Nether Hall farm was managed by the Emson family for many years. The following information about the occupants of Nether Hall farm is from the UK census and supplemented by data found on Ancestry UK and in the British Newspaper Archive
1841
Robert Emson farmer, 55, born circa 1785 Helions Bumpstead Essex,
Ann Headly, 56, wife
Henry, 26
Elizabeth, 17
Robert and Ann married at St Andrews Cherry Hinton 17 April 1810. They had 6 children in all. Robert died in 1858 and was buried in Cherry Hinton. His estate was valued at under £16,000 and included 90 acres of fen land in Chittering.
In 1834 12th September there was a report in the Cambridge Chronicle of the theft of lead from Cherryhinton Church, about six or seven hundredweight. The churchwardens, one of whom was Robert Emson, offered a reward of £10 for information leading to the conviction of the thief. He was also a commissioner for the drainage of the Waterbeach Levels. In 1841 Robert and his son Henry Headly are listed as members of the Grand Jury for the Cambridgeshire Quarter Sessions. They are also both listed in 1844 as members of the ‘Cambridge and Cambridgeshire Association for the speedy Apprehension and Effectual Prosecution of Felons and Thieves of every Denomination, and of other Persons committing offences in the Town and County of Cambridge, on the persons or property of any of the Subscribers.’
1851
Henry Headly Emson, farmer of 470 acres employing 30,
Harriet, 34
Henry R, 5
Charles Barker, servant, 19
Emma Howard, servant, 23
Ann Stirling, servant, 29
Henry was born in Saffron Walden, Essex in 1815. He married Harriette Jenkins in 1843 in Yarmouth, Hants. He died in 1904 in Romsey Town, Cambridge and left £160 for the provision of almshouses.
1851
William Brown, bailiff, 40,
Mary Ann, 43,
Betsey, 7,
Mary Ann, 5,
George H, 10ms.
1851
James Charles, agricultural labourer, 30,
Eliza, 20,
Elizabeth S, 4,
Thomas, 2.
1861
Henry H Emson, farmer, 46,
Harriotte, 44,
Thomas S H, 5,
Elizabeth Richman, 27, merchant’s daughter [visitor],
George Osborne, 24, groom,
Abigail Osborne, 23, groom’s wife,
Ruth Fabb, 10, cook and dairymaid,
Susan Osbourn, 16, house maid.
1861
James Charles, 40, farmer’s housekeeper,
Eliza, 38, char woman,
Elizabeth, 14, scholar,
Thomas, 12, Ag Lab.
1861
Thomas Gilbert, 27, shepherd
1871
Henry Emson, 56, farmer of 400 acres employing 20 men 16 boys and 4 lads,
Harriette, 54,
Louisa Schooling, 25, dairy maid,
Sarah A Schooling, 17, house maid,
Robert Ellis, 15, farm servant in doors.
1881 Henry H Emson is living on Cherry Hinton High Street. He is described as a lodger and widower aged 66 and still a farmer of 106 acres employing 5 men and 6 boys. He appears to be lodging with the family of Charles Papworth, wheelwright and postmaster. In 1891 he is still lodging with the Papworths and is a retired farmer. He died in 1904 and was buried in Cherry Hinton.
1891
John C Marsh 52 born Suffolk Homersfield farmer,
Elizabeth 54,
Florence 26,
Edith 25,
Emily 23,
Edward 22,
Jack 12,
Ida Barnes 17 Gen Servant Domestic.
John Marsh was living in 1881 in Red Cross Road (Lane) from where we can assume he started to manage Nether Hall Farm before moving.
1901
James Towler, farmer, 33, born Cambridge,
Mary, 64, widow mother, living on own means,
Maud, 27, sister,
Daisy, 21, sister,
Sarah A Kerbyshire, 21, housemaid domestic,
Annie Jarman, 22, cook.
See James Towler. A note in the Towler family history says: James Towler 1868-1930. Lived with sisters Maud & Daisy at Nether Hall Farm, Cherry Hinton. Master of the Cambridgeshire Harriers 1905-5 & 1914-22. Born at Shakespeare House, Newmarket Road, educated at the Perse School. He managed the farm at Shelford Bottom for his father upon whose death he moved to Nether Hall. (A keen sportsman (among the best shots in the county) and also bred and exhibited hunters and shire horses)
1901
Edward C Elbourne, 32 ??, cattle,
Martha, 33,
Victoria M G, 3,
William C A, 2
1901
Joshua Newman, 45, horsehelper
1901
George Moore, 34, groom,
Maria 33,
Frederick 13 stable boy,
Lucy 11,
George 9,
Emma 7,
Berthurn 5 son,
Albert 3,
Ethel 1
1901
William Thake, 50, horsekeeper,
Elizabeth 50,
Frederick 13 horseboy,
Florence 10,
Annie 7,
Mabel Stallan (gchild) 3.
1907
DG emailed in 2022: My father Herbert John Stephens Gibbs was born at nether Hall farm on 9/10/1907. His parents, my grandparents, had Nether Hall farm as their address on their marriage certificate of 12/11/1904. My grandfather was listed as a groom.
In 1911 the Gibbs family were living at 5 Mill Street.
1911 James Towler head 43 farming, Maud Towler sister 37 housework, Maud Annie Brasher servant 19 domestic servant
1911 Herbert James Dean head 34 married farm servant & groom, Emily Mary wife 40, Herbert James, 13, Walter Edward 10, Florence Emily 6, Reginald Freddy 4
1911 Herbert Dockrell head 26 horseman on farm, Matilda Dockrell wife 25, Herbert 5 months
1911 James Wilson head 21 shepherd, Florence wife 20
1911 Edward C Elbourne head 42 cowman on farm, Martha wife 43, Victoria 14, Grace 8, Dorothy 6, Stanley 3
Sources: UK census
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