Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Ethel Margaret Bavin

1859 –31/12/1933

Governess and latterly wife of Charles Bavin

Relatives

Charles William Bavin (272) — husband

• Melanie Hilton

Ethel Margaret Bavin (née Newton) (1859-1933)

Ethel was born in Rauceby, Lincolnshire in 1859, the daughter of William George Tinley Bavin, a gentleman farmer, and Eleanor (née Eaton). She was baptised on the 20th February.

At the time of the  April 1861 census William and Eleanor were living at Lodge Farm, North Raunceby, Lincolnshire. Her father was farming 474 acres and employing nine men and three boys. Ethel’s brother Walter had just been born and the family employed a nurse, a nursemaid and a housemaid. In addition a dairymaid, a groom and three carters were living at the farm.

Ethel’s sister Jessie Ellen was born in 1863 and Ada Constance in 1869, both in North Rauncby.

In April 1891 Ethel Margaret, aged thirty two, was employed as a governess and living with widowed step-mother Mary Birkett Newton in South Park. Her sisters, both unmarried, were living with her.

It has not been possible to trace information relating to her mother’s death, nor her father’s remarriage and death and what happened to Ethel between April 1861 and March 1891.

It is most likely that Ethel had been living in South Park since at least 1881 and this must have been where she met her husband, Charles William Bavin. They married in Lincoln on the 30th July 1896. Charles was serving as a lance sergeant with the 9th Lancers.

On the 14th February 1898 he transferred to army reserve, but he was recalled “under special army order of 20th December 1899” – the Boer War had broken out on the 11th October.

Charles served in South Africa 2nd February 1900 to 22nd August 1900 and was awarded the South Africa Medal. He returned safe and sound to the reserves and was discharged on the termination of his engagement on the 5th August 1901.

The 1901 census shows that he and Ethel were living at Ferry Road, Bardney, Lincolnshire. He was described as: “Reservist. Living on own means”.

Charles secured employment as a schools attendance officer with Cheshire County Council and the couple had moved to Henbury near Macclesfield by the time of the 1911 census. They were to remain there for the rest of their lives.

Charles passed away in the late summer of 1933. The couple had no children, and no relatives in Cheshire, which may be why Charles was buried in Berkhamsted where his brother John Thomas and his family lived. Ethel died on 31st December 1933 and was brought here to lie with him.

John Thomas, his wife Grace and son Geoffrey Wynne are buried in plot 369 and Muriel Joyce Bavin, the wife of John and Grace’s son John Herbert, lies in Plot 271.

Charles William Bavin (272)

1867 –15/08/1933

Served in Army and latterly a school attendance officer; brother of J T Bavin

Relatives

Ethel Margaret Bavin — wife

John Thomas Bavin — brother

• Melanie Hilton

Charles William Bavin (1888-1933)

Charles was born in 1867 in the parish of Stixwould, Lincolnshire, the first child

of Charles and Martha Anne Bavin. Charles, who was a land agent and farmer passed away in February 1870, at Stixwould, aged only thirty one.

By the time of the 1871 census Martha, her two sons – three year old Charles William and one year old John Thomas – were living at 27, Monson Street, Lincoln. Martha was described as “Private school teacher”. To help make ends meet she had taken two boarders, brothers aged nine and ten, and had a young domestic servant to help out.

Ten years later the family were living in Lincoln at South Park Terrace overlooking Lincoln’s South Common. Also in the household were two unmarried female cousins of Martha’s and a young female servant.

On 4th June 1888 John joined the 9th Lancers. He was already in the 1st Volunteer Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment. The records state that he was an engineer, with blue eyes and that he was 5 foot 8 ¾ inches tall.

Charles completed his Certificate of Education 2nd class on 16th November 1888 and 1st Class on 26th March 1890. He was promoted Lance Corporal in 1889, Corporal 1890 and Lance Sergeant in 1893.

Charles, still serving in the army, married Ethel Margaret Newton in Lincoln on the 30th July 1896.

On the 14th February 1898 he transferred to army reserve, with a note on file that he was of “Exemplary character”, but he was recalled to service “under special army order of 20th December 1899” – the Boer War had broken out on the 11th October.

Charles served in South Africa 2nd February 1900 to 22nd August 1900 and was awarded the South Africa Medal. He returned to the reserves and was discharged on the termination of his engagement on the 5th August 1901 having served 13 years and 63 days.

On transferring to the reserves he gave his intended place of residence as 44, Wells Road, Totterdown, Bristol, but the 1901 census shows that he and Ethel were living at Ferry Road, Bardney, Lincolnshire. He was described as: “Reservist. Living on own means” .

By the time of the 1911 Census the couple had moved to Henbury, near Macclesfield and Charles was employed as a schools attendance officer for Cheshire County Council. His military background must have made him an imposing figure when dealing with truants. (The electrical register for Macclesfield for 1906 shows that Charles was resident in the town at that date, but there is no indication of his occupation.)

Charles and Ethel, who never had children, were still in Henbury at the time of the 1921 census and Charles was still the schools attendance officer. The electoral register records them at the same location in 1931.

Charles died in late summer 1933. It is not possible to tell why he was buried here in Berkhamsted, although it may have been that, without any family in Cheshire, his younger brother John Thomas who was well established with his family in the town, felt it appropriate to bring him here to rest. He was joined later that year by his wife who died 31st December 1933.

John Thomas Bavin, his wife Grace and son Geoffrey Wynne Bavin lie together in Plot 369.

Muriel Joyce, the wife of John and Grace’s son John Herbert, lies in Plot 271.