This grave was not found by CFHS during their survey of the Cemetery
Parish : St Clements
Alfred William Oslar Kirby (1855 – 9 March 1929)
Known as Alf, he was the son of William Oslar Kirby (1834-1868) and Sarah (née Jones) (1829-1916) and was born in Holborn, London. His parents were from Cambridge and they returned home when he was a small child. Alf was baptised at St. Giles’ Church on 6 May 1860, and the family lived at 4 Brewleys Yard, off Magdalene Street (1861) and later at Shelley Row.
William Kirby was a tailor, who died aged 34 and is buried in the St. Andrew the Less area of Mill Road Cemetery, although his grave has not yet been identified. His wife Sarah is thought to have been buried with him.
Alf married Ellen Backler (known as Nell) on 19 June 1884 at St Andrew the Less Church. On the marriage certificate his address is given as 1 Pound Hill, and his occupation as a railway servant. The couple had three children: Grace Louise (1885-1974), Edward Frank (1886-1886) and Harold William Osler (1890-1958).
By 1891 Alf was working at St. John’s College and the family lived at 6 Church Street until at least 1911, before moving to 34 Thompsons Lane (at least 1916-1918) and then 9 Honey Hill. He worked for St. John’s College for thirty years and died aged 73 years old. His funeral was held on 12 March.
Ellen Louisa Kirby (née Backler) (1856- 10 May 1916)
Known as Nell, she was the daughter of George (1822-1897) and Elizabeth (née Last) (1822- and was baptised on 8 June 1856 at St Andrew the Less. Her father worked as a gardener and she grew up at 48 Bradmore Street, with her five siblings. Aged 13 she was working as a general servant for Susan Clarance, who lived at 5 Norwich Street (1871), by 1881 she was back living at Bradmore Street and working as a dressmaker. Nell died at Thompson’s Lane aged 59 years old. Newspapers reported she ‘had been ill for some years’ and had ‘bore her suffering with great fortitude’ but her death was never the less unexpected. There were many messages on the wreaths at the graveside, including one from her daughter Grace which read ‘From her heartbroken, sorrowing and lonely daughter Grace, R.I.P”.
Sources:
Ancestry
Newspaper archives
by Claire Martinsen