Parish: St Paul’s
This grave has not yet been found within the Cemetery.
Sarah Vail (née Turner) (14 December 1839 – 7 July 1917)
Sarah was the daughter of cabinet maker Henry (1803-1882) and Ann (née Vail) (1805-1861). Sarah was born in Cambridge, although the family lived in Warwickshire for some time,. Sarah was baptised at Holy Trinity Church, Coventry on 9 May 1850 when she was 10 years old. By 1861 the family had returned to live at 14 Church Street. Sarah worked as a milliner before marrying whitesmith Alfred Vail (1838-1886) on Boxing Day 1863 at Trinity Church, Gravesend. It is thought that Alfred was a second cousin.
They had five daughters: Florence Helena (1864-1937), Annie (1867-1944), Sophia Emma (1869-1942), Ada Louisa (1872-1950), Kate Laura (1874-1959) and Sarah Turner (1878-1880). The family lived at 18 City Road (1871), Willow Walk and 52 Panton Street (1881). In October 1881, their landlady – Mrs Foster disputed the terms of the tenacy, and courts issues an order for immediate possession. They then moved to 2 Anthony Street, where Alfred died in February 1886 aged 48 years old.
Sarah continued to work as a milliner (1881) and later as a college bedmaker (1891- at least 1911). In 1901 she was living at 27 Panton Street with daughters Florence and Annie. She died at home aged 77 years old and her funeral was held on 12 July.
Florence Helena Vail (6 October 1864 – April 1937)
Florence was baptised at All Saints’ Church on 11 December 1864. She worked as a housemaid in a small school on Wollaston Road (1891), a college servant (1901), domestic housemaid (1911) and daily help (1921). After her mother’s death she lived with her sister Annie at 50 Panton Street (1921) and then 73 Kingston Street. She died at home aged 72 years old and was buried on 12 April.
Sophia Emma Vail (12 October 1869 – 16 January 1942)
Sophia was baptised as an adult – on 19 March 1899 at St. Andrew the Less Church. She worked as a domestic servant for the Wortley family (1921). By 1939 she had retired and was living with sisters Annie and Ada at 73 Kingston Street, where she died aged 72 years old. Her funeral was held on 21 January 1942.
Ada Louisa Vail died at 73 Kingston Street on 12 May 1950 aged 77 years old. She was buried on 16 May, most likely in the same grave as her sisters, although this is not known for certain.
Other members of the family are buried in the St. Andrew the Less area of the Cemetery – their grave /graves has/have also not yet been found.
Ann Turner (née Vail) (1804 – 27 December 1860)
Ann was Sarah Vail’s mother. She was born in Saffron Walden and married Henry Turner on 28 March 1826. They had at least four daughters: Anne (1832-1881), Elizabeth Emma (1837-), Sarah and Emmeline (1842-). She died at Church Street aged 56 years old and was buried at Mill Road Cemetery on 2 January 1861.
Henry Turner eventually moved to Gravesend, Kent to live with eldest daughter Anne. He died there in 1882.
Sarah Turner Vail (1878 – 21 July 1880)
Sarah was the eldest daughter of Alfred and Sarah Vail. She was baptised at St. Matthew’s Church on 7 January 1879 and died at Willow Walk aged 2 years old. She was buried at Mill Road Cemetery on 26 July 1880.
Alfred Vail (2 February 1838 – 22 February 1886)
Alfred was the son of William (1807-1877) and Elizabeth (née Cowley) (1808-) and was baptised at St. Andrew the Great Church on 11 March 1838. His father worked as a whitesmith and grew up at 24 Orchard Street (1851) and 25 Pembroke Street (1861). He worked as a whitesmith/gas fitter and died at Anthony Street aged 48 years old. His funeral was held on 27 February 1886.
Sources:
Ancestry
Newspaper archives
by Claire Martinsen
[If you have any further information about this family, please contact us at Friendsofmillroadcemetery@gmail.com]