Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Unmarked grave Frederick Croft (1852-1914) 

Frederick was born in 1852 in Luton, the son of William and Hannah Croft. His father was a coachman. He was baptised at Luton 19 September 1852

In 1861 Frederick was living with his parents in Dagnal Lane, St Albans. His father was employed as a domestic coachman and the family consisted of four boys and three girls.

By 1871 the family were living in Watson’s Walk, St Albans. His father was still a coachman and Frederick and his elder brother Charles were grooms.

Frederick married 5 December 1880 in St Leonard’s, Streatham, to Louisa Bedford (born 1859, Halton, Bucks). By that date he was employed as coachman.

From at least April 1881 until 1889 the family lived in rooms over the coach house at Baston House, Hayes, Kent where Frederick was coachman. The three children: Arthur (1883), Herbert (1886), Ethel (1889) were all born there.

The 1901 census records Frederick as a coachman in Monken Hadley, Barnet but by April

1911, he was the publican of the Crystal Palace pub in Station Road.

He died at 1, Station Road, aged 62 and was buried 6 April 1914