Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Millicent Augusta Nelson (667)

d.05/04/1900

Joined the Girls' Grammar School in Berkhamsted when 17; died in Berkhamsted at 19

• Kate Campbell

Millicent Augusta Nelson was the firstborn of Thomas George Nelson and Fanny Burrows and baptised in Sparham, Norfolk on 20th March 1881.

Her father was a farmer there, employing 12 men and 9 boys and her early years were spent living in the Farmhouse, with a nursemaid, cook and housemaid.

By the time she was ten years old, in 1891, she was away from home, boarding at a school in Foulsham, Norfolk. By then her parents had six other younger children.

Millicent moved from the boarding school in Norfolk to become a pupil at Bedford High School for Girls and in about 1898, at the age of 17, she joined Berkhamsted Girls’ Grammar School, either as a pupil or possibly as a student teacher. The Girls’ Grammar School was then situated on the High Street in the premises that had previously been occupied by the Bourne School. (Today it is a restaurant, “Per Tutti.”)

Millicent passed the Cambridge Higher Local Examination in Literature in 1899, but sadly died on 5^th April 1900 at the age of only 19 and was buried alone in Rectory Lane Cemetery. The following obituary appeared in the Girls’ Grammar School journal, The Chronicle.

“IN MEMORIAM

MILLICENT NELSON

 “On the evening of Thursday, April 5^th, there passed away from our midst one who for nearly two years had worked amongst us. Very quietly – as she had lived – so she died; as long as consciousness remained to her full of the thought for others and fear of giving trouble, which were the chief characteristics of a very sweet nature. All had long before recognised and learnt to rely on the ‘open hand of help’ that was ever ready and many of the children, both big and small, sadly miss the sympathy in their pleasures and troubles which they were certain to hear of her.”

A collection was made amongst the girls of the school raised £5 13s 9d and which enabled a marble curb to be placed around Millicent’s grave on the first anniversary of her death. Barely six weeks later her mother died at the age of 45 following a serious operation. This left her father a widow with eight children as two more had been born by then.

By 1911 her father had given up the farm and listed his occupation as Traveller in the Wine Trade.

By 1913 he had died, leaving his eldest son Thomas Burrows Nelson, a master mariner, his effects to the value of £16 19s 9d.