Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

George Robinson (889)

1863 –31/12/1932

Served in the Bedfordshire REgiment before becoming a Police Constable

Relatives

Mary Jane Robinson (889) — wife

• Melanie Hilton

Plot 889 George Robinson (1863-1932)

George was born in 1863 in Cheshunt to George and Mary (née Meager) Robinson and baptised 25 October. His father was an agricultural labourer.

In 1871 he was living with parents and three younger siblings in Cheshunt Street. By 1881, when George was 17, and was employed as a labourer, he had two younger brothers and four younger sisters. His father was employed as a nursery labourer, as was one of George’s brothers, and they had two lodgers, but it must have been a struggle to make ends meet.

12 February 1882 George, out of work, enlisted in the Beds Regiment. He stated that he had previously been a member of the 4^th Battalion, Beds Militia. A note on his record reads “He states that he is 19 5/12, but appearance does not correspond.” His record has been changed to 18 years and 5 months.

He was 5 foot 7 ½ inches tall, 120 lbs (54.4 kg) with a pale complexion, grey eyes and brown hair. He had been vaccinated against smallpox as a child.

With a rather unfortunate start to his military service he was promptly treated for gonorrhoea and spent 9 days in hospital, receiving “the usual treatment”. (Sandalwood oil was used as a disinfectant; silver nitrate, colloidal silver, and strong silver protein (Protargol) were used as irrigations or injections into the urethra and potassium permanganate and zinc sulfate were also employed.) He was back again in April with the same problem, that time for 11 days.

By September 1883 George was in India – the Malabar coast in 1883, Madras in 1886, Secunderabad in 1888. He never rose above the rank of Private and returned to England in November 1889. He was transferred to the Army reserve 24 November 1889 and discharged 9 February 1894.

George became a police constable very shortly after leaving the Army, which implies that his conduct throughout his service had been good. In April 1891 was a boarder in a house in Great Amwell, Herts.

He married Mary Jane Casey in Cheshunt 2 November 1891.

As a police constable it seems he was moved about at first – George jnr. was born in 1893 in Eastwick, just north of Harlow, ollowed by Kate (1894 Wiggington, Herts) and William (1896 Aldbury).

On 23 August 1896 Kate and William were baptised in Aldbury parish church, however William died in March 1897.

Nellie was born in 1898 in Aldbury and Daisy in 1900 in Little Gaddesden.

The 1901 census George was still with the police and the family living in the Bridgewater Arms, Little Gaddesden.

 Edward was born in 1903 followed by Ernest (1905) and Frederick (1909) all in Little Gaddesden.

George was still the village constable in 1911, living at 23, Little Gaddesden.

Ten years later in June 1921 George and Mary Jane were at 67, Cross Oak Road with three of their sons at home. George was employed as a general labourer at Berkhamsted School for Girls.

Mary Jane died in November 1930 and is buried here.

George died 31 December 1932 at 4, Holly Drive, Berkhamsted, aged 69.

Mary Jane Robinson (889)

1863 –20/11/1930

A domestic servant who married Police Constable George Robinson

Relatives

George Robinson (889) — husband

• Melanie Hilton

Plot 889 Mary Jane Robinson (nèe Casey) (1863-1930)

Mary Jane was born in 1863 in Brentwood, Essex the oldest child of  Edward G Casey, a brick maker, and his wife Mary Ann.

In 1871 they were living at Morden Common, Croyden, Essex with Mary Jane’s two younger siblings and a lodger.

Mary Jane became a general domestic servant at Hulton House School in Cheshunt run by widowed Mrs Atkinson and her four unmarried daughters.

She married police constable George Robinson in Cheshunt 2 November 1891.

George jnr. was born 1893, at Eastwick, just north of Harlow, followed by Kate (1894 Wiggington, Herts) and William (1896 Aldbury).

On  23 August 1896 Kate and William were baptised in Aldbury parish church. Sadly William died in March 1897.

Nellie was born in 1898 Aldbury and shortly afterwards the family moved to Little Gaddesden where George was by then the village constable. Daisy was born in 1900 and the

1901 census reveals that the family was living in the Bridgewater Arms, Little Gaddesden.

 Edward was born in 1903 followed by Ernest (1905) and Frederick (1909). In the family were at 23, Little Gaddesden.

By 1921 George, Mary Jane and three of their sons were living at 67, Cross Oak Road. George was employed as a general labourer at Berkhamsted School for Girls.

Mary Jane died 20 November 1930 at 67, Cross Oak Road aged 66. George survived her by two years and is buried with her here.