24/05/1872 –21/05/1941
Born in Worcestershire, a gardener who settled in Berkhamsted late in life
Relatives
Research:
Joseph Blount (1872-1941)
Joseph was born 24 April 1872 in the village of Rock, in the Wyre Forest area of Worcestershire and baptised there 1 June 1873. He was the son of John, an agricultural labourer, and Hannah Maria (née Pearce).
His mother died in 1875 giving birth to Elizabeth who sadly did not survive, leaving John to raise Mary (b.1871), Joseph and John (b. 1873).
In 1881 John and the children were living with Mary Cownley, his widowed sister-in-law, who was farming 38 acres at “The Treatus”, Gorst Hill, Rock. He is described as a “farm servant.”
Ten years later the family are still living with Mary and Joseph was employed as an under-gardener.
He married Phoebe Annie Preece in 1900 in Pirton, Hertfordshire. The couple must have met in Rock where she had been employed in the household of the Rector. The census for the next year has them in Skellingthorpe in Lincolnshire, Fanny Preece, Phoebe’s sister, was also living with them.
The couple had two daughters – Dorothy Annie (born & died 1901) and Phoebe Mabel (1903-18).
Joseph clearly moved around a great deal from job to job as a gardener. In 1903 they were in Rothley Leicestershire where Phoebe was born, but by 1911 they were living in Gardener’s Cottage, Threapwood, Malpas, Cheshire. The 1921 census records the couple at 56, Winfred Road, Hemel Hempstead. Joseph was working as a gardener for Mr Adhams at Felden Park, Hemel Hempstead. They remained in Hemel Hempstead until 1929, but by 1930 were Berkhamsted residents, living at “Grafton Gardens”, Cross Oak Road.
In the 1939 Register they were living at 14, Holly Drive. Joseph, aged sixty seven was still working as a gardener.
He died 21 May 1941 at 14, Holly Drive, Berkhamsted. Phoebe survived him by only ten months and is buried with him here.