Cemeteries and graveyards, full of love, betrayal, tragic deaths, murder, and suicide. What will you find?

Sunday, 29 September 2013

Cemetery Sunday - Small Angel

 
Small Angel, Bray Parish Cemetery, Holyport, Maidenhead, England.
 
 
 
 




Friday, 27 September 2013

Flashback Friday Colonel David J C E Sherlock - His Lovely Life Ended

**Originally posted 18th September 2012**
 


Monument to Colonel David John Christopher Eustace Sherlock, All Saints Maidenhead Cemetery, Maidenhead, Berkshire.


"In devoted memory of Colonel David J. C. E. Sherlock D.S.O (distingished service order) Royal Artillery the beloved husband of Constance Nash Sherlock   Born June 6th 1879  His lovely life ended February 18th 1938  Constance Nash Sherlock 1900 - 1959."




David John Christopher Eustace Sherlock was born 6th June 1879 in Dublin Ireland to David Joseph Sherlock and Mary Zeena Elizabeth Murphy.  In 1900 David joined the army, serving in the Great War, first with the Royal Horse Artillery and then later with the Royal Field Artillery.  In 1930 David married Constance Nash.

The Catholic Herald printed a small notice of death for David on 28th February 1938 -

"Gallant service during the European War, in which campaign he was wounded and was six times mentioned in despatches. brought high honour, both from Britain and from France, to Colonel David John Christopher Eustace Sherlock, who died on the 18th inst. at his home at Burnham, Buckinghamshire. The Royal Honours List awarded him the D.S.O., while France made him a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour and gave him also the Croix de Guerre.
Colonel Sherlock was in his fifty-ninth year. The son of Mr. David Sherlock, D.L., of Tullamore, he was educated first of all in Ireland, at Clongowes Wood College, and afterwards at Beaumont. He joined the Army in 1900. In the Great War he served with the R.H.A. and the R.F.A. He retired about eight years ago."

Sadly for such a well decorated man I can find very little information on his life or that of his wife Constance.


Quo Fas et Gloria Ducunt
Where Right and Glory Lead


Tuesday, 24 September 2013

Taphophile Tragics - Mary Ann and Henry Hance



Monument to Mary Ann and Henry Hance, All Saints Churchyard, Boyne Hill, Maidenhead, Berkshire, England.

"In Loving Memory of Mary Ann Hance beloved wife of Henry Hance of Cox Green.  Died February 6th 1900 aged 80 years.  Also of Henry Hance.  Died January 8th 1914 aged 85 years - Rest In Peace-"

Mary Ann Hance was born Mary Ann Kimble  in 1820 in Hare Hatch, Berkshire.  I have been unable to find any information on Mart's parents or her early life.

Henry Hance was born in 1823 in White Waltham, Berkshire .

In 1846 Mary married Henry Hance, a gardener, in Maidenhead, Berkshire.  The 1851 Census finds both Mary and Henry are living with and working for Isaac Wills, a retired publican at Folly Hill, Henry as a gardener and Mary as a general domestic servant.

1861 and Henry and Mary Ann are living with and working for Charles Harence, a barrister, at Bath Villa, Castle Hill, Maidenhead.  Henry is working as a gardener and Mary Ann as a cook.

In 1871 Henry is unemployed as a gardener, however Mary Ann is still working as a housekeeper.  On the census return both Henry and Mary can be found visiting Mary Aldridge at the home of Annie Druce, in London.

I am unable to locate either Henry or Mary Ann on the 1881 Census.

1891 and Henry has had a change of occupations from gardener to wheelwright.  Both he and Mary are now living at 12 Farm Villas, Cox Green, Maidenhead.  Sadly on 6th February 1900, Mary passes away.

Henry then seems to vanish from the records, until his death in 1914.


Taphophile Tragics
Tombstone Tuesday






Sunday, 22 September 2013

Cemetery Sunday - All Saints Churchyard

 
All Saints Churchyard, Boyne Hill, Maidenhead, Berkshire, England.
 
 
 




Friday, 20 September 2013

Flashback Friday - Edith Marion Rosse - Murder Mystery

**Originally posted on 14th September 2012**
 
 


Memorial to Edith Marion Rosse (Milady), All Saints Church, Bisham, Berkshire.


"In love ever remember Edith Marion Rosse [Milday] who peacefully fell asleep in London on the 14th day of September 1932"


Unfortunately I cannot find out much about Edith's early life, but the end of her life is embroiled in mystery. 

