Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Unmarked grave Louisa (née Wilson) Gudgin (1852-1935)

Louisa was born in 1852 in Frithsden, the daughter of David Wilson, an agricultural labourer born in Dagnall, and his wife Emma, a straw plaiter, born in Frithsden.

In 1861 Louisa had two older and three younger sisters and by the 1871 census, when the family was living on Berkhamsted Common, three more daughters had been born. The four eldest girls were all straw plaiters, a common occupation for women and children from labouring families. There was a great demand for straw plait from the Luton and Dunstable hat manufacturers but the earnings were small and there were health risks from straw splinters in the lungs,

Louisa married William Gudgin, a labourer from Frithsden, in Berkhamsted late in 1871. The couple settled at 19, Mill Street. Bertha was born in 1873, Ernest Harry in 1875 and David in 1876 (both died in infancy), Alice in 1879 and Frederick William in 1881 followed by Ethel (1885), Joseph (1890) and Charles (1895).

The 1911 census records the family still at 19, Mill Street. William was a coal merchant’s labourer and four of their unmarried children were still living at home – Frederick was a jobbing gardener; Ethel , a dressmaker; Joseph, a greengrocer’s assistant and Charles a boot maker. Also living with them was granddaughter Norah Brightman.

By 1921 Louisa and William were living alone in Mill Street. William, aged 73, was still a coal merchant’s labourer.

William died in January 1935 in the workhouse infirmary and Louisa survived him only until April when she died at home aged 83. They are buried here together. Baby David also lies in this cemetery