CFHS code : AL371

Parish : St Andrew the Less

Inscription : IM ANN wife of JOSEPH LEVER d Jan 24 1885 aged 75 also JOSEPH LEVER died at Impington March 13 1899 aged 87 also SARAH ANN LEVER eldest daughter of above d Jan 21 1928 aged 85 also ANNIE EMILY (nee LEVER) beloved wife of C S GIFFORD of Histon died Palm Sunday 1938

Monument : Headstone/Kerb stones

Above information from Cambridge Family History Society Survey

The headstone in June 2021.

Monument

This headstone fell some time ago but fortunately the stone fell backwards so the inscription is visible. It is located in the parish of St Andrew the Less 3 rows west of the east path and 3 rows north of the path that runs to the centre circle.

Inscription

In Memoriam 
ANN wife of JOSEPH LEVER who fell asleep Jan 24th 1885 aged 75 years
“He bringeth them to their desired haven.”

Also JOSEPH LEVER who entered into rest at Impington March 13 1899 in the 88th year of his age.
“Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord and their work [shall] follow them.”

Also of SARAH ANN LEVER eldest daughter of the above who entered into rest Jan 21 1928 aged 85 years.
“Thy rod and thy [staff] they comfort me.”

Also ANNIE EMILY (nee LEVER) beloved wife of C S GIFFORD of Histon who passed into rest Palm Sunday 1938.
“In His presence there is fullness of joy.”

Relationship: Husband, wife, daughter and grand daughter

Ann Lever  (née Ryder) (1809 –  24 January 1885)

Ann was born in Little Shelford and married Joseph Lever on Christmas Day 1838 at St. Andrew the Less Church. The couple had at least four children: George (1841-1923), Sarah Ann (1843-1928), Joseph Cliff (1845-1925) and Susannah (1847-1934) – they also raised their granddaughter Anne Emily (1863-1938). Joseph was a grocer/general shop keeper and they lived at Prospect Row (1841),  17 Orchard Street (1851/61). In 1871 they were living at 2 Eden Street, and Joseph was described as a grocer/baker employing one man. Ann died at Eden Street in January 1885.

Joseph Lever (c.1812 – 13 March 1899)

Joseph is believed to have been the son of Benjamin and Ann (née Cripps). In 1891 he was living at Eden Street with daughter Sarah and granddaughter Annie and died in Impington at the age of 87.

Sarah Ann Lever (c.1843 – 21 January 1928)

Sarah was the eldest daughter of Joseph and Ann and lived with her parents until their deaths.  She then moved to live with niece Annie Emily and her husband Christopher Gifford in Histon (1911). She died at Ivydene, Histon aged 85 years old.

Annie Emily Gifford  (née Lever) (1863 – 10 April 1938)

Annie was the granddaughter of Jospeh and Ann Lever and grew up with them at 2 Eden Street. She trained as a teacher and studied at the Cambridge School of Art (1889). Annie maried Christopher Stanley Gifford (1863-1945) in 1894 and they lived in Impington where Christopher ran a grocery shop (1901).  By 1911 he was working as a ‘general secretary of  an institute’ at the Chivers Jam Factory and the couple were living in Histon with Annie’s aunt Sarah.  Christopher Gifford was a Captain in the Salvation Army, led the Cottenham Salvation Army Band, was a member of the Wesley Guild and was also a member of the Temperance movement. Annie died in Histon aged 75 years old.

Sources:

Ancestry

Newspaper archives

by Claire Martinsen

[If you have any further information about this family, please contact us at Friendsofmillroadcemetery@gmail.com]

Annie Emily Gifford; Ann Lever; Joseph Lever; Sarah Ann Lever