12 Ainsworth Street, Cambridge

12 Ainsworth Street

Number 12 is one of a terrace of seven houses on the east side of Ainsworth Street.

1881 census

William Mattisson, head, 26, railway clerk, b. Ipswich, Suffolk
Laura Mattisson, wife, 24, b. Ipswich, Suffolk
Edith Mattisson, daughter, 4, b. Ipswich, Suffolk

By 1888 the house had new residents: Alfred Thomas Orders and his wife Agnes Louise Maud Orders. In May 1888 Agnes accidentally set her dress on fire while tending the hearth in her house (Cambridge Chronicle, 1 June 1888). She ran into the street, in flames. Local baker Abraham Smith, from 80 Kingston Street, happened to be passing on his rounds. He managed to put out the flames but with some difficulty. Unfortunately Agnes was not cooperative: she ran away from him and ‘resisted very much in having her dress interfered with’. He had to chase her and then rip off the burning clothes, getting burned himself in the process. Agnes was severely injured and subsequently died of tetanus.

1891 census

Walter Tarrant, head, 43, plasterer, b. Cambridge
Ashwell Tarrant, wife, 49, b. Gt Wilbraham, Cambridgeshire
Ellen Tarrant, daughter, 20, general servant, b. Cambridge
Clara Tarrant, daughter, 17, general servant, b. Cambridge
David Tarrant, son, 15, b. Cambridge
Frederick Tarrant, son, 10, scholar, b. Cambridge
Rose H Tarrant, daughter, 6, scholar, b. Cambridge

1901 census

Edwin Blackwell, head, 29, boilerman, b. Cambridge
Elizabeth C Blackwell, wife, 30, b. Cambridge
Ambrose Blackwell, son, 6, b. Cambridge

Elizabeth Blackwell (née Salisbury) grew up on Stone Street, where her parents and younger siblings still lived.

1911 census

Ellen Bagstaff, head, 57, dress maker, own account, at home, b. Norwich
Catherine Edwards, lodger, widow, 70, pensioner, blind at 58, b. Edinburgh

Ellen Bagstaff used to live at 50 Ainsworth Street. On this Census she says that she had two children and one is still alive.

1921 census

Ellen Bagstaff, head, 67, widow, house duties, own account, b. Norwich
Ann Dyball, boarder, 81, widow, bedridden, b. Dersingham, Norfolk
Flora Jackson, boarder, 47, widow, home duties, b. Lawshall, Suffolk

Sources: 1881, 1891, 1901, 1911, 1921 UK Census, Cambridge Independent Press (1 June 1888),