04/09/1815 –06/04/1905
Registrar and decorator
Relatives
Research:
Plot x100 Thomas Holloway (1815-1905)
Thomas was born 4 September 1815 in Berkhamsted, the first child of Stephen Holloway and his first wife, Mary Ann Bates. He was baptised 15 October that year.
His father was a plasterer and paperhanger.
His brother Henry was born in 1816 and sister Mary in 1818 but the children were left motherless in 1821. Mary Ann was buried in the churchyard.
His father re-married the next year to Lucy Ostliffe and they were to have nine children together.
Stephen also owned property and even ran the Five Bells pub for a while in the late 1830s. he was a prominent figure in the town involved in a local charity and even helping organise a town ball.
The 1841 census shows the family living in the High Street with nine children still at home and only one live-in servant to help Lucy.
Thomas followed his father into the business and became a plasterer. He was also a lifelong freemason, the first to join Castle Lodge in 1842.
He married Elizabeth Tappenden, born in Margate, the daughter of a carpenter, 24 December 1847 in Thanet parish church. In March 1851 they were living in Prospect Place with their second child Walter, aged one. Their first, Herbert, who had been born in 1849, was staying with his paternal grandparents, perhaps to help out the new mother.
Before the next census Thomas and Elizabeth were to have another seven children: Alfred (1851), Harry (1852), John (1854), Harriet J (1856), Lucy E (1858), Alice M (1859) and Hervey (1860). Young Herbert appears to have remained living with his grandparents. They were living in Grubbs Lane (now the lower part of King’s Road) and Thomas was described as “House decorator. Master. Employing 4 men.” His father had retired, so presumably Thomas was carrying on the business.
Three more children were born to the couple, bringing the total up to twelve: Annie (1862), Albert (1863) and Ernest (1864).
His father Stephen died in 1866 at (Dean) Incent’s House (opposite the church) and Thomas and his family moved in.The Bakehouse (a former stable building) at Dean Incent’s House was built sometime between 1851 and 1878 (based on map records). The initials AH and JH (perhaps members of the Holloway family?) are carved into one of the ceiling beams.
In 1871 not only was Thomas still “House decorator. Master. Employing 4 men,” he was also the registrar of births and deaths for the town.
In 1881 six of their children were living at home. Thomas, aged 66, was still managing both jobs, but the load of his business must have been eased by both Harry and Hervey working with him and young Albert being an apprentice carpenter.
By April Thomas and Elizabeth were living alone with a servant and he was still, at the age of 75 involved in the business and as Registrar. In that year a photograph was taken of Thomas and Elizabeth and all twelve of their children, all of whom had reached adulthood, a remarkable achievement at the time. Sadly they were to lose Hervey in 1893.
Elizabeth died 25 January 1897, aged 73, at Incent House and lies in this grave.
In 1901 Thomas was still described as a house decorator and employer – so presumably still involved in the management of the business – and Registrar of Births, Marriages and Deaths, despite being 85 years old. His daughter Lucy, by then Mrs Clarke, and her three children were living with him on census night.
Thomas died 6 April 1905 at 20, Chapel Street, aged 89 and was laid to rest here with Elizabeth.
The Luton Times and Advertiser of Friday 21 April 1905 reported that “The oldest inhabitant of Berkhamsted has just passed away in the person of Thomas Holloway, a well-known public man, in his 90th Year.”
The Watford Observer for 15th April reported: “The funeral of the late Mr. Thomas Holloway… took place at the Cemetery on Thursday afternoon amid general signs of regret and sympathy. His unprecedentedly long connection with the local Friendly Societies, his lengthened official services in the town, and his interested association in a number of other spheres, social and otherwise, in Berkhamsted, all tended to evoke a widespread feeling off loss and of sympathy with the bereaved family. A short preliminary service was held at the Parish Church, whence the remains were borne from Chapel Street, where the death had taken place. The Rev. H.C. Curtis, Rector, officiated both at the service in church and at the graveside in the Cemetery. The interment took place in the family grave in the upper part of the old portion of the Cemetery.
The family mourners were as follows: – Mr Herbert Holloway (son) and Miss Annie Holloway (granddaughter) of Lewisham.; Mr and Mrs Fred/Hamp (?) (son-in-law and daughter) of London; Messrs Alfred, Harry and Albert Holloway (sons); Mr and Mrs John Holloway (son and daughters-in-law), of Southsea; Mrs Clarke and Mrs Platt (daughters); Messrs Frank and William Holloway (brothers); Mrs Hervey Holloway (daughter-in-law); and Messrs Malcolm Holloway and Stanley Clarke (grandsons). Mr Platt and Mrs H. Holloway were also present at the church service. The other surviving son, Mr Ernest Holloway, is in India… The local Friendly Societies, the Loyal “Castle” Lodge of Oddfellows and Court “Bownlow”, A.O.F [Ancient Order of Foresters], were represented by about 50 brethren, who attended at church and afterwards marched in procession to the graveside. With their imposing mourning bands, they presented a striking appearance… Some magnificent and costly wreaths were laid on the grave….”
Thomas’s father and step-mother lie in plot 61 under an imposing memorial. His half-brother Arthur John lies in x101.
Thomas Holloway was a local registrar and worked from home which was Dean Incent’s House, where he was a tenant. He and his wife had eight children.
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