Henry John Purkis

GEDCOM Note

Henry was born at his parent's home at 37 Aylesford Street, and registered in the sub-district of Belgrave. His father's occupation is given as Builder's Labourer.

Some time after the death of his father in 1888 (when Henry was 19), he set up his own corn merchant's business in Haslemere with some input from his uncle Joseph Purkis. This move to Haslemere probably happened in the early 1890s. This business prospered and he branched out into carrying and other related businsses. Liz has a photograph of him with a dozen or so of his employees outside his shop in the centre of Haslemere.

Henry was Catholic and his wife Elizabeth Heather was protestant. His son Philip Purkis (b1911) described the Heathers as "temple folk" - very religious and conservative protestants. Philip recalled in 1999 that largely because of this, he and his siblings knew very litle about their father's family and were brought up protestant. Philip recalled that Elizabeth's family considered that in marrying Henry she had married "below herself".

Henry died in 1933 after a nine month struggle with throat cancer. A short time before his death he wrote a touching letter to his son Philip asking him to telephone and wishing him "goodbye for now". Philip kept this letter until his own death 69 years later.