Augustus Parker Barnett was the second child of Charles
Barnett and Augusta Smith, born on June 17th, 1860 at Hambleden, just
five months after the death of his father.
Like his parents and older brother, Augustus was a miller.
Augustus married Ellen Butler on April 28th, 1885 at the Parish Church of Kew, Surrey. Witnesses at the wedding were Harry Butler & John Lovell Smith. Ellen had been born c1860 in Brixton, Surrey, the daughter of Rebecca Martha & William Bradley Butler, a merchant. Ellen, along with a sister Minnie & brother Walter were all christened on January 17th, 1877 at St Mary’s Balham, London.
In 1891 the family was living at The Howe, Skirmett Rd, Hambleden where Augustus was a miller. He & Ellen had 2 sons – Bertram Charles (4) & Geoffrey Butler (1). Visiting was sister-in-law Minnie Butler (26). There was also a visitor Mary Hobbs (6), born in Remenham.
In 1901 they were living at Fingest house, Hambleden, Bucks with just son Maurice (9) at home. Geoffrey was a pupil at Woodside boarding school at Walton on Thames, Surrey. Son Bertram was a pupil at Cranleigh School, Surrey. Daughter Norah was visiting her grandmother Augusta & uncle Charles at Hambleden Mill.
Son Bertram was a keen motorcyclist who was mentioned in the newspapers on 2 occasions in 1906. The first was a speeding incident when he was fined for doing 28mph! (Berkshire Chronicle June 1906) The second time he was quite a hero in chasing a runaway horse when the carrier’s van that it was pulling was in collision with a large van, the horse having bolted. Bertram pursued the horse on his motorcycle and eventually got ahead of the horse & held it until it could be collected. (South Bucks Standard, October 12th, 1906)
An article in the South Bucks Standard of February 22nd, 1907 shows that youngest son Maurice was educated at Wellingborough School where he obtained first class honours in the Cambridge local examinations & distinctions in English, Scripture, French & Maths.
In 1911 Augustus & Ellen were still at Fingest House & Augustus continued to be a flour miller. Son Geoffrey had become a miller & was living with his grandmother Augusta Barnett & uncle Charles James Barnett at Hambleden Mill, Henley. Son Bertram had become a motor car tester & was boarding in London. Son Maurice had also gone to London where he was boarding in 1911 & was described as a student in the Admiralty. Daughter Norah was a pupil at a girls' school in Eastbourne, Sussex.
Son Maurice served as a lieutenant during WW1 with the Royal Field Artillery Company. Son Bertram also enlisted with the Royal Army Ordnance Corps.
In 1913 Augustus administered the will of his mother in 1913. In August 1913 son Geoffrey was involved in a serious accident according to the Bucks Herald of August 30th. While cycling home from Marlow just before dark on his motor cycle he collided with a cart when a few hundred yards from home. He sustained severe injuries to the base of his skull & was for a time in a critical condition.
Son Bertram married Sarah Wickenden in Oct-December 1928 at Stepney, London.
Augustus died on February 3rd, 1930. He was buried at Hambleden
on February 6th, 1930.
Probate was granted in Oxford on April 8th, 1931 to Ellen Barnett widow, and
his children Bertram Charles Barnett engineer, Geoffrey Butler Barnett miller
and Norah Barnett spinster. His effects amounted to £10,273/2s/11d.
He was of Mill End, Hambleden, Bucks.
The 1939 register shows widowed Ellen living at Sunnyhome, Mill Road, Shiplake, Oxfordshire. With her were sons Geoffrey who was a flour miller & helping his mother with the house & garden, & Maurice who worked at the stock exchange.
Son Bertram & his wife Sarah, a state registered nurse, were living at Samana, Lower Shiplake, Henley, Oxon in 1939 & Bertram was described as a lieutenant with the Royal Army Ordnance Corps serving as an ordnance mechanical engineer. With them was Sarah’s widowed mother, Elizabeth Wickenden, aged 87. Bertram died on war service in 1941.
The 1939 register shows daughter Norah serving with the ATS & her occupation was given as ‘lingerie business’. She was living at Bramley Camp, Basingstoke, Hants.
Ellen died in Oct-December 1945 at Henley, Oxon.
The children of Augustus Parker Barnett and Ellen Butler were:
b.2.9.2.2.1 Bertram Charles Barnett born September 5th, 1886 at Hambleden & christened October 13th, 1886; died June 5th, 1941 at Cambridge Hospital, Aldershot & buried at St Peter & St Paul churchyard, Shiplake
b.2.9.2.2.2 Geoffrey Butler Barnett born October 7th, 1889 at the Howe, Hambleden & christened November 3rd, 1889 at Hambleden; died Oct-December 1972 at Henley
b.2.9.2.2.3 Maurice George Barnett born November 14th, 1891& christened December 10th, 1891 at Hambleden; died August 7th, 1958 at Townlands Hospital, Henley
b.2.9.2.2.4 Norah Barnett born August 21st, 1895 & christened September 24th, 1895 at Hambleden; died December 5th, 1963 at Sunnyholme, Mill Rd, Shiplake, Henley