CFHS code : AL73a The original code of 73 turned out to be in the wrong location.
Parish : St Andrew the Less
Inscription : BENJAMIN CLIFTON d Sep 28 1906 age 85
Monument : Stone cross (broken)
Above information from Cambridge Family History Society Survey
This monument appears on the map as no.95 and was marked UK at the time of mapping.
Monument
Located in the far north the cemetery midway between the east wall and the central path as it curves towards the Norfolk Street gate.but hidden in bramble. The carved inscription is very hard to read. We managed to photograph Benjamin’s on the west face but could not really get a clear image of Mary’s.
Inscription
BENJAMIN CLIFTON
Who died Sep 28 1906
Aged 85 years
Benjamin Clifton (c.1821 – 28 September 1906)
Benjamin was the son of William and Sarah (née Knights) Clifton. He was born in Bedford and baptised at St. Paul’s Church on 2 February 1822. He married Mary Martin on 9 November 1841 in Elsworth and the couple had at least six children: Elizabeth Martin (1844-1894), Julia (1847-1954), Janet (1849-1917), Mary Ann (1852-1924), Margaret (1857-1954) and Martin Henry (1859-1915).
Benjamin was a tailor and the family lived at 28 Grafton Street (1861) and then at 13 John Street (at least 1871 onwards). He was a ‘painstaking worker on behalf of the Good Samaritan Society’ throughout his life (it is believed that this was a mutual society which offered health insurance). After he was widowed he moved to live at Fern Villa, Goldington in Bedford and became active in church there. He died in Bedford aged 85 years old and was buried in Mill Road Cemetery on 3 October.
Mary Ann Clifton (née Martin) (27 July 1817 – 18 February 1893)
Mary was born in Elsworth and baptised there on 8 January 1818. She was the daughter of John and Elizabeth Martin and married Benjamin Clifton when she was c.24 years old. She died at 13 John Street aged 75 years old and was buried on 23 February.
Sources:
Ancestry
Newspaper archives
by Claire Martinsen and Mary Naylor
[If you have any further information about this person, please contact us at Friendsofmillroadcemetery@gmail.com]