CFHS code : HT334
Parish : Holy Trinity
Inscription : In Loving Memory of ELIZABETH FARRANT wife of JOHN KETTLE DRIVER d August 24 1926 also of JOHN KETTLE DRIVER d January 27 1935
Monument : Stone cross/Coped stone/Kerb stones
Above information from Cambridge Family History Society Survey
Monument
This substantial Celtic cross is located one row to the north of the south path in the parish of Holy Trinity. Walking from the Lodge it is just before the bend that becomes the east path. The inscription of metal letters is intact.
Inscription
In Loving Memory of ELIZABETH FARRANT wife of JOHN KETTLE DRIVER. Died August 24. 1926.
Also of JOHN KETTLE DRIVER. Died January 27. 1935.
Elizabeth Farrant Driver (née Edwards) (1857-1926)
Elizabeth was born in 1857 in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire. She was the eldest of twelve children born to Richard Edwards (1837-1905) and Louisa Farrant Edwards (née Haws) (1839-1915). Elizabeth married John Kettle Driver (1855-1935) in 1874 in Cambridge. Elizabeth died on 24 August 1926 in Cambridge.
Six of Elizabeth’s siblings died in infancy, and were also buried in this cemetery. Four of Elizabeth’s five siblings, who survived infancy, were also buried in this cemetery: Mary Ann Farrant Nixon (née Edwards) (1860-1921); William John Farrant Edwards (1863-1915); Richard James Farrant Edwards (1866-1913); and Susanna Helena Farrant Matthews (née Edwards) (1870-1950).
John Kettle Driver (1855-1935)
John was born in 1855 in Chesterton, Cambridgeshire. He was baptised on 17 June 1855 in Chesterton. He was one of at least nine children born to David Driver (c.1826-1892) and Jane Driver (née Frohock) (c.1827-1891). By 1871 John was living with his aunt, Ann Kettle (née Jacklin) (c.1818-?), at 28 and 29 Fitzroy Street, Cambridge. Like his aunt’s husband, John Kettle (c.1821-1886), he was working as a butcher. John married Elizabeth Farrant Edwards (1857-1926) in 1874 in Cambridge. They had eleven children: Annie Farrant (1876-1940); William John Farrant (1877-1878); John Robert Farrant (1879-1923); Elizabeth Susan Farrant (1881-1970); Louisa Jane Farrant (1882-1973); Lydia Ethel Farrant (1884-1885); Harry Farrant (1885-1918); Kate Farrant (1887-1982); Jessie Farrant (1890-1979); Frank Farrant (1897-1897); and Winifred Farrant (1898-1992). By 1881 the family was living at 9 Burleigh Street, Cambridge. By 1901 John had retired and the family was living at 74 Burleigh Street. By 1911 the family had moved to Falconhurst, Cherry Hinton Road, Cambridge.
During the war John’s son, Harry Farrant Driver (1885-1918) was killed. He was a Lieutenant in the 1st Battalion, Cambridgeshire Regiment. Harry died on 28 August 1918 and had been awarded a military cross for his actions in March 1918. He was also commemorated in Cambridge at St Paul’s and on the Cambridge Guildhall War Memorial.
The “London Gazette” announces that the Military Cross has been awarded to Lieut. Harry Farrant Driver, Cambridgeshire Regt. The official account states: “During a night attack, when the enemy worked round a flank, threatening to get behind the line, this officer, throwing back the flank of his platoon, led a counter-attack and drove the enemy back in confusion. On another occasion he assisted in leading a counter-attack with great dash, capturing twelve prisoners and a machine-gun.”
Cambridge Independent Press, Saturday, 4 October 1918
Harry was buried in Grave G.3, Meaulte Military Cemetery in France. Harry’s maternal first cousin, Richard Nixon (1894-1917), also died during the war and was buried in this cemetery.
Sources:
Census: 1891, 1901 and 1911
England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915
England, Select Births & Christenings, 1538-1975
England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915
England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007
England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966, 1973-1995
Cambridge Independent Press, Friday, 4 October 1918
By Emma Easterbrook