Aged 62 at time of death. Birth index 8C p545. 1881 census gives place of birth as Gorton.

Harry is buried in the same cemetery as Mary Hughes, supposedly the inspiration for the poem Mary Had a Little Lamb, although I believe that has now been discounted.

 

 

 

 

Mary had a little lamb

it's fleece was white as snow

and everywhere that Mary went

the lamb was sure to go.

 

He followed her to school one day

that was against the rule

it made the children laugh and play

to see the lamb at school.

 

And so the teacher turned him out,

but still he lingered near,

and waited patiently about

til Mary did appear.

 

And then he ran to her and laid

his head upon her arm,

as if he said "I'm not afraid,

you'll keep me from all harm".

 

 

"What makes the lamb love Mary so?"

the eager children cry.

"Oh, Mary loves the lamb you know"

the teacher did reply.

 

"And you each gentle animal

in confidence may bind,

and make it follow at your call,

if you are always kind".

 

 

Extract from Worthing Gazette 1931 recording the passing of Mary Hughes

 

Mary Hughes

 

Mary Hughes death was recorded in The Worthing Gazette on Saturday 12 December 1931

 

And Mary is dead. Do not try to explain it to little children for they will not believe you. They will tell you that she has gone away to play among the lambs she loved so well. So Mary is dead, and yet she will never die, her memory will go on for ever, immortal. When she was about six years old her little lamb followed her to school and frolicked until the mistress turned him out. That was why a Miss Buel who was staying at the farm at the time wrote the little verse. Probably even now a little child is murmuring through it or lisping it to daddy for his approval. While children live and play it will not die.

 

But Mary - Mrs. Mary Hughes of Ty-lssaf Farm, in the vale of Llangollen - the heroine of the Nursery Rhyme is dead, She died on Wednesday in her ninety-first year in the house of her daughter. Nurse Hughes, at 11 Ethelred Road, West Tarring. When I went to see Nurse Hughes, I was shown into the cosy little sitting room with the fret work motto 'Home sweet Home' hanging over the mantelpiece, and Mrs. Hughes' lovely cat Fluffy came in and lay by the fire. As I sat there, I was told how so long ago Mrs. Hughes used to mother her pet lambs feeding them from a teapot. She also expressed a wish, said Nurse Hughes, that she should be buried in Broadwater Cemetery and I am going to carry out that wish.

 

She was buried on the Monday :

 

lamb is cut in relief on the simple headstone of her grave.

 

Mary had a little lamb, its fleece was white as snow

and everywhere that Mary went, her lamb was sure to go

Eric, I am interested in Broadwater cemetery and noticed that Harry is buried with us.Would you be interested in receiving further details about his death eg I have just looked up on one of the registers and his address was Fairholm Gannon Rd Worthing.All houses in Gannon Rd are now numbered so might not be able to locate it for you.He was buried on 4th Jan aged 62 occupation a glass writer I have access to the purchase and burial registers and can send you the copies of the entries from these, I can also check to see if he had a headstone, photograph it and send you this.Anything else regarding research in the area I will try to help. John

possible death Q2 1951, Essex S.W