Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

George Andrews

1866 –1939

A labourer and carman at Coopers chemical works

Relatives

Alice Phoebe Andrews — wife

Jane Andrews — mother

John Andrews — father

Violet May Andrews — daughter

Joseph William Andrews — son

• Melanie Hilton

Unmarked grave George Andrews (1866-1939)

George was born in Potten End in 1866, the son of John and Jane Andrews. His father was a hay and straw dealer and Jane was his second wife.

In 1871 the family lived in Potten End. His mother was a straw plaiter as were two of his older half-sisters. His older half-brother worked for a farrier and he also had a younger brother and sister.

By 1881 the family has moved to Berkhamsted and his father was licensee of The Bull beer house in the High Street. Fifteen year old George was a general labourer. Also at home were an older sister, a straw plaiter, a younger brother and three younger sisters. The family also had a lodger.

His mother died in 1889 and is buried in this cemetery.

George married Alice Phoebe Tarbox in Berkhamsted in 1891 and they lived in George Street. They were to have nine children: Florence (1892), George John (1894), Joseph William (1895), Alice Isabella (1897), Daisy Louisa (1899), Rosa (1901), Nellie Elizabeth (1902), Violet May (1907) and Rose Mary (1912).

In 1901 the family were living at 9, High Street but by 1911 they had moved to  “Lusitania”, 1, Highfield Road. Although now the name of the ship Lusitania immediately brings to mind its sinking by the Germans during World War I, it had been launched in 1906 and was then the largest passenger ship in the world. George was a general labourer at Cooper’s chemical works as was his son John. Florence was a laundry maid and William was a “House boy” at Berkhamsted School.

Alice died in October 1919 and is buried in this cemetery

In the 1921 census George is shown as a widower and was a carman for Coopers and Nephews, his employers ten years previously. Four of the girls were still living at home in Highfield Road: Alice was keeping house; Nellie was making wooden boxes for John Dickinson, the paper manufacturer; Violet May was making lady’s tailoring for Corby, Palmer and Stuart at their Lower King’s Road factory and Rose was at school. Also living with them were young George Harry Andrews, a nephew, and a boarder.

Violet May died in 1929 and was buried 19 October. She was only 22.

George died in April 1939 and is buried here with Violet. His son Joseph William (died 1946) is also buried in this cemetery. George’s father John, who died in 1904, is also here.

Violet May Andrews

1907 –1919

Worked at Bulbourne mantle factory; died age 22 years

Relatives

George Andrews — father

Alice Phoebe Andrews — mother

Joseph William Andrews — brother

• Melanie Hilton

Unmarked grave Violet May Andrews (1907-1929)

Born in Berkhamsted in 1907, Violet May was the eighth child of George Andrews, a general labourer at the chemical works, and his wife Alice Phoebe (née Tarbox). She had five older sisters and two older brothers and in 1911 they were living at “Lusitania”, 1, Highfield Road. Although now the name of the ship Lusitania immediately brings to mind its sinking by the Germans during World War I, it had been launched in 1906 and was then the largest passenger ship in the world.

Her mother died in October 1919 and is buried in this cemetery.

In the 1921 census George is shown as a carman for Coopers and Nephews, probably his employers ten years previously. Alice was keeping house; Nellie was making wooden boxes for John Dickinson, the paper manufacturer; Violet May was making lady’s tailoring for Corby, Palmer and Stuart at their Lower King’s Road factory and Rose was at school. Also living with them were young George Harry Andrews, a nephew and a boarder.

Violet May died in 1929 and was buried 19 October. She was only 22.

Her father died in April 1939 and is buried here with Violet.

Her brother Joseph William is also buried in this cemetery.