9 Kingston Street, Cambridge

A Widow and her Seamstress Daughters

1881

Head of household is George J Dunwell. He is 33 and works as an agent.  He is married to Emma, also 33 and born in Sawston.  The couple have three young children: William is 3 and Sidney is 2.  The youngest is just 3 months old and recorded as “Infant Dunwell”.

1891

In 1891, 9 Kingston Street is home to the Rute family, headed by Jane Rute, a 50 year old Widow from London. With her are two daughters: Bertha, 20, who was born in Berkshire; and Matilda, 17, who was born in Buckinghamshire. Both the girls work as seamstresses. Also present is Jane’s 8 year old son Thomas Rute, who is in school. As Thomas is only 8, and was born in Cambridge, we can assume that Jane only became a widow after the family moved here. To help the family maintain their finances, they have taken on a lodger, 26 year old James Elgar, who works as a Telegraphist.

1901

In 1901, 9 Kingston Street is now the home of Amelia Lenney, a 71 year old from Kenninghall, Norfolk, living with her husband, Bennett Lenney, aged 66, a House Carpenter from Hundon, in Suffolk.

1911

By 1911, 9 Kingston Street is home to the Bavey family. Jane Bavey, aged 55, from Bermondsey, London, is married to 59 year old Samuel Bavey, who works as a Printer’s assistant overseer. They have three sons: Percy, a 24 year old Printers Machine Manager; Alfred, a 15 year old Printers typefounder apprentice; and Horace, aged 11, in school. The Bavey family had previously lived at 8 Hooper Street (1891 and 1901 census).

Sources: 1881, 1891, 1901, 1911 UK Census