Biography:
Phoebe Ward
1852 –13/08/1920
Phoebe Ward
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PHOEBE WARD; 1852 -1920
Phoebe was the second of three children, all daughters, born to Levi and Susan Bedford. She was born in Northchurch in the third quarter of 1852 and was baptised at St. Mary’s church in Northchurch on 13th February in 1853. Her older sister, Ann, was three years older than Phoebe, and her younger sister, Jane was born in about 1850. The Bedford family lived in Northchurch and Levi was an agricultural labourer. Phoebe’s mother, Susan, like many other women from poorer families worked as a straw plaiter. By the time of the 1871 census Phoebe was 18. Unfortunately, she is not evident in the 1871 census returns but we do know she was not then living with her parents. She would no doubt have been working and may have entered domestic service with a wealthier family.
We do know however that on the 17th March 1876, Phoebe married Hosea Ward. Hosea had been born in Hemel Hempstead but his family had moved to Northchurch by 1871. Hosea, like Phoebe, was from humble origins. His father was a basket maker and his mother, like Phoebe’s mother, was also a straw plaiter. Hosea had initially followed in his father’s footsteps as a basket weaver, but by the time of Phoebe’s marriage to him, he was working as fishmonger, the trade in which he was to work until retirement.
Phoebe and Hosea did not stay in Northchurch, they moved the two miles or so to Castle Street in Berkhamsted where Hosea was to build a new home and fishmonger’s shop at what was then number 61 Castle Street. Phoebe was to live at that address for the rest of her days. Hosea seems to have been something of a troublesome teenager finding himself in court on two occasions for poaching. Marriage and the family responsibilities that came with the birth to Phoebe of four children may have quietened him down, but we do know he was subsequently convicted of drunkenness later in his life, once in 1903 and again in 1905.
Phoebe’s first child, a daughter, Florence Jane ward, was born in 1877, followed by Susan Emma Ward, born 1880; Edith Mary Ward, 1882; Walter William Ward, 1884 and finally Ethel May Ward, born in 1887. Ethel, the youngest daughter died on 27th April 1889 at the age of two years and was buried in Rectory Lane Cemetery.
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PHOEBE WARD; 1852 -1920
Phoebe was the second of three children, all daughters, born to Levi and Susan Bedford. She was born in Northchurch in the third quarter of 1852 and was baptised at St. Mary’s church in Northchurch on 13th February in 1853. Her older sister, Ann, was three years older than Phoebe, and her younger sister, Jane was born in about 1850. The Bedford family lived in Northchurch and Levi was an agricultural labourer. Phoebe’s mother, Susan, like many other women from poorer families worked as a straw plaiter. By the time of the 1871 census Phoebe was 18. Unfortunately, she is not evident in the 1871 census returns but we do know she was not then living with her parents. She would no doubt have been working and may have entered domestic service with a wealthier family.
We do know however that on the 17th March 1876, Phoebe married Hosea Ward. Hosea had been born in Hemel Hempstead but his family had moved to Northchurch by 1871. Hosea, like Phoebe, was from humble origins. His father was a basket maker and his mother, like Phoebe’s mother, was also a straw plaiter. Hosea had initially followed in his father’s footsteps as a basket weaver, but by the time of Phoebe’s marriage to him, he was working as fishmonger, the trade in which he was to work until retirement.
Phoebe and Hosea did not stay in Northchurch, they moved the two miles or so to Castle Street in Berkhamsted where Hosea was to build a new home and fishmonger’s shop at what was then number 61 Castle Street. Phoebe was to live at that address for the rest of her days. Hosea seems to have been something of a troublesome teenager finding himself in court on two occasions for poaching. Marriage and the family responsibilities that came with the birth to Phoebe of four children may have quietened him down, but we do know he was subsequently convicted of drunkenness later in his life, once in 1903 and again in 1905.
Phoebe’s first child, a daughter, Florence Jane ward, was born in 1877, followed by Susan Emma Ward, born 1880; Edith Mary Ward, 1882; Walter William Ward, 1884 and finally Ethel May Ward, born in 1887. Ethel, the youngest daughter died on 27th April 1889 at the age of two years and was buried in Rectory Lane Cemetery.
Military graves