CFHS code : AG262
Parish : St Andrew the Great
Inscription : Sacred to the Memory of ANN the beloved wife of JAMES DOO d Nov 19 1855 aged 69
Monument : Headstone
Above information amended from Cambridge Family History Society Survey
Lat Lon : 52.202996, 0.13636304 – click here for location
Monument
The inscription on this small beautifully carved headstone is very badly eroded and the Andrew the Great grave register was used to confirm that both Ann & James are buried here. Row 1 against the west wall, plot 26 just north of the east west path from the centre circle.
Inscription
Sacred to the Memory of ANN the beloved wife of JAMES DOO died Nov 18 1855 aged 69
Ann Doo (c1787- 1855)
The 1851 census states that Ann was born in Fenstanton (Hunts this is a cross border parish and usually listed as in Cambs now). We have not found a definitive baptism for Ann but an Ann Fox was baptised in Ely Holy Trinity in April 1788. This would make her the daughter of Robert & Ann Fox. She married James Doe/Doo* at Holy Sepulchre (the round Church) on October 16th 1811. They had at least 6 children George Fuller (1812) William (1816/7), Emma (1818), Ann (1822), Susanna (1825), Eliza (1826) and James (1828). George was baptised in Holy Sepulchre. All the other children were baptised in All Saint’s church which was in Trinity St.
When Ann died she was living at 12 Parker St.
James Doo (c1787 – 25th August 1863)
According to the census James was born in Cambridge c1787. We found a baptism for a James Doe* on September 21st 1788 at Holy Trinity Church. This would make him the son of William & Susanna.
Baptism records for his children record that he worked for Trinity College Cambridge from at least 1813 but by 1833 he seems to have joined his son James in the grocery trade grocer. The family lived initially on **Garlic Fair Lane which became Park St, moving by 1822 to Jesus Lane. after James’ death number 9 was sold by the family so it is very likely that this property was owned by James. However he had rented it out for many years and lived with Ann in St Peter’s St (1841) . By 1851 they were at 12 Parker St their daughter Eliza was still at home working as a governess but married farmer Thomas Jackson in 1853.. After Ann’s death he moved to King St where he died and was buried on August 28th aged 76.
*Doe / Doo There are over twice as many marriages recorded in Cambridge for the name Doe between 1642 &1949. Only 16 Doos some of which are also recorded under Doe
As many people did not read & write in the 18th century it is very likely that the person at the church who recorded the births used a spelling that they were most familiar with. However when William & Susanna married in 1781 it was recorded that William did sign his name as Doo. William and Susanna had at least 4 children baptised under the name of Doe and 1 as Doo.
** https://capturingcambridge.org/centre/park-street/park-street-garlic-fair-lane/
by Mary Naylor
sources
CHFHS transcripts of parish records
British Newspaper Archives
[If you have any information about this person, please contact us at Friendsofmillroadcemetery@gmail.com]