Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Elsie Winifred Holloway

1889 –24/04/1908

Daughter of Hervey and Sarah Holliday; died age 19 years

Relatives

Hervey Holloway — father

Sarah Holloway (765) — mother

Stephen Holloway (61) — other

• Melanie Hilton

Plot x227 Elsie Winifred Holloway (1889-1908)

Elsie was born in 1889 in Berkhamsted, the first of Hervey and Sarah Ann Holloway’s four children. She was baptised 9 June 1889.

In 1893 her father, a house decorator from the prolific Holloway clan, died aged only 33. Her mother, a dressmaker, went to live with her parents Rachel and Henry Pocock at 24, Station Road with her four children Elsie, Wilfred, Beatrice and Thomas.

Elsie died 24 April 1908 at 24, Station Road aged only 19 and was buried here with her father. Her mother died in 1922 and is buried in plot 765. Elsie’s grandparents lie in plot x100, her great grandfather in plot 61 and her uncle Harry Holloway is also buried in this cemetery

Hervey Holloway

1860 –31/03/1893

A decorator by trade, but also a member of the Rifle Volunteers, an amateur actor and Odd Fellow

Relatives

Harry Holloway — brother

Elizabeth Holloway — mother

Thomas Holloway — father

Arthur John Holloway (x101) — other

Elsie Winifred Holloway — daughter

Sarah Holloway (765) — wife

• Melanie Hilton

Plot x227 Hervey Holloway (1860-1893)

Hervey was born in 1860, the ninth of Thomas and Elizabeth Holloway’s twelve children, In 1861 the family 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 grandfather Stephen died in 1866 at (Dean) Incent’s House (opposite the church) and Thomas and his family moved in.

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 Hervey and his older brother Harry working with him.

The Bucks Herald for 10 February 1883 reported on performances by “The Berkhamsted Minstrels” where Hervey performed three songs: Let me Kiss Your Tears Away, Julie Gibbs (a comic song) and Angel Dreams. Rather grudgingly the critic observed of the entire performance that “the whole of the parts in the various pieces were fairly well sustained.”

On 17 January 1885 The Bucks Herald reported on a benefit concert on behalf of the cricket club. Alice, Annie, Harry and Hervey Holloway all took part, Hervey performing Banbury Cross.

In 1888 he married Sarah Ann Pocock, the daughter of a local smith and their daughter Elsie Winifred was born the next year, followed by Wilfred R in 1890. Sarah was employed as a dressmaker.

In 1891 Hervey and his brother Harry were amongst the enumerators for Berkhamsted for the census and their father Thomas was the Registrar.

At the time the family were living in the High Street next to the Queen’s Arms in a home of only three rooms. Hervey was employed in the family house decorating firm.

As well as throwing himself into amateur entertainment, Hervey was involved with many activities in the town, including being a member of E Company 2^nd Herts Rifle Volunteers and the Odd Fellows, one of the earliest fraternal societies, arranged in “lodges” and involved in local charitable works.

Beatrice was born in 1892.

Hervey died 31 March 1893. The Bucks Herald reported:

“[Herts Rifle] Volunteer Funeral. On Good Friday Hervey, son of Mr Thomas Holloway, died at the early age of 33, after a few days’ illness leaving a widow and three small children, for whom much sympathy is felt. On Wednesday the deceased was interred at the Cemetery, and the Volunteers, 70 in number, with upwards of 30 Odd Fellows, attended, Mr Holloway having been a respected member of both bodies. The High Street was lined with people…and all the proceedings were of an impressive nature. Wreaths were sent by…members of the E Company 2^nd Herts R[ifle] V[olunteers]…after the Odd Fellows address at the grave…three volleys were fired.”

Not only did Sarah Ann have to deal with her grief, but she was pregnant at the time and gave birth to Thomas Jeffrey later that year. He was baptised 27 December.

Sarah went to live with her parents and carried on her dressmaking business. Sadly she was to lose daughter Elsie, aged only 19, in 1908. Elsie is buried here with her father. Sarah died aged 62 in 1922 and lies in plot 765.