Gubbins plot

Location

Plot number (FHS)	893
Row	8
Section	46
Date

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Gubbins plot

Plot number:
8,46
Family name:
Gubbins
Burial date:

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Who is buried here?

Read about the lives of the 2 people buried here — click on a name to view a biography.

Martha Gubbins (893)

1870 –28/10/1954

Domestic servant who married a former footman

1870 –28/10/1954

Domestic servant who married a former footman

Relatives

George Gubbins (893) — husband

Research:

Melanie Hilton

Plot 893 Martha Gubbins (née Thurston) (1870-1954)

Martha was born in 1870 at 21, Edward Street, Leek, Staffordshire. She was the second child of Josiah Thurston, grocer, and his wife Harriet.

In 1881 Martha was living in Wistaston, Cheshire with her grandparents Mary and James Thurston. James was a retired grocer.

Martha went into service and in 1891 she was a live-in scullery maid in the home of widow Maria Villebois and her niece at 23, Belgrave Square, London. She was one of fourteen servants, plus a coachman living in the mews. The fabulously wealthy Villebois family of Norfolk derived its fortune from brewery shares, but took no part in the trade.

Martha married George Gubbins,a footman turned licenced victualler, on 18 November 1899 in St Mary’s, Watford. She was resident Waresley, Bedfordshire at the time and no occupation for her was given on the marriage certificate. The fact that they were living some distance apart make it plausible that they had met when in domestic service in London, as it seems unlikely their paths would have crossed otherwise.

George took over the Bridge Hotel in Leighton Buzzard where Jack Thurston (1901), George Walter (1904) and William (1905) were born.

By 1908 when Ernest Victor was born George was the licensee of the Crown hotel in Berkhamsted High Street.

By 1921 George had taken over the Green Man, an eighteenth century coaching inn at 60, High Street, Watford. Jack, George and Ernest were still living at home. The pub has long-since become a shop, remodelled out of recognition.

They moved to run the Spread Eagle in Bushey, then at some point George and Marth moved to 51, High Street, Berkhamsted, where George died in February 1938.

Martha, who by this time had become blind, went to live in Watford with their son Jack and his family.

Martha died in 1954 and lies here with George.

George Gubbins (893)

1871 –25/02/1938

A footman who became licensee of The Crown

1871 –25/02/1938

A footman who became licensee of The Crown

Relatives

Martha Gubbins (893) — wife

Research:

Melanie Hilton

Plot 893 George Gubbins (1871-1938)

George was born in 1871 in Brixworth, Northamptonshire the first child of William, an agricultural labourer, and Elizabeth Gubbins.

In 1881 he was living with his grandparents John and Ann Gubbins in Silver Street, Brixworth. His grandfather was an agricultural labourer.

George went into service and by April 1891 he was a footman at Canford Manor in Dorset, the residence of Lord and Lady Wimbourne. Twenty eight servants were in residence, from housekeeper and butler to under-stillroom maid and “oddman”. The 170,000 acre estate was the largest in Dorset at the time.

George married Martha Thurston on 18 November 1899 in St Mary’s, Watford. He was resident in Watford and by then a licenced victualler. It was quite common for male domestic servants, especially butlers and footmen, to move into the licenced trade, taking with them their training with wines and spirits and in providing a service.

In 1901 George was the licensee of the Bridge Hotel in Leighton Buzzard and sons Jack Thurston (1901), George Walter (1904) William (1905) were born there.

By 1908 when son Ernest Victor was born George had taken over The Crown at 119, High Street, Berkhamsted. Living with them, his sister Kate and her husband Harry Smith, a gamekeeper and their three children. Also living-in were a barmaid, a barman and a general servant. There were three customers resident at the hotel on census night.

The 1921 census records George at the Green Man, an eighteenth century coaching inn at 60, High Street, Watford. Jack, George and Ernest were still living at home. The pub has long-since become a shop, remodelled out of recognition. From there he moved to The Spread Eagle in Bushey.

George died in February 1938 at 51, High Street, Berkhamsted. The Bucks Examiner for 4 March 1938 reported the death:

“Formerly a well-known local licensee, Mr George Gubbins died at his home in Berkhamsted High-street on Friday at the age of 67. He came to the town about thirty years ago as licensee of the Crown Hotel and later took over the “Green Man”, Watford and “The Spread Eagle”, Bushey. Mr Gubbins is survived by his widow, who is now totally blind, and three sons.”

Martha went to live with their son Jack in Watford and died in 1954. She is buried here with him.

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