In 1932 Edith was living with a fellow stage actor Arthur Maundy Gregory.  Arthur was experiencing financial difficulties. He was under pressure to repay to the executors of Sir George Watson £30,000 advanced for a barony he never received.  At the time Edith had £18,000 in her bank account.  She refused Arthur's requests for a loan, saying that the money was for her old age.

On 14th September 1932, Edith slipped into a coma and died and left all her money to Arthur, in a will scrawled on the back of a menu card from the Carlton Hotel. Arthur supervised her burial, specifying a riverside plot in the churchyard at Bisham. He ordered the coffin lid to be left unsealed and the grave to be dug unusually shallow, only 18 inches from the surface.

Edith's niece, who expected to inherit from her aunt's will made a complain and the police exhumed Edith's body on 28th April 1933.  The coffin was found to be waterlogged.   Bernard Spilsbury, a forensic scientist used by the police, was in little doubt that the burial arrangements Arthur had made were intentional since, "the effect of water on decaying remains would make it impossible to detect the presence of certain poisons."

Arthur was arrested in Germany, but never tried for the suspected murder of Edith.  Arthur died in a German Camp in on 28th September 1941.



Tuesday, 17 September 2013

Taphophile tragics - Mary and Martha Aldridge - Spinster Sisters



Monument to Mary and Martha Aldridge, All Saints Churchyard, Boyne Hill, Maidenhead, Berkshire, England.

"Sacred to the memory of Mary Aldridge who departed this life August 28th 1896 aged 58 years - Thy Will Be Done - Also Martha Aldridge who died Novr 29th 1907 aged 60 years - And God Shall Wipe Away All Tears From Their Eyes - "


Mary Aldridge was born in 1838 and Martha in 1847 in Maidenhead, Berkshire to James Aldridge, a grocer, and his wife Mary Ann. 

In 1841, three year old Mary is living with her parents and siblings, James, Charlotte, Ellen and baby Edwards in Folly Hill, Maidenhead, Berkshire.

By 1851, thirteen year old Mary is working as a housemaid and barmaid for Charles Druce, in Boyne Hill, Maidenhead.  Four year old Martha is living with her parents and siblings, Ellen, Edward and Thomas in Folly Hill, Maidenhead.

In 1861 Mary is working as a housemaid for the Robeson family in Fifield, Berkshire.  Thirteen year old Martha is working as a general servant for Julius and Ann Neve, drapers of Maidenhead.

1871 and Mary is working as a general domestic servant for the Druce family in London.  Martha has returned home to Castle Hill in Maidenhead to live with her widowed mother Mary Ann and her elder brother Edward, where she is making a living as a dress maker.

1881 and Mary is working as a parlour maid for the Stenning family in Marylebone, London.  Martha is still living with her mother and elder brother in Castle Hill, Maidenhead.  Living with the family at that time is Mary and Martha's widowed sister Ellen.

1891, Mary is boarding at the home of Peter Mortlock, Fern Cottage, Boyne Hill, Maidenhead.  Martha is helping to look after her elderly mother Mary Ann and run the sweet shop her mother keeps, along with her elder brother, Edward.  Sadly Mary Ann was to pass away in 1894, closely followed by her daughter Mary in 1896.

1901 finds Martha living with her elder brother Edward at South Cottage, Alwyn Road, Maidenhead Berkshire.  Sadly six years later Martha was to pass away.

Edward can be found on the 1911 census, still living at South Cottage in Alwyn Road.  He was to pass away later that year aged 70.

Taphophile Tragics
Tombstone Tuesday





Sunday, 15 September 2013

Cemetery Sunday - IHS Cross

 
IHS Cross, All Saints Churchyard, Boyne Hill, Maidenhead, Berkshire, England.
 
 
 
 






Friday, 13 September 2013

Flashback Friday - May Peabody Osborne - Dig The Grave And Let Me Lie

**Originally posted 11th September 2012**
 
 



Memorial to May Peabody Osborne, All Saints Church, Bisham, Berkshire.


"In Memory of May Peabody Osborne beloved wife of Charles Glidden Osborne.  April 14th 1936.
Under the wide and starry sky, dig the grave and let me lie, glad did I live and gladly die.  And I laid me down with a will.
This be the verse you grave for me, here he lies where he longed to be.  Home is the sailor from sea and the hunter home from the hill."





May Peabody Osborne was born May Henderson Peabody on 28th April 1891 at Evanston, Cook County, Illinois, USA to Francis Stuyvesant Peabody and May Henderson.   May first married Addison H Stillwell on 2nd January 1914 at St James Episcopal Church, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, USA.  They were to divorce 1922.

