Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Margaret Nash (792)

1846 –18/01/1913

Second wife of Charles Nash, builder

Relatives

Charles Nash — husband

• Christopher Dolton

MARGARET NASH; 1846 – 1913

Margaret was one of eleven children[1] born to Daniel Reynolds and his wife Esther (née Reynolds). She was born during the third quarter of 1846 at Ley Hill, near Chesham. Her father, Daniel, was a pig dealer and innkeeper. The family lived at the Crown Inn at Botley, Ley Hill.[2] At some point in the following ten years the family moved to Little Brockhurst, at nearby Lye Green. Daniel was no longer an inn keeper and was dealing in cattle rather than pigs.[3]

Like many working-class girls of the time, Margaret entered into domestic service. In 1871, at the age of 24, she was a parlour maid in the household of Anthony Wilson, a magistrate and landowner who lived in Brighton.[4]

On 17^th March 1876, Margaret married Charles Nash at St Paul’s Church, in the parish of Paddington. Charles, a builder who lived and worked in Berkhamsted, had previously been married. His first wife had died in 1875, leaving Charles with a young son, Frederick, to bring up. Although Margaret was only 29 years old when she married Charles, the couple were not to have any children together.

Following her wedding, Margaret joined Charles and Frederick in Berkhamsted living first on the High Street and later at 2 Boxwell Road[5] where Margaret was to spend the rest of her days. She died on 18^th January 1913 and was laid to rest in Rectory Lane Cemetery, to be joined by Charles when he died in in 1921.

Charles Nash

09/10/1843 –20/09/1921

Son of William Nash, builder, who himself became a builder and took over family business.

Relatives

William Nash (298) — father

Elizabeth Nash — mother

Margaret Nash (792) — wife

• Christopher Dolton

CHARLES NASH; 1845 – 1921

Charles was born in Leighton Buzzard,  the fifth of six children[1] born to William[2] and Eliza Nash. Charles’ father worked as a bricklayer. Charles’ mother, Eliza, died in 1847 and the following year, William married again. His second wife, the widowed Elizabeth Rickard, had one daughter and she lived in Berkhamsted. William and his children joined Elizabeth and her daughter in Berkhamsted and in 1851 Elizabeth gave birth to a daughter, Emma.  Charles was about three years old when he and his siblings moved to Berkhamsted and he was to spend the rest of his life in the town.

Having moved to Berkhamsted, William’s business grew and he was soon employing a number of men[3] and engaged in building work in the town.[4] Charles, at the age of 17, like his older brother Thomas, worked as a bricklayer[5], no doubt learning the rudiments of the trade in his father’s business.

In 1867, at the age of 22, Charles married. His bride was Mary Gudgin, who came from Berkhamsted. The newly-weds set up home in Chapel Street[6] and in 1868 Mary gave birth to the couple’s only child, Frederick. Sadly, the marriage only lasted eight years; Mary died in November 1875 at the age of 33[7].  Just as Charles’ father had remarried soon after the death of his first wife, so too did Charles, for he married again the following year on 17^th May 1876. He was then 32. His second wife, Margaret Reynolds, who had not been previously married, was 29 years old and had been in service. She was from Chesham. Although she was relatively local, the marriage was not celebrated locally; Charles and Margaret married at St Paul’s Church, Paddington. The couple set up home on Berkhamsted’s High Street. Margaret and Charles did not have any children together.

By 1881 Charles’ father had retired and Charles took over the running of the family business.[8] The business continued to be involved in building works in the town including the installation of drains in Back Lane[9], construction of new school rooms and buildings for King Edward VI’s School (now Berkhamsted School)[10], the extension of the Town Hall[11] and the white washing of the workhouse[12] as well as many other projects[13].

By 1901, Charles, then 67 years old, had retired and he and Margaret were living at 2 Boxwell Road. They employed a live in domestic servant, Mercy Riddle, who was to remain in service with Charles for over twenty years until Charles’ death in 1921.[14]

Outside of his building work, Charles was one of the trustees of the Joanna Neal Charity which dated from 1714 for the benefit of two elders or ministers of the Berkhamsted Baptist Church[15]. Both he and his father were members of the committee that made arrangements to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Jubilee in 1887, his workmen contributing £1.2s.10d “which was thought to be worthy of imitation at other firms.”[16] He also seems to have been an accomplished model maker; in 1875 the Mutual Improvement Society held an exhibition of “objects of art and curiosity” which included “…an elaborate model of Berkhampstead Church, made by Mr C Nash…”[17]

Margaret died on 18^th January 1913 and was buried in Rectory Lane Cemetery. Charles survived her by some eight years, dying on 20^th September 1921. He continued to live at 2 Boxwell Road until his death and his estate was valued at the not inconsiderable sum of £10,226 10s 8d. He was laid to rest with Margaret.