Helen Irene Collins - Dunloran Park House

Taphophilia is a passion for and enjoyment of cemeteries.


Monument to Helen Irene Collins, All Saints Churchyard, Bisham Berkshire.

"Helen Irene Collins.  10th February 1891.  8th October 1966."
 

The first thing that struck me about this gravestone was the simplicity of it.  Also looked and felt a lot like concrete

Helen Irene Collins was born on 10th February 1891in Chelsea London to Carteret Fitzgerald Collins, a Barrister at law and Geraldine Lucia Anne Leslie.

Helen seems to have enjoyed a privillaged childhood living at 20 Sloane Square in Chelsea, a very fashionable and affluent area of London.  At one time the family had 13 servants to take care of their every need.  As far as I can tell Helen never entered into employment as an occupation has never been listed for her.  Helen passed away on 8th October 1966 in Sussex aged 75 years.  I wonder how it is that she came to be buried in a Berkshire churchyard?

In 1874 Helen's grandfather Brenton Halliburton Collins bought Dunorlan Park in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.  On Brenton's death in 1924, ownership of Dunorlan Park passed to Carteret until his death in 1841 when the house passed to his eldest son Lieutenant Colonel Richard Leslie Halliburton Collins.  Between 1874 and 1941 the estate was opened to the public every winter so that they could skate on the frozen lake. 

Lieutenant Colonel Richard was called out of retirement to fight in the second World War, it was then that the house became vacant and was requisitioned for the war effort.  In the early years it was a billeting station for troops, who according to local tradition, were responsible for destroying the avenue of statues and the figures on the fountain by using them for target practice.  In 1943 the War Damage Commission took up residence and remained there for fourteen years.

 In November 1944, the Council purchased Dunorlan Park House, the grounds, including three farms and other various lands from Lieutent Colonel Richard at a price of £42000.

Another interesting note, Helen's father Carteret had a patent for, Improvements in or relating to dish and like washing machines.

 

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Cemetery Sunday - Blanket of Snow

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Alice and Charles Salway Thompson - Gardeners

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


Monument to Alice Thompson and Charles Salway Thompson, All Saints Churchyard, Boyne Hill, Maidenhead Berkshire.

"In loving memory of Alice beloved wife of Charles. S. Thompson died Decr 6th 1918 aged 57 years - God is our refuge.

Also Charles Salway her beloved husband died Feb 5th 1945 aged 88 years - at rest"


Alice Thompson was born Alice Pearce in the February 1861 in Bright Waltham, Berkshire to Charles Pearce, a carter, and his wife Amy Collins. 

Alice appears on the 1861 Census aged just 1 month, living with her parents and grandparents David and Sarah Collins at Bright Waltham Green.  In 1871 ten year old  Alice is still living with her grandparents David and Sarah at Bright Waltham Green, however Alice's parents and her younger siblings had moved to Scarlett's Lane in Wargrave.  It's possible that Alice stayed behind with her grandparents to continue her education.

In 1881 Alice is in service as a housemaid for Richard S. H. Jones, a barrister, and his wife Florence at Woodlands in Binfield Berkshire.  That same year Alice married Charles Thompson.


Charles Salway Thompson was born in Little Dunham, Norfolk in 1857 to Robert Thompson, an agricultural labourer, and his wife Ann Harpur, a charwoman (house cleaner).    1872 Charles is living with his widowed mother and five siblings in Little Duhman, Norfolk.  Charles's occupation is listed as a gardener's boy. 

In 1881 24 year old Charles in lodging in the home of Thomas and Martha Crockford at Bear Hill in Wargrave Berkshire.  Charles has progressed from gardener's boy to domestic gardener.

1891 finds Charles and Alice living in Gardener's house along with their four children, Archibald R, William C, Theodore V and Elsie M.  1901 and the family has moved to 68 Powny Road, Maidenhead Berkshire, where Charles is a jobbing gardener and his sons Archibald and William are under gardeners and Theodore is a garden boy.

Ten years on in 1911, the family, minus Archibald and Elsie, are still living at 68 Powny Road, Maidenhead. 

Sadly Alice was to pass away on 6th December 1918.  Charles was to live a further 27 years without Alice, before passing away on 5th February 1945.


