Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Emma Draper

1848 –05/09/1922

Born in Berkhamsted, worked as a servant in Kensington where she met and married a fellow servant

Relatives

William Draper (676) — husband

• Melanie Hilton

Plot 676 Emma Draper (née Matthews) (1848-1922)

Emma was born in 1848 in Berkhamsted to James Matthews, master carpenter, and his wife Harriet (née Baker).

Harriet died aged only 33 in March 1851 and the census for that year was taken 13 days after the funeral. James, with Emma and her 11 month-old brother Thomas, was living in Castle Street with his sister Ann acting as his housekeeper. Three other Matthews families lived next door – four of them in a row, so hopefully the grieving widower and his family were getting their support.

James remarried to Mary Jane Salisbury in 1858 and the 1861 census shows the family still in Castle Street (along with all the other Matthews families). Baby Henry had been born in 1860.

Emma went to work as a servant in the home of banker James G Murdoch and his daughter at Elvaston Place, Kensington. It was here that she met William Draper, also a servant in the household. Their actual occupations are not recorded. Eight servants were listed, so it seems probable that some of them were employees in a private bank rather than domestic staff.

Emma married William on 4 September 1875 in Paddington and in 1881 they were living as lodgers at 35, Gillingham Street, Westminster. William was a messenger for an insurance company.

In both the 1891and 1901 censuses the couple were recorded as living at 88, Cromwell Road, Kensington in the household of Arthur Francis, a banker, and his wife at 88, Cromwell Road. William, a bank messenger, was described as a servant to Mr Francis. No other bank employees were living in the house, only a number of domestic servants.

William died 27 March 1908 at 28 Castle Street, aged 57, although his home was shown in his probate record as 88, Cromwell Road. Resident at the Castle Street address was Henry Matthews, a builder and his family He was Emma’s younger brother so it seems that William and Emma were visiting when he died.

In 1911 Emma was a lodger in the home of Ellen and Alfred Marriott at 15, Station Road and living on her “own means”

She died in 1922 aged 74.

William Draper (676)

1851 –27/03/1908

A domestic servant who married a fellow domestic servant; died in Berkhamsted visiting wife's family

Relatives

Emma Draper — wife

• Melanie Hilton

Plot 676 William Draper (1851-1908)

William was born in Markyate in 1851. His parents and early life have not been traced but in 1871 he was living in the home of banker James G Murdoch at Elvaston Place, Kensington. He was listed in the census as a servant, in what capacity is not noted, but it seems likely it was in connection with the bank. It was here that he must have met his wife Emma Matthews who was employed as a domestic servant in the household.

In both the 1891and 1901 censuses the couple were recorded as living at 88, Cromwell Road, Kensington in the household of Arthur Francis, a banker, and his wife. William, a bank messenger, was described as a servant to Mr Francis. No other bank employees were living in the house, only a number of domestic servants.

William died 27 March 1908 at 28 Castle Street, Berkhamsted, aged 57, although his residence was shown in his probate record as 88, Cromwell Road. Living at the Castle Street address was Henry Matthews, a builder and his family. Henry was Emma’s younger brother – it seems that William and Emma were visiting when he died.

Emma moved back to Berkhamsted and died in 1922. She is buried with him here.