CFHS code : AL35
Parish : St Andrew the Less
Inscription : In Loving Memory of REBECCA PRIME d Nov 30 1901 age 67 also HARRY PRIME d April 16 1945 age 68
Monument : Headstone/Kerb stones
Above information from Cambridge Family History Society Survey
Lat Lon : 52.204042, 0.13818408 – click here for location
Monument
Inscription
In Loving Memory of REBECCA PRIME who died Nov. 30. 1901. Aged 67 years
Also HARRY PRIME who died April 16. 1945. Aged 68 years.
Rebecca Prime (née Collin) (1834 – 30 November 1901)
Rebecca was born in Arrington, a village nine miles south west of Cambridge and was baptised there on 3 May 1840. She was the daughter of farm labourer William Collin and his wife Jane and grew up at Church End, Arrington. She had one daughter born out of wedlock: Jane B (1860-) and is believed to have married William Mugg in 1862. The couple had at least three children: William (1865-1865), Elizabeth (1867-) and Albert William (1869-). The children were all born in Comberton, and in 1871 Rebecca was living there with her daughters Jane and Elizabeth and son William. She was noted on the census as being married, but also a pauper, and William Mugg was not living at the home. By 1881 she had moved to live at 20 York Terrace and was working as a charwoman. By that point she had a further two children: Harry Mugg (1876-1945 ) and Bertie Mugg ( 1879-). Also living at York Terrace was Richard Prime (1818-1891 ), who is believed to have been the father to Harry and Bertie, as over time both boys took the surname Prime, as did Rebecca although there is no record of a marriage. Richard died in early 1891 and Rebecca worked as a laundress, living at York Terrce with three of her children (1891). Rebecca died at Parker’s Terrace and an inquest was held into her death, as she was found dead in her chair by neighbours. Her son Harry told the inquest that his mother was in good health and apart from a few slight colds had not been under the care of the doctor. Dr. Webb said that she was ‘very well nourished’ and there were no marks of violence. The cause of death was said to be ‘syncope arising from congestion of the lungs’ and her funeral was held on 4 December 1901.
Harry (Mugg) Prime (29 February 1876 – 16 April 1945)
Harry was Rebecca’s son, although it is not known definitively who his father was – either William Mugg or Richard Prime. Aged 15 he was working as an errand boy, before marrying Jessie Marian Hunt (1877-1946) on 11 June 1899. They had four children: Dora (1900-1959), Grace Miriam (1901-1986), Robert Harry (1904-1971) and Harry Richard (1912-1986). Harry worked as a painter/wallpaper hanger and the family lived at 7 Occupation Road (at least 1901-1911) and 145 Sturton Street (at least 1916 onwards). In October 1916 was called up for the army, and his enlistment papers show that he had previously served in the infantry with the 4th Suffolk Regiment. He was 40 years and 7 months old when he joined, and was posted in February 1917, although nothing else is known of his military service at this time. In 1939 he was living at Sturton Street with wife Jessie, and youngest son Harry and was still working as a painter/paperhanger. Using the dates of his military enlistment and the 1939 records he was 69 years old when he died, but the grave monument states 68 years. His funeral was held at the Cemetery Chapel on 20 April – his son Harry Richard, son in law and grandson were unable to attend the funeral due to ‘being on active service overseas’.
Sources:
Ancestry
Newspaper archives
Parish burial records transcribed by CFHS
by Claire Martinsen
[If you have any information about this family, please contact us at Friendsofmillroadcemetery@gmail.com]