CFHS code : AL172
Parish : St Andrew the Less
Inscription : In Memory of THOMAS PRESTON d March 8th 1874 in the 76th year of his age also of SARAH PRESTON wife of the above d Oct 25th 1865 in her 72nd year and of FLETCHER HERBERT PRESTON their son d Aug 13th 1862 in his 33rd year
Monument : Headstone
Above information from Cambridge Family History Society Survey
Monument
Located one row to the east of the central path just before it bends towards the Norfolk Street gate. Sadly the headstone has fallen and we have not be able to check the inscription.
Inscription
In Memory of THOMAS PRESTON d March 8th 1874 in the 76th year of his age
Also of SARAH PRESTON wife of the above d Oct 25th 1865 in her 72nd year
And of FLETCHER their son d Aug 13th 1862 in his 33rd year
Thomas Preston (1798 – 1874)
Thomas is believed to be the son of John and Elizabeth Preston. He was baptised on June 10th 1798 at the church of St Andrew the Less on Newmarket Rd, Cambridge. He worked as a carpenter for many years before becoming a builder and brickmaker and it is believed he had a brickworks near Newmarket Road.
A Thomas Preston married Sarah Harrison at the church of St Andrew the Great on 16th October 1820. Witnesses were Mary Edwards and Fletcher Harrison. The latter being the only clue that we have found the correct marriage as they called their third son Fletcher.
They had at least eight children: Maria (1821), Rebecca (1822), John Frederick (1824), James Isaac (1826), Sarah Ann (1827), Fletcher (1829), George Alfred (1831-1833) and Alfred Piner (1836). All the children were baptised in St Andrew the Less.
During this time they lived at a number of addresses – New Square, Barnwell, Eaden Walk, and East Road, before finally settling down at no 2 Abbey Houses on Newmarket Road which became the family home for at least 30 years. In 1841 Thomas’ mother, Elizabeth, was with them and she was of independent means. She died in 1847 so would most likely have been buried in the Abbey churchyard on Newmarket Road.
After Sarah’s death Thomas was looked after by Susan Shadbolt his housekeeper and niece.
Sarah Preston (née Harrison) (c 1794 – 1865)
Sarah was born in Walpole, Norfolk. Nothing is known about her childhood or how she came to marry Thomas in Cambridge. She died at the family home on Newmarket Road.
Fletcher Herbert Preston (1829 – 1862)
Fletcher was the sixth child of Thomas and Sarah. He became a cabinet maker. In 1851 he was at 35 Willow Place living in a mixed household, but in 1861 he was with his parents. He never married. His death was reported in the Cambridge Chronicle where it was mentioned that he had suffered from a severe illness.
[If you have any further information about this family, please contact us at Friendsofmillroadcemetery@gmail.com]
Sources:
CFHS transcripts of parish and census records
British Newspaper Archive
By Mary Naylor