CFHS code : AL164
Parish : St Andrew the Less
Inscription : STreasured Memories of MARY the wife of JOHN SMITH of this town d Nov 9 1851 in the 62nd year of her age also the above JOHN SMITH d Oct 24 1863 remainder of inscription buried
Monument : Stone cross/Coped stone
Above information from Cambridge Family History Society Survey
Lat Lon : 52.202583, 0.137528 – click here for location
Monument
This is one of a pair of small headstones with integrated cross which stand about 4 rows east of the central path in the parish of Andrew the Less, not far from the Gwydir St gate.
They have suffered some erosion and seem to have sunk somewhat below ground level
Inscription
Treasured Memories this may have been written on the cross but is no longer visible.
Sacred to the Memory of MARY the wife of JOHN SMITH of this town who died Nov 9 1851 in the 62nd year of her age
“Wh* and sorrow **art of earthly rest heavenly peace ** on Jesus’ brea[st]”
Also the above JOHN SMITH d Oct 24 1863 remainder of inscription buried
Mary Smith (née Williams) (1790 – 1851)
Mary was born in Bagworth Heath, near Coalville in Leicestershire. She married John Smith on 2 May 1811 at St. Peter’s Church, Wisbech and they had at least five children: Mary Williams (1812-1892), Thomas Williams (1814-), Esther Lloyd (1817-1892), William Williams (1823-1907) and David Williams (1825-1867). John was a brewer and auctioneer, and their children were all born in Chatteris. By 1836 the family had moved to live at Eden Street, Cambridge. Mary died suddenly and an inquest was held into her death. She had been washing up her dinner plates when she ‘suddenly fell to the ground, and died almost instantly. Mr. Knowles, surgeon, was immediately sent for, but of course his services were of no avail. On making a post mortem examination, Mr. Knowles discovered the cause of death to be a rupture of a blood vessel of the heart. The Jury returned a verdict that the deceased died by the visitation of God’.
John Smith (1788 – 24 October 1863)
John was born in Chatteris and after Mary’s death lived 1with his son William who ran the Green Lion pub, Short Street. John died aged 75 years old and his death was announced in local newspapers with ‘his end was peace…deeply lamented by a large circle of relatives and friends’.
John and Mary’s son David was a well known local cricketer and umpire. He died at Paradise Street on 31 December 1866 after a ‘short but severe illness’. It isn’t known if he is buried in the same grave as his parents.
Sources:
Ancestry
Newspaper archives
by Claire Martinsen
[If you have any information about this family, please contact us at Friendsofmillroadcemetery@gmail.com]