CFHS code : AL585a
Parish : St Andrew the Less
Inscription : MARY the beloved wife of WILLIAM BRIGGS of Stetchworth d Oct [4] 1884 aged 74 DAVID MARSH d Dec 31 1885 aged 54 —- WILLIAM BRIGGS d April 10 1887 aged 77 also MARY MARSH wife of the above remainder illegible
Monument : Headstone (fallen and broken)
Above information from Cambridge Family History Society Survey
Monument
This headstone was found broken and probably misplaced 3 rows to the west of the central path and directly in line with the gate that leads to Gwydir Street, which is to the east of the path. We were not able to see any of the Biggs inscription.
Inscription
MARY the beloved wife of WILLIAM BRIGGS of Stetchworth d Oct [4] 1884 aged 74
DAVID MARSH d Dec 31 1885 aged 54 —-
WILLIAM BRIGGS d April 10 1887 aged 77
Also MARY MARSH wife of the above remainder illegible
Relationship: Mother, father, daughter, son in law
Mary Briggs (née Tweed) (1810- 4 October 1884)
Mary was born in Cheveley, four miles southeast of Newmarket and married boot and shoe maker William Briggs in West Wickham in 1832. The couple lived in Stetchworth, three miles south of Newmarket and had at least eleven children: Maria (1833-), James (1834-), John (1836-1912), Mary Maria (1837-1912), Elizabeth (1840-), William (1843-1895), Thomas (1844-1870), Jane (1847-1909), Walter (1849-), Martha (1851-) and Emma (1853-1941). They lived in Stetchworth, and Mary died there aged 74. She was buried at Mill Road Cemetery on 8 October 1884.
David Marsh (c.1831 – 31 December 1885)
David was born in Hadstock, Essex, the son of John and Elizabeth Marsh and was baptised on 17 February 1833. His father was a labourer, and as a young man David worked as the same, although he then joined the police. He married Mary Briggs in Stetchworth on 18 November 1858 and in 1861 the couple were living in Fen Ditton and he was working as a police constable. They had at least three children: Walter William (1865-), Agnes Emma Jane (1873-1947) and Sydney David George (1875-1954). By 1869 David was running The William IVth pub at 93 Newmarket Road. He died at home and his funeral was held on 5 January 1886.
William Briggs (1810 – 10 April 1887)
David was born in Stetchworth, the son of John and Mary Briggs. His father was an agricultural labourer/farmer, and William worked as a shoemaker. He died at Newmarket Road, and his funeral took place on 13 April.
Mary Maria Cambridge (née Briggs) (c.1837 – 29 January 1916)
Mary was the second daughter of William and Mary Briggs and was born in Stetchworth. She was baptised there on 15 May 1856, when she was 18 years old. She married David Marsh and married for a second time in 1888 to widower Owen Cambridge (1834-1896). Owen was also a publican and ran the Greyhound at 11 & 12 Coldham Lane. His first wife Phoebe had died in January 1888. Mary and Owen continued to run the Greyhound, and he also worked as a dairyman/milk seller. After she was wdiowed for a second time Mary lived with her sister Jane, who by then was running the George IVth, on Newmarket Road (1901). In 1911 she was living with another of her sisters – Emma and her husband Edward Bolton at 22 Hills Road. Edward was part of the Bolton dynasty, who ran storage and removal companies in Cambridge for many years. A photo of 22 Hills Road can be seen here and it was crowded with adverts for Edward’s many businesses – including removals, storage, carting, coal merchant and brick manufacturer. Mary died at 22 Hills Road and her funeral was held on 1 February
William and Mary Brigg’s son Thomas Briggs died at Norfolk Street on 8 November 1870 aged 26 years old. He was buried in the St Andrew the Less area of Mill Road Cemetery, but it is not known if he was buried in the same grave as his parents and sister.
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]