CFHS code : HT469
Parish : Holy Trinity
Inscription : WILLIAM THOMAS SEE MA d 9 March 1925
Monument : Ground slab
Above information from Cambridge Family History Society Survey
Monument
This ground slab lies west of the south path as it turns to the north in the south east corner of the parish of Holy Trinity. It has a simple, but nicely carved, inscription.
Inscription
WILLIAM THOMAS SEE MA died March 9 1925
William Thomas See (1861 – 9 March 1925)
William was the only son of William and Sarah See. He was born in Cambridge and baptised on 16th June 1861. His father died in 1867, and in 1871 he was living with his widowed mother and was a chorister. He worked for James Catling, auctioneer and valuer for 25 years eventually become cheif assistant. Whist working he also studied at Fitzwilliam Hall, and obtained an MA degree. He continued his love of music and became an organist and teacher of music – eventually becoming the organist at ST Matthews Church and then Holy Trinity Church (the latter he played at for over 40 years). He finally decided to stop working at Catlings to devote himself to music.
After his mother’s death in 1891 he married 26 year old Ellen Perry at Holy Trinity church on July 28th 1891. They did not have any children. He taught at 26 Hills Road (c1881-c1891), 50 Hills Road, Lyndewode Road and from 1901 at 4 Gonville Villas, Gonville Place. In c.1921 he stared a new business with Mr P Freeman under the name of ‘Messrs. See and Freeman, auctioneers, valuers and estate agents, Alexandra Street’.
William was heavily involved with Council life – first elected to represent New Town Ward in January 1907. He was elected as an Alderman in 1919, serving on the Finance Committee, Law and property Commitee, Selection Committee, Concert Committee, Watch Committee, Library Comittee and Eduation Commitee. He was also an overseer, and sat on the Cambridge Board of Guardians.
He had a ‘serious operation’ at the Evelyn Nursing Home in January 1925, returning home two weeks later, where he was confined to his bed. He gradually ‘became waker. On sunday he began to lose consciousness and passed peacefully away at a quarter to seven’. He died aged 63 years old. William’s funeral was a crowded affair, with the Mayor (Eva Hartree) and many of the members of the Cambridge Corporation attending to pay their respects.
An Ellen See died in London in 1934.
Source:
Ancestry
CFHS transcript of Parish records
by Claire Martinsen
[If you have any further information about this person, please contact us at Friendsofmillroadcemetery@gmail.com]