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SMITH, Hatfield House, circa 1900 November, 2001 |
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Haydn Cracknell (hcrackn @t attglobal.net) of St Albert, Alberta, Canada says: Thanks for previous answers on TRIGGs of the Pelhams. [TRIGG, The Pelhams, 19th century] Now for another TRIGG connection. I have a Nellie TRIGG who was born 1892, and she married a Harry SMITH of Radwell. I believe the father of Harry, a Charles SMITH, was a gardener at Hatfield House and wonder if there are any records of the emlpoyees at Hatfield House in the middle to late 1800's or early 1900's? Charles SMITH married Catherine OAKLEY.
The West Front of Hatfield House
The garden on this side of the house did not take on its present appearance until 1900, when it was restored to its Jacobean form. The mulberry trees at the four corners were planted by King James I, who wanted to encourage the silk industry.
From a Hatfield House guide published in 1973
The 1881 census shows the following people at the "Wagon & Horses," Hatfield:
|
George HILL |
48 |
Dognall Green |
Head |
Watercressman (...) |
|
Lydia HILL |
46 |
Digswell Hill |
Wife |
|
|
Emma HILL |
21 |
Dognall Green |
Daur |
Milliner |
|
James HILL |
17 |
Dognall Green |
Son |
None |
|
Mercy HILL |
10 |
Lemsford |
Daur |
Scholar |
|
Sarah HILL |
9 |
Lemsford |
Daur |
Scholar |
|
Lydia HILL |
7 |
Lemsford |
Daur |
Scholar |
|
Mary HILL |
4 |
Lemsford |
Daur |
Scholar |
|
Ada HILL |
2 |
Lemsford |
Daur |
|
|
Charles SMITH |
23 |
Watton |
Visitor |
Gardener |
|
John HAWTHORNE |
29 |
St Georges, Middlesex |
Lodger |
Gardener |
The Charles Smith in the house may well be your Charles Smith and worked at Hatfield House. If he was still working there around 1900 he may well have been involved in laying out the Jacobean Garden.
It could well be that the "recent" archives are still kept at Hatfield House and you could either asks HALS (online) whether they hold any relevant papers, of you could write to The Archivist, Hatfield House, Hatfield, Herts. You should also consider checking the 1901 census online when it becomes available in a few months time.
60 seconds surfing the internet revealed the following interesting web page: http://www.myhouseandgarden.com/garden/hatfieldhouse.htm
If you can add to the information given above tell me.