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135 Sturton Street
The Family of Moses Meeks
1881 – 1972
Head of household is Moses Meeks. In 1881 he is 33 years old and a cook at a club, possibly somewhere local like Sturton Town Hall or at the Beaconsfield Club on the corner of Gwydir Street and Milford Street. Moses is the son of William and Mary Meeks of Doddington. He has a sister called Mehetable, and brothers William and Joseph.
Moses married Sarah Kidman (of Ditton) in 1873.
In 1881 the couple have two children, Alice Mary (7) and William George (1). They have a lodger called Elizabeth Smith, a dressmaker from Suffolk.
By 1891 Alice is a tailoress and William is old enough for school. There are three more school age children, Samuel Arthur (7), Ethel May (4) and Ellen Elizabeth (3).
William has left home and moved to Lancashire where he becomes a pork butcher. During World War 1 he serves with the Lancashire Fusiliers. During his service he was listed as Missing and his War Record includes a letter from his mother asking for any information they might have on his whereabouts. William was taken prisoner on 21 March 1918 at Hargicourt, France.
The Lancashire Evening Post reported his death on the 1st of June 1937. He collapsed at the Majestic Cinema whilst watching “San Francisco”, he was 58 and had been in poor health for several years.
In 1901 Moses is a Hotel cook, Samuel is a laboratory assistant and Ellen is 13. They have a 12-year-old visitor, Mildred Kidman who was born in Plumstead. Alice is visiting Henry Mitchell (her soon-to-be husbands’ father) in Chatteris, her 8-year-old sister Mabel Gladys is with her. Ethel is just round the corner boarding at 5 Abbey Walk.
Alice marries George Henry Basham Mitchell in 1901.
Mabel marries Bertie Wilson in 1903.
Ethel marries William James Hunt in 1906.
Samuel marries Ethel Cook in 1908 and the live at 106b York Street.
The 1911 Census shows that Moses and Sarah have been married for 40 years. They have had 8 children, 6 of whom are still living. Ellen is still living with her parents and she’s now a shop assistant. Mabel is also a shop assistant.
Ellen marries Sidney James Willson on 3rd July 1919. Samuel is a widowed coal depot manager. They live at 42 Fitzroy Street.
Sarah died in 1927. Samuel, and his wife Ethel, then move back to 135 Sturton Street. Moses dies there on the 26 December 1937. Samuel dies in 1958. Ethel remained at 135 Sturton Street until her death in 1972.
Sources – 1861, 1871, 1881, 1891, 1901 & 1911 UK Census, England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915, British Army World War I Service Records, 1914-1920, Prisoners Of War 1715-1945, Lancashire Evening Post 02 June 1937, Cambridgeshire Marriages, Cambridgeshire Electoral Registers, 1722-1966, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995
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