Biography:
Levi Newell
1879 –26/07/1946
Levi Newell
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Plot 482 Levi Newell (1879-1946)
Levi Newell was born in 1879, one of three sons born to John and Ellen Newell. The Newells were quite a prosperous family, owning several properties in the town, especially in the High Street, although at the time of Levi’s birth his father was a labourer.
In 1889 Levi was one of the boys attending the Berkhamsted and Northchurch National School who were elected to fill vacancies as Bourne Scholars. These children received a money grant and a distinctive cap.
In 1891, his father was an invalid and Levi and one of his older brothers lived with their parents at 6, Bridge Street. Levi, by then a harness maker, was still there with his widowed mother in 1901.
He was the town saddler who worked at Walklate’s shop in the High Street near to Prince Edward Street. John Walklate (1819-1894) was born in Hemel and was a saddler and harness maker all his working life. Long gone now… “I expect you are aware of the faded reminder of the town’s last saddler: a large board inscribed ‘Walklate, harness maker’, on a shed at the rear of the former Working Men’s Club.” (Townsman, Berkhamsted Review, Apr 1971).
Levi married Bertha Burton from Dorset on 27 April 1903, Berkhamsted, adopting Bertha’s daughter as his step-daughter. They were to have three more girls: Hilda Ellen (1908), Ethel (1909) and Mary Constance (1911). By 1911 they had moved to 4, Chesham Road.
Levi became the first full-time Cemetery Caretaker in 1908, taking over from the Sexton George Pearce.
On 11 December 1915, aged 36, Levi joined the Royal Horse (Field) Artillery to fight in World War I. Doubtless his skills as a saddler and harness maker were essential and he reached the rank of Acting Sergeant.
He served in France June to December 1916, then Salonica until June 1917, then Palestine until August 1919. He contracted malaria in Palestine and was nursed in Cairo and was awarded a small disability pension as a result of minor lasting effects. He was discharged in December 1919 and was awarded the Victory and the British War medals.
In 1921 Levi was employed by G E Wingfield, saddler and harness maker, and the family lived at 4, Chesham Road.
Bertha died aged 61 in February 1938 and is buried here. In August that year, when his daughter Mary Constance married, Levi was described as Deputy Bandmaster of Berkhamsted St Peter Town Band.
Levi married again in 1939 to Nellie F Miles.
He died 26 July 1946 leaving £461 (just over £16,000 today) and is buried here with Bertha.
View this burial in the cemetery
Plot 482 Levi Newell (1879-1946)
Levi Newell was born in 1879, one of three sons born to John and Ellen Newell. The Newells were quite a prosperous family, owning several properties in the town, especially in the High Street, although at the time of Levi’s birth his father was a labourer.
In 1889 Levi was one of the boys attending the Berkhamsted and Northchurch National School who were elected to fill vacancies as Bourne Scholars. These children received a money grant and a distinctive cap.
In 1891, his father was an invalid and Levi and one of his older brothers lived with their parents at 6, Bridge Street. Levi, by then a harness maker, was still there with his widowed mother in 1901.
He was the town saddler who worked at Walklate’s shop in the High Street near to Prince Edward Street. John Walklate (1819-1894) was born in Hemel and was a saddler and harness maker all his working life. Long gone now… “I expect you are aware of the faded reminder of the town’s last saddler: a large board inscribed ‘Walklate, harness maker’, on a shed at the rear of the former Working Men’s Club.” (Townsman, Berkhamsted Review, Apr 1971).
Levi married Bertha Burton from Dorset on 27 April 1903, Berkhamsted, adopting Bertha’s daughter as his step-daughter. They were to have three more girls: Hilda Ellen (1908), Ethel (1909) and Mary Constance (1911). By 1911 they had moved to 4, Chesham Road.
Levi became the first full-time Cemetery Caretaker in 1908, taking over from the Sexton George Pearce.
On 11 December 1915, aged 36, Levi joined the Royal Horse (Field) Artillery to fight in World War I. Doubtless his skills as a saddler and harness maker were essential and he reached the rank of Acting Sergeant.
He served in France June to December 1916, then Salonica until June 1917, then Palestine until August 1919. He contracted malaria in Palestine and was nursed in Cairo and was awarded a small disability pension as a result of minor lasting effects. He was discharged in December 1919 and was awarded the Victory and the British War medals.
In 1921 Levi was employed by G E Wingfield, saddler and harness maker, and the family lived at 4, Chesham Road.
Bertha died aged 61 in February 1938 and is buried here. In August that year, when his daughter Mary Constance married, Levi was described as Deputy Bandmaster of Berkhamsted St Peter Town Band.
Levi married again in 1939 to Nellie F Miles.
He died 26 July 1946 leaving £461 (just over £16,000 today) and is buried here with Bertha.
Relatives
- John England Newell — brother
- Ellen Newell — mother
- Caroline Newell — sister
- Sophia Newell — sister
- Caroline Sophia Newell — sister
- John Newell — father
- Bertha Newell — wife
