Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Adnall Joseph East

1850 –28/11/1925

Fourth generation wood turner from Chesham, lived a while in Stepney before returning to Berkhamsted

Relatives

Charlotte East — wife

• Christopher Dolton

ADNALL JOSEPH EAST: 1850 – 1925
Adnall was born in the second quarter of 1850. He was the oldest of three children born to William and Eliza East. His younger siblings were Rosa who was born in 1854 and Charles, born in 1856.

The 1851 census, taken when Adnall was only one year old, reveals that Adnall and his parents were living at White Hill Chesham. Adnall’s father was working as a wood turner and his mother was a straw plaiter. Living next door was Adnall’s paternal grandfather, Ebenezer, together with his wife and three of Adnall’s father’s younger brothers and sisters. Ebenezer was the youngest son of William East, who had also been a wood turner. Adnall was himself to go on to become a wood turner, the fourth generation of his family. counting his great-grandfather William, to take up that occupation.

In 1861 the family was still living at White Hill, Chesham. Adnall’s father, William, was not present with the family at the time of the census and Adnall’s mother, Eliza is noted as the head of the family. William, however, was back by the time of the next census in 1871. The family were still living in Chesham, but had moved to the Moor. Adnall, now 21 years old, had started work as a wood turner, an occupation he was to follow for the rest of his working life.

Late in 1872 Adnall married Charlotte Puddephatt. She too was from Chesham and the marriage was registered in Amersham.

Adnall and Charlotte moved to Stepney in London. Charlotte gave birth to the couples’ first child, Ernest in 1874 in Stepney. Unfortunately, Ernest was to die in 1876 at the age of 2. Their second child, Arthur was born in 1877. He too was born in Stepney.

Why did Adnall and Charlotte move to Stepney? The answer may lie with Adnall’s family connections. Adnall’s grandfather, Ebenezer, was the youngest of four brothers. One of those older brothers, Job, also a wood turner, had moved to Berkhamsted in the 1840’s and taken over a timber business in the town. Two of his sons, Josiah (buried in plot 406) and Cornelius helped with the business. Josiah and Cornelius were both Adnall’s first cousins once removed. Josiah had moved to Stepney in 1861 and set up in business on his own as a timber merchant, whilst Cornelius ran the timber yard in Berkhamsted. Perhaps Adnall moved to London to work with Josiah.

Whatever the reasons behind the move to Stepney, Adnall and his growing family didn’t stay in London. We know from the 1881 census that Adnall and Charlotte had moved by then to Berkhamsted and were living in Charles Street. Adnall was then age 31 years and working as wood turner. Did he move to Berkhamsted to work for Cornelius?

Charlotte had given birth to a third child, was also named Ernest, born in Berkhamsted in 1880 and 8 months old at the time of the 1881 census. The house in Charles Street must have been quite crowded; as well as Adnall, Charlotte and baby Ernest, Adnall’s younger brother Charles was living with them. He was 24 years old and a general labourer. Also living in the house was a lodger, Catherine Holt, who was 23 years old and described as a “late shopkeeper” and her two children, Edith and Ethel.

Charlotte went on to have three more children. Rosa was born in 1882. In 1885 Charlotte gave birth to another daughter, Winifred, but she, like the first-born Ernest, also died at the age of 2. The couples’ youngest child, a daughter, who they also named Winifred, was born in 1888. The census of 1911 included amongst the information noted, the number of children that a woman had given birth to, how many were living in 1911 and how many had died. The 1911 census confirmed that Charlotte had given birth to six children, two of whom had died.

By 1901 the family had moved and were living at 10 Park Street. Both Arthur and Ernest had left home. Both were working as grocers, Arthur in Southampton and Ernest in Surrey. Rosa at 18 years of age was working as a coat maker and Winfred was still at school. In 1911 Adnall and Charlotte and the two daughters, Rosa and Winifred were still at Park Street. Adnall, now 61 was still working as a wood turner. Rosa, 28 was still making coats and Winifred, then 18 was working as coat finisher. It is likely that Rosa and Winifred worked in the Bulbourne Mantle factory. This was a large Victorian factory which stood on the site of what is now the car park in Lower King’s Road. It was built for H G Hughes & Co., costume manufacturers and in 1919 was taken over by Corby, Palmer and Stuart who made children’s clothes and quality garments for ladies. At one time the factory employed 800 employees. The factory closed in 1969.

