Biography:
Mary Jane Saltmarsh
19/08/1865 –30/12/1953
Mary Jane Saltmarsh
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MARY JANE SALTMARSH; 1866-1953
The date of Mary’s birth as it was noted in the 1939 Register was 14th January 1865. However, it seems likely this was an error and that she was in fact born on 14th January 1866 as her birth was registered as having occurred in the first quarter of 1866 and she was baptised on 14th April 1866. Additionally, when her death was registered, her date of birth was given as 1866. Although her husband to be, Frank Saltmarsh, was born in Berkhamsted, his parents were originally from Chelmsford in Essex and that is where Mary was also born. Her parents were James and Maria Baker. Maria’s maiden name was Harris, that also being the maiden name of Frank’s mother Caroline. It may be that Caroline and Maria were sisters in which case Frank and Mary would have been cousins. Even if Caroline and Maria were more distantly related, it seems probable that Frank and Mary were related.
Mary’s father, James, is described in the 1871 census as a “builder employing 6 men.” One of those six men was probably Mary’s oldest brother, also named James, who at the age of 21 is noted in the census as a “Builder’s assistant”.
The Baker family was large. Including both James and Mary, there are nine children in all named in the 1871 census, ranging from the oldest, James to Fanny who was only 1. They were listed as follows: James, 21 years old; Henry 18 (a solicitor’s clerk); Emma, 16; William, 14; Charles, 12; Eleanor, 8; Mary, 5, Francis, 2; Fanny, 1. There is no mention of the mother, Maria, who may have been elsewhere at the time of the census as the father James is noted as being married rather than widowed.
It seems that by 1881 both of Mary’s parents had died. The three youngest siblings, Mary, Francis and Florence and their older brother William, were still living in Chelmsford, but now in the home of the oldest brother, James, who was married with two children of his own. James must have taken over his father’s business as like James senior in 1871, he too is described as a builder employing six men, but is also recorded as being an undertaker.
Ten years later we find Mary in Charles Street, Berkhamsted. She was staying at the home of Arthur and Eliza Timson and their 1 year old daughter. Eliza was the older sister of Frank, having married Arthur Timson in 1888. Mary is noted as a “cousin,” presumably of Eliza rather than Arthur Timson. Mary married Frank Saltmarsh during the second quarter of 1891 in Berkhamsted. Perhaps she staying with the Timsons in preparation for the wedding?
Frank and Mary had two children, Florence, born 6th March 1891 and Frank, born in 1894.
The 1901 and 1911 census tell us that Frank, Mary together with Florence and Frank were living in Doctor’s Commons Road. The later electoral rolls and the 1939 Register give us the name of the house, Hythe. Hythe is not to be found in Doctors Commons Road today.
No occupation is noted against Mary’s name in either the 1901 or 1911 censuses; presumably she was keeping house and she is noted in the 1939 Register as being engaged in unpaid domestic work.
In 1911 Florence was working as a cashier. Frank (junior), like his grandfather Alfred, was working as bootmaker. In September 1914, on the outbreak of World War I, Frank enlisted as a private in the 3rd London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers). He went to Malta in late 1914 and from there to Egypt in April 1915. He took part in the Gallipoli campaign and was killed in action on 15th November 1915. His name is recorded on the Helles Memorial at Canakkale in Turkey and also on the Berkhamsted war memorial.
When the 1939 Register was complied, Frank and Mary were still living at Hythe in Doctors Common Road. On the 9th January 1940 Frank died. Mary survived him by another 13 years,
Mary died on 30th December 1953 aged 88. Her address on the probate record is 10 Greenway, also in Berkhamsted. She must have moved from Doctors Commons Road to Greenway sometime after Frank’s death. Her estate was worth £10,139 19s 8d and probate was granted to Sidney Chappell, Florence’s husband and Mary’s son in law.
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MARY JANE SALTMARSH; 1866-1953
The date of Mary’s birth as it was noted in the 1939 Register was 14th January 1865. However, it seems likely this was an error and that she was in fact born on 14th January 1866 as her birth was registered as having occurred in the first quarter of 1866 and she was baptised on 14th April 1866. Additionally, when her death was registered, her date of birth was given as 1866. Although her husband to be, Frank Saltmarsh, was born in Berkhamsted, his parents were originally from Chelmsford in Essex and that is where Mary was also born. Her parents were James and Maria Baker. Maria’s maiden name was Harris, that also being the maiden name of Frank’s mother Caroline. It may be that Caroline and Maria were sisters in which case Frank and Mary would have been cousins. Even if Caroline and Maria were more distantly related, it seems probable that Frank and Mary were related.
Mary’s father, James, is described in the 1871 census as a “builder employing 6 men.” One of those six men was probably Mary’s oldest brother, also named James, who at the age of 21 is noted in the census as a “Builder’s assistant”.
The Baker family was large. Including both James and Mary, there are nine children in all named in the 1871 census, ranging from the oldest, James to Fanny who was only 1. They were listed as follows: James, 21 years old; Henry 18 (a solicitor’s clerk); Emma, 16; William, 14; Charles, 12; Eleanor, 8; Mary, 5, Francis, 2; Fanny, 1. There is no mention of the mother, Maria, who may have been elsewhere at the time of the census as the father James is noted as being married rather than widowed.
It seems that by 1881 both of Mary’s parents had died. The three youngest siblings, Mary, Francis and Florence and their older brother William, were still living in Chelmsford, but now in the home of the oldest brother, James, who was married with two children of his own. James must have taken over his father’s business as like James senior in 1871, he too is described as a builder employing six men, but is also recorded as being an undertaker.
Ten years later we find Mary in Charles Street, Berkhamsted. She was staying at the home of Arthur and Eliza Timson and their 1 year old daughter. Eliza was the older sister of Frank, having married Arthur Timson in 1888. Mary is noted as a “cousin,” presumably of Eliza rather than Arthur Timson. Mary married Frank Saltmarsh during the second quarter of 1891 in Berkhamsted. Perhaps she staying with the Timsons in preparation for the wedding?
Frank and Mary had two children, Florence, born 6th March 1891 and Frank, born in 1894.
The 1901 and 1911 census tell us that Frank, Mary together with Florence and Frank were living in Doctor’s Commons Road. The later electoral rolls and the 1939 Register give us the name of the house, Hythe. Hythe is not to be found in Doctors Commons Road today.
No occupation is noted against Mary’s name in either the 1901 or 1911 censuses; presumably she was keeping house and she is noted in the 1939 Register as being engaged in unpaid domestic work.
In 1911 Florence was working as a cashier. Frank (junior), like his grandfather Alfred, was working as bootmaker. In September 1914, on the outbreak of World War I, Frank enlisted as a private in the 3rd London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers). He went to Malta in late 1914 and from there to Egypt in April 1915. He took part in the Gallipoli campaign and was killed in action on 15th November 1915. His name is recorded on the Helles Memorial at Canakkale in Turkey and also on the Berkhamsted war memorial.
When the 1939 Register was complied, Frank and Mary were still living at Hythe in Doctors Common Road. On the 9th January 1940 Frank died. Mary survived him by another 13 years,
Mary died on 30th December 1953 aged 88. Her address on the probate record is 10 Greenway, also in Berkhamsted. She must have moved from Doctors Commons Road to Greenway sometime after Frank’s death. Her estate was worth £10,139 19s 8d and probate was granted to Sidney Chappell, Florence’s husband and Mary’s son in law.
Relatives
Historical Connections
The following local places of interest are linked to Mary Jane Saltmarsh:
St Peter’s Church
A. C. Meek’s Livery and Hunting Stables
Berkhamsted War Memorial
Military graves