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Eliza and William Deacon - Hotel Keepers of Berkshire

(C) Nicola Carpenter 2012

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


Monument to Eliza and William Deacon, St Luke's Churchyard, Maidenhead Berkshire.

"In loving memory of Eliza Deacon who died 11th February 1886 aged 57 years.  She looked well to the ways of her household.

Also William Deacon who died 10th September 1894 aged 59 years.  His end was peace."

Eliza Deacon was born Eliza Harman in 1828 in Bray Berkshire to Richard Harman, a labourer and Sarah Skinner.  In 1851, 22 year old Eliza was a house servant for the Gilpin family at The Grange, Hockliffe Bedfordshire.  Eliza married William Deacon in Westminster Middlesex on 12th November 1866.  Eliza was William's second wife, together they had a son James Henry Deacon in 1870. 

William Deacon was born in 1835 in White Waltham Berkshire to Thomas Deacon, a horse breaker and his wife Elizabeth.  In 1856 William married his first wife Mary Woodhouse and together they had four children, William, Thomas, Mary Selina and Emma Esther.  Mary seems to vanish completely after the 1861 census, however I have been unable to locate a death for her.  In 1871 William can be found with his second wife Eliza running The Ray Thames Hotel in Ray Mead Road, Maidenhead Berkshire.  1881 find the family still at the hotel in Ray Mead Road, now named The Ray Mead Hotel.

After Eliza's death in 1886, William married Elizabeth Ann Aylett in 1888 in Colchester.  In 1889 William and Elizabeth moved to The East Arms Hotel in Hurley Berkshire, three years before William's death, they can be found there on the 1891 census.

Elizabeth continued to run the East arms Hotel after her husband's death until the late 1900s.  Unfortunately I cannot find out what happened to Elizabeth after 1917.

(C) Nicola Carpenter 2012

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Emma and Edward Simmonds - Mother, Father and Son

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


Monument to Emma Simmonds and Edward Simmonds, Bray Parish Cemetery, Holyport Berkshire.


"In loving memory of Emma Simmonds Died Feb 17th 1917.  Also of Edward husband of the above died Dec 20th 1920.  Also of Edward son of the above died Jan 22nd 1917."


Emma Simmonds was born Emma Johnson in 1846 in Bray Berkshire to Frederick Johnson, a labourer and his wife Charlotte.

On the 1861 Census, Emma is listed aged 14 living with her parents and siblings at Oakley Green.  Living a few houses away was Edward Simmonds and his family.


Edward Simmonds was born in 1849 in Bray Berkshire to William Simmonds, a Wheelwright and his wife Caroline Allen.  Edward and Emma married in Cardiff in 1875.  They can be found on the 1881 Census living at 20 Topaz Street, Cardiff Wales with their three young daughters, Louisa E aged 4, Charlotte aged 2 and 5 month old Elizabeth.  At that time Edward was working as a carpenter, but he was soon to follow in his father's footsteps.

In 1891 Edward and Emma have moved back to Berkshire and Edward is working as a wheelwright.  The family has expanded to include 8 year old Caroline, 6 year old Albert, 4 year old George and 2 year old Edward.

In 1901 the family are still living in Fifield, but Emma is now listed as Louisa E.  Albert is now a domestic gardener and George is an apprentice wheelwright.  Living next door is Emma's spinster sister Sarah Johnson.

By 1911 Edward has followed his brother Albert into the gardening business, yet he is still living at home in Fifield with Edward and Emma.

After the outbreak of World War I, Edward Jr enlisted with the Devonshire Regiment.  Sadly he was to die as a result of service, either thrpugh injury or illness in Eton Buckinghamshire.  He is buried in a Commonwealth War Grave at St Peter's Churchyard in Burnham Buckinghamshire


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War Grave Wednesday - E. Norkett

 

 

"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old.

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them".

 

 

 

Edward Norkett was born in Maidenhead Berkshire in 1880 to Edward Norkett, an Art Metal worker and his wife Harriet Bissley

 

On the 1901 census, Edward is listed living with his parents and siblings at 6 All Saints Avenue, Maidenhead Berkshire.  Edward's occupation is listed as a blacksmith.

 

On 28th July 1904 Edward married Amy Ann Pattisson at St Mary's Le Park Chapel of ease in Battersea London, where Amy was living at the time in Bolan Street.  They celebrated the birth of their first child, a son, Ernest in 1905, sadly Ernest was to pass away that same year.

