Saturday, 18 October 2014

New Residents at Pear Tree Cottage


Pear Tree Cottage, Sharnbrook, 1912 (now 97 High Street) [Z1306/100/10/1]

Sunday 18th October 1914: Belgian refugees continue to be welcomed in Bedfordshire. A family named Everard arrived in Sharnbrook today where they have been lodged at Pear Tree Cottage with Miss Mary Christine Hutchison until an empty house can be found for them. Monsieur Everard was a tanner with a large business at Augarde, near Louvain. He owned a considerable amount of property which has all been burned, with the exception of a few cottages at Antwerp. Several of his friends have been killed and the women and children dreadfully mutilated. He is accompanied by his wife, his son, his sister, and their maid Hortense. Another son is now living in Dorset with his two children. Hortense has brothers fighting with the Belgian Army, but has not heard from them since the outbreak of war. Monsieur Everard junior is being given English lessons by Mr John Edward Prince Evans.

Source: St Peter’s Sharnbrook Parish Record Book, pp.56-57 [P112/28/6]

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