CFHS code : AL558
Parish : St Andrew the Less
Inscription : In Memory of PHILIP KENT late of Waterhall Chippenham d Sep 6 1885 aged 70 HENRY KENT son of the above d May 1 1885 aged 47 also EMILY MEDCALFE d Jan 22 1888 aged 71
Monument : Headstone
Above information from Cambridge Family History Society Survey
Monument
Hidden under a large tree a few rows west of the central path.
Inscription
In Memory of PHILIP KENT late of Waterhall Chippenham died Sep. 6. 1885 aged 70
HENRY KENT son of the above died May 1. 1885 aged 47
“………… illegible……..are in death.”
also EMILY MEDCALFE. Who died Jan. 22. 1888. Aged 71.
Relationship: Father, son and house keeper
Philip Kent (1815 – 6 September 1885)
Philip was born in Little Wilbraham and married Rebecca Prime (1815-1876) in Barley, Hertfordshire on 21 July 1836. They had one son: Henry and in 1841 were living in Swaffham Prior, where Philip was a farmer. From at least 1851 – 1880, Philip farmed two farms: Water Hall Farm and Sounds Farm, both near Chippenham. He and Rebecca however lived apart: in 1861/1871 Rebecca was living in Cambridge with widower James Knowles, who she lived with as common law wife whilst Philip was at Water Hall .
In March 1864 a fire broke out at Sounds Farm. Newspapers reported ‘there being no assistance at hand, and the wind blowing fiercely, a barley stack and the whole of the buildings (except a small cottage) were speedily burnt down. In the barn were 150 combs of thrashed and dressed wheat, and 50 combs of barley…and a great many valuable implements were wholly destroyed’. The cause of the fire was a match lit by one of the horsekeeper’s children, and although Philip was confident, he could claim on his insurance policy, he subsequently found ‘that he unfortunately forgot to pay the premium at the proper time, so that through accident he sustains a very heavy loss, which we are sure, is much regretted by all who know him’. The Cambridge Chronicle and Journal reported in December 1866 that in Chippenham ‘on Christmas day morning, the widows, the sick and the old people were summoned, as usual, to the domicile of Mr. Philip Kent where their hearts were again gladdened by receiving a good supply of beef’. At Christmas 1871 it was again reported ‘on Christmas Day morning, about 20 of the widows and ages poor proceeded to the house of their kind benefactor, Mr. Philip Kent, who has given them Christmas beef for about 20 years’. In 1871 Philip was farming 604 acres at Water Hall, employing 20 men and boys and was living at the Hall with son Henry, housekeeper Emily Medcalfe, and general servant Maria Gibbins. The stock of Water Hall and Sounds Farms were sold at auction in September 1880, and the auction notices said the sale would consist of ‘a flock of 500 splendid, black-faced ewes and lambs, implements etc for 600 acres of land’. In 1881 Philip was living at Sketchworth with his son Henry. He died at 60 Norfolk Street; Cambridge aged 70 years old.
Henry Kent (1837 – 1 May 1885)
Henry was born in Swaffham Prior and went to boarding school in Ely. He lived with his father at Water Hall Farm, and then Sketchworth. Henry died in Cambridge ‘of cerebrum apoplexy’ (stroke) aged 47 years old.
Emily Medcalfe (1817 – 22 January 1888)
Emily was born in Sketchworth and baptised there on 20 August 1817. She was the daughter of John and Rachel Medcalfe and worked as a housekeeper for most of her life. From at least 1861-1871 she worked for Philip Kent at Water Hall Farm. She had retired by 1881 and when the census was taken in April 1881 was staying with her sister Susanna and brother-in-law Charles Spicer in Sketchworth. She died at James Street, Newmarket Road and her funeral was held on 25 January.
Sources:
Ancestry
Newspaper archives
Parish burial records transcribed by CFHS
by Claire Martinsen
[If you have any information about these persons, please contact us at Friendsofmillroadcemetery@gmail.com]