Henry Whiting 1857-1935

Parents: Henry Whiting and Mary Scott (1)
Born: 5th February 1857 in Burton End, Haverhill. (1,2)
Baptised: 28th March 1857 at St Mary's Parish Church, Haverhill.(1)
Married: Eliza Iron, 18, Spinster of Haverhill, daughter of George Iron, labourer, on 29th September 1877 at St Mary's Parish Church, Haverhill.(3,4)
Children: Emma Whiting b.1878 died in infancy, Frank Whiting b.1879, Celia Whiting b.1886, Stanley Whiting b.1890 died in infancy, Harry Whiting b.1895 and Alfred Edward Whiting b.1898 died in infancy
Died: 9th February 1935. Buried at Haverhill Cemetery on 13th February 1935.(5,6)

Bio: Henry spent his early years in Burton End, part of a large family belonging to Henry and Mary Whiting. He is here on the 1861 census as a child, and again on the 1871 census, this time working as a labourer. Henry married Eliza Iron in 1877, and was living in Burton End at the time that their first child, Emma, died in infancy on 1st June 1878 aged 4 months.(7) Then, as seemed common amongst his siblings, he moved out of Haverhill. On the 1881 census we find him living at Great Wilsea, Little Wratting. He is an agricultural labourer living with Eliza and a son, Frank who was born at Great Wilsey two years earlier.

Frank and Eliza moved back into Haverhill, and Celia, their second child, was born at 17 Mill Road in 1886 and baptised at the Independent Church. They had another son, Stanley, in 1890, and we find them at 10 Chauntry Row, Haverhill, on the 1891 census. Henry's occupation is unclear, but Eliza is working as a weaver.

Ten years on they are still at 10 Chauntry Row, and both Henry and Eliza are working at a clothing factory (most likely Gurteen's) along with daughter Celia. Henry is a carman. They have a son, Harry, 5, also living with them.

On the 1911 census, Henry and Eliza are living at 18 Mill Road, Haverhill. Henry is a carman in the 'readymade clothing' industry. Daughter Celia and son Harry are living with them. The census also shows that Henry and Eliza had 3 children that died in infancy as well as the 3 that survived.

The picture on the left shows Henry in 1920. It is from a photo of long-serving Gurteen's employees, and is attributed to 'Harry Whiting'. I am certain this is 'our' Henry as he was the only one that I know of a suitable age employed there at this time.

The South West Suffolk Echo of 30th August 1930 had a small article and photo featuring Harry Whiting: 'Four Generations By the Sea. This photograph was taken recently at Clacton on Sea, and shows Mr Harry Whiting, sen, of 18 Mill Road, Haverhill; his son, Mr Harry Whiting, jun. (on his right); his grandson, Mr Bert Whiting; and little Joan Whiting, a great grand-daughter. The visit to Clacton was a memorable one, as it was the first occasion on which Mr Whiting, sen., who is 74 years of age, had seen the sea.'

Henry died in February 1935, and was buried at Haverhill Cemetery. His wife Eliza survived him by 5 years and died aged 82 on 29 August 1940. her burial place is marked by the same stone.

Click on image of gravestone to enlarge - Thanks to Patrick Ives for the image. Thanks to Judy Stratford for the newspaper article.

Sources:

(1) Suffolk Records Office, Bury St Edmunds, Parish Registers of St Mary's Church, Haverhill. Fiche 578/4/p12 of 37
(2) Birth Register. 1st Quarter 1857, Risbridge District, Volume 4a Page 377 or 577(?)
(3) Suffolk Records Office, Bury St Edmunds, Parish Registers of St Mary's Church, Haverhill. Fiche 578/4/p28 of 37
(4) Marriage Register. 3rd Quarter 1877, Risbridge District, Volume 4a Page 638
(5) Death Register. 1st Quarter 1935, Risbridge District, Volume 4a Page 1041
(6) Haverhill Cemetery, Ref.4989. http://www.haverhill-uk.com/pages/burial-records-137.htm
(7) SFHS, Suffolk Burial Index, issue 2, 1538-1900