Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Phoebe Redding

1865 –1940

Servant, married a footman and then a painter & sign writer, widowed living with one adult daughter

Relatives

Henry Mortimer Redding — husband

Horace Henry Redding — son

• Victoria Culverhouse

Phoebe Redding – died 1940, aged 74

Phoebe Redding  was born Phoebe Munn on 5th. August 1865 in Edlesborough, Bucks, the eldest child of James Munn and his wife Ann, nee Tompkins. The couple subsequently moved to Berkhamsted where young Phoebe was baptised on 7th. April 1867 together with her newly born brother, Harry.

In the 1871 Census the family are living  in the High Street, Berkhamsted where James (aged 28) is working as a Cowman, looking after cattle.  Ann is also listed as aged 28 while Phoebe is now 5 and Harry 4. They have been joined by sister Annie, aged 2 and baby George is just one month old.

From the 1881 Census we learn that Phoebe, now 15, was living away from her family (though still in the High Street) as a servant in the household of Frederick Hale, a local draper, and his family.

At some point in the next 6 years, Phoebe moves away from her home area (probably through work?) as in 1887 she marries, in Bristol Register Office, a Walter Galsworthy. Walter describes himself as ‘formerly a Footman, living at 6 Newfoundland Street, Bristol. Phoebe gives her address as 9 Alfred Street, Bristol and they are both 22 years old.

By the time of the 1891 Census however, Phoebe is back living with her parents in Norrises Yard, High Street, Berkhamsted.  She is listed as Phoebe Galsworthy, aged 25 and married but her husband is not with her.  We don’t know what happened to Walter, but in 1901 Phoebe, aged 35,  marries again in Fulham, London.  Her bridegroom is one Henry Mortleman Redding.  Henry was a painter and sign-writer, aged 34, also from Berkhamsted, the son of  Ann Redding, who lived at 4 Clarence Road and her late husband James.

The 1911 Census tells us that the couple are now living at 8 Clarence Road, Berkhamsted, with their 7 year old daughter Violet.

Henry died in 1921, aged 55, but Phoebe and Violet continued to live at 8 Clarence Road.  They are listed there in the 1939 Register, which was compiled on the eve of the Second World War. Phoebe is listed as a widow and 36 year-old Violet as a domestic servant.  Phoebe passed away in 1940, aged 74, in the second year of the War and was laid to rest in Rectory Lane Cemetery.

Henry Mortimer Redding

1866 –1921

A printer, painter and sign writer

Relatives

Phoebe Redding — wife

Horace Henry Redding — son

• Melanie Hilton

Unmarked grave Henry Mortimer Redding (1866-1921)

Henry was born in Berkhamsted in 1866 to James and Ann Redding. His father was a local man and a general labourer, his mother had been born in Harwich. Henry had two younger brothers.

In 1881, aged 14 he was a printer’s assistant and the family was living in the High Street, Northchurch. Ten years later he was still with his family, his occupation given in the census as “Painter”, presumably, sign writing as this was his career by 1901 when he was a painter and sign writer living with his widowed mother at 4, Clarence Road.

In 1901 in Fulham aged 34 Henry married Berkhamsted girl Phoebe Munn who had previously been married (Bristol 1887) to Walter Galsworthy whose fate is unknown.

In 1904 Violet was born. Horace Henry was born in March 1908 but sadly died in December that year aged 9 months at 8, Clarence Road. He is buried in this cemetery.

The 1911 Census tells us that the couple were still living at 8, Clarence Road, Berkhamsted, with their daughter Violet and a boarder. Henry was employed at Cooper’s chemical works.

Henry died in September 1921 aged 55. Phoebe survived him until 1940 and is buried here with him.