Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Rev. Charles Hedges M.A.

1800 –18/01/1868

A clergyman who moved to Berkhamsted later in life

Relatives

Mary Elizabeth Hedges — wife

• Melanie Hilton

Plot 88 Reverend Charles Hedges M.A. (1800-1868)

Charles was born in 1800, Callington, Bucks to Thomas and Ann Hedges and baptised 1 March.

He obtained his BA and then MA from Lincoln College, Oxford and was ordained as a deacon on 21 December 1823 at Buckden parish church. He became a stipendiary (ie one receiving a salary) curate. He was then ordained as a priest 19 December 1824 at Buckden and was licenced by the church as a lecturer.
Charles married Mary Elizabeth Adams, the daughter of a prosperous farmer, on 9 April 1831 in Wing parish church. His residence was Stewkley where he was a clerk in holy orders, hers Wing.

On 26 October 1831 he was appointed stipendiary curate at Hartwell and on 21 June 1833, stipendiary curate at Aston Abbots. This is the last entry for him in the Church of England index and at some point between then and 1851 he stopped being an active clergyman.

Son Edwin J  was born in 1833.

In 1837 the Poll Books for Aylesbury record him voting. That year the family was rocked by a terrible scandal. His father-in-law was murdered and Mary’s youngest brother accused of the crime.

Three more children were born to the couple, all at Apsley Guise: Henry C (1838), John A (1841) and Jane E (1844)

The 1851 census records the family at West Street, Apsley Guise, near Woburn. Charles was a “Clergyman without cure of souls”. Henry, John and Jane at home.

By 1861 they had moved to 8, Adelaide Place, St Paul, Bedford with Edwin, a farmer, John, a medical student, Jane and a live-in servant.

Charles died in Berkhamsted 18 January 1868 aged 67 “after a protracted illness” according to the newspaper reports which described him as, “Late of Bedford.” It is not known when they had moved to the town.

Mary survived him until 1883 and was brought back to lie here with him.

Mary Elizabeth Hedges

05/02/1806 –21/04/1883

Wife of Rev Charles Hedges; Mary's family rocked by scandal when her brother murdered their father

Relatives

Rev. Charles Hedges M.A. — husband

• Melanie Hilton

Plot 88 Mary Elizabeth Hedges (née Adams) (1806-1883)

Mary was born 5 February 1806, Burcott, Wing, Bucks to Thomas and Martha Adams. Her father was a prosperous farmer and Mary was the only daughter, with nine brothers. It cannot have been a pleasant childhood – her father had a violent temper and was frequently at odds with his sons.

Mary married Revd. Charles Hedges 9 April 1831 in Wing parish church. His residence at the time was Stewkley where he was a clerk in holy orders.

On 26 October 1831 Charles was appointed stipendiary (ie receiving a salary) curate at Hartwell and on 21 June 1833, stipendiary curate at Aston Abbots.

Their first child, Edwin J, was born in 1833

In December 1837 Mary’s father was murdered, shot in the head at close range, and suspicion fell on her brother Francis, then aged 18, who was on very bad terms with his father. Despite some apparently very damning evidence Francis was acquitted by the jury. Convinced of his guilt, but unable to try him twice for the same crime, the authorities charged him with stealing his father’s pocket book which was taken at the time of the murder. He ended up in the prison hulk Leviathan, prior to being transported to Australia. It is said that he later confessed to committing the crime.

Mary and Charles’s son Henry C was born in 1838, John A in 1841 and their only daughter, Jane E in 1844, all in Apsley Guise.

At some point Charles gave up parish work. It may be that the deaths of their fathers, both prosperous men, had given them legacies large enough to make it unnecessary for him to be employed.

The 1851 census records the family in West Street, Apsley Guise, near Woburn. Charles was a “Clergyman without cure of souls”. Henry, John and Jane were at home.

The 1861 census again records Charles as  “Clergyman without cure of souls”. They were then living at 8, Adelaide Place, St Paul, Bedford, with Edwin, a farmer, John, a medical student, Jane and a live-in servant.

Charles died 18 January 1868 in Berkhamsted aged 67 “after a protracted illness”. His death notice in the local paper described him as “Late of Bedford.” It is not known when they had moved to Berkhamsted.

By April 1871 Mary was living at “Hartwell Villa”, Hartney Whitney, Hampshire, a village near Farnborough, with her son John, by then a surgeon, and two young domestic servants.

By 1881 John had moved to Lake Street, Leighton Buzzard. Mary went with him.

Mary died 21 April 1883 Leighton Buzzard aged 75 and was brought to lie here with Charles.