CFHS code : AL74
Parish : St Andrew the Less
Inscription : In Memory of SUSAN HOWARD d Jan 20 1908 age 87
Monument : Headstone
Above information from Cambridge Family History Society Survey
Lat Lon : 52.203994, 0.13790366 – click here for location
Monument
This headstone in the parish of Andrew the Less stands in the far north of the cemetery towards to the east of the central path as it goes towards the north gate. Although leaning it appears stable. The carved inscription has eroded but the name is still legible in good light.
Inscription
In Memory of SUSAN HOWARD
Died January 20th 1908
Aged 87 years
Susannah (Susan) Howard (17 September 1820 – 20 January 1908)
Susan was born in Laxfield, a village half way between Halesworth and Framlingham in Suffolk and was the daughter of William and Sophia (née Bickers) Howard. She was baptised in Laxfield on Christmas Day 1820 and worked as a domestic servant. By 1881 she was living with her sisters Eliza and Caroline at Eden Street, and all three were working as dressmakers. She died at home aged 87 years old. Probate records give her date of death as 19 January 1908.
Susan’s parents and two sisters were also buried in the St. Andrew the Less area of Mill Road Cemetery. It is not known if they were buried in the same grave
William Howard (1798 – 27 October 1855)
William was born in Broughton, Huntingdon and married Sophia Bickers in Laxfield on 21 February 1820. They had at least six children: Susan, Robert (1822-), James (1823-), Caroline (1831-1902) and Eliza (1833-1901). William was a carpenter and by 1841 the family had moved to live at 50 New Street, before later moving to 22 Eden Street. William died at home aged 57 years old and was buried on 1 November 1855.
Sophia Howard (née Bickers) (1791 – 8 August 1868)
Sophia was born in Laxfield and died at 21 Eden Street aged 77 years old. Her funeral was held on 10 August 1868.
Eliza Howard (1829 – 31 May 1901)
Eliza was born in Laxfield and baptised there on 13 September 1829. She was a servant (1851) and later a dressmaker. Eliza died at Eden Street and an inquest was held into the cause of death. Her sister Susan told the inquest that her sister had been ill and was under the care of Dr. Penberthy. She had gone for a walk with Eliza, but the pair had not walked far before Eliza complained of pains. Susan had managed to get her home with some difficulty and shortly after she returned home she died in a chair. Dr. Penberthy conducted the post mortem and found ‘the cause of death was a clot of blood in the artery of the lung’. A verdict of death from natural causes was given and Eliza was buried on 4 June.
Caroline Howard (1831 – 22 May 1902)
Caroline was born in Laxfield, but spent most of her life in Cambridge. She worked as a shoe binder (1851) and then as a dressmaker. She died at home and her funeral was held on 26 May 1902.
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]