Biography:
Thomas William Preston
1859 –1934
Thomas William Preston
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THOMAS WILLIAM PRESTON: 1860 – 1934
Thomas was born in Berkhamsted during the third quarter of the year 1859 and was baptised at St Peter’s Church on 14th June that year. His mother was Elizabeth Preston, but we do not know who his father was. Whilst Elizabeth is named as Thomas’ mother in his baptism records, no father is named and we know from the 1861 census that Elizabeth was unmarried. At the time the 1861 census was taken, Elizabeth and Thomas were living with Elizabeth’s parents, Daniel and Amelia Preston, in Back Lane, Berkhamsted. Also living there were two of Elizabeth’s younger siblings, Henry and Amelia Preston, aged 10 and 8 years respectively.
In 1866 Elizabeth married Henry Gee, a labourer, and she, Henry and 12 years old Thomas, set up home on Berkhamsted’s High Street.[1]
Thomas married in Berkhamsted in 1880. His bride was Eliza Cato and in 1881 the newlyweds were living with Henry Gee and Elizabeth at 1 Thompson’s Row.[2] Thomas was working as a general labourer.[3] Whilst Henry Gee and Elizabeth do not seem to have any children, and had moved out of Thompson’s Row by 1891, Thomas and Eliza remained there with their growing family and eventually they had nine children.[4]
By 1911 the family had moved to 29 Bridge Street and by 1921 to 20 Castle Street.
World War I must have been difficult time for Thomas and Eliza, as it was for many others with sons fighting. Their son Thomas was taken prisoner following the Battle of Mons within the first two weeks of the war. He spent the duration of the war in prisoner of war camps in Germany. Their youngest son, Frederick, died in action in France on 23rd March 1917.
In 1921 Thomas, then 62 and still working as a labourer. He and Eliza were still living at 20 Castle Street. With them were their two youngest daughters, Florence and Jessie who were both employed making envelopes at John Dickinson’s paper mills in Apsley.
Thomas died in 1934 at the age of 76 years.
[1] 1871 census
[2] Thompson’s Row was a small lane with six cottages off Holliday Street demolished in 1971 – Berkhamsted Review , Feb 1971
[3] 1881 census
[4] The 1911 census confirms that at the date of the census Eliza had given birth to 9 children, all of whom were then alive. The children were: Annie Elizabeth 1881 – 1973; Alice Jane 1882 – 1959; Lillie 1884 – 1970; Rose Emily 1886 – 1933; Harry 1888 – ?; Thomas William 1891 -1945; Florence Agnes 1893 – 1953; Frederick Daniel 1896 – 1917; Jessie 1899 -1964.
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THOMAS WILLIAM PRESTON: 1860 – 1934
Thomas was born in Berkhamsted during the third quarter of the year 1859 and was baptised at St Peter’s Church on 14th June that year. His mother was Elizabeth Preston, but we do not know who his father was. Whilst Elizabeth is named as Thomas’ mother in his baptism records, no father is named and we know from the 1861 census that Elizabeth was unmarried. At the time the 1861 census was taken, Elizabeth and Thomas were living with Elizabeth’s parents, Daniel and Amelia Preston, in Back Lane, Berkhamsted. Also living there were two of Elizabeth’s younger siblings, Henry and Amelia Preston, aged 10 and 8 years respectively.
In 1866 Elizabeth married Henry Gee, a labourer, and she, Henry and 12 years old Thomas, set up home on Berkhamsted’s High Street.[1]
Thomas married in Berkhamsted in 1880. His bride was Eliza Cato and in 1881 the newlyweds were living with Henry Gee and Elizabeth at 1 Thompson’s Row.[2] Thomas was working as a general labourer.[3] Whilst Henry Gee and Elizabeth do not seem to have any children, and had moved out of Thompson’s Row by 1891, Thomas and Eliza remained there with their growing family and eventually they had nine children.[4]
By 1911 the family had moved to 29 Bridge Street and by 1921 to 20 Castle Street.
World War I must have been difficult time for Thomas and Eliza, as it was for many others with sons fighting. Their son Thomas was taken prisoner following the Battle of Mons within the first two weeks of the war. He spent the duration of the war in prisoner of war camps in Germany. Their youngest son, Frederick, died in action in France on 23rd March 1917.
In 1921 Thomas, then 62 and still working as a labourer. He and Eliza were still living at 20 Castle Street. With them were their two youngest daughters, Florence and Jessie who were both employed making envelopes at John Dickinson’s paper mills in Apsley.
Thomas died in 1934 at the age of 76 years.
[1] 1871 census
[2] Thompson’s Row was a small lane with six cottages off Holliday Street demolished in 1971 – Berkhamsted Review , Feb 1971
[3] 1881 census
[4] The 1911 census confirms that at the date of the census Eliza had given birth to 9 children, all of whom were then alive. The children were: Annie Elizabeth 1881 – 1973; Alice Jane 1882 – 1959; Lillie 1884 – 1970; Rose Emily 1886 – 1933; Harry 1888 – ?; Thomas William 1891 -1945; Florence Agnes 1893 – 1953; Frederick Daniel 1896 – 1917; Jessie 1899 -1964.
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