CFHS code : HT264
Parish : Holy Trinity
Inscription : IARO FRANCES the beloved wife of WILLIAM SMITH d January 1[0] 1866 aged 47 WILLIAM SMITH line illegible [and of] MARIA [the beloved wife] of WILLIAM SMITH ———- 1883 AGED [6]7
Monument : Headstone
Above information from Cambridge Family History Society Survey
Monument
This headstone stands 1 row south of the south path and 6 rows along from the central path in the parish of Holy Trinity. Although leaning, the headstone is stable but the carved inscription is only partially legible.
Inscription
In Affectionate Remembrance of FRANCES
the beloved wife of WILLIAM SMITH died January 10 1866 aged 47 years
WILLIAM SMITH line illegible
[and of] MARIA [the beloved wife] of WILLIAM SMITH ———- 1885 AGED 67
Frances Smith (née Smith) (c.1819 – 10 January 1866)
Little is known of Frances’ life. She was born in Cambridge and in 1851 was living at 3 New Street with her illegitimate son Anthony (1845-1890), working as a laundress. She married farmer William Smith at Cambridge registry office on August 3rd 1850 when she was 28. Her address was given as White Horse St, Baldock, Hertfordshire and they had at least two children: Susan Ann (1857-1944) and Charles (1860-). William worked as a labourer and they lived at 29 New Street (1861) and then King Street. Frances died at home aged 47 years old, after what newspapers called ‘many years of severe affliction borne with Christian fortitude’ and was buried at Mill Road Cemetery on 14 January 1866.
William Smith (1821 – )
Little is also known of William’s life. He was born in Waterbeach and was the son of John. When he married Frances he was listed as a farmer and his address was given as Pembroke Street, Cambridge.
After he was widowed he married Maria Clarke at Holy Trinity Church, on 12 November 1867. It is not known when he died.
Maria Smith (née Clarke) (1818 – September 1885)
Maria is thought to have been born in London and was the daughter of ‘Mr Thomas Clarke, of Brook Street Holborn’. She died in London aged 67 years old and was buried at Mill Road Cemetery on 10 September 1885.
Sources:
Ancestry
Newspaper archives
Parish burial records transcribed by CFHS
by Claire Martinsen
[If you have any information about this family, please contact us at Friendsofmillroadcemetery@gmail.com]