 

Edward Norkett was an active member in St Luke's Church in Maidenhead, playing violin there as a child and later dedicating a wrought iron and gold leaf screen, made by himself, to the church in 1910.

 

Sometime after the outbreak of World War I, Edward enlisted with the Royal Army Service Corps.  The Royal Army Service Corps were responsible for land, coastal and lake transport; air dispatch; supply of food, water, fuel, and general domestic stores such as clothing, furniture and stationery; administration of barracks; the Army Fire Service; and provision of staff clerks to headquarters units.

 

Unfortunately I cannot trace Edward's Military Service Records.  He died from sickness on 25th March 1919.  His World War I Medal Card suggests that Amy applied for his Territorial Forces Medal after his death on 3rd May 1920.  The Territorial Force War Medal was a campaign medal awarded to members of the British Territorial Force and Territorial Force Nursing Services who served overseas in World War I; it is the rarest of the five British Great War medals.

 

Edward and Amy's only surviving child Walter Edward Norkett was to serve with the Royal Army Service Corps during World War II, sadly he died during service sometime between 31st May and 4th June 1940, just two years after the death of his mother.  He is buried in Dunkirk Cemetery in France.

 

Maybe it was some small mercy that Amy died before Walter after losing her Edward to war service.

 



Mary Sarah and Richard Gorton of Chuffs Farm, Holyport Berkshire

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


Monument to Mary Sarah Gorton and Richard Gorton of Chuffs Farm, Bray Parish Cemetery, Holyport Berkshire.


"Sacred to the memory of Mary Sarah beloved wife of Richard Gorton (of Chuffs Farm Holyport) who died August 10th 1904 aged 76 years.

Also

Richard Gorton who died July 29th 1915 aged 85 years."


Mary Sarah Gorton was born Mary Sarah Snook in 1830 in West Knoyle, Wiltshire to William Snook, a farmer, and his wife Jane Ovens.

Mary lived on her parents farm until her marriage to Richard Gorton, a farmer and baker in 1853 in Highworth Wiltshire.

Richard was born in 1831 in Highworth Wiltshire to Charles Gorton, a baker, and his wife Jane Yeats.

Richard, Mary and their family of twelve children moved around Wiltshire farming until the late 1890s when they moved to Holyport in Berkshire to run Chuffs Farm and Diary.  The 1901 Census shows Richard and Mary living at Chuffs Farms with their daughter Mary.  However Mary Sarah was to pass away three years later.

The 1911 Census shows widowed Richard living with his spinster daughter Mary at 8 Broadway, Maidenhead Berkshire.  Richard was to pass away in 1915.

Their daughter Mary was to pass away in 1929, 14 years after the death of her father.  Unfortunately I have been able to trace her place of burial.



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William and Emily Langley - Sweethearts Re-United

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


"In loving memory of William Langley 1874 - 1939 also his wife Emily Langley 1876 - 1958

Sweethearts Re-united."


William Langley was born in Fifield Berkshire in 1874 to John Langley, a farm labourer and Eliza Goom.  William continued the family occupation of farm labourer throughout his life.

In 1902 William married Emily Harris.  By 1911 they had two children, Gladys aged 7 and William aged just one year.  Living with them at the time was the 85 year old widowed John Langley.

John Langley was to pass away in 1914

Emily Langley was born Emily Harris in Navestock Essex.  Unfortunately I am not able to trace Emily's birth parents.  On the 1881 Census she can be found living with her grandparents George and Mary Ann Harris and her uncle Cornell Harris.  She continued to live with her grandparents until her marriage to William Langley.



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War Grave Wednesday - G. J. Devonshire

 

"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old.

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them".

 

 

 

George James Devonshire was born in 1891 in Slough Buckinghamshire (now Berkshire) to William Herbert Devonshire, a butcher, and his wife Sarah Ann May.

 

 

In 1901 George and his family were living in Middle Green, Langley Marsh, Buckinghamshire.  However in 1911 George can be found working as a cowman on a farm and lodging with Emma Plum a 66 year old widow and her son Fred, in Hurley Village, Berkshire.

In 1915 in Maidenhead George married Edith Eaton and they lived together in 58  Powney Road, Maidenhead.

George first enlisted with the Royal Berkshire Regiment, later being transferred to the Labour Corps.
 

