Mary Coward; William John Coward

CFHS code : HT489

Parish : Holy Trinity

Inscription : In Loving Memory of MARY COWARD d May 24th 1911 aged 55 WILLIAM JOHN COWARD d Nov 28th 1929 aged 75

Monument : Kerb stones

Above information from Cambridge Family History Society Survey

Monument

These kerb stones, in the parish area of Holy Trinity, are located a few rows to the west of the east path. They were cleared by family members in December 2016.  The inscriptions are still intact.

Inscription

‘In Loving Memory of MARY COWARD died May 24th 1911 aged 55’

‘WILLIAM JOHN COWARD died Nov 28th 1929 aged 75’

Mary Coward (née Burrell) (1855 – 1911)

Mary was the daughter of George Burrell and his wife Mary (née Allen from Bishop Stortford).  George was  a cab driver. Mary was born at 47 Russell Street, Cambridge on 6th October 1855. In 1857 when she was only 18  her mother died of Typhus.  She married William John Coward on December 25th 1872.

William John Coward (1853 -1929) William was the eldest child of William Oliver and Mary (née Ball) Coward.   He was a tailor.  The family  lived at 46 Maid’s Causeway. Every one of his  eleven children were trained in a profession so that they could earn a living – even the eldest Alice, who was blind: she was trained as a masseuse. Later in life he let rooms and became a landlord.

On 21st July 1887 he saved a man from drowning, and was awarded a bronze medal from the Royal Humane Society – which he was photographed wearing.  He also served on the  Board of Guardians for the workhouse and the board of directors at a local building society

Th information and photos were supplied by members of the family who also cleared the kerb stones.
The post was edited by Mary Naylor

The Children click on the pictures to view the full image