Biography:
William James Tutt (243)
13/05/1848 –16/09/1896
William James Tutt (243)
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WILLIAM JAMES TUTT; 1848 -1896
William was born in Woburn, Bedfordshire, on 13th May 1848, and was baptised on 12th November that year. His father, James Kinn Tutt was a plasterer and his mother Susanna Tutt (nee Betcheno), a dressmaker. James and Susanna had six children. The first child, John, was born in 1845 but John did not survive his infancy, dying shortly after his birth. William was the next child to be born, followed by George in about 1852, Edwin, 1856, Alfred, 1858 and a daughter Elizabeth who was born 1865.
In 1851, when William was only two years old, he and his parents were living in the home of William’s maternal grandmother, Elizabeth Betcheno, in Bedford Street, Woburn. The family were still living in Woburn in 1861, but no longer with Susanna’s mother. William, then 12 years old, was attending school, noted in the census as a “scholar”.
The Tutt family had moved from Woburn to Leighton Buzzard by the time of the 1871 census. William, aged 22 and still living with his parents, had followed his father’s trade and had also become a plasterer. He and his father probably worked together.
Later in 1871, on 25th September, William married Maria Jane Smith. Maria was from Luton. William and Maria’s wedding was celebrated at St Mark’s Church in Islington. The address noted on the marriage certificate for both bride and groom was 1 Holford Street. However, that is no guarantee that either Maria or William actually lived at that address. The addresses on marriage certificates are often misleading. The cheapest Church of England marriages involved the reading of banns. The banns had to be read over three successive Sundays in a parish church and the parties had to be living in the parish for at least a week before banns were read. Often, therefore, the address on a marriage certificate is no more than an address of convenience and we know from the 1881 census that William and Maria were then living in South Street in Leighton Buzzard.
Maria gave birth to the couple’s first child, William James George Tutt, in 1872 and a daughter, Maud Grace Tutt was born in 1875.
In or about 1885, William, Maria and the two children moved to Berkhamsted. The 1891 census tells us the family were living in Charles Street. William, then 42 years old described himself as a plasterer, but we learn from his obituary that on moving to Berkhamsted he had set up in business as a builder.
William was not to live long in Berkhamsted; he died suddenly on 16th September 1896 at the age of 48. An article published in the Leighton Buzzard Observer & Linslade Gazette in September 1896 explained that William “… engaged on a building in the Alexandra Road, Hemel Hempstead, was taking off his apron at the close of his day’s work, on Wednesday, when he fell down and died.” Although William’s death was sudden it was not entirely unexpected; “He was known to suffer from disease of the heart, which was doubtless the cause of his death.” An inquest was held on the day following William’s death and the coroner heard evidence that William “…in his youth had rheumatic fever and on two occasions since. These attacks had left him with a weak heart.”
As the newspaper poignantly noted “…it is interesting, although sad, to note that Mr and Mrs Tutt would have reached their silver wedding day next Sunday and preparations had been made for the celebration of the event.”
The newspaper also provides us with an insight into William’s character. He was a “…highly-respected deacon of the Baptist Church, a teacher of the young men’s Bible class, treasurer of the PSA and an active worker in all temperance and philanthropic movements, and was generally esteemed for his Christian character.” His heart condition necessitated the avoidance of excitement and he was “…essentially a lover of home life.” “He was everywhere respected by those with whom he came into contact for his uniformly quiet, consistent Christian character and conduct.”
William’s funeral took place on the Saturday after he died. The service was held in Berkhamsted’s Baptist Chapel and was conducted by the pastor who had baptised William 48 years earlier. Mourners from Berkhamsted, Leighton Buzzard, Hemel Hempstead and Chesham were in attendance and followed the coffin to William’s resting place in Rectory Lane Cemetery, but “Unfortunately a heavy thunderstorm of rain and hail passed over the cemetery just before the close of the brief and affecting service.”
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WILLIAM JAMES TUTT; 1848 -1896
William was born in Woburn, Bedfordshire, on 13th May 1848, and was baptised on 12th November that year. His father, James Kinn Tutt was a plasterer and his mother Susanna Tutt (nee Betcheno), a dressmaker. James and Susanna had six children. The first child, John, was born in 1845 but John did not survive his infancy, dying shortly after his birth. William was the next child to be born, followed by George in about 1852, Edwin, 1856, Alfred, 1858 and a daughter Elizabeth who was born 1865.
In 1851, when William was only two years old, he and his parents were living in the home of William’s maternal grandmother, Elizabeth Betcheno, in Bedford Street, Woburn. The family were still living in Woburn in 1861, but no longer with Susanna’s mother. William, then 12 years old, was attending school, noted in the census as a “scholar”.
The Tutt family had moved from Woburn to Leighton Buzzard by the time of the 1871 census. William, aged 22 and still living with his parents, had followed his father’s trade and had also become a plasterer. He and his father probably worked together.
Later in 1871, on 25th September, William married Maria Jane Smith. Maria was from Luton. William and Maria’s wedding was celebrated at St Mark’s Church in Islington. The address noted on the marriage certificate for both bride and groom was 1 Holford Street. However, that is no guarantee that either Maria or William actually lived at that address. The addresses on marriage certificates are often misleading. The cheapest Church of England marriages involved the reading of banns. The banns had to be read over three successive Sundays in a parish church and the parties had to be living in the parish for at least a week before banns were read. Often, therefore, the address on a marriage certificate is no more than an address of convenience and we know from the 1881 census that William and Maria were then living in South Street in Leighton Buzzard.
Maria gave birth to the couple’s first child, William James George Tutt, in 1872 and a daughter, Maud Grace Tutt was born in 1875.
In or about 1885, William, Maria and the two children moved to Berkhamsted. The 1891 census tells us the family were living in Charles Street. William, then 42 years old described himself as a plasterer, but we learn from his obituary that on moving to Berkhamsted he had set up in business as a builder.
William was not to live long in Berkhamsted; he died suddenly on 16th September 1896 at the age of 48. An article published in the Leighton Buzzard Observer & Linslade Gazette in September 1896 explained that William “… engaged on a building in the Alexandra Road, Hemel Hempstead, was taking off his apron at the close of his day’s work, on Wednesday, when he fell down and died.” Although William’s death was sudden it was not entirely unexpected; “He was known to suffer from disease of the heart, which was doubtless the cause of his death.” An inquest was held on the day following William’s death and the coroner heard evidence that William “…in his youth had rheumatic fever and on two occasions since. These attacks had left him with a weak heart.”
As the newspaper poignantly noted “…it is interesting, although sad, to note that Mr and Mrs Tutt would have reached their silver wedding day next Sunday and preparations had been made for the celebration of the event.”
The newspaper also provides us with an insight into William’s character. He was a “…highly-respected deacon of the Baptist Church, a teacher of the young men’s Bible class, treasurer of the PSA and an active worker in all temperance and philanthropic movements, and was generally esteemed for his Christian character.” His heart condition necessitated the avoidance of excitement and he was “…essentially a lover of home life.” “He was everywhere respected by those with whom he came into contact for his uniformly quiet, consistent Christian character and conduct.”
William’s funeral took place on the Saturday after he died. The service was held in Berkhamsted’s Baptist Chapel and was conducted by the pastor who had baptised William 48 years earlier. Mourners from Berkhamsted, Leighton Buzzard, Hemel Hempstead and Chesham were in attendance and followed the coffin to William’s resting place in Rectory Lane Cemetery, but “Unfortunately a heavy thunderstorm of rain and hail passed over the cemetery just before the close of the brief and affecting service.”
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