Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Edward Henry Morris (802)

21/12/1834 –06/04/1899

A watchmaker who revived his business after he was made bankrupt

Relatives

Ann Morris — wife

William Henry Morris — son

• Melanie Hilton

Plot 802 Edward Henry Morris (1834-1899)

Edward was born 21 December 1834 in Pimlico, London and became a watchmaker.

He married Ann Beale in Weymouth in 1860.

In 1861 they lived at South Street, Dorking but by the time William Henry was born in 1863 they had moved to Ipswich.

30 January 1863 Edward gave evidence in a counterfeiting trial, identifying solutions used in electro-plating which were found at the accused’s home.

He was declared bankrupt in August 1865 when he was described in court of being of 50-52, Tavern Street, Ipswich. This was an exceedingly good retail location, right in the town centre and opposite the large Great White Horse Hotel. The shop is still there, now occupied by a building society.

He was in debt for £1,170 4s (over £123,000 in today’s money)and attributed this to “insufficiency of capital and loss of trade.” It was agreed that he would pay his creditors 5s in the pound, his assets which were to be sold, including household furniture and effects, were estimated to be worth £350 (£37,000 today).

In November The London Gazette carried a notice to the effect that the bankruptcy of Edward Henry Morris, jeweller of Ipswich, had been annulled. This usually means that all outstanding debts have been settled.

 It is not surprising that the Morrises moved on and Charles Hurlston  was born in 1866 in Eastbourne. By 1868 when Arthur Edward arrived they were in Brighton.

The 1871 census records Edward as a watchmaker and jeweller living at 21, Church Street, Brighton. With the family was a 17 year old apprentice and a domestic servant – clearly his financial position had improved considerably.

They moved again and in 1881 were at 6, Chapel Terrace, Willesden. Edward was a watch maker and newsagent and 17 year old William was “deputy parish clerk and newsagent.” Charles was apprenticed to a carpenter and builder and Arthur was an auctioneer’s clerk.

By 1891 they had made their final move to 184, High Street, Berkhamsted. William, also a watchmaker, was at home and working with his father. They also had a live-in general domestic servant. Before Lower King’s Road was widened the shop stood on the corner with the High Street, on the right as one faced south.

10 December 1892 The Herts Advertiser reported that “Ernest Edward Kempston, 24, blocker, of imperfect education, was charged with unlawfully obtaining from Ann Morris, three gold rings, by means of false pretences with intent to defraud, at Berkhamsted, on November 10^th ; and Richard Hutchings, 63, traveller, well-educated, was charged with aiding and abetting him… Kempston was further charged with stealing one gold wedding ring, the property of Edward Henry Morris, at Berkhamsted, on November 10^th , and Hutchings was charged with receiving it, knowing it to be stolen. The prisoners pleaded Not Guilty and the case was deferred.”

In 1897, “David Pike, wholesale confectioner, of Berkhampstead, [top of Lower King’s Road where Petals is now] was charged with obstructing the public footway at Berkhampstead, on June 4th. – Mr. Penny defended. – P.C. Ephithite deposed that a bicycle accident happened outside Mr. Pike’s shop. There were on the pathway 9 orange boxes, 2 larger boxes, 46 smaller boxes (some full and some empty), 4 potato tubs, and 8 baskets. The path was five yards wide, and four out of the five were blocked by the boxes. – Mr. E. H. Morris and P.C. Gorton also gave evidence as to the obstruction. – Mr. Penny addressed the Bench at some length for the defence, and called John Stevens, van driver for defendant, who said the railway trolley delivered goods in front of the shop at nine o’clock, and they were loading up the vans at the time. They did their best to keep the pathway clear. – Defendant was fined £2, including costs.” (Bucks Herald).

Edward died 6 April 1899 aged 64. He left £467 11s (Just over £50,000 in today’s money.)

Ann survived him until 1917 and is buried here. Son William lies in plot 803.

Ann Morris

1834 –07/02/1917

Wife of watchmaker Edward Morris

Relatives

Edward Henry Morris (802) — husband

William Henry Morris — son

• Melanie Hilton

Plot 802 Ann Morris (1834-1917)

Ann was born in 1834 in Weymouth, Dorset, and baptised in the parish church of Wyke Regis, at the southern tip of Weymouth, on 29 August that year. Her mother was Ann, her father, John Beale, a mariner.

By June 1841 Ann was living with her widowed grandmother, Elizabeth Bird, an annuitant, at 7, St Thomas Street, Melcombe Regis, in the northern area of Weymouth. She was still there in 1851.

Ann married Edward Henry Morris, a watchmaker, in Weymouth in 1860. In 1861 they lived at South Street, Dorking but by the time William Henry was born in 1863 they had moved to Ipswich.

Edward was declared bankrupt August 1865 when he was described in court of being of 50-52, Tavern Street, Ipswich. As a result all their household effects had to be sold towards paying off debts of £1,170 4s (over £123,000 in today’s money). By November he bankruptcy was annulled and the debts settled, but it must have been a traumatic experience for the family and it is not surprising that they moved on.

 Charles Hurlston was born in 1866 in Eastbourne, but by the time Arthur Edward  arrived in 1868 the family were living in Brighton. In 1871 the census recorded Edward as a watchmaker and jeweller of 21, Church Street, Brighton. Living with the family was a 17 year old apprentice and matter shad improved enough for them to employ a domestic servant.

They had moved again by 1881, to 6, Chapel Terrace, Willesden. Edward was a watch maker and newsagent and 17 year old William was “deputy parish clerk and newsagent.” Charles was apprenticed to a carpenter and builder and Arthur was an auctioneer’s clerk.

By 1891 they had made a final move to 184, High Street Berkhamsted. William, now also a watchmaker, was at home, and acting as manager for the shop. They had a live-in general domestic servant. Before Lower King’s Road was widened the shop stood on the corner with the High Street, on the right as one faced south.

Edward died 6 April 1899, aged 64 and Ann continued to run the shop with William as manager.

By 1911 William was shown on the census as head of household, watch maker and jeweller, living with Ann and a domestic servant.

Ann died 2 February 1917 184 High Street aged 82