Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Sarah Harper

1829 –1911

wife of Latimer Harper

Relatives

Latimer Harper — husband

• Melanie Hilton

Unmarked grave Sarah Elizabeth Harper (née Holland) (1829-1911)

Sarah was born in 1829, the daughter of George Peck Holland and his wife Mary (née Spencer). Her father was a currier (fine leather worker). She was baptised 26 December 1829 in the parish church of Spratton, Northants.

In 1851 21 year old Sarah was a housemaid in the household of the Treasurer of the borough of Northampton. How she met Latimer Harper, a farmer and the son of a clergyman, is not known, but on 30 June 1854 Sarah married him at the church of St Dunstan’s In the West, London.

Their first child, Francis Latimer, was born in 1855 at Chilton Foliat, Wiltshire where their daughter Annie Elizabeth was born the next year. Latimer’s occupation was given in the baptismal record as miller. Henry followed in 1857 and John Edmund in 1859.  Sadly Annie Elizabeth died in February 1860 aged 3 years and 6 months. Eleanor Augusta was born later that year.

It seems to have been a difficult time for the Harpers as the 1861 census records them living at 2, Sussex Place, Greenham, just south of Newbury. Latimer is described as “Farmer – out of business.”

Grace Adelaide was born in Greenham in 1862, after which the family moved to Lambourn in Berkshire.

In 1863 Latimer was elected Relieving Officer for the 3^rd district of the Hungerford Poor Law Union. The Relieving Officer was responsible for evaluating the cases of everyone applying for medical or poor relief and for authorising admission to the workhouse or emergency relief funds.

George Neville was born in 1864 and Annie in 1865. William Bernard was born in Hungerford in 1867 and Leonard, their last child, in 1868. He died the next year,

by which time Latimer had obtained the position of Relieving Officer for the parish of Langford, Berkshire.

The 1871 census shows that the family were living in Oxford Street, Lambourn. All the children were at home and one live-in servant was employed.

1872 must have been an emotionally difficult year for the couple. Both Latimer’s parents passed away and they lost five year old William.

The 1881 census reveals a drastic change – the family had moved to 69, Eland Road, Battersea and Latimer was working as a commercial clerk for a grocery company. Five of the children were at home, four of them in work. They remained at the same address and in 1891 the census shows that Latimer was a clerk for the Army and Navy Stores.

By 1901 Latimer, Sarah and unmarried daughters Grace and Annie had moved to Great Addington, Northamptonshire and Latimer was “living on his own means”. They employed a single live-in servant.

In 1907 Latimer was recorded in the Berkhamsted electoral registers living at Bell Lane. He died January 1910, at Warwick Cottage, High Street, aged 78.

Sarah Elizabeth survived him until March 1911 when she also passed away at Warwick Cottage, aged 81, and was buried here with him.

Latimer Harper

1831 –1910

Farmer who became relieving officer for Hungerford

Relatives

Sarah Harper — wife

• Melanie Hilton

Unmarked grave Latimer Harper (1831-1910)

Latimer was born in 1831 in Chilvers Coton, Warwickshire, the son of the Revd. Latimer Harper and his wife Anne (née Ebdell).

In 1841 the Harpers were living in Burton Latimer near Kettering where Latimer snr. was clergyman. The family employed a governess for the three children and four servants: three female and one male.

On 30 June 1854 Latimer married Sarah Elizabeth Holland, the daughter of a currier (fine leather worker) of Burton Latimer at the church of St Dunstan’s In the West, London. His occupation was given as farmer.

Their first child, Francis Latimer, was born in 1855 at Chilton Foliat, Wiltshire where their daughter Annie Elizabeth was born the next year. Latimer’s occupation was given in the baptismal record as miller. Henry followed in 1857 and John Edmund in 1859.  Sadly Annie Elizabeth died in February 1860 aged 3 years and 6 months. Eleanor Augusta was born later that year.

It seems to have been a difficult time for the Harpers as the 1861 census records them living at 2, Sussex Place, Greenham, just south of Newbury. Latimer is described as “Farmer – out of business.”

Grace Adelaide was born in Greenham in 1862, after which the family moved to Lambourn in Berkshire.

In 1863 Latimer was elected Relieving Officer for the 3^rd district of the Hungerford Poor Law Union. The Relieving Officer was responsible for evaluating the cases of everyone applying for medical or poor relief and for authorising admission to the workhouse or emergency relief funds. It may be that, as the son of a clergyman, Latimer was used to assessing the needs of parishioners and organising help for them.

George Neville was born in 1864 and Annie in 1865. William Bernard was born in Hungerford in 1867 and Leonard, their last child, in 1868. He died the next year,

by which time Latimer had obtained the position of Relieving Officer for the parish of Langford, Berkshire.

The 1871 census shows that the family were living in Oxford Street, Lambourn. All the children were at home and one live-in servant was employed.

1872 was a difficult year for Latimer. Both his parents passed away and he and Sarah lost five year old William.

The 1881 census reveals a drastic change – the family had moved to 69, Eland Road, Battersea and Latimer was working as a commercial clerk for a grocery company. Five of the children were at home, four of them in work. They remained at the same address and in 1891 the census shows that Latimer was a clerk for the Army and Navy Stores.

By 1901 Latimer, Sarah and unmarried daughters Grace and Annie had moved to Great Addington, Northamptonshire and Latimer was “living on his own means”. They employed a single live-in servant.

In 1907 Latimer was recorded in the Berkhamsted electoral registers living at Bell Lane. He died January 1910, at Warwick Cottage, High Street, aged 78.

Sarah Elizabeth survived him until March 1911 when she also passed away at Warwick Cottage, aged 81.