Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Lewis William Guscott (787)

04/02/1861 –06/12/1916

Farmer and later a draper who opened a drapery business in Berkhamsted

Relatives

Emily Jane Guscott — wife

• Melanie Hilton

Plot 787 Lewis William Guscott (1861-1916)

Lewis was born 4 February 1861 at Moore Park Farm, Ball Bridge, Tedburn St Mary, Devon to John Guscott, a farmer of 15 acres, and his wife Harriet (née Gossland). He was baptised 19 March at the Wesleyan Methodist church in Exeter.

Lewis was John and Harriet’s sixth child and fourth son.

By 1871 his father had increased his land holding to 43 acres.

Lewis moved to Cranfield, Bedfordshire before 1888, but retained property in West Down, Cheriton, just north of Tedburn until at least 1910.

He married Emily Jane Huddlestone from Cambridgshire, 4 July 1888 at the Congregational Church, Great Eversden, Cambs.

In 1898 he was elected a member of the Cranfield parish council. Despite being a member of the parish council Lewis, who came from a family with a strong Methodist tradition, preached at the East End Methodist chapel in Cranfield in October that year.

Hilda Emily born Cranfield 1890

1891 he was a draper and Emily was his assistant in the shop in Cranfield. They employed a young live-in domestic servant.

Maude Mary was born in 1892 followed by Harold William (1896) and Wilfred James (1899).

In 1901 the family were living at Hartwell Farm, Cranfield. Lewis was a “Draper and farmer”, perhaps going back to his roots.

Olive May, their last child was born in 1905.

The 1911 census shows that they had given up the farm and were living in the High Street, Cranfield. Lewis was a draper and clothier with Emily “assisting in the business”.

They moved to Berkhamsted and set up a draper’s shop at 76-78, High Street.

Lewis died at home 6 December 1916 aged 55. The probate record gives the Berkhamsted address and also says he was “of Manchester House, Bletchley”. He left over £4,000.

Emily continued the business with daughter Maude and died in 1955. She is buried here with Lewis.

Emily Jane Guscott

11/07/1864 –17/07/1955

Wife of Lewis Guscott; ran family drapery business in Berkhamsted after husband's death

Relatives

Lewis William Guscott (787) — husband

• Melanie Hilton

Plot 787 Emily Jane Guscott (née Huddlestone) (1864-1955)

Emily was born 11 July 1864, in Caxton, Cambs to George Huddlestone of Orwell, Cambs and Miriam (née Gifford). Her father was a wheelwright and she was their fourth child and the eldest of their three daughters.

In 1871 the family lived in Stocks Lane, Orwell.

Emily married Lewis William Guscott, 4 July 1888 in the Congregational Church, Great Eversden. Lewis was a draper, originally from Devon, who had moved to Cranfield, Beds.

Hilda Emily was born Cranfield 1890

In 1891 Lewis ran a draper’s shop in Cranfield and Emily was his assistant. They employed a young live-in domestic servant.

Maude Mary was born in 1892, Harold William in 1896 and Wilfred James in 1899.

1901 living at Hartwell Farm, Cranfield. Lewis was a “Draper and farmer”. Perhaps this was Lewis, who was a farmer’s son from Devon originally, going back to his roots.

Olive May was born in 1905 and by 1911 they had moved to the High Street, Cranfield. Lewis was a draper and clothier with Emily “assisting in the business”.

They moved to Berkhamsted and set up a draper’s shop at 76-78, High Street but Lewis died 6 December 1916 aged only 55. The probate record gives the Berkhamsted address and also says he was “of Manchester House, Bletchley”. He left over £4,000.

In 1921 Emily was the proprietor of E.J. Guscott, drapers at 76-78, High Street, assisted by Maude. Olive was a typist working for John Dickinson’s at Apsley Mills.

By 1939 Emily had retired but remained at 76/8, High Street. Living with her at the time of the 1939 register were her daughter Maude who was running the drapery business and Ida Dorothy Davies, an unmarried draper aged 45.

Maude married in 1942.

Emily died 17 July 1955 aged 91 and was laid to rest here with Lewis.