Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Mary Austin (393)

1826 –26/05/1897

Second wife of Thomas Austin

Relatives

Albert Edward Austin — son

Thomas Austin (129) — husband

Mary Ann Austin — daughter

• Melanie Hilton

Plot 393 Mary Austin (née Hards)

Mary was born in 1826 in the village of Titley, Herefordshire, the third child and first daughter of Leonard and Elizabeth Hards.

Leonard was a gamekeeper, born in Sussex, but like most estate owners his employer, the Earl of Plymouth, preferred to appoint gamekeepers from as far away as possible from their estates to ensure there was no collusion with the local poachers.

In April 1816 the Earl appointed “his menial servant” Leonard Hards as keeper to the manors of Cofton Hackett, Bonehill, Gannow, Bittle, Tardebig, Bordesley, Bromsgrove and Dyers and the Rectory of Bromsgrove, but with no permission to shoot game.

The Hards, with children Henry, Benjamin, Mary and Eliza, lived in Titley until at least 1827, but had moved to Llanilar, Cardiganshire by 1830 when Harriet was born. Leonard jnr. followed in 1832.

The 1841 census records Leonard and Elizabeth and their four youngest children at Dolygebynen, Llanilar and shows that Leonard was still employed as a gamekeeper.

By 1849, when Elizabeth died, she and Leonard had moved to Saldon Lodge, Mursley in Buckinghamshire. Leonard and his son Benjamin emigrated to Australia in 1852.

It is impossible to tell where Mary encountered Berkhamsted plumber, widower Thomas Austin, but they married in Berkhamsted in late 1855.

The marriage gave Mary two step-children: George (buried here with his wife in Plot 145) and Caroline. Her own first child, Mary Ann, was born in 1856 but died the next year and lies with her father in plot 193. Fortunately Albert Edward was born 20 March 1863 and was to have a long life.

The family lived in the High Street and Thomas’s business was clearly prospering – he employed several men and they could afford a live-in servant.

Thomas died in February 1885 aged 61. He is buried here in Plot 193 with his first wife and children of both marriages who died in infancy.

Mary went to live with her step-daughter Caroline who had married farmer and pheasant breeder Frederick Dwight. They lived at Fairview, Ellesmere Road and had six children. In the 1891 census Mary was shown as living “on own means”.

At some point she moved to stay with her son Albert Edward, now a Church of England clergyman living in Hitchin. She died at his home 8, Trevor Road, Hitchin on 26 May 1897 aged 71.

Albert went on to be Vicar of Holy Trinity, Halsead, Essex, but returned to Berkhamsted to retire. He died in 1947 and is buried with her here.

Albert Edward Austin

10/03/1863 –01/02/1947

Son of Thomas and Mary Austin ; became a clergyman

Relatives

Mary Austin (393) — mother

Thomas Austin (129) — father

Mary Ann Austin — other

• Melanie Hilton

Plot 393 The Reverend Albert Edward Austin (1863-1947)

Albert was born 10 March 1863, the son of Thomas Austin (born Berkhamsted) and his second wife Mary (née Hards, who was born in Herefordshire). Albert was baptised 1 August, at St Peter’s.

Thomas was a plumber and house decorator and Albert was their second, and only surviving, child. A sister, Mary Ann, had died in infancy in 1857. (She is buried in plot 193 with her father.)

His half-siblings George and Caroline both married into the Dwight family of pheasant breeders. (George and his wife Mary Ann are buried here in Plot 145).

In 1871 the family were living in the High Street. His half-sister Caroline was also at home and the family employed a live-in servant.

By 1881 Albert had joined his father working as a plumber and was still at home with his parents, but his career took an abrupt turn when he took his Bachelor of Arts degree and was ordained in the Church of England.

The 1891 census records him as a Clerk in Holy Orders living at 22, Verulam Road, Hitchin where he was looked after by a resident housekeeper. At some point before May 1897 he moved to 8, Trevor Road and his widowed mother Mary came to live with him. She died there 26 May 1897 Trevor Road, Hitchin, aged 71, and is buried here with him.

Albert was never to marry. In March 1901 he was still at 8, Trevor Road, where he was described as “Clergyman, Church of England.” He was living alone except for a servant.

By April 1911 he was the Vicar of Holy Trinity, Halstead, Essex and lived in the 12-room vicarage on Chapel Hill with a housekeeper and one servant. He was recorded there in both the 1921 census and the 1939 Register.

Albert must have retired to Berkhamsted as his address at the time of his death was 5, Cowper Road. He died 1 February 1947 in West Herts Hospital aged 84.