Joseph Farrow established himself as Charles Allwood, in 1914 at the a manufacturer of mushroom ketchup age of four, pulled a pan of boiling in 1840. His son, Joseph Farrow Jr., also water onto himself badly scalding his entered the business and by the late head. His mother decided to treat him 1880s they were producing Mustard and herself rather than seeking medical Mushroom Ketchup from factories in attention. After 5 weeks she noticed and around . The main original her son was holding his face and had factory in the town was basically in the fever. She consulted the local surgeon location of where the Factory Shop is 10 who diagnosed tetanus (lockjaw) caused by infection now in Fleet Road. The mustard side of from the burns. Unfortunately, Charles Allwood was 7 the business was later sold off to their main rival - J & beyond help and quickly died. J Colman of Norwich, who acquired numerous shares in Joseph Farrow & Co. By 1945 the company’s principal Herbert Marshall was struck by activity was the canning of fruit and vegetables and in lightning and killed during a severe later years Farrows acquired Gales Honey of . storm, in July of 1897. Two labourers By 1961 Farrow & Co was by far the largest subsidiary who were with him were also struck of Colmans. Over the years Farrows has excelled in down. An inquest was held at the mushroom and tomato ketchup, mustard, peas, tinned Pear Tree Inn before Mr C.E.Bonner, vegetables and honey. Many products are now sold under Deputy Coroner, where Edward brand names but Farrows Marrowfat Peas, established in Marshall, a farm labourer of Holbeach, 1934, can still be found on our supermarket shelves today. identified the body as that of his son Herbert Marshall who was 14 years Jonathon Ward and wife of age. P.C.Warner of Frances were married in 11 gave evidence having witnessed the scene one hour after the mid 1840s and enjoyed the incident. He stated that the deceased’s shoulder was a prosperous life running a discoloured, as if it had been burned, and there was a successful farming practice brown line running across his heart to where his pocket in Holbeach Marsh. They watch was on the right side. 8 were hit with tragedy losing seven children in a three year period, burying three together on the same day Richard Lincoln, 30, a poulterer, of in February of 1858. Frances Eliza Porcher, one of their Holbeach, was run over and killed at surviving children, is buried close by. Another nearby Spalding train station. The deceased stone was erected to commemorate some but not all of the crossed over the metals into the goods children of the Ward family. It is badly worn and illegible. yard, and apparently, whilst returning to the platform, was struck by some Three generations of trucks which were being shunted, and the Harding family were knocked down and killed. His body successive Cemetery Keepers, was terribly mutilated. There were two of whom are buried in indications close to of someone having neighbouring plots. William gone there to ‘relieve nature’. Dr. Byham Harding served for 27 years said he viewed the body of the deceased 9 and John Walter Harding served for 16 years; next 12 and he did not think there was any truth in a rumour came Cecil William Harding, who became Keeper on that the body had been gnawed by dogs. A verdict of March 4th 1919, serving for three and a half years. ‘accidentally killed’ was returned. Charles May, the first Cemetery Cathie Clarke, a butcher’s Keeper, was appointed in daughter born in Holbeach, was September of 1854 on a salary of initially a nurse in India before 16 shillings a week. He was also a working at a Polish children’s Methodist Sunday School teacher refugee camp at Balachadi, and carried out his Cemetery where she later became the Keeper’s duties for 20 years. The liaison officer. In October of Cemetery Keeper’s job came with 1938 Cathie gave birth to a a rent-free Lodge to live in, which 4 daughter Rosemary Elizabeth Clarke who died in can still be seen just over the road September 1939 from heart failure due to congenital and was designed at the same time heart disease. Clarke herself died of unknown causes at as the chapels. Jamnagar, on Monday 19th July 1943 aged 33 years. Two 1 years later, in 1945, the ashes of Cathie and her daughter James Fawn was a local builder were flown back to and buried on the 27th killed at the Holbeach workhouse August. The monument was erected as a thank you from in May 1890. He descended a the Polish people, whom she helped in India. sewage reservoir for inspection, but struggling to see, struck a match. Charles Judd, was a Poor Law An explosion occurred, and flames Guardian and school attendance rose from the mouth of the well to officer for the Holbeach Board, a height of several feet. Nearly all a position held for 24 years. of his clothing was destroyed, and Charles also ran a cycle business every particle of his hair and beard part time. He never married and were singed. He was badly burned lived with his mother, whom he about the head, neck and face, and described as his best friend, until the upper part of the body. He died her death. He then spent his later five days later from his injuries. years living with brother William 2 in Hallgate Cottages. Henry Peet was born in 5 Holbeach and went on to become Thomas Clarke was a very an established magistrate in wealthy man stemming from a Liverpool for 43 years. He also coal merchants’ background and became an established author and he bought Stukeley House on historian and was a churchwarden the 19th of February 1903 for in Liverpool. His literary works £1750. He had played the organ include: ‘The Architectural History at the Congregational Chapel in of Holbeach Church’ and a plaque Holbeach for 49 years and was outside the Mary Bass doors in the looking to complete his 50th church commemorates him. year before dying at the organ in 1921, whilst the Revd. Moore was reading from the scriptures.

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