James Lay (913) | Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Biography:
James Lay (913)
1860 –09/02/1919

Plot 913 James Lay (1860-1919)

James was born in September or October 1860 in Northchurch, the son of Thomas Lay, a general labourer and Elizabeth (née Dodd).  Both his parents were from Berkhamsted, but had moved to Northchurch by the time of James’s birth.

James married Clara Gudgin in December 1885. She was the daughter of an agricultural labourer from Berkhamsted and already had a daughter, Ada Gudgin, born in 1882 out of wedlock. It is not clear whether James was Ada’s father. In the censuses where she appears she is referred to as “daughter” but retains her mother’s surname. The number of years married given in the 1911 census is inaccurate and may have been intended to include Ada as a child of the marriage. Certainly the number of children born to the marriage is given as eight.

After their marriage the couple had Annie (bc 1887), Arthur (b 1888), Alfred (bc 1890), Amy (bc 1892), Ann Elizabeth (Lizzie) (b 1894), Alice (b 1897) and Horace (b 1907). Perhaps by then they had run out of first names beginning with “A”!

By April 1891 the family were living at Orchard End, Northchurch and James was employed as a bricklayer’s labourer. In March 1901 they were in “Thoms Yard”, Northchurch. James was a general labourer and Clara had resumed the occupation she had followed before her marriage and was working as a straw plaiter, supplying the hat industry of the Luton area.  Annie was a dressmaker, Arthur, a “farmer’s boy” and Alfred, Amy, Lizzie and Alice were also at home.

In April 1911 they had moved again, to 25, Gossoms End. James was a builder’s labourer, Arthur and Alfred were labourers at a chemical works and Amy, Alice and Horace were all at home.

James died 9th February 1919, aged 59. His youngest son Horace, who died aged only fifteen, is buried here with him. Clara, his wife, who died in 1932 lies in plot 950 and their son Arthur (died 1955) in plot 1036.

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Plot 913 James Lay (1860-1919)

James was born in September or October 1860 in Northchurch, the son of Thomas Lay, a general labourer and Elizabeth (née Dodd).  Both his parents were from Berkhamsted, but had moved to Northchurch by the time of James’s birth.

James married Clara Gudgin in December 1885. She was the daughter of an agricultural labourer from Berkhamsted and already had a daughter, Ada Gudgin, born in 1882 out of wedlock. It is not clear whether James was Ada’s father. In the censuses where she appears she is referred to as “daughter” but retains her mother’s surname. The number of years married given in the 1911 census is inaccurate and may have been intended to include Ada as a child of the marriage. Certainly the number of children born to the marriage is given as eight.

After their marriage the couple had Annie (bc 1887), Arthur (b 1888), Alfred (bc 1890), Amy (bc 1892), Ann Elizabeth (Lizzie) (b 1894), Alice (b 1897) and Horace (b 1907). Perhaps by then they had run out of first names beginning with “A”!

By April 1891 the family were living at Orchard End, Northchurch and James was employed as a bricklayer’s labourer. In March 1901 they were in “Thoms Yard”, Northchurch. James was a general labourer and Clara had resumed the occupation she had followed before her marriage and was working as a straw plaiter, supplying the hat industry of the Luton area.  Annie was a dressmaker, Arthur, a “farmer’s boy” and Alfred, Amy, Lizzie and Alice were also at home.

In April 1911 they had moved again, to 25, Gossoms End. James was a builder’s labourer, Arthur and Alfred were labourers at a chemical works and Amy, Alice and Horace were all at home.

James died 9th February 1919, aged 59. His youngest son Horace, who died aged only fifteen, is buried here with him. Clara, his wife, who died in 1932 lies in plot 950 and their son Arthur (died 1955) in plot 1036.

Relatives