Biography:
John Jeffs
1845 –1913
John Jeffs
View full burial details
Unmarked grave John Jeffs (1845-1913)
John was born in 1845 in Hemel Hempstead to Martha (née Bryant) and George Jeffs, a carter.
1851 the family were living in Piccotts End, a hamlet on the River Gade just west of Hemel Hempstead. Aged 5, John was already a straw plaiter. Ten years later they were still there and John was an errand boy. Also at home was his elder brother, two younger sisters and three younger brothers. His father was a “groom and cow man”.
John seems to have performed various jobs in the area and in 1869 he gave evidence in a case of the theft of three live chickens from local farmer George Sear. John was responsible for feeding the chickens and, in a rather remarkable ID parade, the three stolen ones were let loose in a field, he whistled from some distance away and they all rushed up to him. The accused, “a slight youth”, was sent for trial.
John never married and in 1871 he was living at The Windmill beer house (now a house at 142) in the village and was working as a labourer.
By 1881, a general labourer, he had moved to Berkhamsted and was lodging in Highfield Road.
The 1901 census records him as lodging at 10, Victoria Road and working as a jobbing gardener. By 1911 he was living in the far less salubrious surroundings of Lion Yard off the High Street.
John died in the workhouse infirmary June 1913, aged 69.
View this burial in the cemetery
Unmarked grave John Jeffs (1845-1913)
John was born in 1845 in Hemel Hempstead to Martha (née Bryant) and George Jeffs, a carter.
1851 the family were living in Piccotts End, a hamlet on the River Gade just west of Hemel Hempstead. Aged 5, John was already a straw plaiter. Ten years later they were still there and John was an errand boy. Also at home was his elder brother, two younger sisters and three younger brothers. His father was a “groom and cow man”.
John seems to have performed various jobs in the area and in 1869 he gave evidence in a case of the theft of three live chickens from local farmer George Sear. John was responsible for feeding the chickens and, in a rather remarkable ID parade, the three stolen ones were let loose in a field, he whistled from some distance away and they all rushed up to him. The accused, “a slight youth”, was sent for trial.
John never married and in 1871 he was living at The Windmill beer house (now a house at 142) in the village and was working as a labourer.
By 1881, a general labourer, he had moved to Berkhamsted and was lodging in Highfield Road.
The 1901 census records him as lodging at 10, Victoria Road and working as a jobbing gardener. By 1911 he was living in the far less salubrious surroundings of Lion Yard off the High Street.
John died in the workhouse infirmary June 1913, aged 69.
Relatives
No relatives have been linked to John Jeffs
Military graves