Male portrait placeholder image

Name: Edward Billingshurst

Burial Number: 0683

Gender: Male

Occupation: Domestic Gardener

Born: 00/00/1844

Died: 18/10/1912

Buried: 23/10/1912

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Story

Edward’s parents were George an agricultural labourer and Rhoda nee May. He was born in Mereworth, Kent in the Spring of 1844. He became a domestic gardener and married Margaret Ann Hotton on 11th November 1873 at St Mary’s church, St Marylebone, London. By 1881 they were living at Grange Lodge, Slaugham, Sussex but 10 years later, they were living in Colebrooke Park, Tonbridge, Kent and had 5 children: Rhoda b 1875, George b 1877, Rachael b 1879, William b 1881 and Henry b 1886. In 1911, the family were living at 14 Elm Grove, Worthing. Edward was working as an under gardener for Mr Rodocanachi at Cecil’s in  Manor Road. He was found dead in the garden shed apparently having taken poison used to kill wasps. Although the local papers thought it was possible that Edward had died of natural causes, the jury at the inquest decided that he had died by suicide but there was no evidence of his state of mind. See below for further details. The full inquest was printed in the Worthing Gazette on 23rd October 1912. No probate.

Researcher: Angela Levy

The Grave

No headstone image available

Location in Cemetery

Area: EB Row: 3 Plot: 12

Exact Location (what3words): toned.prime.steps

Ashes or Urn: Unknown

Headstone

Description:

Buried with Mary and William Roberston

Inscription:

in dearest memory of Mary Elizabeth Robertson a devoted wife and mother who fell asleep in Jesus April 2nd 1929 aged 78 years "Sleep on beloved" Also William Proctor Robertson husband of the above aged 86 1935 "Christ my rock, hope and life eternal"

Further Information

Birth

Name: Edward Billingshurst

Gender: Male

Born: 00/00/1844

Town: Known

County: Kent

Country: England

Marriage

Maiden Name: Not applicable

Marriage Date: 11/11/1873

Spouse First Name: Margaret

Spouse Second Name: Ann

Spouse Last Name: Hotton

Town of Marriage: Marylebone

County of Marriage: Middlesex

Country of Marriage: England

Information at Death

Date of Death: 18/10/1912

Cause of death: Unknown

Address line 1: 14

Address line 3: Elm Grove

Town: Worthing

County: Sussex

Country: England

Obituary

No obituary has been entered.

Personal Effects

Money left to others: No value recorded

Current value of effects: Not calculated

Census Information

1851

King Street, Mereworth, Kent

George aged 37, ag lab. Rhoda aged 35. George aged 13, farm labourer. Adelaide aged 10. Edward aged 6. Alfred aged 5. Charles aged 2. Henry aged 1.

1861

Mereworth, Kent.

George aged 47, ag lab. Rhoda aged 46. Mary Ann aged 18, living at home. Edward aged 17, ag lab. Alfred aged 15, ag lab. Charles aged 13, ag lab. Henry aged 10. Arthur aged 7. Ellen aged 2.

1871

Cashisbury Gardens, Watford, Herts.

Edward aged 26, gardener (domestic servant). Thomas Arnold aged 20, lodger, gardener (domestic servant).

1881

Grange Lodge, Slaugham, Sussex.

Edward aged 37, gardener, domestic. Margaret aged 38. Rhoda aged 6. George E aged 4. Rachael M aged 2. William aged 2 months.

1891

Colebrooke Park, Tonbridge, Kent.

Edward aged 47, gardener. Margaret aged 49. Rhoda aged 16. George aged 14, grocer’s shopman. Rachael aged 12. William aged 10. Henry Charles aged 5.

1901

Gardener’s Cottage, Colebrooke Park, Tonbridge, Kent.

Edward aged 57, gardener (domestic). Rachael Curtis aged 22, daughter. Henry aged 15, gardener.

1911

14 Elm Grove, Worthing, Sussex.

Edward aged 67, gardener (domestic). Margaret aged 69. Rhoda aged 36.

 

Miscellaneous Information

The Argus 19th October 1912

Tragic Discovery: Worthing

Another tragic discovery was made at Worthing yesterday, a gardener named Edward Billinghurst aged 68 who lived at 14 Elm Grove being found dead in the shed in the gardens at The Cecils in Manor Road where he was employed. A man named Baker caught sight of the deceased lying on his side in the shed about two o’clock and called PC Rapley who found that the old man was quite dead. Dr Hide was summoned but was unable to give a definite opinion as to the cause of death. In the shed not far from the deceased’s feet was found a glass mineral water bottle which was labelled “poison” and contained a certain amount of fluid which had been used it is understood by the gardeners for killing wasps. At present there is no evidence to show whether this had any bearing on the death, which may have been due to natural causes.