Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Herbert Gibbs

1857 –30/08/1936

A butcher who, on moving to Berkhamsted, became a dairyman

Relatives

Catherine Emma Gibbs — wife

Eleanor E. Gibbs (806) — daughter

• Melanie Hilton

Plot 806 Herbert Gibbs (1857-1936)

Herbert was born in 1857 in Wingrave, Bucks, the son of James Gibbs, a tailor and Emma (née Fleet), a dressmaker. In 1861 the family were living at the tailor’s shop, The Green, Wingrave. Herbert had an elder and younger sister and two older brothers. Three more brothers were to follow and in 1871 the family was living in Church Square, Wingrave. Herbert was at school, but one of his brothers was a tailor working with his father and one of his sisters was a dressmaker with her mother.

On 8^th January 1880 at Christchurch, Clapham, Herbert married Catherine Emma Miller, born in Dorset, the daughter of a fishmonger. He was a butcher and his address was given as 375, Wandsworth Road. This is almost next door to number 370 where Catherine was a housemaid at a girls’ boarding school.

Their first child, William James, was born in Lambeth in 1880.

In the 1881 census they are recorded as living at 60, Kennington Road, Lambeth. His sister Elizabeth and brother Fred were visiting and in a separate household in the same building lived another master butcher from Bucks and his wife.

Three more children were born: Robert Frederick (1884), Hilda Kate (1885) and Cecil Herbert (1889).

Eleanor Elizabeth arrived in 1891 by which time the family had moved to 11, Station Parade, Upper Holloway.

The 1901 census shows that Herbert had a change of occupation and became a dairyman, moving to “The Dairy”, 2, Gossoms End where young Robert assisted him. His youngest child, Eleanor, died in 1905, aged only 14, and is buried here.

Herbert was still running the business in June 1921 with daughter Hilda Kate assisting him.

On the 9 November 1928 Catherine died at home aged 73 and is buried here.

Herbert survived her until 30 August 1936 when he died at 330, High Street, Berkhamsted, aged 79.

Catherine Emma Gibbs

1855 –09/11/1928

Domestic servant and wife of Herbert Gibbs

Relatives

Eleanor E. Gibbs (806) — daughter

Herbert Gibbs — husband

• Melanie Hilton

Plot 806 Catherine Emma Gibbs (née Miller) (1855-1928)

Catherine was born in 1855 in Tyneham, Dorset, as were her parents and five siblings. Tyneham is close to Warbarrow Bay, almost next door to Lulworth Cove. Her father William Henry Miller was a fisherman and her mother was Sarah Jane.

The village of Tyneham is now famous because, on Christmas Eve 1943, the village and 7,500 acres of surrounding heathland were commandeered by the War Office to help train Allied troops. The 252 inhabitants were given only days to pack their belongings and leave their homes. Despite vigorous campaigning the land was compulsorily purchased in 1948 and the villagers forbidden to return. (It is now open to the public at weekends when the firing range is not in use.)

In 1871 Catherine, aged 16, was living in London and working as a domestic servant in a girl’s boarding school at 370, Wandsworth Road, Clapham. Her older sister Jane was the cook and there was also an under-housemaid. With thirty resident pupils and five school mistresses the three young women must have had to work very hard indeed.

On 8^th January 1880 Catherine married Herbert Gibbs, a master butcher, at Christchurch, Clapham. Perhaps they met when he was supplying meat to the school. He certainly lived close by, at number 375.

Their first son, William James, was born in Lambeth in 1880 and in 1881 they were living at 60, Kennington Road, Lambeth.

Three more children were born in Lambeth: Robert Frederick (1884), Hilda Kate (1885) and Cecil Herbert (1889). Eleanor Elizabeth arrived in 1891 by which time the family had moved to 11, Station Parade, Upper Holloway.

The 1901 shows that Herbert had a change of occupation and became a dairyman, moving to “The Dairy”, 2, Gossoms End, Berkhamsted, where young Robert assisted him. Sadly, their youngest child, Eleanor, died in 1905, aged only 14.

Herbert was still running the business in June 1921 and Hilda Kate was assisting him.

On the 9 November 1928 Catherine died at home aged 73 and was buried here with Eleanor.

Herbert survived her until 30 August 1936 when he died aged 79 and was laid to rest with them.

Eleanor E. Gibbs (806)

1891 –19/07/1905

Daughter of Herbert and Catherine Gibbs; died age 14 years

Relatives

Herbert Gibbs — father

Catherine Emma Gibbs — mother

• Melanie Hilton

Plot 806 Eleanor Elizabeth Gibbs  (1891-1905)

Eleanor was born in 1891 in London, the youngest of the five children of Catherine Emma (née Miller) and Herbert Gibbs. Her father was a butcher and the family lived at 11, Station Parade, Upper Holloway.

The 1901 census shows that Herbert had a change of occupation and became a dairyman, moving to “The Dairy”, 2, Gossoms End.

Eleanor died at home in July 1905 aged only fourteen. Her parents are buried here with her.