Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Elizabeth Bishop

1836 –19/05/1921

Wife of Frederick Bishop

Relatives

Frederick Bishop — husband

Frederick Fountain — son

• Melanie Hilton

Elizabeth Bishop (née Fountain) (1836-1921)

Born in Hemel Hempstead in 1836, the daughter of Thomas Fountain, a butcher and Caroline Simmons. Thomas died in 1841 and Caroline and little Elizabeth went to live with Caroline’s brother, a gardener, and his family in the High Street, Berkhamsted.

Elizabeth appears to have had three children before her marriage. Frederick was baptised at St Peter’s 31^st May 1857. He had been born the previous year. A daughter, Kate, was born in 1859 in Northchurch.

In 1861 Elizabeth, Frederick and Kate were living with her step-father, George Smith, a labourer, and her mother Caroline in Castle Street.

 On 7^th July 1863 Kate Fountain was baptised at St Peter’s. In 1864 Elizabeth had another daughter, Caroline, who was registered but not baptised.

When she was thirty Elizabeth married Frederick Bishop, a butcher seven years her junior at Holy Trinity, Paddington 11th January 1869. On the wedding certificate they are both shown as living at 10, Leinster Street, London.

Elizabeth signed the wedding register with a cross.

In the 1871 census she and Frederick were living in Bridge Street, sharing a house with George Smith, her step-father and Caroline, her mother. Frederick and George are shown as “Joint Head” on the return.

Both Kate and Caroline Fountain, Elizabeth’s daughters are shown. Frederick Fountain, her son, was living with George and Caroline. Elizabeth and both her daughters were working as straw plaiters, as was her mother. Frederick Fountain, aged fourteen, was a printer’s labourer.

By 1881 Frederick and Elizabeth were living alone in the High Street where Frederick continued his trade as a butcher.

Frederick died February 19th 1892 aged forty seven. In the 1901 census Elizabeth was living at 13, Castle Street. She had a male boarder, a wheelwright, whom she may have met through Mathew Bishop, Frederick’s cousin, who lived in Berkhamsted and was also a wheelwright. Her twelve year old granddaughter, Kate Robina Fountain, was also living with her. They were both at the same address in 1911.

Elizabeth died 19th May 1921 aged eighty seven and was laid to rest here with Frederick.

Frederick Bishop

1845 –19/02/1892

A butcher; died at age of 47 years.

Relatives

Elizabeth Bishop — wife

Frederick Fountain — other

• Melanie Hilton

Frederick Bishop (1845-1892)

Frederick was born in 1845 in Wiggington, Herts, the son of Joseph Bishop, a butcher and Lydia, who was a straw plaiter. He was their second child and oldest son.

In 1851 the family were living in Buckland Common and by the time Frederick was sixteen he was working with his father as a butcher. His younger brother William was a labourer and eleven year old Edward was a straw plaiter like his mother.

When he was twenty three he married Elizabeth Fountain, seven years his senior, at Holy Trinity, Paddington 11^th January 1869. On the wedding certificate they are both shown as living at 10, Leinster Street, London. He became the step-father of Elizabeth’s three children, Frederick, Kate and Caroline.

In the 1871 census the family were living in Bridge Street, sharing a house with George Smith, Elizabeth’s step-father and Caroline, her mother. Frederick and George are shown as “Joint Head” on the return.

Frederick died February 19th 1892 aged forty seven. Elizabeth survived him until 1921 and was laid to rest with him here.

His cousin Mathew Bishop and his wife Annie are buried in plot 864.