CFHS code : HT174
Parish : Holy Trinity
Inscription : In Loving Memory of ROBERT DAWSON d Jan 23 1918 aged 48 also his sister ELIZABETH SUSAN DAWSON d Feb 9 1955 aged 85
Monument : Kerb stones
Above information from Cambridge Family History Society Survey
Monument
This set of kerbstones, now sadly broken, lie 12 rows from the east wall and 4 plots north of the south wall, in the south east corner of the parish area of Holy Trinity.
The carved inscriptions are worn and barely legible so we have not been able to update from the original recorded by CFHS
Inscription
In Loving Memory of ROBERT DAWSON d Jan 23 1918 aged 48
Also his sister ELIZABETH SUSAN DAWSON d Feb 9 1955 aged 85
Robert Saul Dawson (1869 – 23 January 1918)
Robert was born in Burwell and was the youngest son of Alfred and Susan. He grew up at Peacocks Farm, where Alfred farmed 381 acres and employed 19 men (1881). By 1891 the family had moved to Greenwich Farm, Stapleford and Robert was farming together with his father. He married Amy Sarah Pyke (1873-1968) in 1897 and they had three children: Alfred Brand Willis (1899-1981), John Alec (1902-1977) and Gwendoline Sophie (1904-1994). Robert worked as a ‘dairyman’ together with his elder brother John and the family lived at 114 New Street (1901). By 1911 he was working as a carman (delivery driver) for J.A. Sturton Ltd, 119 & 120 Fitzroy Street. The family lived at 102 Eden Street (1911) and then 54 Hills Road (at least 1915 onwards).
Robert died in Orwell as a result of an accident – the subsequent inquest heard he was driving a van and four horses doing deliveries. The horses had stopped on Orwell Hill, and refused to move. The horses had then bolted and Robert was found on the ground, having been run over by one of the wheels of the van. The inquest returned a verdict of accidental death. His funeral was held on 28 January 1918. at the Hills Road Wesleyan Chapel .
Elizabeth Susan Dawson (1871 – 5 November 1955)
Elizabeth was also born in Burwell and was the youngest daughter of Alfred and Susan. Little is known of her life – she lived at 67 Mawson Road (at least 1931-1935) with Elsie and Bessie Ashbury, so possibly was their housekeeper. She then moved to live at 9c Castle Row (at least 1945 onwards) and died at Chesterton Hospital.
Sources:
Ancestry
Newspaper archives
by Claire Martinsen
[If you have any information about this family, please contact us at Friendsofmillroadcemetery@gmail.com]