Co-church warden of St James & St John, Clerkenwell in 1890.
Henry Walter Fincham was born on 27 February 1859, the youngest of the four children of Henry Fincham (1812-1887) and Mary Ann Fincham née Nicholls (1814-1895). His birth was registered in the 2nd quarter of 1859 in the Islington Registration District, Middlesex (now Greater London).
In the 1861 census he is shown as aged 2 years and living in Allen Street, Islington, (later renamed as Digswell Street), with his parents and three elder sibling: Phillip Henry Fincham (1839-1928) - a stone mason; Elizabeth Mary Fincham (1846-1866) - a dressmaker and William Arthur Fincham (1853-1916) - a scholar. His father was described a mason.
He was shown in the 1871 census as aged 12 years and a scholar, still residing in Allen Street, Islington, with his parents and his brother, William Arthur Fincham - a commercial traveller, together with his cousin Alfred Fincham, aged 23 years and a stone mason. His father was listed as a mason (stone).
When the 1881 census was undertaken his was described as aged 22 years and a joiner living at 5 Allen Street, Islington, with his parents. His father was still shown as a mason.
He married Emma Angel (1860-1918) in the 3rd quarter of 1888 in the Islington Registration District.
The 1891 census shows him as aged 32 years and a cardboard box maker, living at 12 Umfreville Road, Hornsey, Middlesex (now Greater London), with his wife and two sons: Walter Henry Angel Fincham (1889-1977) and Bernard Cecil Fincham (1891-1979), together with his widowed mother, who was listed as a visitor. Also recorded was a female general domestic servant.
The 1898 edition of Kelly's Directory of Middlesex listed him at 21 Hewitt Road, Hornsey, Middlesex.
His support of the Order of St John of Jerusalem in his role as Churchwarden was first acknowledged through his admission to the Order, first as an Honorary Serving Brother and Honorary Clerk to the Library in 1900.
The 1901 census shows him as aged 41 years and a cardboard box manufacturer and employer, residing at 70 Hillfield Avenue, Hornsey, with his wife, their three sons: Walter Henry Angel Fincham; Bernard Cecil Fincham and Edgar Frank Fincham (1893-1963), together with a housemaid.
When he completed his 1911 census return form he described himself as aged 52 years and a box manufacturer and employer (cardboard and wood covered in cloth for drapers etc), living in a nine roomed property at 70 Hillfield Avenue, Hornsey, with his wife and their three children: Walter Henry Angel Fincham - a demonstrator in the optical department at the Northampton Institute, London, EC; Bernard Cecil Fincham - a clerk in his father's business and Edgar Frank Fincham - a lecturer's assistant in the optical department at the Northampton Institute, together with a female general domestic servant.
The ongoing contribution he made to the Order of St John of Jerusalem was further recognised with promotions to Esquire in 1916, and then Knight of Grace in 1924. He was also admitted as a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries (F.S.A.) in 1920.
When the 1921 census was taken on 19 June 1921 he completed his return form showing himself as aged 62 years, 4 months, a widower and an employer and cardboard box manufacturer at Spa Works, Northampton Row, London, EC1. He was still residing at 70 Hillfield Avenue, Hornsey, with his three sons: Walter Henry Angel Fincham - a teacher at Northampton Polytechnic Institute, St John Street, Clerkenwell London, EC1; Bernard Cecil Fincham - who was in part-time education and an employer in the manufacture of cardboard boxes at Spa Works, Northampton Row, London, EC1 and Edgar Frank Fincham - a teacher at Northampton Polytechnic Institute, St John Street, Clerkenwell London, EC1.
In the 1939 England and Wales Register he is shown as a widower and a librarian living at Padman House, Cape Street, Wenlock, Shropshire, the home of John George Broadhurst (1874-1949), an estate clerk of works and Minnie Broadhurst née Davies (1873-1960). The register confirmed his date of birth as 27 February 1859.
His death, aged 93 years, was registered in the 3rd quarter of 1952 in the Wood Green Registration District, Middlesex (now Greater London).
Probate records confirm his address had been 70 Hillfield Avenue, Hornsey and that he died on 16 August 1952. Probate was granted on 4 November 1952 to his three sons: Walter Henry Angel Fincham - a retired teacher; Bernard Cecil Fincham - a manufacturer and Edgar Frank Fincham - a lecturer. His effects totalled £8,473-11s-3d.
A death notice was carried in local newspapers that read: 'On 16 August 1952 at 70 Hillfield Avenue, London, N8, Henry Walter Fincham, F.S.A., Knight of Grace and Assistant Librarian and Curator at the Order of St John of Jerusalem, aged 93. Cremation at St Marylebone Crematorium, East End Road, Finchley, on Thursday, Aug. 21. at 2 p.m.'
He is shown as 'H.W.FINCHAM' on both the East and the West plaques attached to buildings in Rosebery Square, Rosebery Avenue, London, EC1.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
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