HERBERT FRETWELL (1882 - 1941)
In April 2014 I was on a workday in Walkley Cemetery (Sheffield) when I came across the following headstone that was laid flat. It was covered in vegetation and debris but after clearing it, the headstone revealed it was the grave of the FRETWELL family
The Fretwell Grave - 26th April 2014 - Walkley Cemetery
Tracing Herbert in the UK Census was not difficult
1891 Census
1901 Census
Herbert married a Eliza Somerfield in the June quarter of 1904
Surname First name(s) Age District Vol Page
Marriages Jun 1904
Fretwell Herbert Ecclesall B. 9c 694
Somerfield Eliza Ecclesall B. 9c 694
and according to the census Eliza was born in New York (USA)
1911 Census
Apart from the quality of the headstone, the intriguing inscription stated that Herbert was killed at work 8th July 1941.
I went to the Sheffield Local Studies Library and accessed the local newspaper for the 10th July 1941. I was expecting a rather larger item but this was the only reference I could find.
A sudden and painful death. The only other reference was in the Births, Marriages and Deaths
Fretwell Herbert 130 Hoole Street on July 8th, beloved husband of E. Fretwell killed at work. Interment 2.30pm Walkley Cemetery Saturday July 12th. One of the best.
Unfortunately I can find no record of Herbert playing for Doncaster Rovers
There are a couple of mentions of a H. Fretwell. The Nottingham Evening Post dated 7th August 1908 carries this report
The Sheffield Evening Telegraph dated 24th June 1909 has this report
The balance of probability is that it is Herbert - he would be 26 - 27 years of age at the time of these reports.
If anyone can supply me with the information please contact me
Note
In compiling this article I was informed that Herbert’s mother Elizabeth Emma was a visitor to Ruskin’s Museum and was one of those researched for the ‘Ruskin’s Reach’ project earlier this year (2015). Elizabeth and his father Austin, plus four infant siblings are buried in A188 in our cemetery at Walkley.
Sources
UK Census 1891 - 1911
The Telegraph and Independent dated 10th July 1941
The Sheffield Evening Telegraph dated 24th June 1909
The Nottingham Evening Post dated 7th August 1908
This page was last updated on 05/08/15 16:40