CFHS code : AL344
Parish : St Andrew the Less
Inscription : In Loving Memory of JOSEPH FRANCIS b July 15 1837 d Jan 22 1891 also his wife ELIZABETH FRANCIS b Feb 18 1842 d Aug 18 1931
Monument : Coped stone
Above information from Cambridge Family History Society Survey
Monument
This coped stone is located about 14 rows east of the central path and a few plots south of the north path in the parish of Andrew the Less. The inscription is still legible. It is next to a another family monument AL343
Inscription
In Loving Memory of JOSEPH FRANCIS born July 15 1837 died Jan 22 1891
Also his wife ELIZABETH FRANCIS born Feb 18 1842 died Aug 18 1931
Joseph Francis (15 July 1837 – 22 January 1891)
Joseph was born and grew up in Great Stukeley, near Huntingdon and was the son of George and Sarah (née Jacobs). His father was a carpenter and by 1861 Joseph was working as a millwright in Cambridge, lodging at 10 Newmarket Road. He married Elizabeth Ashley in Little Stukeley on 15 April 1861 and the couple lived at 4 East Road (1871) and Norfolk Street (at least 1881 onwards). In 1871 Joseph was employing 7 men and 2 apprentices in his millwright business (millwrights installed, maintained and developed machinery in factories). In newspaper adverts placed in March 1890 he described himself as a ‘milling engineer’. Joseph served as a Poor Law Guardian for St. Andrew the Less ward, and later St. Matthew’s ward. He was church warden at St. Andrew the Less from 1879-1882, and was said to be an ardent Liberal, member of the St, Matthew’s Liberal Association and member of the Liberal ‘300’.
Joseph died at 29 Norfolk Street ‘after a long and painful illness’ aged 53 years old and his funeral was held on 27 January. The funeral was attended by ‘a considerable number of members of the Cambridge Board of Guardians and the Working Men’s Club and Institute’. On 7 February his widow placed an advert in the Cambridge Independent Press offering ‘her very sincere thanks to the very kind friends who have in various ways shown their real sympathy and condolence for her under bereavement’.
Elizabeth Francis (née Ashley) (18 February 1842 – 18 August 1931)
Elizabeth was born in Alconbury-cum-Weston, near Huntingdon and was baptised there on 13 March 1842. She was the youngest daughter of blacksmith William Ashley and his wife Sarah (née Walker) and before marrying Joseph Francis worked as a dressmaker. After his death she lived at Norfolk Street with her niece Mary Ashley, who worked as a bookkeeper. In April 1891 she was documented as a millwright. She later lived at 146 Gwydir Street with another niece called Maud Francis (1901) and yet another niece called Frances Ashley (1911). In 1911 Frances Ashley was named as her companion. Elizabeth died at 146 Gwydir Street aged 89 years old.
Sources:
Ancestry
Newspaper archives
Parish burial records transcribed by CFHS
by Claire Martinsen
[If you have any information about this family, please contact us at Friendsofmillroadcemetery@gmail.com]