Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

George Meager

Labourer, poacher and father of ten

Relatives

Amy Meager — sister

Nellie May Slatter (1117) — daughter

• Karen Evans

George Meager

The earliest record of George Meager’s family in the area was when his Great Grandparents John Meager and Sarah Harvey were married at St Albans Abbey on 18^th October 1759. The couple appear to have immediately settled in Little Gaddesden, which is where George Meager was born and baptized.

George’s father, James Meager was also baptised at the church of St Peter and St Paul, Little Gaddesden on 28^th February 1790. James Meager married George’s mother, Elizabeth Scrivener, by banns, on 5^th April 1812 at the same church. James and Elizabeth then had seven children, including George, all baptized at Little Gaddesden:

1)      Thomas baptised on 23^rd March 1813

2)      Eleanor (Ellen) baptised on 10^th October 1815

3)      Barbara baptised on 26^th February 1819

4)      Sarah baptised on 27^th January 1822

5)      Amy baptised on 17^th October 1824

6)      George baptised on 4^th November 1827

7)      Ann baptised on 2^nd May 1830

At the start of his married life James Meager was a cordwainer, but by 1819 he was described as a labourer, an occupation that stayed with him for the rest of his life. In 1841 George was living at home in Little Gaddesden with his parents and sisters, Ellen, Barbara and Ann. His eldest brother Thomas was a servant living in at Ashridge House. The affairs of the owners of Ashridge House would have dominated the lives of Little Gaddesden’s villagers. In the 1840’s the estate was owned by Charlotte Catherine Anne, Countess of Bridgewater. After the death of the Earl in 1823, Lady Bridgewater began to take a great interest in the welfare of local people. She established several benevolent initiatives in neighbouring towns and villages, including the Educational Trust in Ivinghoe, a Junior school at Gossoms End, and in 1842 a donation of land to the Parish of Great Berkhamsted to open a new cemetery on Rectory Lane.

The area around Berkhamsted and Little Gaddesden was still largely rural; farm work was seasonal and at the mercy of the weather, and casual farm labourers often found themselves destitute in winter. When the canal froze during harsh winters, boat-building work ceased for months, and poorly paid cottage industries such as straw-plaiting and lace-making also suffered in the winter months. As a result, many local people fell on hard times with the changing seasons. The Berkhamsted Union workhouse opened in 1835 to provide work and shelter to many, but conditions were harsh. Lady Bridgewater led the establishment of a soup kitchen at Berkhamsted Castle to feed the town’s poor. It is not clear exactly when the soup kitchen was established, but we do know that in 1841 the Countess ordered the Soup House to ’be built and fitted up for the use of the charity at the building in the Old Castle.’ Each year, between January and March, hundreds of poor people, including families with children, lined up along the road next to the railway embankment, waiting to be fed. The queue entered through one door, where soup tickets were collected, passing through the kitchen where pints of soup and bread were distributed, before it exited by a second door.

The first of George’s siblings to get married was Barbara, who married William Purton on 2nd June 1845 at Watford. Three months later, on 7^th September 1845 George’s eldest brother, Thomas, married Eliza Kirby at Little Gaddesden. Thomas was the only member of the family still living in Little Gaddesden by the time of the 1851 census. James & Elizabeth Meager moved to Berkhamsted with their unmarried children, including George, at some time between 1841 and Elizabeth’s death in June 1850. Elizabeth was buried at St Peter’s Berkhamsted on 24^th June 1850. In 1851 George’s widowed father, James, was living at Waterside with George’s sisters Ellen, Amy and Ann, as well as Amy’s son, Montague and Edwin aged 7 who was Sarah’s son.

George Meager at the time of the 1851 census was a prisoner at County Gaol, Ware Road, Hertford. So why was George in the County Gaol? The Hertford Mercury and Reformer supplies the answer. It reported on all cases seen by the Petty Sessions in the towns within the county. Petty Sessions were the lowest tier in the court system and developed at the beginning of the 18th century to take on cases of a less serious nature, previously undertaken by the Quarter Sessions. The sessions’ work dealt with matters such as minor theft and larceny, assault, drunkenness, bastardy examinations, arbitration and deciding whether to refer a case to the Quarter Sessions. Petty Sessions were abolished in the early 1970s and replaced by Magistrates Courts. George Meager’s activities were reported upon over several years starting in 1849.

