Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Sophia Howard

09/11/1814 –10/01/1890

Milliner and dressmaker; wife of Alfred Howard.

Relatives

Alfred Howard (87) — husband

Arthur Howard — son

Frederick Howard (694) — son

• Christopher Dolton

SOPHIA HOWARD; 1814 – 1891

Sophia was born at Chesham on 9^th November 1814.[1] Her parents were Joseph Shrimpton, a labourer[2], and Charlotte Shrimpton. Her parents were Baptists and her birth was registered by the minister of the Chesham Old Meeting House. The Shrimpton family was large and Sarah was one of ten children born to Joseph and Sarah,[3] although three of those children died as infants.

Sophia married during the last quarter of 1840. The bridegroom was Alfred Howard, a wood turner who like Sophia had been born in Chesham and was a Non-Conformist. Sophia and Alfred were to have five children, Sarah Sophia, 1845-1927; Arthur; 1846-1878; William Potter, 1849-1929; Frederick, 1852-1918 and Walter Ernest, 1855-1935.

Following the marriage Sophia and Alfred were living with Alfred’s widowed father in Church Street in Chesham. Whilst Alfred and his father were worked as wood turners, Sophia worked as a milliner.[4]

In 1851 Alfred, Sophia and their first three children, Sarah, Arthur and William, were living on Chesham’s High Street. Alfred gave his occupation in the census return as “General Broker” He was no longer working solely as a wood turner, but had expanded his business. In 1847 he was described as a “Clothes dealer and wooden spoon maker.” [5] He was doing well enough to be able to employ a live in domestic servant.[6] Sophia was then a dressmaker.

Alfred began trading in furniture rather than clothes; in 1853 his occupation was “wood, turner and furniture broker”[7] and in 1854 “carver, turner, & furniture broker.”[8]

At some point between 1854 and 1861 Alfred, Sophia and their children moved to Berkhamsted’s High Street. Alfred described his occupation in the 1861 census as “furniture upholsterer and appraiser.”[9]

By 1871 Alfred described himself as an “auctioneer and valuer”, an occupation into which sons Frederick and Walter were to follow.

Sophia’s husband, Alfred, died in 1873 and was buried in Rectory Lane Cemetery. Sophia and Alfred’s second son, Arthur died in 1878 at the age of 32 and was buried with his father.

Following Alfred’s death, Sophia remained living on the High Street and she took over the running of her husband’s business, describing herself on the 1881 census return as a “furniture dealer”. Her daughter Sarah , £1 years old and unmarried, was living with her, as were two of her sons, William, “Dealer in antiquities” and Frederick, “Auctioneer and estate agent”.

Sophia herself died on 10^th January 1890 at the age of 75 and was buried alongside her husband and son.

Arthur Howard

1846 –05/08/1878

Son of Alfred and Sophia Howard; died age 32 years

Relatives

Sophia Howard — mother

Frederick Howard (694) — brother

• Christopher Dolton

ARTHUR HOWARD; 1846-1878

Arthur was born in 1846 in Chesham, the second of five children[1] born to Alfred and Sophia Howard. His father, Alfred, originally a wood turner, described himself in the 1851 census return as a “General broker”. Alfred then began trading in furniture rather than clothes; in 1853 his occupation was “wood, turner and furniture broker”[2] and in 1854 “carver, turner, & furniture broker.”[3]

At some point between 1854 and 1861 Alfred, Sophia and their children moved to Berkhamsted’s High Street, where Alfred set up in business as a “furniture upholsterer and appraiser.”[4] Arthur, 14 years old in 1861, was attending school.

At the time of the 1871 census, Arthur was 23 years old. He was unmarried and still living with his parents and his brother Walter and sister Sarah in the family home on Berkhamsted’s High Street. Although Arthur was 23 years old, he does not appear to have been working as no occupation is noted against his name in the 1871 census. Given that he died five years later, perhaps he was already by then suffering from ill health.

Arthur’s father died in 1873 and he himself died on 5^th August 1878[5]. He was buried in Rectory Lane Cemetery with his father. His mother, Sophia, was also buried in the same grave when she died in 1890.

Alfred Howard (87)

04/06/1818 –16/09/1873

Born in Chesham, a wood turner who became a furniture dealer and auctioneer.

Relatives

Sophia Howard — wife

Frederick Howard (694) — son

• Christopher Dolton

ALFRED HOWARD; 1818 – 1873

Alfred was born in Chesham, Bucks, on the 4^th June 1818. He was the youngest of nine children[1] born to William and Sarah Howard (née Potter).

Alfred’s father was a wood turner an occupation which Alfred himself was to follow as a young man.[2]  Wood turners had been plying their trade in the Chilterns when Berkhamsted Castle was in its prime. William Ellis of Little Gaddesden, writing in the mid 18^th century wrote that alder poles were “turned to great account amongst the Berkhamsted and Cheshunt turners of hollow-ware, who in this commodity make more consumption of this wood and of beech than any other two towns in Great Britain… They make dishes, bowls and many other serviceable goods.”  The tools were primitive; instead of lathes they used a “shaving horse” but they were nevertheless skilled craftsmen. “Yet what feats of craftsmanship were they able to perform! It is on record that a Berkhamsted man turned a bowl so thin that it could be pushed inside out like a soft hat.”[3]

Alfred married Sophia Shrimpton in 1840 and in 1841 Alfred and his wife Sophia were living with Alfred’s widowed father in Church Street in Chesham. Alfred’s mother had died earlier that year. Whilst Alfred and his father were working as wood turners, Sophia worked as a milliner. Alfred and Sophia were to have five children; Sarah Sophia,1845-1927; Arthur, 1846-1878, William Potter, 1849- 1929; Frederick,1852-1918, and Walter Ernest, 1855-1935.

In 1851 Alfred, Sophia and their first three children, Sarah, Arthur and William, were living on Chesham’s High Street. Alfred gave his occupation in the census return as “General Broker.” He was no longer working solely as a wood turner, but had expanded his business. In 1847 he was described as a “Clothes dealer and wooden spoon maker.” [4] He was doing well enough to be able to employ a live in domestic servant.[5]

Alfred began trading in furniture rather than clothes; in 1853 his occupation was “wood, turner and furniture broker”[6] and in 1854 “carver, turner, & furniture broker.”[7]

At some point between 1854 and 1861 Alfred and his family moved and made their home on Berkhamsted’s High Street. He described his occupation in the 1861 census as “furniture upholsterer and appraiser.”[8] A brief newspaper report from 1868 refers to a court case brought be Alfred against George Griffith of Tring, a cabinet maker, “…claim 9s for go0ds sold. The original amount owing was 18s – 9s towards which had been paid six months ago and the balance was to have been paid in a week after. His Honour ordered it to be paid in a fortnight.” [9]

By 1871 Alfred described himself as an “auctioneer and valuer”, an occupation into which his sons Frederick and Walter were to follow.

Alfred’s birth had been registered with the Congregational Church in Chesham when he was born and he was an active member of the church when he moved to Berkhamsted. Contemporary newspaper reports suggest that he must have been a good musician. In 1859, a Christmas concert was held in aid of the Friends of the Sick Visiting Society connected with the Congregational Church at which Alfred played the harmonium.[10] He was involved in another concert held in the Congregational schoolroom at Easter 1864 where “a dozen well selected duets, trios and choruses were performed by the choir, Mr Alfred Howard presiding at the piano.”[11]

Alfred died on 16^th September 1873 at the age of 55 years.