CFHS code : AL184
Parish : St Andrew the Less
Inscription : ILMA JANE the beloved wife of JOHN MOUEL d May 5 1892 aged 68 also JOHN MOUEL d June 12 1905 aged 82
Monument : Headstone/Kerb stones
Above information from Cambridge Family History Society Survey
Monument
Inscription
Jane Mouel (c.1824 – 5 May 1892)
Little is known of Jane’s life. She was married to John Mouel and died at 21 Brunswick Place aged 68 years old. Newspapers reported her death saying she was ‘the beloved wife of John Mouel and her funeral was held on 11 May.
John Mouel (1823 – 12 June 1905)
John was the son of Joseph and Ann and was baptised at St. Michael’s Church on 28 March 1827. His father was a builder/carpenter and John worked as a carpenter in his early life. He was the assistant overseer (rate collector) for St. Andrew the Less parish for over forty years and was first elected to the role in January 1864 on a salary of £94 per year. When elected the parish accounted for over half the population of Cambridge. When he retired from the role he was elected to the Cambridge County Council. He lived at 21 Brunswick Terrace, Newmarket Road for most of his life. John played a very active role in local life and was an ‘ardent Liberal, and took an active part in elections in town and county for many years’. He was said to have been one of the first members of the Cambridge and County Liberal Club, was a life member of the Cambridge Liberal Executive, and a ember of the West Cambridgeshire Liberal Association. He was also Chairman of the Eastern Division of the Certified and Associated Liberal Agents Society.
Outside of politics he was a member of an amateur dramatics club [also associated with the liberal club], treasurer of the Cambridge Working Men’s Institution, treasurer of the Mill Road Cottage Gardens Society, member of the Cambridge Permanent Benefit Building Society. He was also a ‘representative of the Working Men’s Half Holiday Street Collection Committee on the Governing body of Addenbrooke’s Hospital’.
In February 1901 Edward VII was proclaimed as King, and the proclamations at the Guildhall and the Shire Hall was witnessed by John Mouel. Local newspapers noted that he had lived through the reign of four monarchs (George IV, William IV, Queen Victoria and Edward VII). They also noted that he remembered the coronation of William IV and the proclamation of Queen Victoria.
He died at home and his funeral was held on 15 May. The wreath on the coffin was of ‘arum lilies and blue and yellow irises’ to represent the colours of the Liberal party. The Chairman of the Cambridge Board of Guardians made a short tribute at the next meeting after his death where he said ‘Mr Mouel was known to every member of the Board and was one of their most respected public servants and most assiduous in the discharge of his duties…He was well known in the Revision Courts, and had often been complimented upon the way his books were kept and the assistance he gave to the Revising Barrister. He was a man of strong opinions and convictions, but withal of a genial disposition’. The Cambridge Independent Press newspaper reported a letter written to them which noted he ‘acquired a knowledge of the electors and their politics which was simply extraordinary and which was invaluable to the (liberal) party for registration purposes. He was an indefatigable worker, always ready to act as Secretary, to serve on a committee or to perform any other task, big or small, which would help on the cause he loved so well. Such whole-hearted devotion made him universally liked, and no one ever received a heartier welcome from a gathering of Liberal workers than ‘Honest John’ as he was affectionately called…many stories could be told of his kindness and generosity in private life’.
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