Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Frederick Charles Pike (630)

1874 –07/11/1931

A confectioner and later a greengrocer

Relatives

Private Sydney Eric Pike — other

David Pike — father

Betty Pike — daughter

• Melanie Hilton

Plot 630 Frederick Charles Pike (1874-1930)

Frederick was born in 1874 in Luton, his mother’s home town, to David and Martha (née Leete) Pike. His father was a wholesale grocer, born in St Albans, and Frederick was their first child.

In 1881 the family, comprising David, Martha, Frederick, his younger brother Henry James and Martha’s younger sister Mary Jane Leete, were living at 38, Wellington Street, Luton. David and Martha could afford to employ a live-in domestic servant. Living at number 40, were James Pike, David’s brother and assistant, and his family.

Frederick’s mother died in 1884 and in December 1885 his father married Mary Jane Leete, his sister-in-law. Although this is within the church’s prohibited degrees of marriage, it was, at this time, not illegal and such marriages stood unless it was challenged. As a result, many couples in this position married away from their home parishes – in this case at St Saviour’s church, St Pancras.

By 1881 David and Mary Jane had moved to Berkhamsted where David was a confectioner and grocer in the High Street. Frederick now had two half-brothers and he was working as his father’s assistant.

The 1891 census reveals that David was a “wholesale manufacturing confectioner in sugar” and that Frederick and his brother Henry assisted him in the business. They now had four half-brothers and were to have a fifth shortly afterwards. The family lived at 180, High Street (now “Petals” on the corner of Lower King’s Road).

Ten years later Frederick was still living with his family at 180, High Street. His father was still in the same business, with Frederick and Henry assisting.

Frederick married Helen Marah Lawrence in Berkhamsted in late 1909 and their son Geoffrey Wallace was born in December 1910. The 1911 census reveals that Frederick was now working on his own account as a wholesale grocer, confectioner and fruiterer. They lived at “Frithsden”, North Road, Berkhamsted.

Owen Frederick was born in 1913 and Maud Grace in 1916.

In 1921 the family lived at 17, Cowper Road and Frederick was a wholesale fruiterer.

Frederick died 7 November 1930 aged 56 at 17, Cowper Road. He left £619 (just over £34,000 in 2024).

His father and his half-brother Sydney are buried in plot 788.