CFHS code HT320
Parish – Holy Trinity
Lat Lon : 52.201671, 0.1375434 – click here for location
Monument
This set of kerbstones, in the parish area of Holy Trinity, lie 1 row north of the south path and about 16 rows from the central path. The carved inscription is very worn. As the inscription is only partially visible we used the burial records help identify this monument.
Inscription
In memory of my dear husband
[JAMES SPARKS] not yet uncovered
Also ELIZABETH SPARKS
The name on the kerbstones is spelled Sparks but in other records it is Sparkes.
James Sparks (1848 – 2 February 1927)
James was born in Toft to Stephen (1805-1864) and Ann (née Upchurch) (1804-1878) Sparks. He was baptised in the village on 18 June 1848. He was the youngest of at least six children and his father was an agricultural labourer. In 1861 the family were living on Cambridge Road Toft and James was also working as an agricultural labourer. He married Betsy Wayman on 29 May 1871 in Toft and they had ten children: Stephen John (1872-1953), Ernest William (1874-), Walter James (1877-1944), Beatrice Alice (1879-1957), Hilda Pricilla (1882-1887), Private Leonard Charles (1885-1916), Lily May (1888-1980), Herbert Branwell (1891-1970), Eva Lucy (1895-) and Thomas Henry (1898-1963).
The couple started married life in Toft, where their first two sons were born, but had moved to Cambridge by 1877. They lived at 5 Morley’s Yard, Russell Street (1881) and James worked as a railway goods porter. The family later moved to live at Great Eastern Street (at least 1891onwards). By 1921 he had retired.
James Sparks died at home aged 78 years and was buried on February 7. The Saffron Walden Weekly News reported on the funeral, which reflected James’ long involvement with the Salvation Army – ‘the deceased was a Salvationist for upwards of 43 years and tribute was paid to his life so consistent with his profession’. He was ‘for over 40 years a checker on the L.N.E.R’ and the funeral was held at the Salvation Army Citadel, where the hymns ‘For ever with the Lord’, ‘In mansions of glory’ and ‘I have a home’ were sung. His widow Betsy was unable to attend due to illhealth.
Elizabeth Ann Sparks (née Wayman) (February 1851 – October 1938)
Elizabeth was born in Caldecote to John & Sarah (née Parish) Wayman and was known as Betsy throughout her life. She was baptised on 18 August 1851 at Holy Trinity Church, Ely Her father was an agricultural labourer and she grew up in Kingston with her nine siblings.
Betsy died at 81a Mill Road which had been the workhouse but by this date was an infirmary. She was 87 and was buried on 10 October.
Betsy’s sister Sabina is also buried at Mill Road Cemetery
James and Betsy’s young daughter Hilda Pricilla died at Morley’s Yard in April 1887 aged 4 years. She was buried in the St. Paul’s area of Mill Road Cemetery on 9 April, but her grave has not yet been identified.
Sources
CHFHS transcripts of parish records
By Mary Naylor with further information added by Claire Martinsen