Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Louisa Sophia Bristow

22/02/1874 –04-1926

Domestic servant; married Corporal Robert Bristow

Relatives

Robert Bristow — husband

• Melanie Hilton

Unmarked grave Louisa Sophia Bristow (née Avery)  (1874-1926)

Louisa was born 22 February 1874 at 14, Bath Grove, Bethnal Green, to William Henry Avery, a warehouseman, and Sophia (née Powell). She was baptised 12 April at St Thomas’s, Bethnal Green. Louisa was the ninth of their children and her mother died following her birth.

At the time of the 1881 census Sophia and her father were living alone at 6, Buckingham Road, Bethnal Green. Ten years later, aged 17, she was a live-in general servant at the home of George and Mary Hughes in Forest Gate. Mr Hughes was manager of an ostrich feather manufactory and, as Louisa’s father was described as “feather sorter” on her wedding certificate, that connection may have been how she got the job.

On the 24 December 1899 at St Thomas’s church, Edmonton, she married Corporal Robert Bristow of the Royal Berkshire regiment, based in Aldershot. Robert was marrying without his commanding officer’s consent, possibly because he knew he was about to be posted to Gibraltar on 28 January 1900.

Robert returned from Gibraltar in 1902 and their son Robert jnr was born the following year. In November 1906 Robert was posted to India. Louisa accompanied him and their daughters Lillian Louisa and Edith Mary were born there. She seems not to have gone with him initially, unless he was posted to Ireland en route, as their daughter Eileen Eliza was born in Dublin in 1907.

The family returned to England in April 1914 when Robert was discharged at his own request after serving for 19 years. He was 39.

The family first appears in Berkhamsted in the 1919 electoral register at “House at the Nook”, Lower King’s Road. Robert was employed as a decorator and he also signed up for the Territorial Army.

The family remained in Berkhamsted until at least April 1926 when Louisa died in West Herts hospital. She was buried here on 29 April aged 52.

Robert died 18 February 1934 at 17, Wellhouse Lane, Barnet aged 59. He was buried in the same grave as Louisa, 22 February.

Robert Bristow

10/12/1875 –18/02/1934

Served 19 years with the Army before retiring to become a decorator

Relatives

Louisa Sophia Bristow — wife

• Melanie Hilton

Unmarked grave Robert Bristow (1875-1934)

Robert was born 10 December 1874 in Edmonton to Robert Bristow, a plumber, and Eliza (née Munt).

On 26 September 1894, aged 20 years and two months, he signed up to join the Royal Berkshire regiment for a Short Service engagement (“7 years with the Colours and 5 years in the Reserves”). He gave his occupation as “Painter”. Hs examination shows that he was just short of 5 foot 8 inches tall with fair hair and blue eyes. He had two tattoos – a heart, arrow and cross on his left forearm and “RB” on his left arm.

He was passed fit and joined the regiment as a Private in October. He was promoted to Lance Corporal in December 1895 and Corporal in December 1898.

Between October 1897 and November 1899 he served in the West Indies.

In June 1899, based at Aldershot, he extended his engagement to 17 years with the Colours and gained a certificate as an assistant gymnastics instructor in December, just before he married Louisa Sophia Avery on 24 December at All Saints Edmonton – without leave from his commanding officer.

On 28 January 1900, after only a few weeks of marriage, Robert was posted to Gibraltar and in September 1900 he was reduced to the ranks for drunkenness. His career took an up and down path with promotions to Lance Corporal, then Corporal and being reduced to the ranks again on several occasions between then and 6 April 1913 when he achieved the rank of Sergeant. It did not last – he was deprived of the rank in September for unspecified “misconduct”.

He was home from Gibraltar in 1902. His son Robert was born in 1903 and Robert snr was based in the UK until November 1906 when he was posted to India. Louisa joined him, but for some reason their daughter Eileen Eliza was born in 1907 in Dublin – possibly his unit did not go directly to India. Their daughters Lilian Louisa and Edith Mary were born in India.

In 1911 Louisa and children were in Meerut.

The family returned to England in April 1914 when Robert was discharged at his own request after serving for 19 years. He was 39.

Robert was discharged with the rank of Corporal and a report that his conduct “on discharge” was good. Mention was made of his ability as a gymnastics and physical education instructor and a note added that he wished for employment in the small arms factory at Enfield and that he intended to reside at Felixstowe Road, Lower Enfield.

The family first appears in Berkhamsted in the 1919 electoral register at “House at the Nook”, Lower King’s Road

On 14 July 1921 Robert signed up for a one-year engagement in the Territorial Army, 1^st Hertfordshire Regiment. He gave his address as “The Nook”, Lower Kings Road, Berkhamsted and his occupation as “Decorator”. He eventually served in the Territorials until December 1924.

The family remained in Berkhamsted until at least April 1926 when Louisa died in West Herts hospital. She was buried here on 29 April aged 52.

Robert died 18 February 1934 at 17, Wellhouse Lane, Barnet aged 59. He was buried 22 February in the same grave as his wife.