Sadly George was to pass away the day after World War I came to an end.  He left behind his wife Edith and their son also named George James.

 

 



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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Cemetery Sunday - Verse

"Here lieth the body of Elizabeth Rolls who died May 4th 1777 aged 21 years

Grieve not for me my mother dear, I am not dead but Sleeping here.  Your great Afflictions pray restrain.  For we in Heaven may meet again."

"In Memory of Stephen Mason who died April 13th 1800 aged 35 years.

Early in life I left my wife, And my children dear; Unto my God and Great Redeemers Care."


They don't write verse like that anymore.  Two examples of beautiful verse on early gravestones at All Saints Churchyard, Bisham Berkshire.



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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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Cemetery Sunday - Grave Offerings

During my time photographing cememtery and graves have have come across many 'grave offering' and personal items.  Some are more usual than others, flowers, toys for children and babies and even the occasional windmill.  The other day I came across a mug happily sitting in a little alcove on a gravestone.  I wonder if the mug had special meaning to whoever left it behind.

Below are some examples of the other grave offerings I have come across.



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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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Jack Clayton - Film Director

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


Memorial to Jack Clayton, St James the Less Churchyard, Bisham, Berkshire.

"Jack Clayton 1921 - 1995 film director

You walked tallest amongst men my love."

Jack Clayton was born on 1st March 1921 in brighton.  He started his career in film as a child actor in 1929 on the film Dark Red Roses.  Later he worked at Denham Film Studios, working his way up from tea boy to assistant director.

In 1944 while serving with the Royal Airforce during World War II, Jack shot his first film.  A documentary Naples is a Battlefield.  His first feature was the internationally acclaimed Room at the Top in 1959, a harsh indictment of the British class system, which won two Oscarsand earned Clayton a Best Director nomination.

Other films directed by Jack Clayton include, The Innocents (1961),  The Pumpkin Eater (1964), Our Mother's House (1967), The Great Gatsby (1974), Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983), The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne (1988).  In 1993 he produced and directed a Film for the BBC, Memento Mori.

Jack married actress Christine Norden (born Mary Lydia Thornton) in 1947, they divorced in 1953, in the same year he married Katherine Kath (born Lily Faess) who he was to divorce also.  Finally he married actress Haya Haraneet, who he remained married to until his death on 26th February 1995 in Slough, Berkshire.


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Frederick Sexton of Holyport

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


Monument to Frederick, Annie Elizabeth and Mary Sexton, St Michael's Churchyard, Bray, Berkshire.

"In loving memory of Frederick Sexton of Holyport, who died July 1st 1883 in the 40th year of his age. 'Thy will be done'. 

Also Annie Elizabeth Sexton the beloved daughter of the above, who died September 25th 1886 at Caracas South America in the 21st year of her age. 'In the midst of life we are in death.' -  'It is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good.' 

Also of Mary Sexton, wife of the above, who died Aug 17th 1928 in the 88th year of her age.  Her end was peace."

I was immediately drawn to this gravestone because of the surname Sexton.  Sexton has another meaning other than simply a name.  Sexton - an occupation: A person who looks after a church and churchyard, typically acting as bell-ringer and gravedigger.  Although it turns out the occupants are Sexton's in name only.

Frederick Sexton was born in Bray, Berkshire in 1844 to James Sexton, a carpenter and Elizabeth Sargent Smith.  On the 1861 census Frederick can be found as a Private in the 10th (Prince of Wales Own) Royal Hussars at the Cavalry Barracks, Barrack Street, East Wymer, Norfolk.

In 1865 in Middlesex Frederick, now a carpenter, married Mary Fenemore, not long after their first of their six children was born, Annie Elizabeth.

Annie Elizabeth died in Caracas, Venezuela, South America on 25th September 1886.  Unfortunately I am unable to find out what Aniie was doing in South America or why she died.

Mary Sexton was born Mary Fenemore in Oxfordshire 1841 to James Fenemore, a pound keeper and his wife Caroline.  On the 1861 census, Mary was a house servant in Holyport, Maidenhead, Berkshire.  When Frederick passed away in 1883, Mary became a young widow of 45 with six children to support, the youngest only being 2 years old.  Mary remained in Maidenhead until sometime around the 1911 Census when she can be found living in Clacton on Sea with her youngest daughter Ellen and her husband, Leonard Phillips.



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