The Hertford Mercury and Reformer 10^th November 1949

Great Berkhamsted Petty Sessions held on Tuesday 6^th November 1849

“George Meager (who did not appear) was charged with setting snares on Berkhamsted Common. Fined £3 and costs. Committed for two months”.

The Hertford Mercury and Reformer 24^th November 1849

Great Berkhamsted Petty Sessions held on Tuesday 20^th November 1849

“George Meager was charged with trespassing in search of conies, on Berkhamsted Common. George Tarbox proved the offence. The defendant who did not appear, had been convicted for a similar offence this day fortnight, and was fined, but allowed time to pay money in. On the 20^th March, he was convicted of four similar offences. Fined 40s, and in default to be committed for two months.”

The Hertford Mercury and Reformer 8^th February 1851:

Great Berkhamsted Petty Sessions

“Game Trespass – George Meager, Thomas Dwight and William Richardson , were charged with committing a trespass in search of rabbits, on the property of the late Lord Alford, to which they all pleaded not guilty. George Hicks said: On Sunday morning, the 19^th of January, between eleven and twelve o’clock in the day time, I saw the three defendants in a field in the occupation of F.J> Moore, esq. William Parker was with me; they went out of the field into the lane; they had a dog with them; George Meager had a jacket thrown over his shoulder; they came back again into the same field; the dog hunted the hedge, the defendants throwing stones into the hedge. They then went into a meadow and through it into Cox Dell, and then into the other corner, where there were rabbit holes; I there saw Meager kneel down to a rabbit’s hole. We then made our way to them.; I could not see the dog then; afterwards I saw Richardson come out of the Dell with the jacket on his shoulders; I followed him into the green… Cox’s Dell belongs to the Ashridge estate. I have seen rabbits in the Dell where I saw Meager kneeling down. Dwight, in his defence, said he came along Mr Moore’s field but did not go to Cox’s dell. The other two said they had nothing to say in their defence. Mr Moore said he did not wish to press the charge against Richardson, it being his first offence. He hoped it would be a warning to him, for he believed he was led to it by the others. The Bench fined Richardson 5s and 11s costs. Allowed a fortnight to pay.

Dwight and Meager, being very old hands, were fined 40s. each and 11s. costs, and in default to be committed for two months. Dwight paid the money; Meager was committed.”

The Herts Guardian, Agricultural Journal, and General Advertiser 25^th December 1852

Great Berkhamsted Petty Sessions held Tuesday 21^st December 1852

“The only case here this day was that of George Meager, who was charged with committing a trespass in search of game, on the land in the occupation of the Hon. C H Egerton, situated in the parish of Berkhamsted. The defendant who did not appear; but, on proof of the service of the summons, and also of the committal of the offence he was charged with, he was fined 2l., and 15s. 6d. costs. In default of payment, he was ordered to be committed to Hertford for two months.”

George Meager married his wife, Elizabeth Fowler, at St Peter’s Church, Berkhamsted on 14th October 1854. George and Elizabeth settled in Cox Lane, Berkhamsted. Another resident of Cox Lane was George’s youngest sister Ann, who was living there with her husband, James Holliman.  Beorcham in the Berkhamsted Review of Aug 1946 describes Cox Lane as “the narrow lane which was widened in late Victorian days and renamed King’s-road. In a row of eight cottages there was but one drinking water tap and one rainwater tank. The cottagers also shared a big old-fashioned brick oven, taking turns to cook their dinners.”

It can only be assumed that life was very hard for George Meager and that his poaching activities were out of necessity, but the time spent in the County Gaol may have marked him out to some of Berkhamsted’s residents as being a suspicious character as reported by The Herts Guardian on 6^th July 1859.

“HERTS. MIDSUMMER ASSIZES

Stealing at Great Berkhamstead.

