CFHS code : AL607
Parish : St Andrew the Less
Inscription : HENRY BRITTAIN JOHNSON d September 8th 1894 aged 33 CHARLES F JOHNSON d March [5] 1900 aged [32] also THOMAS M JOHNSON d March 31 1919 aged 81 also MARY HESTER JOHNSON d February 7 1924 aged 84
Monument : Headstone
Above information from Cambridge Family History Society Survey
Monument
Inscription
Thomas Marston Johnson ( 1837 – 31 March 1919)
Thomas was the son of stonemason James Johnson and his wife Sarah. He was born in Cambridge and baptised on 4 June 1837. He grew up on Abbey Street, and later became a stonemason like his father. Thomas married Hester Brittain at Christ Church, Camberwell on 5 April 1860. At the time of his marriage he was said to be resident at 1 George Street in Camberwell. The couple lived in Dover briefly before returning to live in Cambridge, where they lived at 37 South Street. South Street no longer exists in the city, and was located where Anglia Ruskin University now sits.
Thomas and Hester had seven children: Henry Brittain (1861-1894), Mary Brittain Elizabeth (1863-1942), Thomas Marston (1866-1912), Charles Brittain Francis (1867-1900), George (1873-1969), Frederick (1876-1967) and Arthur (1878-). Thomas died aged 81 years old.
Mary Hester Johnson (née Brittain) (24 March 1839 – 7 February 1924)
Mary was born in Arlesey, a small village three miles north-west of Letchworth. She was the daughter of carpenter Joseph Brittain and his wife Mary. She married Thomas Johnson when she was 21 years old. After she was widowed she continued to live at 37 South Street, and was still living there in 1920. Mary Johnson died aged 84 years old.
Henry Brittain Johnson (1861 – 8 September 1894)
Henry was the eldest son of Thomas and Mary Johnson and was born in Dover. Census records note him as having fits since childhood, and he died at the age of 33 as a result of an epileptic fit. An inquest was held into his death, lead by Mr French. Henry was said to have been in usual health in the morning that he died, but was later seen by neighbour George Cash lying on the ground in the garden. George Cash in turn sent for Henry’s cousin rather than immediately going to his aid, for which he was criticised at the inquest. However George said that he had seen Henry have fits many times in the past, and had sometimes been attacked by Thomas Johnson’s dog when he entered the garden, so was too scared to do so. Henry was found dead, face down in the garden. The doctor, Mr Rygate examined the body at 11pm the same day and said ‘from the condition of the brain he was of opinion that the deceased had a fit and lying on his face was suffocated’. The inquest found that had he been turned onto his back at the time he might have survived. The jury returned a verdict of death by suffocation.
Charles Brittain Francis Johnson (1867 – 5 March 1900)
Charles was the third son of Thomas and Mary Johnson. He grew up at South Street, and in 1891 was working as a cab driver (carriage driver) and groom. He died aged 32 years old at 81 New Street.
Sources:
Ancestry
Newspaper archives
by Claire Martinsen
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