Biography:
Mary Elizabeth Purton
1856 –1934
Mary Elizabeth Purton
View full burial details
Unmarked grave Mary Elizabeth Purton (1856-1934)
Mary was born in 1856 in Berkhamsted to groom William Purton and his wife Barbara. She had older siblings Fanny and Walter.
William became a letter carrier – a postman – and in 1871 the family lived in Mill Street.
Both she and Fanny were straw plaiters, making plait for the Luton and Dunstable hat industry.
By 1881 they had moved to the cottage in the castle grounds and it seems that her father, or perhaps both parents, acted as caretakers for the site. She and Fanny were still plaiters.
In 1891 the census records them still living in the castle grounds with their parents and doing plain needlework.
In 1885 her brother Walter died. He is buried in this cemetery. Their father died in 1900 and the census for the following year records both sisters at Castle Cottage with their mother, the “caretaker of castle grounds”. Both were engaged in “plain needle-work”,
Their mother died in 1904 and is possibly buried in this cemetery. The 1911 census records the sisters living at Bede House, Frithsden on a “private pension”. They were at the same address in 1921. As their parents were employed by Lord Brownlow it is possible he provided the pension.
They moved to 8, Oak Drove where Mary died in February 1934 aged 78.
Fanny survived her until March 1939 when she died aged 86. They are buried here together.
View this burial in the cemetery
Unmarked grave Mary Elizabeth Purton (1856-1934)
Mary was born in 1856 in Berkhamsted to groom William Purton and his wife Barbara. She had older siblings Fanny and Walter.
William became a letter carrier – a postman – and in 1871 the family lived in Mill Street.
Both she and Fanny were straw plaiters, making plait for the Luton and Dunstable hat industry.
By 1881 they had moved to the cottage in the castle grounds and it seems that her father, or perhaps both parents, acted as caretakers for the site. She and Fanny were still plaiters.
In 1891 the census records them still living in the castle grounds with their parents and doing plain needlework.
In 1885 her brother Walter died. He is buried in this cemetery. Their father died in 1900 and the census for the following year records both sisters at Castle Cottage with their mother, the “caretaker of castle grounds”. Both were engaged in “plain needle-work”,
Their mother died in 1904 and is possibly buried in this cemetery. The 1911 census records the sisters living at Bede House, Frithsden on a “private pension”. They were at the same address in 1921. As their parents were employed by Lord Brownlow it is possible he provided the pension.
They moved to 8, Oak Drove where Mary died in February 1934 aged 78.
Fanny survived her until March 1939 when she died aged 86. They are buried here together.
Military graves