George Meager (29), labourer, of Little Gaddesden, was charged with stealing a copper pot, the property of William Prudames at Berkhamsted St Peter’s.

William Prudames said: I am an ironmonger of Berkhamsted; the copper pot produced I have used for some years; when I last saw it on 4^th June, it was in a perfect state; I missed it on the 9^th June; used it on the 4^th June to boil water; prisoner has worked on the premises; there is a yard runs down and my house and other premises run into it; he lives just opposite me. When I lost it, it was a round pot, it is nothing like that shape now; it was knocked all together when found – beat up.

Elizabeth Tomlin; wife of Chas. Tomlin, marine store dealer of Great Berkhamstead: On the 27^th June George Meager brought the pot to our house; he said he had a piece of copper to sell; and he produce that pot; well I said “now George, I suppose there’ll be no bother about it?” He said “No” I gave him ninepence for it; Mr Prudames came to my house and identified it and I gave it up to the police constable Rogers.

P.C Rogers (cross-examined); Have known prisoner some years, and heard nothing against his character before.

P.C. Rogers apprehended the prisoner on 2^nd July and told him it was for stealing a copper pot; Mr Prudames had described it to me; I saw the pot at Mrs Tomlin’s and that’s it This was the case.

The learned Judge, in summing up, said the only thing for the Jury to consider was, whether the pot produced was the same one stolen, and if so there would be little doubt as to the prisoner having stolen it.

The Jury after a very animated discussion of 15 minutes returned a verdict of not guilty.”

George and Elizabeth Meager had ten children:

1)      George William born in 1856 and baptized on 23^rd May 1858

2)      Sarah Ann baptized on 23^rd May 1858

3)      Frederick Daniel born on 3^rd February 1859

4)      Emily born on 3^rd November 1860

5)      Arthur born 13^th August 1862

6)      Frank born 30^th December 1863

7)      Harry born 29 August 1866

8)      Ernest born 16^th April 1869. Frederick, Emily, Arthur, Frank, Harry and Ernest were all baptised together at St Peter’s on 2^nd January 1870.

9)      Albert baptised 23^rd July 1871

10)    Nellie May born on 2^nd March 1874 and baptised on 13^th April 1874.

In 1861 George was a labourer, whilst Elizabeth gave her occupation as being a bonnet sewer, which would have helped supplement the family’s income. In 1871 George was a labourer on the railway, whilst his son, George William, was a railway clerk. This census saw the family name spelt Meagher for the first time, and the family appear to have adopted this spelling for future use. George passed away in the spring of 1877 and was buried in Rectory Lane Cemetery on 6^th March 1877, aged 49, leaving his wife a widow, aged 40. Elizabeth was probably able to get financial help from her children. Her eldest daughter, Sarah Ann, was already working in Sunnyside as a Housemaid by the time she was 14 in 1871.

Considering the hardships of George’s life, it seems no surprise that all his sons emigrated to the United States. George William became a naturalised American citizen on 20^th March 1883 at Cook County, Illinois, a place that proved attractive to George’s other sons. In 1883 George’s second son, Frederick emigrated with his wife Mary Ann and two daughters, Emily and Ethel. The family settled in  Lake Township , Cook County (which is now part of south-west Chicago), where Frederick was a bricklayer. Three years after Frederick and his family arrived in the United States, another son, Ernest, also emigrated, receiving his naturalisation from the Circuit Court of Cook County, on 29^th September 1890. Eleven days later, on 10^th October 1890 another son, Harry, received his naturalisation from the same court in Cook County. Sadly their brother, Frank Meagher, single man and carpet fitter, had previously died in Cook County, Illinois, on 23^rd April 1888, aged 25.

The only one of George’s children to remain living in Berkhamsted was his youngest daughter, Nellie May Meagher. She married Thomas Richard Slatter at St Peter’s Church in Berkhamsted on 9^th June 1892, and this couple provided the widowed Elizabeth with a home in her old age in Castle Street. George’s widow, Elizabeth, died in Berkhamsted in 1910. Nellie May remained in Castle Street, dying there on 2^nd June 1941. Nellie May was buried with her husband at Rectory Lane Cemetery.