CFHS code : AS237
Parish : All Saints
Inscription : In Loving Memory of WILLIAM COOPER ATKINS / d Nov 30 1862 aged 85 / also of / HENRY JOHN MATTHEW / eldest son of / JOHN and MARY ANN MATTHEW / and grandson of the above / died at Matlock Sept 12 1879 / aged 34 / In Loving Memory of / FREDERICK WILLIAM / d March 11 1855 aged 11 months / FREDERICK GEORGE / d April 6 1855 aged 18 months / SIDNEY / d Dec 7 1834 aged 3 days / SIDNEY / d July 30 1862 aged 5 / also of / CHARLES JAMES / d Aug 28 1889 aged 42 / interred in the Brighton and Preston Cemetery / the second, fifth, sixth, seventh and ninth sons of / JOHN and MARY ANN MATTHEW
Monument : Headstone x 2/Kerb stones
Above information from Cambridge Family History Society Survey
Lat Lon : 52.20343, 0.137408
Monument
Two headstones within a single set of kerb stones (double plot), in the parish area of All Saints, located toward the northwest of the cemetery, just south of the north path.
Relationship: Grandfather and grandchildren
Inscription
headstone 1: left
‘In loving memory of William Cooper Atkins
died Nov 30 1862 aged 85 years.’
‘Also of Henry John Matthew
eldest son of John and Mary Ann Matthew and grandson of the above
died at Matlock Sept 12 1879 aged 34 years.’
headstone 2: right
‘In loving memory of Frederick William
died March 11 1853 aged 11 months.’
‘Frederick George died April 6 1855 aged 18 months’
‘Sidney died Dec 7 1854 aged 3 days.’
‘Sidney died July 30 1862 aged 5 years.’
‘Also of Charles James died Aug 28 1889 aged 42 years
interred in Brighton and Preston Cemetery’
‘the second, fifth, sixth, seventh and ninth sons of John and Mary Ann Matthew’
Relationships: Henry John, Charles James, Frederick William, Frederick George, Sidney (1) and Sidney (2) Matthew (AS237) were sons, and Frances and Katherine Matthew daughters (AS241) of John and Mary Ann Matthew (AS241). They were all grandchildren of William Cooper Atkins (AS237) and nieces and nephews of Henry Girling Atkins (AS243). Of the eleven children of John and Mary Ann, seven are buried in the cemetery, while Charles James is buried in the Brighton and Preston Cemetery.
William Cooper Atkins (c.1777‒1862)
William was born in Lewisham and worked as a tailor. He married Elizabeth Girling (1785-1826) at Holy Sepulchre Church in 1806 and they had at least ten children: Elizabeth (1808-1898), William Cooper (1809-1848), Henry Girling (1810-1811), George (1811-1891), Henry Girling (1813-1814), Henry Girling (1819-1875), Sarah (1820-), Mary Ann (1821-1894), Thomas (1823-) and Benjamin (1826-1826). The family lived at Bridge Street, where William had a tailor and robe makers shop. He was widowed in February 1826 – announcements of Elizabeth Atkins death read ‘leaving an aged father, an affectionate husband and eight children to mourn their irreparable loss’. In 1851 he was living at Bridge Street with son Henry and servant Ann Craghill. He retired to live at 3 New Square, and was still attended for by Ann (1861). William died at home and newspapers described him as ‘an upright man all his days and greatly respected’. His funeral was held on 5 December.
Henry John Matthew (1845‒1879)
Henry, the eldest son, had joined the navy aged 15 before returning to the business and becoming a noted public figure. He was involved in launching the Cambridge horse-drawn Tramways Company, was active in the YMCA, and served as councillor for Market Ward.
The banns were read for the marriage of a Henry John “Matthews” of All Saints parish with Margaret Gosling of Holy Trinity Church, Richmond, Surrey on 2 August 1874 ‒ whether this was “our” Henry is unclear.
Henry died of apoplexy on 12 September 1879 aged 34 while at Matlock spa in Derbyshire. He was buried in the All Saints parish area of Mill Road Cemetery on 18 September in what is described as “Grave No. 22.29”. His address at the time of his death is given as Chesterton Road. (See his obituary and funeral notice.)
Charles James Matthew (c.1847‒1889)
Charles James was baptised at All Saints Church, Cambridge on 3 October 1847. In 1871 he was working for his father as a grocer’s clerk and was still living at home. He died ‘suddenly’ on 28 August 1889 of paralysis at the age of 42 and was buried in the cemetery of Brighton and Preston.
Frederick William Matthew (1852‒1853)
Frederick William was baptised at All Saints Church, Cambridge on 9 May 1852. He died aged 11 months on 11 March 1853 and was buried in the All Saints parish area of Mill Road Cemetery in what was described as “infant grave No. 22.28” on the 16th of that month.
Frederick George Matthew (1853‒1855)
Frederick George was baptised at All Saints Church, Cambridge on Christmas Day 1853. He died aged 18 months on 6 April 1855 and was buried in the All Saints parish area of Mill Road Cemetery in what was described as “infant grave No. 22.28” with Frederick William on the 12th of that month.
Sidney Matthew (1) (1854‒1854)
Sidney (1) was baptised at All Saints Church, Cambridge on 6 December 1854, and died the next day, three days old. He was buried on the 9th of that month in the parish area of All Saints in Mill Road Cemetery in what was described as “infant grave No. 14.12”.
Sidney Matthew (2) (1857‒1862)
Sidney (2) was baptised at All Saints Church, Cambridge on 30 October 1857. He died aged [nearly] 5 years on 30 July 1862 and was buried on 4 August in the All Saints parish area of Mill Road Cemetery in what was described as “infant grave No. 22.28” with the bodies of Frederick George and Frederick William.
Sources :
All Saints Church, Cambridge baptismal, banns and burial registers
Judy Wilson, Cambridge Grocer: The Story of Matthew’s of Trinity Street 1832-1962 (Cambridge: R. A. Wilson, 2010)
personal communications from Michael Matthew and Judy Wilson
By Ian Bent