Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Stephen Thomas Sills

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Stephen Thomas Sills

 Stephen Thomas Sills was born on 21^st May 1838 in Berkhamsted, the only child of Charlotte Sills, a single woman. The 1841 Census records him, aged 3, living in Waterside (close to the canal at the north end of Holliday Street) with his mother Charlotte, 28, a straw plaiter and his widowed grandmother Jane, 65. Their surname is recorded as Siles. Aged 8, on 13^th September 1846, he was baptised at St Peter’s Church. By 1851 he had moved, with his mother and grandmother, to Prospect Place (off Highfield Road). He was then a 13 year old Scholar and his mother still a straw plaiter. The 1861 Census records that Stephen found employment as a railway porter; he would have been working for the London and North Western Railway at Berkhamsted Station. By then he and his mother lived at Canalside and she worked as a laundress.

 On 2^nd January 1869, Stephen Thomas Sills, a 30 year old bachelor, married Emma Holloway, also of Berkhamsted, at St Peter’s Church after Banns, which were read at St Peter’s Berkhamsted on Sundays 13^th, 20^th and 27^th December 1868. Emma, aged 25, was a laundress, born in Berkhamsted and living with her widowed mother and her sisters in Berkhamsted High Street. Their only child George Henry Sills was born on 22^nd September 1869 and baptised at St Peter’s on 7^th November that year.

 By 1871 32 year old Stephen, 28 year old Emma (a ‘domestic wife’) and 1 year old George Henry lived in Holliday Street though they later moved to Berkhamsted High Street. A Railway Employment Record for the Coaching Department at Berkhamsted Station gives more precise information about Stephen’s employment from 14^th May 1877: he was a railway parcels porter. This record also notes that he was 5 feet 4 inches (1.63 metres) tall and earned 17 shillings and 6 pence (87.5p) per week.

 By 1891, Stephen had reached the rank of senior porter and his son George Henry was a married “Photographer, Gilder and Picture Frame Maker” who became one of Berkhamsted’s three famous photographers, the others being William Claridge and James Newman. In 1901, the family address was recorded more precisely as 234 High Street, which is now Simmons Bakery. Stephen and Emma lived there with their son George, his wife Amelia and their three grandchildren Charles George, born 23^rd September 1891, Albert William Stephen, born 28^th July 1893 and Edward Victor, born 21^st July 1897. In 1901 Stephen was almost 63 years old, though the Census gives his age as 60. His Railway Employment record gives his retirement date as 24^th October 1901.

 Stephen’s wife Emma, of 234 High Street died, aged 61, on 7^th August 1904 and was buried in Plot 820 three days later, the service conducted by the Revd. H Constable Curtis, Rector of St Peter’s.

 After his wife’s death, Stephen continued to live with his son George and family at 234 High Street. In 1911 he is still listed as a railway porter but absence of the word ‘Worker’, at least implies retirement.

 Electoral Register entries and the Burial Register show that Stephen remained at 234 High Street until his own death, aged 87, on 19^th April 1925. On 23^rd April 1925, he was buried in Plot 820 with Emma, the service conducted by the Curate of St Peter’s, the Revd. E. J. Anthony.

 Their kerbed memorial bears the inscription: "Emma, the beloved wife of Stephen Thomas Sills, 7th August 1904 aged 61/ also of Stephen Thomas Sills died 19th April 1925 aged 87."

 Their son George Henry Sills, who died 14^th December 1951 and daughter in law Amelia Mary Sills née Ledger, who died 17^th March 1941 are buried in Plot 901 at Rectory Lane.