Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Henry John Vercoe

1865 –25/09/1922

Originally from Cornwall; chemical foreman at Coopers' and sometime publican

Relatives

Mary Vercoe — wife

Phyllis Marjorie Vercoe — daughter

Frederick Gordon Vercoe — son

Arthur Vercoe — son

• Christopher Dolton

HENRY JOHN VERCOE; 1865 – 1922

Henry the third of four children[1] born to John Vercoe and his wife Emma Gill Hawken Vercoe, née Pasco. Both Henty’s father and mother were originally from Cornwall, but had moved to Berkhamsted by the time Henry was born in 1865. Henry’s father was a carpenter so the family may have moved to Berkhamsted so that he could work in one of the town’s timber yards.

Henry’s father died in 1870 when Henry was only five years old and before the birth of Henry’s youngest sister Maria who was born later that year as the 1871 census reveals that the widowed Anna (Hannah), Louise and Henry. The need to support three young children must have placed Emma in financial difficulties. Emma herself was working as a charwoman and also supplemented her income by plaiting straw. Henry’s eldest sister, Anna, then age 11, was also contributing to the family financially as she too worked as a straw plaiter.[2]

Eight years later in 1879 Henry’s mother remarried. Her second husband was Northchurch blacksmith William Barnes. William himself was a widower who had five children.[3] The marriage must have suited both parties; it gave Emma a home and security and William someone to keep house and help with his children. William and Emma themselves had three children between them.[4]

In 1881 Henry, together with some of his siblings, step siblings and half siblings, was living in Northchurch with Emma and William. Henry, then age 15 years was working as a chemical works labourer.[5] The chemical works for which Henry worked must had been Coopers which made sheep dip.[6]

Henry married in 1886. The marriage took place at St James’ church, Pentonville, London. His bride was Mary Cherry. Mary originally from Oxfordshire, had been working as a domestic servant in London. Henry and Mary were to have nine children in all.[7] Apart from Arthur, who died age 21 months, all the children survived infancy. Frederick served during WWI, enlisting in 1914. He was commissioned in 1917 and survived the war only to drown whilst sailing in India in 1919.

Whilst Henry continued to work at Cooper’s he was also for a time the licensee of the Black Horse public house on Berkhamsted’s High Street.  (The Black Horse is now the Curry Garden.) The Black Horse was the address at which the family was living in 1901 and Henry’s occupation was recorded in the census taken that year as “Publican, Warehouseman” and he was noted as being the licensee of the pub in Kelly’s Directory of 1902. As well as Henry, Mary and six children living at the pub, there were also ne fewer than 14 lodgers.[8]

Henry didn’t remain a publican for long as by the time of the 1911 census the family had left the Black Horse and were living at 10 Chapel Street. Henry’s occupation was then recorded as “Chemical foreman”, so he must have earned promotion at Coopers.

Ten years later in 1921 Henry, at age 56 years, was still working as a chemical works foreman. Henry died the following year, 25^th September 1922 and was  buried in Rectory Lane Cemetery alongside his son Arthur.

Mary Vercoe

23/06/1941 –07/08/1941

Originally from Oxfordshire; wife of Henry Vercoe and mother of nine children.

Relatives

Phyllis Marjorie Vercoe — daughter

Henry John Vercoe — husband

Frederick Gordon Vercoe — son

Arthur Vercoe — son

• Christopher Dolton

MARY VERCOE.  1867 – 1941

Mary was born on 23^rd June 1867.[1] She was born in Arncott in Oxfordshire. Her father was William Cherry, a labourer.[2]  In 1881, at the age of 13 years, she was living in Clerkenwell, London, in the home of her aunt and uncle, Martha and Jonathan Nicholls. Jonathan Nicholls was a greengrocer.

Mary married Henry John Vercoe at St James, Pentonville, on 13^th June 1886. Mary was 19 at the time of her marriage. Henry was 20 years old and came from Berkhamsted and it was in Henry’s home town that Henry and Mary settled. Henry worked at Coopers sheep dip factory, but for a few years he was also a publican, holding the licence of the Black Horse public house.[3]

Henry and Mary were to have nine children in all.[4] Apart from Arthur, who died age 21 months, all the children survived infancy. Frederick served during WWI, enlisting in 1914. He was commissioned in 1917 and survived the war only to drown whilst sailing in India in 1919.

By the time of the 1911 census the family had left the Black Horse and were living at 10 Chapel Street. Henry’s occupation was then recorded as “Chemical foreman” so he must have earned promotion at Coopers. Mary was to remain living at 10 Chapel Road for the rest of her life.

Ten years later in 1921 Henry, at age 56 years, was still working as a chemical works foreman. Henry died the following year, 25^th September 1922 and was buried in Rectory Lane Cemetery alongside his son Arthur.

Mary herself died in August 1941 at the age of 74 years. She was buried with her son Frederick and husband Henry.  

Frederick Gordon Vercoe

1893 –28/04/1919

Lieutenant, The Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment, served in WWI in Egypt & India

Relatives

Mary Vercoe — mother

Henry John Vercoe — father

Phyllis Marjorie Vercoe — sister

Arthur Vercoe — brother

• Janice Boakes

Lieutenant, The Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment, formerly Royal Army Service Corps and 2/3rd London Regiment reg. No S4/186279/2503

Frederick John Vercoe was born in Berkhamsted on 27 Nov 1893. He was the second son of Henry John and Mary nee Cherry. He had three brothers and five sisters. When he was young his father ran the Black Horse public house in Berkhamsted High Street. By 1911 the family had moved to 10 Chapel Street and Henry was working as a foreman at Cooper’s Chemical Works.

Frederick was educated at Berkhamsted School. When he left school, he obtained a job as a clerk in a paper mill and continued to live with his parents. From there he obtained a job as works manager at Cooper’s Chemical Factory in Berkhamsted.

Frederick enlisted into the London Regiment on 4 Sep 1914. He left Southampton on 23 Dec 1914, arriving in Malta on 1 Jan 1915, he stayed there until 8 Apr. He arrived in Port Sudan on 19 Apr 1915. His medical card states that he entered the theatre of war on 8 Apr 1915. He was discharged from the London Regiment and re-enlisted with the Royal Army Service Corp on 17 Apr 1915. He was based in Khartoum working as a clerk. He remained in Egypt until 17 Apr 1916. Frederick was mentioned in dispatches on 20 Jun 1916. He left the RASC when he obtained a commission in the Royal West Kent regiment on 26 Jun 1917.

At the end of September, he was ill in hospital. After surgery and a long convalescence, he returned to the army and was based in Poona, India. He drowned while sailing in India on 28 April 1919. He was 25 years old. He was buried at St. Sepulchre’s Cemetery in Poona. According to his medal card, he had served in three separate theatres of War. He is not listed on the Berkhamsted war memorial even though his mother subscribed to the memorial fund.

Frederick is remembered on the grave of his parents at Rectory Lane Cemetery:  In loving memory of Henry John Vercoe passed away Sept 25 1922 aged 56. ‘Grant them O Lord eternal rest.’ Also, Mary wife of Henry John Vercoe passed away on Aug 7 1941 aged 74. Also of Fred Vercoe drowned at Poona, India April 28 1919 aged 25.