4 Stone Street, Cambridge

A General Labourer and his family

Number 4  is one of a terrace of 8 houses on the south side of Stone Street.

1881

William Shadbolt, 22, Clerk, b. Cambridge

Naomi Shadbolt, 23, b. Cambridge

Arthur Shadbolt, 2, b. Cambridge

The Story of the Barker Family 1886 – 1918

Head of household on the 1891 Census is William Alfred James Barker, a 38-year old general labourer who was born in Great Chesterford.  He is living here with his wife Maria, 40, who was born in Biggleswade.  The Electoral Registers show that he has lived at number 4 from 1886.

They have two children.  Sidney Stanley is 14 and an errand boy, Walter Cecil is 7 and also an errand boy.  The Census records that Sidney was born in Newnham, but Walter was born locally in St Andrew the Less.

In 1896 Sidney marries Rebecca Neaves.  In 1901 they are living in Fulbourn with their two children and Sidney is working as a railway signalman.

William is not present with the family in 1901, but Maria is not recorded as a Widow or Head of the household, so we can presume he was elsewhere on the night of the Census.  Walter is still here.  He’s now 17 and a house painter.

In 1911 Maria and William are still living at 4 Stone Street, and he is now a painter for a decorating company.  The electoral register shows William living at the property until 1915. Maria died in 1916.

William remarried in 1918 to Mary Elizabeth Ellis of 1 Stone Street. They lived there until his death in 1922.

Walter served in the 1st Battalion Cambridgeshire Regiment in the First World War, joining on the 5th August 1914.  He is employed as a painter and gives his address as 169 Sturton Street. Walter served in France between 14th Feb 1915 and the 21st May 1916.  On the 17th June 1916 he was discharged as physically unfit for further war service.

He is described as 5’7″, with a dark complexion, blue eyes and black hair.  During his service he has been “Honest, sober and trustworthy“.

By 1911 Sidney is living at 32 Ainsworth Street with his wife and three children.  He is still a railway signalman.

Sidney is buried with Rebecca and their son Roland in Cambridge CIty Cemetery.  At the time of his death, Roland was living at 15a Stone Street.

1919 – 1966

Joseph Eyre Tatham lived here with his wife Lydia.  He grew up at 68 York Street.  Joseph and Lydia are buried in Mill Road Cemetery with her parents.

Sources: 1881, 1891, 1901, 1911 UK Census, British Army Service Records, British Army World War I Pension Records 1914-1920, Cambridgeshire Baptisms, findagrave.com, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995, Mill Road Cemetery,