Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Frederick Fisher

1836 –1921

A labourer, known by the last name of Collins for part of his life

Relatives

William Fisher — brother

• Melanie Hilton

Unmarked grave Frederick Fisher (1836-1921)

Frederick had a hard life and spent some of it, for unknown reasons, under assumed names.

He was born in 1836 in Berkhamsted to unmarried mother Elizabeth (Betsey) Fisher, a straw plaiter born in Aldbury, and was baptised 26 March 1837 at St Peter’s. Elizabeth already had a daughter, Ann, born in Redbourn in 1835.

The 1851 census shows Elizabeth and Frederick living in Red Lion Yard. Both Elizabeth and 14 year old Frederick were straw plaiters, a common occupation for low-income women and children, supplying plait to the straw hat industries of Dunstable and Luton. Frederick now had a younger brother, William, born in 1847. Also living in the cottage was a male lodger, an agricultural labourer who must have helped supplement the income.

In mid-1858 Frederick, by now a labourer, married Melina/Malina Capel from Ivinghoe. They moved into Red Lion Yard and in 1861 were there with Melina’s sister. Both women were plaiters.

Ten years later they had moved to The Wilderness. Melina’s niece, Ruth Capel, was living with them.

In 1881 Frederick and Melina had moved to live in the High Street, but were calling themselves Collins. Frederick was employed as a labourer in a timber yard and Melina was still plaiting.

In 1891 they were still in the High Street and had reverted to Fisher. Frederick was a general labourer but Melina was described as “Grocer.” Also living with them were her widowed brother, a coal merchant, and his daughter.

In 1901 Frederick was calling himself Alfred Collins. He was living at 231, High Street with his brother-in-law and niece and was employed as a gardener’s labourer. Melina was not at home.

Melina/Malina died in 1904 in Berkhamsted but was registered as Melinah Collins.

In the 1911 census Frederick, now under his real name and employed as a nursery labourer, was a lodger at 36, Gossoms End.

He died January 1921 at 13, Gossoms End aged 84.