CFHS code : AL91
Parish : St Andrew the Less
Inscription : Sacred to the Memory of SARAH ANN DAWSON who departed this life March 15 1903 aged 71 beloved and mourned by her sorrowing brother and sisters also ELIZABETH FLETCHER sister of the above d Jan 13 1921 aged 87
Monument : Headstone/Kerb stones
Above information from Cambridge Family History Society Survey
Lat Lon : 52.203915, 0.13829502 – click here for location
Monument
Located against the east wall in the north of the parish of St Andrew the Less. Roughly half way between the North wall and the gate to Gwydir Street. The kerb stones are intact but some of the metal letters have been lost. There are trees and brambles hiding the monument during the summer.
Inscription
Sacred to the Memory of SARAH ANN DAWSON
Who departed this life March 15 1903 aged 71 years
Beloved and mourned by her sorrowing brother and sisters
“Calm is thy slumber as an infant’s sleep;
But thou shalt wake no more to toil and weep:
Thine is a perfect rest, secure and deep–
Good-night Good-night! Good-night!”*
Also ELIZABETH FLETCHER sister of the above Who died Jan. 13. 1921 aged 87 years
*from the Christian Goodnight by Sarah Doudney
Sarah Ann Dawson (née Fletcher) (28 March 1831 – 15 March 1903)
Sarah was born in Isleham, the daughter of George and Mary Fletcher. Aged 18 she was living in Soham and working as a general servant for grocer Edmund Underwood and his family, and then as a servant for the Dewson family at 16 Brunswick Place (1861). Sarah worked as a lady’s maid in Paddington (1871) and Hampstead (1881). She had returned to live with her sisters Elizabeth and Mary at 80 Newmarket Road by 1891, and married milk seller Alfred Dawson c.1892. Sarah died at 110 New Street and her funeral was held on 19 March.
Elizabeth Fletcher (23 March 1833 – 13 February 1921)
Elizabeth was Sarah’s younger sister and was also born in Isleham. Her father was a milkman and by 1851 Elizabeth was living with her family at 18 Thompson’s Lane, Cambridge. By 1861 George Fletcher (1809-1875) was running the Birdbolt pub at 61 Newmarket Road and was combining being a publican with also being a milkman, helped by his son George. The Fletcher family later moved to 80 Newmarket Road where Elizabeth’s father ran his milk business until his death in November 1875. Elizabeth then ran the business with her stepmother Rebecca and in 1881 they were employing 3 men. On the death of Rebecca, Elizabeth ran the business from 80 Newmarket Road, with by her brother George who lived in Abbey Walk. In 1911 she was living at Newmarket Road with companion Sophia Chapman, and two dairymen. Elizabeth died at 180 Newmarket Road aged 87 years old.
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]