourishing shop here in 1792. For long periods there were two and sometimes three separate butcher’s shops in the town bearing this family name.’ Beorcham Aug 1968.

 

Relatives