CFHS code : AS258
Parish : All Saints
Inscription : WILLIAM WATSON HEADDEY for — years Butler of Clare College d March 20 1858 age 73 ROBERT CRISP HEADDEY brother-in-law of the above d Dec 26 1862 age 67 also ELIZABETH CHESS HEADDEY wife of WILLIAM WATSON HEADDEY WILLIAM WATSON HEADDEY d Oct 10 1873 age 82 also SUSAN HEADDEY sister of the above d April 15 1884 aged 86
Monument : Headstone (fallen)
Above information amended from Cambridge Family History Society Survey
Monument
Inscription
WILLIAM WATSON HEADDEY for — years Butler of Clare College d March 20 1858 age 73
ROBERT CRISP HEADDEY brother-in-law of the above d Dec 26 1862 age 67
Also ELIZABETH CHESS HEADDEY wife of WILLIAM WATSON HEADDEY d Oct 10 1873 age 82
Also SUSAN HEADDEY sister of the above d April 15 1884 aged 80 years
Relationships: William, his wife Elizabeth, his sister Susan and brother in law Robert.
The name Headly is often written as Headley. Chess was the surname of an Elizabeth who married Michael Headly in 1723. This is thought to be the start of the family of tallow chandlers who lived and worked in the parish of Andrew the Great for over a hundred years. Crisp was the surname of Frances Crispe who married into the Headly family in Wilbraham in 1749 and also the middle name of Frances Crisp Headley who married the great grandson of the 1st Michael Headly in Andrew the Great in 1813. Their son is buried in the parish of St Edward Peter John Headly ED143. I cannot be sure that I have managed to work out all the relationships. There may be a connection with Headly Iron Foundry.
William Watson Headdey (1785 – 1858)
William was the eldest of ten children born to Thomas and Ann (née Watson). He was born in Trumpington where his father was a farmer. He became a college butler and seems to have spent his entire working life at Clare Hall.
He married Elizabeth Chess Headly or Headley on October 15th 1813 at the church of St Andrew the Great. They had at least six children: William Watson (1819), Thomas H (1821), Elizabeth (1828), Louisa (1831), Edward (1832) and Maria (1833 – 1857).
William died at the family home in Wray’s Court, Sidney St.
Maria married Walter White in 1856 but died of consumption a year later. She is buried in the parish of St Edward but we have not found a monument.
Robert Crisp Headley or Headly (1794 – December 26th 1862)
A Robert Crisp Headly was baptised in Cambridge on 27th November 1797. He was the son of Peter & Elizabeth Headly and became a tallow chandler like his father.
He never married and by 1851 he had retired and was lodging at the Bell Inn on Trumpington St, Cambridge. in the 1861 census his address was given as 33 Union Road (off Hills Rd).
There was an inquest into Robert’s death as he was found at the bottom of the kitchen stairs. It seemed he may have died of a heart attack.
At the time of his death he was staying with his widowed [sister], Elizabeth Headdey, at 5 Wray’s Court.
Another sister Frances Casy died the following year and the newspaper mentioned that they were brother and sister of Michael Headly.
Elizabeth Chess Headdey (née Headly) (1791 – 1873)
Elizabeth was born in Cambridge but we have not found a baptism record. Her name ties her to the Headly family of tallow chandlers and if Robert is her brother then it is assumed her parents were also Peter & Elizabeth.
After her husband’s death she let rooms at the family home in Wray’s Court.
She died at 4 Kings Parade, which was the home and business of her daughter Louisa and son in law Robert Greef.
Susan Watson Headdey (1882 – 1884)
Susan was born in Trumpington. She was the tenth child of Thomas and Ann. For many years she was a lady’s companion in Hengrave. In 1881 she was living with her niece Elizabeth Fuller.
[If you have any further information about this family please contact us at Friendsofmillroadcemetery@gmail.com]
Sources:
CFHS Transcripts of parish and census records
Family Search
Find My Past
British Newspaper Archives online
by Mary Naylor