Biography:
Martha Gubbins (893)
1870 –28/10/1954
Martha Gubbins (893)
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Plot 893 Martha Gubbins (née Thurston) (1870-1954)
Martha was born in 1870 at 21, Edward Street, Leek, Staffordshire. She was the second child of Josiah Thurston, grocer, and his wife Harriet.
In 1881 Martha was living in Wistaston, Cheshire with her grandparents Mary and James Thurston. James was a retired grocer.
Martha went into service and in 1891 she was a live-in scullery maid in the home of widow Maria Villebois and her niece at 23, Belgrave Square, London. She was one of fourteen servants, plus a coachman living in the mews. The fabulously wealthy Villebois family of Norfolk derived its fortune from brewery shares, but took no part in the trade.
Martha married George Gubbins,a footman turned licenced victualler, on 18 November 1899 in St Mary’s, Watford. She was resident Waresley, Bedfordshire at the time and no occupation for her was given on the marriage certificate. The fact that they were living some distance apart make it plausible that they had met when in domestic service in London, as it seems unlikely their paths would have crossed otherwise.
George took over the Bridge Hotel in Leighton Buzzard where Jack Thurston (1901), George Walter (1904) and William (1905) were born.
By 1908 when Ernest Victor was born George was the licensee of the Crown hotel in Berkhamsted High Street.
By 1921 George had taken over the Green Man, an eighteenth century coaching inn at 60, High Street, Watford. Jack, George and Ernest were still living at home. The pub has long-since become a shop, remodelled out of recognition.
They moved to run the Spread Eagle in Bushey, then at some point George and Marth moved to 51, High Street, Berkhamsted, where George died in February 1938.
Martha, who by this time had become blind, went to live in Watford with their son Jack and his family.
Martha died in 1954 and lies here with George.
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Plot 893 Martha Gubbins (née Thurston) (1870-1954)
Martha was born in 1870 at 21, Edward Street, Leek, Staffordshire. She was the second child of Josiah Thurston, grocer, and his wife Harriet.
In 1881 Martha was living in Wistaston, Cheshire with her grandparents Mary and James Thurston. James was a retired grocer.
Martha went into service and in 1891 she was a live-in scullery maid in the home of widow Maria Villebois and her niece at 23, Belgrave Square, London. She was one of fourteen servants, plus a coachman living in the mews. The fabulously wealthy Villebois family of Norfolk derived its fortune from brewery shares, but took no part in the trade.
Martha married George Gubbins,a footman turned licenced victualler, on 18 November 1899 in St Mary’s, Watford. She was resident Waresley, Bedfordshire at the time and no occupation for her was given on the marriage certificate. The fact that they were living some distance apart make it plausible that they had met when in domestic service in London, as it seems unlikely their paths would have crossed otherwise.
George took over the Bridge Hotel in Leighton Buzzard where Jack Thurston (1901), George Walter (1904) and William (1905) were born.
By 1908 when Ernest Victor was born George was the licensee of the Crown hotel in Berkhamsted High Street.
By 1921 George had taken over the Green Man, an eighteenth century coaching inn at 60, High Street, Watford. Jack, George and Ernest were still living at home. The pub has long-since become a shop, remodelled out of recognition.
They moved to run the Spread Eagle in Bushey, then at some point George and Marth moved to 51, High Street, Berkhamsted, where George died in February 1938.
Martha, who by this time had become blind, went to live in Watford with their son Jack and his family.
Martha died in 1954 and lies here with George.
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