Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Harriet Tompkins was born on 1 August 1839 and baptised on 26 December 1852 in Berkhamsted.

Her parents were Francis and Sarah Tompkins who ran a successful butcher’s shop in Berkhamsted High Street from 1841 -1851 (85 High Street in 1851, according to the census).  The business is listed in Pigots Directory.

When Harriet’s father Francis died in 1851, her mother Sarah continued to run the butchers shop with Harriet and her brother Thomas assisting.

Harriet was one of 5 children:

• Francis Tompkins born 1830 married Frances.  Ran a butcher’s shop at 118 Marlowes, Hemel Hempstead with his wife. Died 2 March 1909 and left his effects to his nephew Thomas Emmett Tompkins Butcher (Berkhamsted) and James Nash – Farmer.
• Sarah Tompkins born 1831 married the town’s grocer William Lindeman and died on 20 February 1867 at 27 years old. [LINDEMAN PLOT 65]
• Charles Tompkins born 1832 was widowed and remarried, died 26 November 1879. He was a Cab Proprietor living at 5 Park Street, Camberwell, Surrey.
• Thomas Tompkins born 1834 married Emily Green in Seaford, Essex and carried on as head of the butcher’s shop at 140 High Street in Berkhamsted (now Rebecca Clarke Interiors). Had six children including Thomas Emmett Tompkins butcher – born 1889, died 27 March 1930 [buried in Plot 6] and Emily Emmett Tompkins born 10 May 1875, who married High Street baker Arthur Kingham and lived at 187 High Street. Died 21 February 1929 [buried in Plot  910].
• Harriet Tompkins born 1 August 1839.

Her sister Sarah died on 20 February 1867 in Berkhamsted when Harriet was 27 years old. Just six months later, on 9 August 1867, Harriet died in Berkhamsted at the age of 28 and was buried in the same plot as her parents.

She never married or had children.