14/05/1848 –07/03/1908
Frederick, the first of three generations of stonemasons
Relatives
Research:
The Martin family are from Sheering, Essex, a small village just outside Harlow. They can be traced back to the earliest parish records, and a marriage in 1759. They were staunch non-conformists, attending the Independent Chapel about a mile away in Hatfield Heath. It was here, in 1848, that Frederick Martin was baptized, and then married on the 25th January 1869, to Mary Ann Pearman, whose family were from Wheathampstead.
By 1871 Frederick and Mary Ann had settled in Boxmoor, with their two eldest children, Christina aged one, and Sarah Ann 6 months. Mary Ann was working in the paper mills to support the family, because Frederick was living away in Somerford Grove, Hackney, learning the trade of stonemasonry. He was living with Master Mason Thomas Deere, from Llantwit Major in Wales, and his family. The trade would stay in the family for three generations.
By 1881 the family are reunited, and living in Albion Place, Hemel Hempstead, and Frederick is working as a stonemason. Sadly, Sarah Ann has passed away in 1871, and a son, Arthur in 1874, but they have two further children, Frederick junior, and Clara.
In 1891 the family have moved to Berkhamsted, and are living in Chapel Street, where four generations of the family would continue to live.
In 1901 we find Fred and Mary Ann living at 16 Chapel Street, and Fred junior a few doors down, at number 12, where the stonemasonry business was based.
On 7th March 1908 Frederick snr is buried in Rectory Lane Cemetery, and on 10th April 1928, Mary Ann is buried with him. (Plot 675).
Frederick’s sister Christina Burch (nee Martin), and her husband Henry are also buried in the cemetery (Plot 834).
Frederick junior was born on 8th August 1872 in Boxmoor. On 2 September 1893 he was married at St Peters, to Mary Ann Hearn, 13 years his senior, and from Woodbury, in Devon. A small farming community between Exeter and Exmouth. They live at 12 Chapel Street, and bring up three children, Arthur, Mable, and Frederick. Sadly they lose two children, Alice, and Frederick, in the space of just two years. They are born a year apart, and each survives less than 6 months. They are buried together in Plot 648.
Mary Ann’s family have a tradition of giving every child their mother’s maiden name, and so all five have the middle name Hearn.
Frederick runs his business as a stonemason from Chapel Street, training his eldest son Arthur, who then takes over.
Frederick died on 28th June 1942, and Mary Ann 28th October 1946. They are buried in Plot 317.
Arthur Hearn Martin, born 13 December 1893, continues to run the stonemasonry business from the yard behind 12 Chapel Street, now the third generation to do so, and brings up his family there with his wife Susan (nee Coughtrey), who he has married at St Peters on 11th May 1925. Susan’s family are from Chesham, but have expanded into neighbouring towns and villages, including Berkhamsted, and her parents Charles and Ada are buried in Plot 734.
A spooky coincidence discovered in the Census Returns for 1861, is that a Samuel Coughtrey (related but not immediate family), lived in Chapel Street, somewhere in the number 12-16 area 30 years before the Martins moved in. It could have been the same house!
Arthur served in WW1 with the Hertfordshire regiment, and was mentioned in dispatches.
Along with his work, he also served with the local volunteer fire brigade, attaining a senior rank. His son James would later join the Fire Service, also reaching senior ranks.
Arthur and Susan remained at 12 Chapel Street for the rest of their lives, bringing up their three children, Olive, Pamela, and Jim.
The family business was established around 1871, and was in Chapel Street from at least 1891, until Arthur’s retirement about 70 years later. The cemetery must be full of their work. They weren’t just restricted to Berkhamsted. My late mother (Olive) recalled going with her father (as a very young girl), to Aldbury churchyard on a pony and trap. This would have been in the early 1930s.
Arthur died on 25th March 1970, and is buried in Plot 317, with his parents. Susan died in 1980, and her ashes are at Garston Crematorium.
Researched by Jennifer Johnson, granddaughter of Arthur and Susan
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