CFHS code : AL538
Parish : St Andrew the Less
Inscription : In Affectionate Remembrance of JAMES TAYLOR PALMER d March 8 1879 aged 80 also SARAH wife of the above d Dec 3 1886 aged 82 also EDWARD eldest son of the above d January 21st 1880 aged 52 also SARAH widow of EDWARD PALMER d April 11 1896 aged 73
Monument : Headstone
Above information from Cambridge Family History Society Survey
Monument
Located against the west wall not far from the Norfolk Street entrance, in the parish area of St Andrew the Less. The headstone is on the far left of the large picture.
Inscription
In Affectionate Remembrance of JAMES TAYLOR PALMER who died March 8. 1879. Aged 80 years.
“His end was peace”
Also SARAH wife of the above died Dec 3 1886 aged 82 years
Also EDWARD eldest son of the above who died January 21st 1880 aged 52 years
“Thy will be done”
Also SARAH widow of EDWARD PALMER died April 11 1896 aged 73
James Taylor Palmer (1799 – 8 March 1879)
James was born in Beccles, Suffolk and married Sarah Mason at St. Clement’s Church, Cambridge on 2 August 1827. He was a stonemason and they had at least five children: Edward (1827-1880), Anne (1829-), William (1832-1891), James Taylor (1835-1886) and David (1838-1900). The family lived at Quayside (1841) and then 36 James Street from at least 1851 onwards, and in that year James was employing 5 men in his stone masonry business. The business also did work for the Town Commissioners and in 1864 submitted the only tender for ‘mason’s work’. His tender ‘offered to do squaring and laying flag at 9d per yard, superficial, curb 1 1/2 d. per foot. The tender was accepted, being admitted that Palmer did his work well, though Mr. Balls took occasion to point out that the terms of the tender were in excess of those of last year’. James died at home aged 80 years old and his funeral took place on 13 March.
Sarah Palmer (née Mason) (21 August 1805 – 3 December 1886)
Sarah was the daughter of Edward and Rebecca Mason and was baptised at St. Clement’s Church on 26 January 1806. Sarah died at home and was buried at Mill Road Cemetery on 9 December. Her age was said to be 82 when she died, but it is thought she was actually 81 years.
James Palmer had owned a property portfolio which was sold at auction after Sarah’s death. It consisted of four houses in James Street (numbers 11,12,35 and 36), the Haunch of Mutton pub in Waterbeach and six cottages in Waterbeach.
Edward Palmer (1827 – 21 January 1880)
Edward was the eldest son of James and Sarah Palmer and was baptised at St. Clement’s Church on 3 December 1827. He also worked as a stonemason and married Sarah Holland. From 1851 to at least 1871 the couple lived at 5 Petersfield, before moving to live at 13 Gwydir Street. Edward died at home and his funeral was held on 24 January.
Sarah Palmer (née Holland) (c.1823 – 11 April 1896)
Sarah was born in Pilton, near Oundle in Northamptonshire, the daughter of agricultural labourer John Holland (1796-1863) and Elizabeth (née Kilsby) (1799-1883). After she was widowed Sarah lived at 23 Gwydir Street with her niece Annie Noble (1881) and then at the same property with Annie and her husband Thomas Carter (1891). She died at 63 Devonshire Road and was buried at Mill Road Cemetery on 15 April.
Sources:
Photo by Roy Hammans
The Golden Fleece
Creative Camera Archive
http://the-golden-fleece.co.uk/
Ancestry
Newspaper archives
Parish burial records transcribed by CFHS
by Claire Martinsen and Mary Naylor
[If you have any information about this family, please contact us at Friendsofmillroadcemetery@gmail.com]