Lucy Filby | Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Biography:
Lucy Filby
1843 –1921

Unmarked grave Lucy Filby (1843-1921)

Lucy was born in 1843 in Uxbridge, the daughter of Frederick and Ann Filby. Her father was a bricklayer.

She never married and spent a long life in domestic service.

In April 1861, aged 18, she was living with her parents and younger siblings at Vine Street, Uxbridge and was employed as a servant.

In September 1861 The Windsor & Eton Express reported that Frederick Gurney of Uxbridge Common, a rake-maker, was charged with being the father of Lucy Filby’s new born illegitimate daughter Ellen Elizabeth. The case was eventually dismissed.

Ten years later Lucy and Ellen Elizabeth were still living at 58, Vine Street and Lucy was still employed as a servant. They were still there in 1881. Shortly after that Ellen Elizabeth married.

In 1891 Lucy, by then aged 48, was the cook at a school at 52, Central Hill, Norwood. There were six teaching staff in residence along with two housemaids and only three female boarding pupils, so it seems likely that there were other day pupils to be catered for.

The 1901 census shows Lucy employed as one of the two domestic servants at 32, St Chares Square, Kensington. This was the home of Alfred Nelson Domett, an artist and step-son of the 4th Prime Minister of New Zealand. The two staff had to look after Mr and Mrs Domett, their five daughters and an elderly cousin.

What happened to Lucy when she left the Dommett’s employment has not been traced, but in June 1921 she was a patient in the Watford Union Workhouse and died in November that aged 78 at 241a, High Street, the old Berkhamsted Union Workhouse infirmary.

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Unmarked grave Lucy Filby (1843-1921)

Lucy was born in 1843 in Uxbridge, the daughter of Frederick and Ann Filby. Her father was a bricklayer.

She never married and spent a long life in domestic service.

In April 1861, aged 18, she was living with her parents and younger siblings at Vine Street, Uxbridge and was employed as a servant.

In September 1861 The Windsor & Eton Express reported that Frederick Gurney of Uxbridge Common, a rake-maker, was charged with being the father of Lucy Filby’s new born illegitimate daughter Ellen Elizabeth. The case was eventually dismissed.

Ten years later Lucy and Ellen Elizabeth were still living at 58, Vine Street and Lucy was still employed as a servant. They were still there in 1881. Shortly after that Ellen Elizabeth married.

In 1891 Lucy, by then aged 48, was the cook at a school at 52, Central Hill, Norwood. There were six teaching staff in residence along with two housemaids and only three female boarding pupils, so it seems likely that there were other day pupils to be catered for.

The 1901 census shows Lucy employed as one of the two domestic servants at 32, St Chares Square, Kensington. This was the home of Alfred Nelson Domett, an artist and step-son of the 4th Prime Minister of New Zealand. The two staff had to look after Mr and Mrs Domett, their five daughters and an elderly cousin.

What happened to Lucy when she left the Dommett’s employment has not been traced, but in June 1921 she was a patient in the Watford Union Workhouse and died in November that aged 78 at 241a, High Street, the old Berkhamsted Union Workhouse infirmary.

Relatives


No relatives have been linked to Lucy Filby