Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Frank Waller

07-1878 –1922

Served in Second Boer War and on return to Berkhamsted worked a house painter. Suffered from TB

Relatives

Martha Waller — wife

James Frederick Waller — son

• Melanie Elliman

Frank Waller 1878 – 1922

 Frank was born in July of 1878 and baptised on 22nd September 1878 in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire. He was one of ten children born to Sarah Mills aged 38, and John Waller 38.The census of 1871 shows Frank’s parents living at 101 High Street, Berkhamsted.

By 1881 the location of their home had changed to 155 High street Berkhamsted, Herts. Frank was now noted as aged 2 years. His father was working as a gardener and joined the well established Lane’s Nurseries, where he became part of a team that propagated Lane’s Prince Albert apple. His mother worked as a straw plaiter. Hertfordshire was a well known county for high quality straw plaiting.

In 1891, Frank, now aged 12 and a scholar, lived at 26 Cross Oak Road with his parents and siblings. His father John, was working as a fishmonger journeyman but he continued to work as a gardener in some capacity. His mother Sarah worked as a nurse (monthly).

1901 saw Frank enlisting, aged 22, to serve during the Second Boer War, with the Bedfordshire regiment (Reg No’ 7925). It was said that he preferred the climate in South Africa, as it suited his lung condition. During this time his parents and sibling Frederick ‘Fred’ aged 21, were living at 57 Charles Street, Berkhamsted, Herts.

Frank married Martha Rollin on  30th June 1904 in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire. How they first met is not known, but Martha worked as a cook and housekeeper in Berkhamsted at the time.

By 1911, Frank was then 32, and working as a house painter, living at 7 Cross Oak Road, with his wife Martha and son John George aged 5 years.

Frank’s health declined due to Tuberculosis. It was said that he never complained and had a positive, happy disposition. He found himself engaged in painting using both water colour and oils. These paints were a gift from the renowned Rowney family, well  known paint manufacturers. Frank’s sister Kate worked for Mrs Rowney as housekeeper.

According to those family members and friends who knew Frank, he was regarded with affection by all who met him. It has been noted that he was a kind and patient man, who loved spending hours repairing and making a multitude of things. These natural skills were passed down to his son, who continued in the same way.

Research by Melanie Elliman – Relative to Frank

Martha Waller

01/12/1873 –01-1940

Originally from County Durham, moved south to work as domestic servant.

Relatives

James Frederick Waller — son

Frank Waller — husband

• Melanie Elliman

Martha Waller 1873 – 1940

Martha Waller née Rollin was born 1st of December 1873, in Shincliffe, Durham, to her parents Jane Rollin née Spedding and father George Henry Rollin. Her baptism took place 28th December 1873. Martha was the eldest of nine siblings who referred to her as ‘Patty’, the origin of which is unknown.

In 1871 Martha’s mother lived at 7 Old Elvet, Shincliffe, Durham, aged 21 and working as a housemaid for Maria Tyler. Where she lived two years later when Martha was born is not clear.

 The 1881 census shows Martha now aged 7 years living with her parents at 41 New Elvet, Shincliffe, Durham, where her father worked as a butcher.

 Martha moved south as a young woman to find work to help support her north eastern family, where extreme poverty was rife. According to the 1901 census, Martha was employed as a cook/domestic for the Bartlet family home named ‘Hillside Villa’ which sat at the top of Kitsbury Road, Berkhamsted, Herts. The villa still stands proud today.

 Martha met Frank Waller and they married 30th June 1904 in Berkhamsted, Herts. By 17th July 1905 their first son John George ‘Jack’ Waller was born. Martha took her son John ‘Jack’ for a visit back home to her family’s mining community in Durham. John was the only child wearing any shoes when he visited and he decided whilst there he would take his shoes off and go bare foot also.

 John, like many children of the time, contracted Diphtheria and was placed in an isolation hospital which still stands today on the Newground Road leading into Aldbury. Martha and her husband Frank were allowed to visit John for one hour each Sunday from outside his window, and walked from Berkhamsted to Aldbury to do so. Martha arrived in a pony and trap to collect John once he had recovered and years later, John told the story that when he was far enough away for safety from the hospital and staff, he stuck his tongue out….glad to be out and going home I would imagine.

 Martha gave birth to a second son, James Frederick, in April 1914. James also contracted Diphtheria, and John remembered kettles being boiled for steam to assist with his breathing. James sadly passed away in April 1915.

 Martha’s husband Frank had served in the second Boer War and later worked as a house painter but had been ill for a while and became invalided with TB. Sadly, Martha had another great loss in her life when Frank passed away in 1922.

 By the 1930’s, Martha worked as housekeeper for a Lady known as Miss Gordon, who lived in ‘The White Cottage’ in Kings Road, Berkhamsted. The house remains today but the name may have changed. Martha would tell her family that Miss Gordon had a connection and friendship with Florence Nightingale. Archives explain the connection in detail.

 Martha would occasionally take her daughter-in-law Edith and granddaughter Ann to White Cottage for tea, where they would sit at a scrubbed white table, in a large spotless kitchen. It was very quiet except for the ticking of a grandfather clock. At a given time, Martha would take her visitors to the drawing room to chat with Miss Gordon, who would give Ann permission to choose a toy from the bottom draw of a large wooden chest. Ann would always choose a wooden painted Russian doll.

 Martha was a keen member of the church and helped to raise funds for All Saints in Berkhamsted and was an active member of the Mothers Union. It was noted by family members that Martha was opposed to alcohol, as she had witnessed the damage it could do. Interestingly this was contradicted by her liking the idea of running a pub. One can only imagine that she may have wanted to facilitate safe drinking?

 According to those family members who were close to Martha, she loved fairgrounds, especially riding the swing boats, having her fortune told and walking in the rain. She was known for her hair, which was described as the colour of corn, worn loosely in a bun. She was fairly tall in stature and owned a blue and gold velvet jacket with a fur collar that she would wrap around her granddaughter’s shoulders when playing games.

 Martha was well regarded, respected and recognised as a strong woman. This may have come at a cost, as life had not been easy for her. Perhaps then her faith helped her throughout her life.

 Martha died in January 1940, in Hemel Hempstead Hospital. She had been living with her son John George ‘Jack’ Waller, her daughter-in-law Edith Maude Waller, née Wakerell and her granddaughter Ann Waller, at 36 Woodlands Avenue, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire.

 Research by Melanie Elliman – Relative to Martha