On 1st September 1923 May married her second husband Charles Glidden Osborne and sailed with him and her children from her first marriage,  May Henderson Stillwell, Elizabeth Allison Stillwell and Frances Peabody Stillwell, on the Leviathan to England in the October of 1923.  In 1928 May and Charles had their only child together, Mahmea Enid Lolita Osborne.

May Peabody Obsborne died on 14th April 1936 in Marlow,  Buckinghamshire aged just 44 years old.

It was the verse on May's gravestone that caught my eye first.  The line, 'under the wide and starry sky, dig the grave and let me lie', struck a cord with me.




 

Tuesday, 10 September 2013

Taphophile Tragics - The John who became a Jane - Jane Neighbour



Monument to Jane Neighbour, All Saints Churchyard, Boyne Hill. Maidenhead, Berkshire, England.


"John Neighbour who died Sept 2nd 1898 aged 54 years."


I had to admit that this particular grave stone had me stumped, until I discovered I was researching the wrong person.  This is not the gravestone of John Neighbour, but his wife Jane.  The top portion of the gravestone with her dedication is missing.

Jane Neighbour was born Jane Willis in Hambledon, Berkshire (now Hampshire) in 1844.  I have been unable to locate Jane before her marriage to John H Neighbour, a gardener, in Henley in 1862.  In 1863 their first son Joseph is born in Henley, a second son Walter is born in 1867 in Aldershot, Hampshire, followed by a third son Henry in 1870.

In 1871 John and Jane are living in Aldershot, Hampshire along with their sons, Joseph, Walter and Henry and Ann, John's widowed mother.

On the 1881 Census, John and Jane can be found living in Boyne Hill Lane, Maidenhead, Berkshire, with their two sons and John's elderly mother, Ann Neighbour.  At that time Jane's occupation is listed as a laundress.

In 1884 a daughter, Lucy was born in Maidenhead, Berkshire, followed by a sister Emily in 1886.

1891 not only sees the family moved to Bridge street in Maidenhead, but an occupation change for John, who is now the licenced victullar of the Albion Inn.  However young Henry seems to have followed in his father's previous occupation as he is now listed as a gardener.

Sadly on 2nd September 1898, Jane passed away.

In 1900 John married Harriet Brown in Maidenhead Berkshire.  They continued to run the Albion Inn together, where they can be found on the 1901 Census.  Sadly after nine years of marriage, Harriet passes away, leaving the now twice widowed John alone.

On the 1911 Census, John is listed as a retired publican lodging at 21 Bell Street in Maidenhead Berkshire.  John Neighbour passes away in 1913 in Maidenhead.


Taphophile Tragics
Tombstone Tuesday






Sunday, 8 September 2013

Cemetery Sunday - Headless Angel

 
Headless Angel, All Saints Maidenhead Cemetery, Maidenhead. Berkshire, England.
 
 
 

 




Friday, 6 September 2013

Flashback Friday - Adeline Blanche and Thomas Young




Monument to Adeline Blanche Young and Thomas Young, All Saints Church, Bisham, Berkshire.


"In Loving Memory of Adeline Blanche wife of Thomas Young who Died November 14. 1922.  Aged 52 years.  Also of Thomas Young who Died May 18th 1932 in his 70th year."



Adeline Blanche Young was born Adeline Blanche Strafford on 3rd February 1870 in Middlesex to Thomas William Strafford, an insurance clerk at Westminster Fire Office and Eliza Rutland.  Adeline remained with her family until she married Thomas Young on 2nd June 1904 at the age of 41.  On the 1911 census Adeline can be found living with her husband Thomas at Warren House, Bisham, Berkshire.  Eleven years later Adeline was to pass away at the age of 52.

Thomas Young was born in Hackney, London in 1863 to Thomas Young and his wife Margaret.  On the 1911 census Thomas's occupation is listed as surveyor of insurance.  Maybe Thomas Young worked at the same company as Adeline's father.  Unfortunately I was unable to find out much more about Adeline and Thomas.





Tuesday, 3 September 2013

Taphophile Tragics - George and ElizaTaylor



Monument to George and Eliza Taylor, All saints Churchyard, Boyne Hill, Maidenhead, Berkshire, England.

"In Loving Memory of George Taylor who entered into rest Oct 22nd 1904 Aged 73 Years - Looking Unto Jesus - Also Eliza the beloved wife of the above Died Feby 24th 1912 Aged 84 Years."

