Charles Barter (buried 1927)

At a glance

At a glance
Surname: 
Barter
First name: 
Charles
Other Christian names: 
Gender: 
Male
Children: 
Yes
Burial number: 
1312
Born: 
0/0/1871
Died: 
08/11/1927
Buried: 
11/11/1927
Occupation: 
Master Mariner, Boys' Home Instructor
Heene Hallmark: 
No
Commonwealth War Grave: 
No

The Grave

The grave
Cemetery area: 
SWS
Cemetery row: 
6
Cemetery plot: 
20
what3words location: 
https://what3words.com/good.saving.ropes
Burial remains: 
Unknown
The headstone
Headstone inscription: 
In ever loving memory of a devoted husband and loving father Charles Barter who passed peacefully away November 8th 1927 aged 56 years "Sleep on beloved, sleep and take thy rest. We loved thee well but Jesus loved thee best. Good Night. Good Night. Also his beloved wife Kate died July 12th 1969 aged 89

Life story

Life story

Charles Barter was born in Hartland, N. Devon, in 1871, he was the son of William Barter, 40yrs, Coastguard, and Wilmot, 37yrs, nee Gengel. He was 1 of 9 children.

As a young man Charles went to sea, his father had once been a sailor, and by 1901, aged 29yrs, he was a master mariner. In 1903, he married Kate Matthews, 23yrs, in Sturminster Newton, Dorset. Charles had left his seafaring career by then and was an instructor at the Gordon Boys' Home in Chobham, Surrey. He lived there with Kate, and they had 2 children, Murial, b.1909, and Cyril, b.1911. Charles had a change of job at the Home, and in 1911 he was a cook.

In 1921 Charles and his family were living in Devizes, Wiltshire, and shortly after they moved to Worthing, Sussex, they lived at 127, Tarring Road, and Charles died there on 8th November 1927, aged 56yrs. Probate was granted to Kate Barter, widow, and Eli Knowles, Post Office Official, effects £1353 1s 11d, Value 2022 - £90,500.

Burial researcher: 
Maggi Martin

Further information

Birth
Date born: 
00/00/1871
Marriage
Marriage 1
Spouse one first names: 
Kate
Spouse one last name: 
Matthews
Marriage one date: 
00/00/1903
Marriage one address: 
Sturminster Newton, Dorset, England

Death

Death (details)
Date of death: 
08/11/1927
Age (at time of death): 
56
Cause of death: 
Unknown
Address at time of death: 
127 Tarring Road, Worthing, Sussex, England
Personal effects
Executors: 
Kate Barter status: Widow: Eli Knowles status: Post Office Official
Probate pounds: 
£1,353

Census and miscellaneous information

Census information
1881 census: 

Living at Pebble Ridge Terrace, Northam, Devon. William Barter, 50yrs, Labourer, wife, Wilmot, 47yrs, 6 children, Harriet, 15yrs, William, 13yrs, Henry, 12yrs, Charles, 9yrs, Samuel, 3yrs, and Esmeralda, 2yrs,

1911 census: 

Living at the Gordon Boys Home, Chobham, Surrey. Charles Barter, 39yrs, Cook (Institution) wife, Kate, 30yrs, 2 children, Murial, 1yr, and Cyril, 1month.

Miscellaneous information

GORDON BOYS’ HOME

Gordon’s School is the National Memorial to British war hero, philanthropist and martyr, Major-General Charles George Gordon (1833-1885), and was founded in 1885 where it began existence as ‘Gordon Boys’ Home’ for necessitous boys. Queen Victoria, as the first of an unbroken line of sovereign patrons, took the lead in demanding a fitting National Memorial be created in Gordon’s honour; an interest that has been maintained to this day.

Initially, Gordon Boys’ Home was established on a temporary basis at Fort Wallington, near Fareham, Hampshire, made available by the War Office in October 1885. However, it wasn’t until December 1887 when some 100 Gordon Boys travelled to Brookwood Station, from there they marched to West End led by their 25 strong, newly formed Band to take up residence at their newly built home.

Regular drills, marches and parades (strongly influenced by military lines) instilled discipline in the boys. Signalled by bugle calls, the same as those used in the army, the boys would be called to meals, marches, post collection points and parades. The early full dress consisted of: tartan trousers, a dark blue jersey embroidered with G.B.H. and a Glengarry cap with plaid band and Gordon badge; whilst the undress evolved into green cord clothing with brass buttons. A ranking system was also enforced within the Home, again similar to that of the army, including positions such as L/Cpl, Cpl, Sgt and finally Colour Sgt. The Home colour (flag) was donated by Dr Hope of Chobham, who was the Home doctor, and presented by Lady Elphinstone in 1895.

The objective of the Home was to teach necessitous boys aged between 13-17 a variety of practical trades including carpentry, shoemaking, tailoring, gardening, engineering, cooking and blacksmithing, all with an aim to set each boy up for a ‘life of usefulness’ either within civil employment or in any branch of the armed forces. Thus, a living institution was born and gradually over the years in accordance with Major-General Gordon’s expressed wishes, the Home housed some 220 boys who later went on to serve in the armed forces or begin a life in popular trades.

In 1946, this became Gordon 's School which is still running.