Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Robert Hutcheson

10/12/1866 –10/04/1948

A sugar broker, originally from Scotland

Relatives

Emma Edith Weyman — wife

John Hutcheson — son

Jane Symington Downes — wife

• Melanie Hilton

Plot 277 Robert Hutcheson (1866-1948)

Robert was born in Greenock, Renfrewshire, 10 December 1866 to Agnes (née Anderson) and John Mitchell Hutcheson, a sugar broker, both born in Greenock.

Sugar refining had begun in the town in 1765 and remained a major industry up until the 1970s.

In 1871 the family were living at 32, Forsyth Street West, Greenock, a street of small but fine semi-detached stone-built villas. Also at home was his six year old sister Marjorie, William two and new-born John. The family employed two live-in domestic servants.

Robert became a sugar broker like his father and in 1891 he was a lodger at 24, Grosvenor Road, Highbury along with two ships’ brokers in the home of a retired barrister’s clerk.

In April 1896 he married Jane Syminton Downes, at St Mary’s Islington, London.

Jane was the daughter of a paper manufacturer.

They initially lived in Highbury where their son John (Jack) was born on 31 January 1897 and Andrew Bain in 1902. By the time William Robert was born in 1909 they had moved to Berkhamsted.

Jane died in April 1910, aged 40, at “Braehead”, Boxwell Road, and is buried here.

With the outbreak of the First World War their son John enlisted and was gazetted 2nd Lieutenant to the 10th Battalion of the Sherwood Foresters on 3 Oct 1914.

Robert remarried 31 July 1915 in Stoke d’Albernon, Surrey to Emma Edith Wayman, a school teacher. Tragically their happiness was cut short with the news that John, aged only 18, had been killed in Flanders, 8 September 1915. He is commemorated here and was buried at the Hooge Crater Cemetery near Ypres.

In 1921 they were living at “Annandale”, 52, Cross Oak Road. Robert was employed as a sugar broker by Edward Grey & Co. at 14, Mincing Lane, London. At home were schoolboys Andrew and William and the family employed one live-in domestic servant.

Emma died 22 September 1932 aged 63, and is buried here.

Robert remained, living alone, at Cross Oak Road. He died 10 April 1948 and lies here with both his wives.

Jane Symington Downes

08/01/1869 –1910

First wife of Robert Hutcheson and mother of John Hutcheson

Relatives

Robert Hutcheson — husband

John Hutcheson — son

• Melanie Hilton

Plot 277 Jane Symington Downes (later Hutcheson) (1869-1910)

Jane was born 8 January 1869 in Glasgow, the daughter of John Henry Downes, a wholesale grocer, and Jane Fleming (née Bains). She was named for her maternal grandmother.

In 1871 the family was living at 2, Parkgrove Terrace, a handsome stone end-of-terrace house overlooking Kelvingrove Park. Her mother was employed as a paper maker and Jane had an elder and younger brothers. The family employed a live-in servant.

Ten years later they had moved just along the road to number 11. Her father was now described as a tea and sugar merchant and paper manufacturer. The paper may have been for the packaging of the tea and sugar for onward sale. The family had clearly increased in prosperity. Not only did Jane’s mother no longer have to work but they employed three female servants. Three more brothers for Jane had been born.

By 1891 the family had moved to 18, Athol Gardens, Govan, another very handsome stone terrace house in a crescent overlooking private gardens. Her father was described as a paper manufacturer and they had a cook and a housemaid.

In April 1896 Jane married Robert Hutcheson, a sugar broker born in Renfrewshire, at St Mary’s Islington, London. Given Robert’s occupation it seems likely that they met through her father’s business.

 The young couple went to live in Highbury where their son John was born on 31 January 1897. Andrew Bain followed in 1902. By the time William Robert was born in 1909 they had moved to Berkhamsted.

Jane died in April 1910 aged 40 at “Braehead”, Boxwell Road.

Their eldest son John, enlisted with the Inns of Court Officer Training Corps and was gazetted 2nd Lieutenant to the 10th Battalion of the Sherwood Foresters on 3 Oct 1914. Tragically he was killed aged only 18, in Flanders, 8 September 1915. He is commemorated here and was buried at the Hooge Crater Cemetery near Ypres.

Robert remarried in 1915. His second wife, Emma Edith Weyman died in 1932 and he passed away in 1948. They both lie here with Jane.

Emma Edith Weyman

1871 –22/09/1932

A teacher and second wife of Robert Hutcheson

Relatives

Robert Hutcheson — husband

• Melanie Hilton

Plot 277 Emma Edith Hutcheson (née Wayman) 

Emma was born in Blackpool, Lancashire, in 1871. Her father was James Wayman, a Congregational minister born in Barking, Essex. She appears to have been known by her second name.

Her mother died before April 1881 when Edith was living with her father and her younger brother and sister, both born in Blackpool, in The Manse, Victoria Street, Layton-with-Warbreck on the Fylde coast of Lancashire. Her father employed a housekeeper and a general domestic servant.

In 1898 The Fleetwood Chronicle reported that “Miss Edith Wayman has passed First Class in the Senior Oxford examinations, with honours in English.”

On September 15 1899 The Chronicle carried an advertisement announcing “Girls’ Day School, South Shore, Blackpool. Miss Edith Wayman (daughter of the Rev. James Wayman, late of Blackpool) will open a First-class day school for girls in the Hall…on Church Street, South Shore on Tuesday September 19^th. Prospectuses and other information may be had on application to Miss Wayman at “Glenora”, 410, Lytham Road, South Shore.”

It seems the venture did not prosper, as in March 1901 she was one of six assistant mistresses at a girls’ boarding school at 81, Holland Park, Kensington. There were twenty nine girls resident.

Edith married widower Robert Hutcheson, a sugar broker, with three sons, 31 July 1915 in the parish church of Stoke d’Albernon, Surrey.

Tragically their happiness was cut short with the news that Robert’s son John, aged only 18, had been killed in Flanders, 8 September 1915.

In 1921 they were living at “Annandale”, 52, Cross Oak Road. Robert was employed as a sugar broker by Edward Grey & Co. at 14, Mincing Lane, London. At home were schoolboys Andrew and William and the family employed one live-in domestic servant.

Emma died 22 September 1932 aged 63. Robert survived her until 1948 and is buried here with her and Jane, his first wife.

John Hutcheson

31/01/1897 –08/09/1915

Educated at Berkhamsted School; killed in WWI.

Relatives

Robert Hutcheson — father

Jane Symington Downes — mother

JOHN HUTCHESON;  1897-1915

John Hutcheson was born on 31 Jan. 1897, the son of Robert and Jane Symington née Downes of “Annandale”, Cross Oak Road. John attended Berkhamsted School between 1906 and 1914.

John enlisted with the Inns of Court OTC. From this he was gazetted 2^nd Lieutenant to the 10^th Battalion of the Sherwood Foresters on 3 Oct 1914.

John Hutcheson was killed by a sniper on 8^th September 1915 while surveying his fire trenches near Zillebeke, Flandres. Many letters were received from his superior and brother officers, all testifying to the regard and affection in which he was held. His Colonel wrote “He was a keen and energetic officer of considerable promise and popular with all ranks.”

Extract from Berkhamsted Local History & Museum Society, “Men of Berkhamsted, Lest We Forget”  2017.