George Taylor was born in White Waltham, Berkshire in 1931 to John Taylor and agricultural labourer and his wife Margaret, a day school mistress.

Eliza Taylor was born Eliza Duckett in 1828 in Maidenhead Berkshire to John Duckett and his wife Martha Hamilton.  I have been unable to locate Eliza on the 1841 Census, but in 1851 she is working as housemaid for Samuel Cooper and his family in Henley, Oxfordshire.

George first appears on the 1841 Census aged ten living with his parents in Waltham Lane, White Waltham.  He is still there ten years later aged twenty, now working as a carpenter.  In 1853 George marries Eliza Duckett.  Their first child, a daughter, Margaret was born in 1854 in Waltham.  Followed by Agnes in 1857, Gertrude Eliza in 1859, Augusta Eliza in 1860, George in 1862, Gertrude Alice in 1864, Kate in 1867 and John in 1868.

In 1861 George and his family are living in Victoria Street in Maidenhead, Berkshire.  Sadly Gertrude Eliza was to pass away a few months after the 1861 Census was taken.

In 1871 the family had moved to West Street in Maidenhead.  Sixteen year old Margaret has left the family to work as a nursery maid for Rev William B Hole, vicar of St Luke's church in Maidenhead, and his family.   Fourteen year old Agnes is working as a nursemaid for the Smith Family in Boyne Hill, Maidenhead.  In 1873 Margaret marries Augustus Samuel Cole, a gardener from Hurley, Berkshire.

1881 and the family is still living in West Street.  George Jr is now an apprentice carpenter, working with his father, George.  Joining the family is four year old Morris William Cole, George and Eliza's grandson, son of Margaret and her husband Augustus Samuel Cole.

Agnes has moved to Sonning in Berkshire to work as a domestic servant for the Fuller family on their farm.

In 1883 Gertrude Alice marries Herbert William Nicholls, a carpenter from Oxfordshire.

In 1891 George, Eliza, Augusta, Kate and John are still living in West Street, Maidenhead.  Eliza is taking in work as a laundress, probably to help ends meet as George is now 60 years old.  Kate is working as a dress maker and John as a groom and cab driver.  George Jr and his wife Violet have moved to 6 Arthur street in St Pancras, London.  I have been unable to find anything on George and Violet's marriage, but in 1899 George marries Annie Louisa Payne in St Pancras, London.  That same year Kate marries John William Styles, an agricultural machinist.  Later in 1891 John marries Emily Gray.

1901 and George, Eliz and Augusta are still in West Street.  Living with them at the time is their nineteen year old grand-daughter Eliza A Cole.  John and his wife Emily are living at 34 College Road, Maidenhead, where John's occupation is listed as an ironmonger's porter.

Sadly, just three years later George Snr passes away aged 73 years.  George's death was reported in the Slough, Eton and Windsor Observer on 28th October 1904 -

"Death Of An Old Cricketer

The death took place on Saturday evening last of  Mr. George Taylor, at his residence, 54, West Street, Maidenhead, where he and his family had resided some 38 years.  Mr. Taylor was 73 years of age and was born in Maidenhead (all official records state White Waltham). From his youth he proved himself a most excellent cricketer, and played in many of the best matched of the Maidenhead Cricket Club and also assisted many of the neighbouring clubs.  He was founder of the late Maidenhead Grosvenor Cricket Club, and owned several prize bats, balls and caps, awarded to him for distinguished service.  He played cricket up to within a few years ago, and at the Coronation Sports won a race for men over 60 the prize being a salad bowl. 

Mr. Taylor had been in failing health for some time and his death was no unexpected.  He was greatly respected throughout the town and district, and his demise will be heard of by many of his old cricketing friends with great regret.  He leaves a widow and a grown up family of two sons and four daughters.  The funeral took place on Thursday at 2 o'clock."


1911 and the widowed Eliza is still working as a laundress at the age of 83.  Living with and helping her is her daughter Augusta Eliza and her grand-daughters Edith Alice Cole and Kate Augusta Nicholls.  Eliza was to pass away almost a year later in 1912 aged 84.

Augusta Eliza Taylor never married and died in  Maidenhead in 1941 aged 80.


Taphophile Tragics
Tombstone Tuesday



Sunday, 1 September 2013

Cemetery Sunday - Angel

 
Finch Family Angel, All Saints Maidenhead Cemetery, Maidenhead, Berkshire, England.
 
 
 
 




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