Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Harry Nash

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HARRY NASH; 1877 – 1954

Harry was born on 26^th October 1877[1] at the home in Victoria Road of his maternal grandmother, Martha Nash.  His mother, Mary Ann Nash, was 20 or 21 when Harry was born and she unmarried. It is not known who Harry’s father was; he is not identified on Harry’s birth certificate.

Harry’s mother was the third of seven children[2] born to Thomas and Martha Nash. Thomas, a bricklayer by trade[3], had died in 1869 leaving Martha to bring up the children. Whereas in 1861 she was described in the census return as a “Bricklayer’s wife”, which suggests she was engaged in caring for the children and home, she must have found it a struggle to feed and maintain the family and had to take on work; in 1871 she was engaged as a “bonnet sewer” and in 1881 she had become a house keeper, although by 1891 her financial circumstances had improved to the extent that she was then able to live on her own means[4]. The children too had to make their contribution and at 15 years of age Harry’s mother, Mary Ann, like many working-class girls and women, was working as a straw plaiter.

Harry was not only born in his grandmother’s house, but he was brought up there alongside his younger uncles and aunts In1881, when Harry was three years old, Mary Ann was still living with Harry and a number of his aunts and uncles in Victoria Road. She was then 24 years old and worked as a bonnet sewer, but thereafter she drops from sight. She may well have married. Unfortunately, her name is quite common and whilst there are records of plenty of Mary Ann Nashs (and even more Mary Nashs) marrying around this time, none of them were in Berkhamsted, so it doesn’t look as if she married locally. It was not uncommon for even poor people to marry out of the parish, especially in London, particularly if they wanted to keep the marriage private. Harry’s illegitimate birth may have given Mary Ann reason to wish for privacy. Whether Harry had any further contact with his mother can only be guessed at.

Harry remained living in his grandmother’s home in Victoria throughout his childhood and young adulthood. Harry’s grandmother died in 1900 and in 1901 his uncle William became head of the family at Victoria Road[5].

Harry attended the National School which was then situated on the corner of the High Street and Park View Road. He does not seem to have shown any particular academic aptitude (there is no reference to him winning any school prizes), only a note in the school log that “H Nash has now been away eight weeks on account of scarlatina”[6]

In 1901 Harry was 23 years old. He was still living at Victoria Road with his uncle William and two of his aunts. (There were also two boarders living with the family.) Harry was working on his own account from home as a tailor[7], the occupation he was to follow for the rest of his working life[8].

Harry married Mary Ing in 1907. The marriage took place in Berkhamsted and the Harry and Mary set up home together 17 Castle Street[9] from where Harry continued his business as a Master tailor[10]. It is not clear when he retired but he was still working as a tailor in 1939 at the age of 77.[11]

Harry and Mary had no children[12].

For some forty years Harry was a member of the St Peter’s Town Band[13] and his will included a bequest of £100 to buy “…the best quality silver plated cornet, engraved and in a case, for the St Peters Town Band, Berkhamsted.”[14]

Harry died at St Paul’s Hospital, Hemel Hempstead at the age of 76 on 1^st February 1954. His home address at the time of his death remained 17 Castle Street. His estate was valued for probate at £2,561 11s.