Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Arthur Lingard

d.13/11/1933

Shopman/bootmaker

Relatives

Emma Hurst Lingard — wife

Ernest Lingard — other

• James Moir

Arthur was one of six children born to George Lingard (stonemason) and Emma (nee Hurst Wood) in 1881.

In 1901 Arthur was boarding in Islington, aged 19, and described as a shopman/bootmaker. In 1911, he was living aged 30, with his wife Esther (nee Payne, born Hatfield), age 39 and their (at this time) only son Ernest, age 7, at Reigate. They had married in 1902.

Emma Hurst Lingard

1845 –16/03/1925

One of seven, second wife of George Lingard (master stonemason), mother of six, teacher of music

Relatives

James William Wood — father

Eliza Wood — mother

Alice Lingard — daughter

Arthur Lingard — husband

Ernest Lingard — son

• James Moir

Born in Berkhamsted in 1845 as Emma Hurst Wood, one of seven children of James William and Eliza Wood.

She married George Lingard the stonemason (1838-1901) following the death of his first wife Anne (nee Wardle).  Despite Emma, who was 9 years younger than him, having been born in Berkhamsted, they got married in Southwark, London, perhaps to be discrete given the relatively short time that had elapsed after Anne’s death.

Within a year of being married, Emma gave birth to their first child, Beatrice Lilian Lingard, who again sadly only survived 5 weeks and was buried 28 March 1874 at the Cemetery, with JW Cobb officiating.

A year later, Alice was born, but only survived to the age of 5, and was buried 1st September 1880, at the Cemetery, similarly with JW Cobb officiating. (She is buried in the same grave as George’s first wife).

Ernest George was their third born (1876; baptised 28th Jan 1877); he survived only to the age of 24, and was buried on the 22 March 1901 in the Cemetery, with HC Curtis, then Assistant Curate officiating.  He left effects worth £32 3s to his mother.

Another boy – Walter (b.1878) appeared.   So by 1881, the family then consisted of George, age 43, Emma his wife age 34, and their two sons, Ernest, age 4, Walter age 3. They also had Ann Chennels, age 15, living with them as a servant. They lived in Castle Street – from the sequence in the census it suggests they lived on the west side (the School side).

Two further boys were born – Arthur W. (b. 1881) and (Frank b. 1883).

A year later, the family had had to move to Kitsbury Road. But significantly, Emma, aged 48, is described as married and of no occupation, but there is no sign of George. Was he in prison for debt? The strange fact is that George Lingard’s death is elusive  – it has not yet been traced, and certainly does not appear in the Berkhamsted burial books. In 1911, Emma stated she had been married 36 years, which, given their marriage in 1873, would place George’s death in 1909, although she may have been calculating the years incorporating her status as both a wife and widow (in which case she was one or two years short). Alternatively, it is just possible he had ‘disappeared’ from view and didn’t return to his family.

Emma now had four sons to look after Ernest G., Walter, Arthur W. and Frank were all living at home, aged between 7 and 14. By 1901, she had moved a short distance again to 22 Charles Street where she is described as widow and head of family, age 54, and also by now was a teacher of music. Only Frank, aged 17, remained at home, and was training as a coach builder. Sadly, Ernest George had died only a few days before the census was taken.

In 1911, Emma Hurst Lingard had moved to 5, Elm Grove. Now aged 64, she was still a teacher of music.  By this time, only 3 of her 6 children had survived.

She lived for another 14 years, apparently moving back to Charles Street, and was buried on 16th March 1925 at Rectory Lane Cemetery,  age 79.

Her son, Arthur, who died 13th November 1933 (at Boston, Lincolnshire) aged 52, having married Esther (nee Payne), is buried here too.