Recent work by our volunteers have uncovered a group of graves in the older part of the cemetery. They belong to the Barratt family.
Research has led us to this Sidmouth Herald article where the history of the family is discussed. The Barratt family – master tailors in Sidmouth It is such a shame to see the state the graves have got into.
This double grave holds Henrietta Pratt Barratt, 2nd daughter of the late William Baker and Dorothy Barratt; and also Mary Barratt wife of Henry Hill Barratt who lies nearby.
One can’t help but wonder why these two women were buried together and yet the husband of one is buried nearby. It is even more strange because one died in 1899 and the other in 1943. Henrietta doesn’t seem to have married so Henry’s wife is unlikely to be a descendant. Double burials are most often husband and wife or parent and child.
Further research
From local newspapers we know that
William Baker Barratt was tailor and draper in Sidmouth 1827 and he died in Dec 1863. A report of his funeral says he was Parish Clerk for nearly 30 years and a prominent Sidmouth Freemason, he left an adult family of 5 sons and 3 daughters.
A marriage in 1864 March 8th at the Parish Church of Mr Samuel Barratt of London, son of the late Mr W B Barratt of Sidmouth to Eliza, second daughter of Mr John Blackmore of Sidmouth
It seems that Edwin Barratt may have returned from London (where many of William’s sons ended up) to run the business around the time of his father’s death. In 1864 he was the Parish Clerk and in 1865 an advertisment for his shop in Church Street reads ‘E Barratt Tailor, draper and hatter (from Hill Brothers, Old Bond Street) Church Street Sidmouth. Naval and military uniforms.’
1890 death on 10th Dec, in London, Louisa, the dearly beloved wife of Edwin Barratt of Church Street Sidmouth in her 63rd year.
In 1924 Blanche Henrietta Barratt was a milliner and dressmaker in Church Street.
If anyone knows any stories about the Barratts then please share them with us and we will add to this page.
From FaceBook
Jane Hydes shared this :-
William Baker Barett was born in Budleigh, the son of John Barrett and Jane Baker, He married Dorothy Pratt from Kentisbeare in Littleham on 13.6.1813.
In addition to being the Parish Clerk, William was also a Tailor in Church Street and was a witness to my paternal great great grandparents wedding in 1841
They had eight children, the youngest being Edwin who was born in 1828. He married Louisa Evans in 1856 and they had eleven children.
He was also a tailor and coincidentally was a witness to my maternal great grandparents marriage in 1887
And his descendant Alvin H Barratt told us :-
William Baker Barratt (1790 – 1863) was my Great, Great Grandfather; Edwin ((1828 – 1904) was my Great Grandfather, and his son Henry Hill Barratt (1864 – 1921) being my Grandfather (one of 12 children!). The Barratts were a family of Master Tailors, with premises on Church Street.