In 1922 Charlotte died. Adnall must have moved from 10 Park Street following her death as the electoral roll for 1923 places him at 4 Hamilton Road. Adnall himself died at the age of 75 on 28th November 1925. He was laid to rest with Charlotte who had been buried in Rectory Lane Cemetery.

Charlotte East

1851 –09/04/1922

Born in Chesham to a strawplaiter, dressmaker, mother of 6, 2 predeceasing her

Relatives

Adnall Joseph East — husband

• Christopher Dolton

CHARLOTTE EAST: 1851 -1922
Charlotte was born in the third quarter of 1851 in Bellingdon, near Chesham. Her parents were Matthew and Elizabeth Puddephatt. The 1851 census, taken shortly before Charlotte’s birth notes her father’s occupation as that of “dealer,” although we are not told the goods or commodities he dealt in. In 1841 his occupation had been noted as farmer. Her mother, like many poorer women in the area at this time, particularly in the rural areas, was a straw plaiter. Charlotte had one older sister, Emma, who had been born in 1849. Following Charlotte’s birth, her mother went on to give birth to six  more children; Walter, born in 1854, Albion, born 1856, Ruth, born in 1859; Fred who was born in 1861; Bertha 1865 and finally Ernest born in 1868. The 1861 and 1871 censuses tell us that the family remained living in Bellingdon, but Charlotte’s father was no longer working as a dealer. He had returned to his earlier occupation of farmer, albeit on a small scale, being described in 1861 as “Farmer, 2 acres.”

In 1871 Charlotte, by then 19 years old, was working as a dressmaker.  On the date that the census was taken she was recorded as a visitor at the home in Chesham High Street of Sophia Price, a widow, and her two brothers Charles and Alfred Smith.

A year later in 1872 Charlotte married Adnall East. Adnall, a wood turner, also came from Chesham and the marriage was registered in Amersham.

Adnall and Charlotte moved to Stepney in London. Charlotte gave birth to the couples’ first child, Ernest in 1874 and his birth was recorded as taking place in Stepney. Unfortunately, Ernest was to die in 1876 at the age of 2. Their second child, Arthur was born in 1877. He too was born in Stepney. Charlotte and Adnall didn’t remain in London. We know that Charlotte’s third child, a son, who they also named Ernest, was born in Berkhamsted in 1880. The 1881 census tells us that Charlotte and Adnall were living in Charles Street, Berkhamsted. Adnall’s younger brother Charles was living with them. He was 24 years old and a general labourer. Also living in the house was a lodger, Catherine Holt, who was 23 years old and described as a “late shopkeeper” and her two children, Edith and Ethel. Charlotte was 29 years old in 1881. No occupation is noted against her name; presumably she had given up her work as a dressmaker to keep home.

Charlotte went on to have three more children. Rosa was born in 1882. In 1885 Charlotte gave birth to another daughter, Winifred, but she, like the first-born Ernest, also died at the age of 2. The couples’ youngest child, a daughter, who they also named Winifred was born in 1888. The census of 1911 included amongst the information noted, the number of children that a woman had given birth to, how many were living in 1911 and how many had died. The 1911 census confirmed that Charlotte had given birth to six children, two of whom had died.

By 1901 the family had moved and were living at 10 Park Street. Both Arthur and Ernest had left home. Both were working as grocers, Arthur in Southampton and Ernest in Surrey. Rosa at 18 years of age was working as a coat maker and Winfred was still at school. In 1911 Adnall and Charlotte and their two daughters, Rosa and Winifred were still at Park Street. Rosa, 28 was still making coats and Winifred, then 18 was working as coat finisher. It is likely that Rosa and Winifred worked in the Bulbourne Mantle factory.

Charlotte died on the 9th April 1922 at the age of 70. She was buried in Rectory Lane Cemetery. Adnall survived her by only by three years and on his death, he was buried with Charlotte.