Parish : St Mary the Great
This pair of graves was not found by CFHS during their survey of the Cemetery
Ellen Masterson (née Reynolds) (1839 – 19 December 1902)
Ellen was born in Cambridge, the third daughter of William and Elizabeth Reynolds. William was a painter, but also a publican who ran the Castle Inn, Castle Street. She married Joseph Masterson (1838-1879) on 1 October 1862. The same month Joseph bought an established bookselling and stationary business. He later ran the business from 10 King’s Parade.
Ellen and Joseph had at least eight children: Jessie (1864-1924), Maud Ellen (1865-1917), Ernest Albert, Archibald Dunstan (1868-1940), Arthur Joseph (1870-1908), Ada Agnes (1872-1904), Margaret Sarah and Herbert John (1875-1938). By 1871 the business at Kings Parade had changed into a Wine Merchants. It went into bankruptcy in October 1877 and it is thought Joseph Masterson died in the winter of 1879. The dividends related to the bankruptcy were still not resolved by March 1879.
Ellen remained at 10 King’s Parade, where she ran a Lodging House and tobacconist (1881/1891). She retired to live at 14 Humberstone Road (1901) and died at home aged 63 years old.
Ernest Albert Masterson (February 1867 – 10 November 1896)
Ernest was the eldest son of Joseph and Ellen. Aged 14 he was working as a cook’s apprentice, and trained as a cook/confectioner. He died as a result of a bike accident near North Leach, Gloucestershire. Newspapers reported that he ‘appears to have been riding through the country in search of work’. He was seen by a stonemason descending a very steep hill ‘at a furious rate’ with his feet out of the pedals. He crashed into a wall at the bottom of the hill and death was said to be instantaneous. His brother Archibald identified Ernest’s body and said that he had been unemployed and had stayed in Oxford for a few weeks looking for work or a business. His body was returned to Cambridge.
Margaret Sarah Steel (née Masterson) (1874 – 6 March 1913)
Margaret was the youngest daughter of Joseph and Ellen, and was buried in a grave next to that of her mother and brother Ernest.
She was baptised at St. Edward’s church on 2 February 1874 and married Dr. Gerard Steel (1865 – 1937) on 21 September 1898 at St. Mary’s Church, Barnes. It is thought that they met in Cambridge, when Gerard trained with Dr. Thomas Lucas at 58 St Andrew’s Street. Margaret and Gerard lived at 16 Church Street, Leominster and had two sons: Col. Gerard Reginald (1900-1979) and Brig. Charles Deane (1901-1993).
Margaret died at home aged 39 years old and was buried at Mill Road Cemetery on 10 March.
Ellen’s sister Laura Miller is also buried at Mill Road Cemetery. Her eldest sister Mary Elizabeth Reynolds (1835-1908) is also buried in the Great St Mary area of Mill Road Cemetery, but her grave has not yet been found.
Sources:
Ancestry
Parish bural records
Newspaper archives
by Claire Martinsen
[If you have any further information about this family, please contact us at Friendsofmillroadcemetery@gmail.com]