Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Blanche Galt Rowland

1877 –04/02/1948

Scottish ancestry, US born and bred, buried in Berkhamsted

Relatives

Thomas James Semper Rowland — husband

• Vivien Benson

Blanche Galt Patterson was born in November 1877 in Maine, USA to parents of Scottish origins.

In the 1880 Census her father (George)  was a Marine Engineer aged 36 and living with his wife Jennie, also 36, and they had a daughter Isabella, aged 10, a son George, aged 8, Blanche aged 3 and a son Allen aged 1 month.

In 1890, she was 22, living at 33 Temple Street, Maine (possibly renumbered as 117?) and was working as a Clerk in a Dry Goods Store. Only Allen was in the household with her and her parents. (Jennie is Jennie G. so I wonder if Galt was her maiden name).  Her father must have died between 1900 and 1910 because by then she was living with her widowed mother and her newly married brother and his wife.

At some point in the next three years she must have travelled to the UK because in the spring of 1913 she married Thomas James Semper Rowland in Canning Town.

On 13th August 1913 Thomas and Blanche travelled on the Laconia from Liverpool to Boston, USA, returning on the Fronconia on 9th September 1913.

On 19th July 1918 their son Thomas George Patterson Rowland was born.

Blanche and Thomas spent the majority of their married life in Hendon and Harrow, from 1919 – 1924 in Vaughan Road Harrow Essex and from 1925 – 1937 in Pinner Road Hendon Middlesex.

Upon his retirement Thomas J.S, Blanche and Thomas G.P moved to Berkhamsted and lived in “Linden” Castle Hill Avenue Berkhamsted, where they are shown in the 1939 register: Thomas J.S: Retired schoolmaster; Blanche: Unpaid domestic duties; and Thomas G.P: Advertising agent.

In April 1945 her son Thomas George Patterson Rowland married Vera May Lee.

Blanche died in December 1948 and is buried in Rectory Lane Cemetery.

Thomas James Semper Rowland

22/06/1878 –11/01/1962

Secondary school teacher, traveller and author of children's books

Relatives

Blanche Galt Rowland — wife

• Vivien Benson

Thomas J.S Rowland was born in Canning Town on 22nd June 1878. He lived with his father Thomas, mother Elizabeth, brother Willis Edwin and his paternal uncle James.  He spent all his early years in the Canning Town area. His father had various careers, including as a Chemist and in his later years as a Confectionery Shop Keeper.

Both Thomas and his brother Willis’ careers were in education. Willis was an Elementary school teacher and Thomas a Secondary school teacher.

Thomas travelled overseas for about a month each year both before and after his marriage.  For example, on 10th August 1912 he travelled to New York, returning on the 16th September 1912. It would have been on one of these trips that he met his future wife, Blanche Galt Patterson of Maine, USA.

In the spring of 1913 they married in Canning Town.

On the 13th August 1913 Thomas and Blanche travelled on the Laconia from Liverpool to Boston, USA. They returned to Liverpool on the Fronconia on the 9th September 1913.

On the 19th July 1918 their son Thomas George Patterson Rowland was born.

Blanche and Thomas spent the majority of their married life in Hendon and Harrow, from 1919 – 1924 in Vaughan Road Harrow Essex and from 1925 – 1937 in Pinner Road Hendon Middlesex.

Upon his retirement Thomas J.S, Blanche and Thomas G.P moved to Berkhamsted and lived in “Linden” Castle Hill Avenue Berkhamsted, where they are shown in the 1939 register: Thomas J.S: Retired schoolmaster; Blanche: Unpaid domestic duties; and Thomas G.P: Advertising agent.

In April 1945 Thomas George Patterson Rowland married Vera May Lee.

Thomas’ wife Blanche died in December of 1948 and is buried in Rectory lane Cemetery. Thomas continued to live in Berkhamsted and continued his travels, sailing from London to Mombasa on the ship Uganda on 5th November 1956 and returning on the same vessel on 3rd April 1957. His occupation was given as Author.

Thomas had not only been a secondary school teacher, he had also written books for secondary school pupils, including: Artistic Handwork in Paper and Cardboard (1913); The Living things around us – Biology for Beginners (1935); Moving things for Lively Youngsters (1934); Unusual Things for Lively Youngsters (1946); Outdoor Things for Lively Youngsters (1957);  Progressive Science for Secondary Schools (1958).  He illustrated the majority of the Lively Youngster books.   His books were not only available in the UK but some are housed in the National Library of Australia.

Thomas died on the 11th January 1962, leaving his estate of approximately £22,000 to his son Thomas George Patterson Rowland, a company general manager.