George and Emma Hunt - Our Mother, Our Father

Taphophilia is a passion for and enjoyment of cemeteries. The singular term is a taphophile.


Monument to George and Emma Hunt, Bray Parish Cemetery, Holyport Berkshire.

"In loving memory of our mother Emma Hunt who died May 13th 1925 aged 78 years

also of

our father George Hunt who died at Aldershot December 5th 1889 aged 44 years"
 

George Hunt was born in St Pancras London in 1846 to James Hunt, principle keeper at London Zoological Gardens, and Elizabeth Greenaway.  On the 1851 census, five year old George can be found living with his parents, older siblings Elizabeth and Martha as well as his grandmother Elizabeth Greenaway at the Zoological Gardens in Regent's Park, London.  By 1861 James had retired as a keeper and by 1871 had taken up accountancy.  George was to become a confectioner.

On 19th April 1873 George married Emma Misselbrook at St Pancras.  Together they had six children; James Benjamin, Elizabeth, Minnie, Kate Misselbrook, George James and May.  James Benjamin, Elizabeth and George James were to all die tragically young, Emma and George both aged 30 years and James in infancy.  George was to also die young, aged 44 in 1889.

Emma Hunt was born Emma Misselbrook to Benjamin Misslebrook, a head keeper at London Zoological Gardens, and Jane Goulden.  After George's death Emma went into domestic service with her daughter Kate Misselbrook Hunt.  The last time she appears in the records is 1901 as a domestic housekeeper in Sturt Green, Holyport.  In 1911 Emma is living with her youngest daughter May.  Emma remained in Holyport until her death

This one family really did suffer its fair share of tragedy .



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Emma and George Hunt - 30 Years

Taphophilia is a passion for and enjoyment of cemeteries. The singular term is a taphophile.


Monument to Emma and George James Hunt, Bray Parish Cemetery, Holyport Berkshire.

"In loving memory of Emma daughter of George and Emma Hunt who fell asleep March 21st 1905 aged 30 years - I came to Jesus as I was - and George James Hunt only son, who died May 31st 1910 aged 30 years - we loved them well but Jesus loved them best."
 

Emma Hunt was born in 1875 in Aldershot, Hampshire to George James Thomas Hunt, a confectioner and Emma Misselbrook.  George James Hunt was born in 1880 in Farnham, Surrey.

On the 1881 census six year old Emma and eleven month old George can be found living with their parents and thier sisters, Minnie aged five and Kate aged three, at Weybourne Lane in Farnham Surrey.  In 1889 George James Thomas Hunt passed away in Aldershot in Farnham, by 1891 the recently widowed Emma moved with her daughters to Kensington London, for some reason the eleven year old George is not with them.  It is possible that he is either staying with relatives elsewhere or at school, however I have been unable to find him from 1881 until his death in 1910.

In 1901, four years before Emma's untimely death she's listed as a parlourmaid at Chuffs House, Holyport Berkshire for the Frumantte family.

The grapes and vine that adorn Emma and George's final resting place is said to represent the blood of Christ.



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John and Elizabeth Day - Moor Farm, Holyport Berkshire

Taphophilia is a passion for and enjoyment of cemeteries. The singular term is a taphophile.


Monument to John and Elizabeth Day, Bray Parish Cemetery, Holyport Berkshire.

"In loving memory of John Day died January 13th 1906 aged 56 years - at rest- 'Thy will be done'.

And of Elizabeth Day died December 21st 1938 aged 85 years."

John Day was born  in 1849 in Shottesbrooke, Berkshire to John Day, a Farmer of 133 acres, employing 12 labourers, and Mary Ann Ashton.  John's mother Mary Ann passed away in 1874 and the family with widower John Snr can be found on the 1881 census living at Pond Wood Farm in Shottesbrooke Berkshire.  Visiting the family is Elizabeth Newport.

John married Elizabeth Newport on 13th July 1883 at st Barnabas Church in Islington Middlesex.  Together they had six children, four sons and two daughters. Sadly they were to experience the loss of their baby son Robert in 1901.

