CFHS code : AL37
Parish : St Andrew the Less
Inscription : In Loving Memory of THOMAS GILLSON who fell asleep June 8 1890 aged 42 also ADA GILLSON who fell asleep June 5th 1942 aged 80
Monument : Stone cross (broken)/Kerb stones
Above information from Cambridge Family History Society Survey
Lat Lon : 52.204081, 0.1380542 – click here for location
Monument
Inscription
In Loving Memory of THOMAS GILLSON who fell asleep June 8 1890 aged 42
Also ADA GILLSON who fell asleep June 5th 1942 aged 80
Thomas Simpson Gillson (c.1848 – 8 June 1890)
Thomas was the son of shoemaker William Simpson Gillson (1822-1898) and grew up at 15 Wellington Street. His mother (not yet identified) died when he was an infant and in 1858 his father married Maria Stubbings. Thomas married Ada Smith in 1879 and they had five children: Annie Maude (1880-1966), Ernest Simpson (known as Ern)(1883-1945), Minnie Ada (1884-1971), Lily Beatrice (1887-1979) and Private Thomas (1889-1917). Thomas worked as a mail messenger and the family lived at 2 Bridge Street (1881). Thomas died at 61 Sturton Street and his funeral was held on 11 June.
Ada Gillson (née Smith) (1861 – 5 June 1942)
Ada was the daughter of James and Elizabeth (Betsy) Smith and was born and raised in Swaffham Prior. Her father was an agricultural labourer, her mother a washwoman and the family lived on Copper’s Lane in the village. After she was widowed Ada lived at 21 Norfolk Street with her children and worked as a charwoman in the Post Office (1901/1911). She later went by the name of Ada Stimpson Gillson, and in 1938 was living at 78 Norfolk Street. She died at 36 Suez Road and her funeral was held at St. Philip’s Church. A wreath was sent from ‘old friends at the GPO Telephone Exchange’.
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]