Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Thomas Gill (961)

14/10/1846 –11/02/1904

a "Master Pawnbroker" who lived in Castle Street

Relatives

Ernest George Gill — son

Eliza Celia Gill (961) — wife

• Melanie Hilton

Thomas Gill

Thomas was born 14^th October 1846 and baptised on the 13th Dec that year at St George’s Bloomsbury, London.

His parents were named as Thomas and Ann Gill of Theobalds Road. Thomas was a shopkeeper and dealer in horn, born in Lincolnshire, and Anne was from Lewes in Sussex.

Thomas’s sister Louisa was born in 1849 and shortly afterwards, when Thomas was four, the family moved to 4, Prince’s Street which runs between Regent Street and Hanover Square. Their neighbours were all skilled artisans – a case maker, a cap maker, cordwainers, a hairdresser and a waistcoat maker and so on. Thomas senior employed a “shopman” and the family had a female servant.

Another son, George, was born in 1855.

Ann Gill died in 1860 and in the 1861 census his father, along with Louisa and George, had moved to 31, Great Windmill Street, but young Thomas, then aged fifteen, cannot be traced.

On 24^th October 1880 he married Eliza Celia Howting at St Alphage, Greenwich. Both Thomas and his father, Thomas senior, are described as pawnbrokers.

By April the next year Thomas and Eliza had moved to Berkhamsted and were living in Castle Street. He is described as a “master pawnbroker”. Children Edith (b.1883), Ernest (b. 1886) and Daisy (b.1890) had joined the family by 1891. The 1901 census gives the address as 4, Castle Street and Thomas is described as a pawnbroker “on own account” (that is, working for himself) and he is operating out of his home, not a separate shop. More children had joined the family: Minnie (b.1893) and Frank (b.1895).

Thomas died in February 1904 at the age of 57 and was buried on the 11^th.

His family remained in Berkhamsted and Eliza moved to Doctors Commons Road.  She died in 1925 and is buried with Thomas.

Eliza Celia Gill (961)

1852 –15/09/1925

Wife of pawnbroker Thomas Gill

Relatives

Thomas Gill (961) — husband

• Melanie Hilton

Eliza Gill (1852-1925)

Eliza Celia was born in 1852 in Smithfield, London, to Robert Howting, a plumber, and Elizabeth (née Walter).

Robert and Elizabeth came from Minster in Sheppey in Kent, but Robert clearly moved around for his work as the couple’s children were born in Poplar and Sheerness as well as Smithfield.

On 24th October 1880 Eliza married Thomas Gill, a pawnbroker, at St Alphage, Greenwich.

By April the next year Thomas and Eliza had moved to Berkhamsted and were living in Castle Street. He is described as a “master pawnbroker”. Children Edith Alice (born 1883, baptised 13^th May, St Peter’s), Ernest (b. 1886) and Daisy Ethel (b.1890) had joined the family by 1891. The 1901 census gives the address as 4, Castle Street and Thomas is described as a pawnbroker “on own account” (that is, working for himself) and he is operating out of his home, not a separate shop. More children had joined the family: Minnie Way (b.1893) and Frank Edward (b.1895). Both Minnie and Frank were baptised on 17^th August 1903 at St Paulinus, Crayford, although the address is given as 4, Castle Street. (Minnie’s name is clearly Minnie Way, not May on the baptismal record, although the 1921 Census gives it as Minnie May).

Thomas died in February 1904 at the age of 57 and was buried on the 11th.

His family remained in Berkhamsted and Eliza moved to Colmes Cottages near the top of Kittsbury Road with her four unmarried children – Frank (clerk at the Ministry of Pensions), Edith (looking after the house),and Daisy and Minnie, both dressmakers.

They had moved by 1925 to Colenso Cottage, Doctor’s Commons Road, where Eliza died

15th August of that year. She is buried with Thomas.