John passed away on 13th January 1906 leaving Elizabeth to take over their farm in Holyport.  Her sons John and Arthur Newport Day retrued to the family home at Moor Farm in Holyport to help their mother run the family business.  The Slough, Eton Observer reports at the time;

"Holyport.  Death of well-known local farmer.-  We regret to have to record the death on Saturday afternoon of a well-known and highly respected local farmer-Mr. John Day, of Moor farm, Holyport- after a short illness. Mr day, who formally lived at white Waltham, had farmed at Holyport for a number of years.  He was of a genial disposition, and had many friends.  He took a keen interest in local affairs, and at the time of his death he was a member of the Bray Parish Council.  Much sympathy is felt with Mrs. Day and her family in the great loss in which they have sustained."

Moor Farm is a 13th Century farm house that was first owned by John Atte More in 1270.  It is now a bed and breakfast with holiday cottages attached.

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Sarah Milbourne - Entered Into Rest

Taphophilia is a passion for and enjoyment of cemeteries. The singular term is a taphophile.


Monument to Sarah Milbourne, Bray Parish Cemetery, Holyport Berkshire.

"In loving remembrance of Sarah Milbourne who entered into rest Feb 16th 1911 aged 63 years."

Sarah Milbourne was born Sarah Morgan in 1848 in Norton St Philip, Somerset to William Morgan a labourer and Martha Meader.

On the 1871 census return Sarah is listed as a cook and domestic servant for the Rev Henry Burney and his family at Vicarage House in Norton St Philip, Somerset. in 1872 Sarah married coachman Edward Milbourne.  By 1881 they had moved from somerset to Langley Berkshire with their three children, Edith Elizabeth, Martha and William Edward.  1901 saw another move for the family and a change of occupation for Edward.  They're now living nad farming at Oakley Place Farm in Bray Berkshire.  The family had no expanded to include Walter, Herbert, Annie and Ethel.  Why the change from coachman to farmer and would this have been a huge career leap for Edward?

Sadly they were to experience the loss of their eldest son William Edward at the age of 29 in 1910.

Sarah passed away on 16th February 1911 not long before the 1911 census was taken in April.  Recently widowed Edward can still be found at Oakley Place Farm along with his four younger children.  Edward was to eventually join his wife and elder son at the age of 70 in 1916.  I have yet to find where they are buried.



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Seabury - Mother, Son and Father

Taphophilia is a passion for and enjoyment of cemeteries. The singular term is a taphophile.


Monument to Mary Ann an Maurice Seabury, Bray Parish Cemetery, Holyport, Berkshire.

"In loving remeberance of Mary ann Seabury born March 4th 1858 died January 6th 1923

Also Maurice Seabury born March 16th 1900 deid july 23rd 1904

In The Hand of God."

Mary Ann Seabury was born Mary Ann Coombs on 4th March 1858 in Fifield, Bray Berkshire to Thomas Coombs, a labourer and Sarah Lovejoy.

On the 1881 Census Mary ann is listed as a housemaid with the Duncombe family of 8 Ashwood Road, Chelsea.  Mary married Joseph Seabury, a Coachman and groom in 1887.  Their first son Joseph Neville Seabury was born in 1889, followed eleven years later by Maurice Henry Seabury.

On the 1901 census, three years before Maurice was to pass away, the one year old boy can be found living with his parents and elder brother at 88 Ebury Mews in St George Hanover Square, London.  After Murice's death on the 1911 census the family can be found living at 205 Pavillion Road, Chelsea London.

Joseph Seabury was tolive without his wife for a further eighteen years, he passed away in 1941 aged 82

How did Mary Ann and her son Maurice come to be buried in a small village cemetery not far from her place of birth?  A family plot passed down the generations or did Mary simply want to rest in her 'home'?

The ferns carved into the top of Mary and Maurice's gravestone symbolise sorrow and sincerity.

Buried to Mary Ann and Maurice is Mary Ann's father Thomas Coombs, who passed away on 18th March 1903.  Thomas was born in Fifield, Berkshire in 1834 to John Coombs a farmer.  Unfortunately I cannot seem to find any information on Thomas's mother.


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Cemetery Sunday - Broken

Broken Cross - All Saints Churchyard

A selection of broken or damaged gravestones I have come across on my cemetery wanderings.

There are many factors that contribute, vandalism, weathering, poor maintenance and local authorities pushing over stones in the interests of health and safety.