15 and 15a Stone Street, Cambridge

A Stone Mason's Blended Family

Number 15 was one of a terrace of seven houses on the south side of Stone Street.  The terrace was demolished, so this property no longer exists.

On the 1891 Census number 15 is divided into two properties.  In 1881 and 1901 there is only one family living at number 15. Then it returns to two families occupying in 15a in 1911.  The modern number 15a appears in the Electoral Registers by 1909 and on a Revised Ordnance Survey map from 1925-27.

1881

Head of Household is 39-year-old Benjamin Fordham, a carpenter from Eltisley.  He lives here with his wife Jane and four children Edding (15), Elizabeth (13), Alick (11) and Mary (5).  His mother Ann is visiting the family.

Benjamin died in 1882 and is buried in Mill Road Cemetery.

In 1884 Jane remarried, but remained at this property.  See Number 15a below.

Number 15 in 1891

Walter J Robinson, 39, Museum Assistant, b. Cambridge

Elizabeth Robinson, 39, b. Cambridge

Edward Robinson, 16, Apprentice, b. Cambridge

Harry Robinson, 14, Errand Boy, b. Cambridge

Nellie Robinson, 12, Scholar, b. Cambridge

Ashley Robinson, 7, Scholar, b. Cambridge

Fanny Robinson, 5, Scholar, b. Cambridge

Number 15a in 1891

Head of Household is Francis Chapman, a 48-year-old stone mason originally from Ely.  He married Jane Fordham after her husband Benjamin died.

Children from both marriages are living with them.  Edmund Chapman is 24 and a bricklayer’s labourer. Herbert Chapman is 16 and a junkers labourer.  Both were born in Ely.

Edding Fordham is 25 and a gymnastic instructor. In 1871 he appears on the census as “Tom H Fordham”, his entry on the Mill Road Cemetery website has an explanation for the discrepancies with his name.

Elizabeth Fordham is 23 and a dressmaker.  Mary Ann Fordham is 15 and out of work. Elizabeth is buried in a family plot in Mill Road Cemetery.

Francis and Jane move to number 16 by 1901.

1901

Alfred Watson, 54, railway labourer, b. Oakington, Cambridgeshire

Daisy Watson, 46, b. Grantchester, Cambridgeshire

Stephen Watson, 12, b. Cambridge

1911

The Coffins from number 1 Stone Street have moved in to number 15 by 1908.  The 1911 Census shows that James Willis Coffin and Mary A Coffin have been married for 21 years and have no children. James is from Dorset and Mary from Kent.  The pen has faded on the document, so it’s not possible to see if James is still working for the railways.

Number 15a in 1911

William Charles Lander, a 27-year-old gardener employed by a county school lives at 15a with his wife Gertrude (nee Baker).  They have been married a year.  By the time of the 1939 register they have moved to 1 Sturton Street.

Source: 1871. 1881, 1891, 1901 UK Census, Mill Road Cemetery, National Library of Scotland Map Finder, OldMaps.co.uk, Cambridgeshire, England, Electoral Registers, Burgess Rolls and Poll Books (1722-1966),