Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Henry James Verney

d.09/02/1949

Brought up by grandparents, baker's assistant at Queen's Arms then own bakery and confectionery shop

Relatives

Annie Verney — wife

• Jennifer Johnson

Henry James Verney

1863-1949

James (or James Henry/Henry James) Verney/Varney was born on 23rd July 1863 in Berkhamsted. His parents are unknown but in 1871 at the age of 8 he was living with his grandparents John and Elizabeth Varney in Highfield Road. It would seem likely that he was the illegitimate child of one of the two eldest Varney daughters – Emma, who would have been 19 in 1863, or her sister Elizabeth who would have been 17. John Verney/Varney (the spellings seem interchangeable) was a boat builder from Aylesbury.

At the age of 17 James was a baker’s assistant in the shop of George Heading, a “victualler and baker”, originally from the City of London. He was based in the High Street “at the Queens Arms”.

In March 1885 James married Annie Carter in St Pancras, London. Annie was from Bovingdon, but was also in domestic service “at the Queens Arms” in 1881, so we may presume that is where they met.

They took premises at 106 High Street, where James set up his business as a baker and confectioner. In 1891 he had taken on an apprentice, 14 year old Arthur Beeson. Annie worked with her husband in the shop, whilst bringing up the children. They would have eight children in all between 1887 and 1904.

Eldest son Leonard followed his father into the baking business, but moved, with two sisters, Ethel, and Edith May, to Paignton in Devon, where he set up his own business.

Annie died in 1943 and was buried in Rectory Lane Cemetery. James survived her until 1949, and although he was living in William Street, Bushey, at the time, was buried with her. He left his estate to two of his children, Edith May, and Harry.

Annie Verney

d.15/02/1943

Domestic servant at Queens Arms, helped in husband's confectionery shop and brought up 8 children

Relatives

Henry James Verney — husband

• Jennifer Johnson

Annie Verney (nee Carter)

1863-1943

Annie Carter was born in 1864 in Bovingdon, the sixth of seven children of George and Ann Carter. George was an agricultural labourer, orginally from Leverstock Green.

Annie entered domestic service and worked at the Queens Arms in Berkhamsted High Street. It was probably here that she met her husband, James Verney. They married at St Pancras, London, in 1885, and set up their home and business at 106 High Street Berkhamsted. James was a master baker and confectioner, and Annie helped in the shop whilst bringing up their eight children.

Their eldest son Leonard also became a baker, and moved to Paignton in Devon to set up his own business, taking two of his sisters with him (Ethel and Edith May).

The family were at 106 High Street by 1891, and were still there in 1939. Edith had returned from Devon to live with her parents, as had youngest son, George, himself a journey-man baker.

Annie died in 1943 and was buried in the cemetery. James survived her by six years, and had retired to Bushey by the time he died. He was buried with Annie, and left his estate of about £2,000 to Edith May, and her brother Harry.