CFHS code : AL468
Parish : St Andrew the Less
Inscription : In Loving Memory of WILLIAM PONMAN SHEARMAN d April 23 1900 aged 62 also PHOEBE beloved wife of the above d Jan 3 1908 aged 65 also HERBERT WILLIAM eldest son of the above d at Whitehall Montana USA Dec 3 1897 aged 31 also SIDNEY WILLIAM fourth son of the above d Nov 3 1898 aged 25 also PERCY WILLIAM seventh son of the above d Feb 6 1920 aged 38
Monument : Headstone/Kerb stones
Above information from Cambridge Family History Society Survey
Monument
Inscription
William Ponman Shearman (1837 – 23 April 1900)
William was born in Market Rasen and baptised there on 24 July 1835. He was the son of carpenter John Shearman and Susanna (née Wardall) and in 1851 was working in an iron foundry in Louth. He had moved to Cambridge by 1861 to lodge with the Whittaker family at South Street and worked as a blacksmith. William married Phoebe Heffer on 13 November 1865 at Eden Street Chapel and they had at least thirteen children: Herbert William (1866-1897), Ernest William (1867-1935), John Samuel (1869-1953), Annie Mary (1870-1926), Sidney William (1873-1898), Frank William (1875-1948), Christopher William (1876-1964), Lilian Phoebe (Lilly) (1879-1964), Rose Barber (1880-1973), Percy William (1881-1920), Daisy Gertrude (1882-1975), Harold Heffer (1885-1953) and Beatrice Ellen (1888-1978). William worked as an engine smith at a factory (1871) but by 1881 was documented as being a ‘dairyman and fruiterer’. The family lived at ‘The Vineries’, Vinery Road (which in early census document was simply known as ‘road leading from Mill Road to Coldham Lane’).
In September 1881 three boys were charged with ‘breaking into a vinery and stealing a quantity of grapes’. The eldest boy (William Botting aged 14 years) was sentenced to fourteen days’ imprisonment, the youngest two (aged 10 and 11 years) to seven days. William was a member of the Ancient Order of Foresters and had held many positions in the Court Equity. He had been a member for over 40 years and was said to be ‘much respected in his court and in the district’. He died at home ‘after an illness extending over five months’ and was buried at Mill Road Cemetery on 26 April 1900.
Phoebe Shearman (née Heffer) (1842 – 3 January 1908)
Phoebe was born in Grantchester, the daughter of Samuel and Mary Heffer. Her father was a brewer and ran the Grantchester Brewery until his death in 1857. After she was widowed Pheobe continued to live at The Vineries and died aged 65 years.
Herbert William Shearman (1866 – 3 December 1897)
Aged 14 Herbert was living at home with his parents and siblings and working as an apprentice grocer. What took him to Montana is not known, but Whitehall was a major rail depot, so it might have been in connection with the railways. Herbert died in the USA aged 31 and his death was announced in Cambridge newspapers a few weeks later.
Sidney William Shearman (1873 – 3 November 1898)
Sidney worked as a dairyman and unexpectedly died at home aged 25 years old. The inquest heard that Sidney shared a bed with his brother Frank. When Frank got up, he thought his brother was asleep. The bedding ‘were not disarranged, so it appeared that his brother had not moved in the night’. His other brother Harold had tried waking him at seven thirty but found him dead. Dr. Lawrence did the post-mortem and found ‘that deceased had a very large heart – more like a bullock’s than a man. Death was due to hypertrophy of the heart. It was a wonder he had lived so long’.
Percy William Shearman (1881 – 6 February 1920)
Percy worked as a jobbing gardener and lived with his sister Annie and brother in law George Peel at 16 Eden Street (1911) and 57 Lensfield Road (at least 1918 onwards). He died at home aged 38 years old and the funeral was held on 12 February. He was a member of the New Street Men’s Bible Class and had been at class the previous Sunday. His coffin was carried by members of the bible class.
Sources:
Ancestry
Newpaper archives
by Claire Martinsen
[If you have any information about this family please contact us at Friendsofmillroadcemetery@gmail.com]