Unitarian minister, scholar and interpreter of Judaism.
In addition to the information shown on his and of his religious studies on the , we know that Robert Travers Herford was born on 13 March 1860, the sixth of the eight children of Charles James Herford (1817-1891) and Mary Jane Herford née Robberds (1830-1886). His birth was registered in the 1st quarter of 1860 in the Chorlton registration district. Lancashire.
In the 1861 census he is shown as living at 37 Ancomb Street, Chorlton upon Medlock, Manchester, Lancashire, with his parents, four of his siblings: Charles Harold Herford (1853-1931), Amy Catherine Herford (1854-1919), Hugh Vernon Herford (1857-1931) and Philip Arnold Herford (1858-1899), his maternal grandmother Mary Robberds née Turner (1786-1869), together with a cook, a housemaid and a nurse. His father was described as a wine merchant and his grandmother as a landed proprietress and fund holder. His other elder sister, Mary Susan Herford (1855-1919) was visiting their paternal uncle, Brooke Herford (1830-1903) a Unitarian minister and his family at Brincliffe Bank, Ecclesall Bierlow, Sheffield, Yorkshire.
He was described as a scholar in the 1871 census residing at 39 Ancomb Street, Chorlton upon Medlock, with his parents and six of his siblings: Charles Harold Herford, Amy Catherine Herford, Hugh Vernon Herford, Philip Arnold Herford, Walter Harrell Herford (1867-1917) and Henry John Robberds Herford (1869-1946), together with three female domestic servants.
On 13 April 1886 he married Margaret Osler (1861-1953) at the Rosslyn Hill Unitarian Chapel, 3 Pilgrim's Place, Hampstead, Middlesex. In the 1891 census he is shown as a Unitarian Minister living in The Parsonage, Pilkington, Lancashire, with his wife, their two children: Robert Osler Herford (1888-1955) and Ruth Herford (1890-1982), together with a cook and a housemaid.
He was still listed as a Unitarian Minister in the 1901 census living at The Parsonage, Stand, Radcliffe, Lancashire, with his wife, their five children, Robert Osler Herford, Ruth Herford, Richard Hugh Herford (1891-1979), Catharine Tayler Herford (1896-1990) and Margaret Roscoe Herford (1899-1981), together with a cook and a nurse.
When he completed his 1911 census return form he described himself as a Minister of Religion (Unitarian) living in a ten roomed property called The Parsonage, Ringley Road, Stand, Whitefield, Lancashire, with his wife, four of their five children: Robert, Ruth, Richard and Margaret, two 18-years-old twin nieces: Margaret Roscoe Osler & Helen Frances Osler who were born in Hamilton, New Zealand, together with a cook and a housemaid.
Electoral registers in 1918 list him and his wife at Dr Williams' Library, Gordon Square, London, WC1. He left Southampton, Hampshire, on 7 July 1923 aboard the SS Pittsburgh of the White Star Line, arriving in New York, USA, on 18 July 1923. He returned to Liverpool, Lancashire, on 17 August 1923 having departed from Quebec, Canada, aboard the SS Montlaurier of the Canadian Pacific Line and travelling Cabin Class. The ship's manifest shows him as a secretary residing at 14 Gordon Square, London, WC1.
The 1925 Post Office London Directory confirms him as Rev. R. Travers Herford, BA, at Dr Williams' Library, Gordon Square, WC1, but telephone directories from 1929 list him as Rev. R. T. Herford at Summertrees, Kelsall, Chester, Cheshire. He was listed at this address as a Minister of Religion (Retired) in the 1939 England and Wales Register, together with his wife, a cook and a housemaid.
Probate records confirm that he died, aged 90 years, on 10 November 1950 at Summertrees, Kelsall, Cheshire and that when probate was granted on 12 February 1951 to his two eldest children: Robert Osler Herford, a company director, and Ruth Herford, a spinster, his effects totalled £12,397-1s-9d.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
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