Hemel Hempstead Cemeteries

[Alex and Jan]

We have found a possible death of George Seabrook in 1865 aged in his 50s and wondered how many cemeteries are in that area ?
Alex and Jan from OZ

[Rick]

Hi Alex and Jan

A burial at this date would most likely have taken place in a Churchyard.  Did the death occur in Hemel Hempstead town itself, or in Hemel Hempstead Registration District?  If the latter, then the burial could be in one of 7 parishes.

Bovingdon
Chipperfield
Flamstead
Flaunden
Great Gaddesden
Hemel Hempstead
Kings Langley


If the former then there is probably only one, St Marys Hemel Hempstead:

http://www.stmaryshemel.org.uk/index.html

However, as far as I am aware, a lot of the gravestones have been removed though some that have survived have been placed around the perimeter wall.  Monumental Inscriptions for St Mary's Hemel Hempstead are available from the Herts Family History Society.

http://www.hertsfhs.org.uk/

He would most probably have been buried in his last parish of settlement.  Where was he living in 1861?  I have quickly checked the Herts Burial Index without success.

However, having said all of that, the parishes of Redbourn and Leverstock Green although actually in St Albans Registration District are in fact closer to Hemel Hempstead, so they could also feature as possible burial places.

I have an interest in SEABROOKS from Redbourn, Harpenden and Wheathampstead.  I have a George in my tree the son of William & Susanna SEABROOK who farmed at Norrington End Farm, Redbourn - RG9/828 F59 P36

If this is your man, then I can confirm that he is not buried at Redbourn, though both of his parents are.  There are also no other George SEABROOKS buried at Redbourn that would fit.

Mr William SEABROOK, late of Norrington End Farm, d 27 May 1850 aged 81.  Also Susannah SEABROOK, wife of the above. Died Oct  1865 aged 79.

If you do not have 1861 details for your George, let me know and I will try to find him. Wife, childrens names etc would help to locate him.


Rick

[Alex and Jan]

Hi Rick,
Thanks for your reply.
In 1861 George Seabrook 51 is at Nash Mills, Abbots Langley
RG 9/836 folio 35 Wife Sarah 49, Ann 17, Josiah 12, Caroline 9, James 6

In 1871 Sarah is a servant at RG10/1384 folio 61
youngest child James is at RG10/1379 a cousin to William and Mary Seabrook.

George's death was recorded in the Dec qtr of 1865 reg Hemel hempstead

Alex and Jan

[Rick]

Hi Alex & Jan

Deaths were generally recorded in the RD in which they occurred, so it is a little odd that George's death was registered in Hemel Hempstead RD and not Watford RD.  Perhaps he did not die at home?  Nash Mills was a hamlet on the Hemel to Abbots Langley road, but it was part of the parish of Abbots Langley. which is of course in Watford RD. Nowadays Nash Mills has been incorporated into the urban sprawl of the new town of Hemel Hempstead.

I think that the most likely place for a burial would be St Lawrence Abbots Langley and this is where I would check first.

http://www.abbotslangley.org.uk/

MIs for Abbots Langley are available from the HFHS.

http://www.hertsfhs.org.uk/hfphs30.html

The other explanation for a Hemel Hempstead RD registration may be that the family moved between 1861 and 1865.  In this case St Mary's Hemel Hempstead might be your best bet. (MIs also available from HFHS)  However, as Hemel is nearer to Nash Mills than Abbots Langley and Watford, perhaps it was just easier for the family to register the death in Hemel and the registrar turned a blind eye?

The burial registers for both parishes should be available for hire and viewing at your nearest LDS Family History Centre in Oz.


Rick

[Alex and Jan]

Thanks so much for your replies Rick
Guess the burial registers at the LDS are the best bet.

Thanks again,
Alex and Jan

[Rick]

Pleasure!

One other place that occurred to me was Boxmoor.  This was geographically closer to Nash Mills than St Mary's HH.  The present parish church at Boxmoor (St John) was not built until 1874, but HALS have burial records for the parish from 1832, so there must have been a church on the site or nearby prior to 1874.

http://www.stjohnsboxmoor.co.uk/

If you don't get lucky at St Lawrence, St Mary or Boxmoor then it will be a matter of checking the parish churches in the other parishes within Hemel Hempstead RD:

Bovingdon
Chipperfield
Flamstead
Flaunden
Great Gaddesden
Kings Langley

Happy Hunting!
Rick

[Alex and Jan]

Hi Rick,
We ordered the MI's for St Mary, Hemel Hempstead and St Lawrence, Abbots Langley, then thought St Mary's may only go to 1851, so searched for all the Seabrooks so we will have details of parents and siblings of george, now you are telling us the records may be elsewhere - thanks :-)
Alex and Jan

[Rick]

I still think that St Lawrence and St Mary are the most likely, given George's address in 1861.   I discounted St John Boxmoor because I thought it was too modern, but then discovered that HALS kept earlier records for the parish itself.

HALS have Burials for St Mary HH up to 1944, but perhaps the LDS don't.

The other parishes (Bovingdon etc)  I did mention earlier in my first reply to you because they make up Hemel Hempstead RD.

I do hope that you don't think that I have misled you.

Rick

[Alex and Jan]

We will forgive you if you have