The Unfortunate Children of James Nash, House Painter of King Street, Maidenhead

Monument to James, Florence Catherine, Albert George and Alfred Henry Nash, St Michael's Churchyard, Bray, Berkshire.

"Sacred To The Memory of

James Nash died Feb.y 9th 1878 aged 3 years

Florence Catherine Nash died Feb.y 3rd 1881 aged 11 months

Albert George Nash died Jan.y 18th 1882 aged 5 years

'Of such is the kingdom of heaven'

Alfred Henry Nash died June 1st 1887 aged 3 years"

James, Florence, Albert, and Alfred were all the children of James, a house painter and decorator, and Martha Catherine Lewis.

James Nash Snr was born in Maidenhead Berkshire in 1853, he later became a house painter before he married Martha Catherine Lewis in 1874. The couple soon moved to King Street in Maidenhead and started their family with the arrival of James in 1875 and followed by Albert George in 1876, Frederick William in 1879, Florence Catherine in 1880 and Alfred Henry in 1884, Frank Edward in 1886 and Bessie Louise in 1889. Tragically three were to die in the space of nine years.

In 1891 their mother Martha Catherine Nash passed away, yet she seems to have been buried elsewhere and not with her children.

Poor James had lost three of his children, and his wife within 17 years of their marriage. James didn't remarry and continued to live and work in King Street with his surviving children until his death at the relatively young age of 51 on 2nd July 1904. A year later James's eldest surviving child Frederick William married Susan Amelia Hight. The 1911 Census finds the couple and their two children Reginald Lewis, and Winifred Mary living at 3 Risborough Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire. Frederick William is listed as being a Paper Hanger.

Frank Edward Nash never married. He can be found on the 1911 Census living with his sister Bessie Louise at 15 Risborough Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire where Frank is listed at a House Decorator.  After the outbreak of World War I, Frank enlisted with the 1st Surrey Rifles. He served with the 21st County of London Battalion until his death on 10th December 1917

The Maidenhead Advertiser reported on Frank death on 16th January 1918 as follows:

"Of the 1st Surrey Rifles (London Regt.) son of the late Mr. James Nash, of Maidenhead, whose death in action on December 10th we recorded in our issue of 2nd January. He leaves an only brother (who has joined His Majesty's Forces) and a sister to mourn his loss." - Maidenhead Advertiser, 16th January 1918.

The report in the Maidenhead Advertiser on 2nd January 1918 is as follows:

"The Supreme Sacrifice

Rifleman Frank E Nash, 1st Surrey Rifles, London Regiment (son of the late Mr. James Nash), aged 31, was killed in action in France, Dec. 10th, 1917. The deceased had been home on his leave to visit his friends, and a few days after his return to the trenches, a bomb from the enemy exploded, killing him and several other comrades. A letter of sympathy has been received by his sister from H.M. the King, also from his Commanding Officer and the comrades of his platoon, who held him in high esteem and deeply regret the loss of such a reliable soldier from their ranks. The deceased was a well-conducted young man, a good tradesman, and a employer of labour, and greatly respected by all with whom he had business transactions. He was a native of Maidenhead." - Maidenhead Advertiser, 2nd January 1918.

By the 1939 Register, Bessie Louise was a patient at Fair Mile Mental Hospital, Cholsey, Berkshire, where she remained until her death in 1962. Bessie is buried in an unmarked grave at St Mary's Churchyard, Cholsey, now Oxfordshire.