106 Sturton Street

The Family of a Bootmaker

1881 – 1926

Head of household in 1881 is William Moore, a 42 year old bootmaker who was born in the Trinity parish of Cambridge.  He is married to Emily Hobourn (Nee Bowyer), aged 45 and born in Upwell, Norfolk. William and Emily married in 1859, and the newlyweds can be found living on Bradmore Street with Emily’s mother in 1861.

By 1871 the couple and their four children (William Bowyer, Alfred Edward, Emily Rosa and Annie Florence) are living on Sturton Street with Emily’s mother Elizabeth.  Sturton Street is unnumbered in 1871, so it’s unknown whether the family is already living at number 106 at this point.

In 1881 Emily and William have four children living with them.  Their eldest child, William, has moved to Leicester and is working as a railway goods clerk.  He married Emily Lee in 1884.

Alfred is now 19 and an apprentice printer compositor, Emily is 15 and Annie is 13, both girls are pupil teachers.  The youngest child is Samuel Albert, and he is still at school.

Agnes M Dennigton, a 25 year old domestic nurse from Surlingham, Norfolk is living with the family at the time of the census.

In 1887 Alfred, now working as a letterpress printer, marries Eliana Sarah Fortin from 102 Sturton Street.  The couple move to Nottingham.

Emily Rosa married William Frederick Benstead on the 15 December 1889.  William was previously living with his parents at 43 Gwydir Street.  The couple are living at 40 Gwydir Street in 1901.  The Benstead family headstone is in Mill Road Cemetery.

Shortly after the 1881 Census was taken Emily died, aged 45.

On the 1891 Census William is living with his daughter Annie, now 23, and his son Samuel, who is now 19 and works as a print compositor.

“52-inch Ordinary Bicycle, ball bearings both wheels; good condition; all accories; 35s – Apply, 106 Sturton Street, Cambridge” Saffron Walden Weekly News 14 July 1893

Samuel marries Maud Alice Bacon in 1896.  The couple move to East Ham in Essex.

By 1901 William and Annie are living alone at number 106.  William is still a boot maker, whilst Annie works as a music teacher.  In 1911 William records himself as working as “college servant bell ringer” and Annie, now 43, as a housekeeper.

“Boot-repairing Machine (Bradbury, long arm), cheap – 106 Sturton Street, Cambridge” Saffron Walden Weekly News 06 July 1917

William lived at number 106 until his death on the 4th January 1919.  The electoral registers show that Annie lived here until 1926.  She can be found on the 1939 Register living with her brother-in-law William Frederick Benstead at 26 Parsonage Street.

Annie is buried in Mill Road Cemetery with her parents.

1927-1930: William Walter Franks

“Thanks To The Bus And Ambulance Men – To the Editor, Sir, Will you please allow me through your paper to tender my great thanks to the Ortona bus drivers and conductors who gave my wife and myself such valuable help in our recent accident in Barton Road, for their promptness in attending to our injuries until the arrival of the police ambulance?

It is a great thing for us to know that we have such a band of efficient men ready to help us, and also that they were able to get our ambulance there in such quick time.

My thanks are also due to the police ambulance men for conveying us so quickly to hospital. Yours, etc. W. W. FRANKS, 106 Sturton Street, Cambridge.” Saffron Walden Weekly News 07 June 1929

1932 – 1966

Electoral registers show Harry Jack Medcalf living here from 1932 until at least 1966.  The 1939 register records that he was born in 1906 and works as a butchery manager.  He is married to Irene who was born in 1905.

Sources – 1891, 1901, 1911 UK Census, 1939 Register, Cambridgeshire Marriages, England Select Marriages (1538-1973), Civil Registration Death Index (1837-1915), Cambridgeshire Electoral Registers (1722-1966), Saffron Walden Weekly News (14 July 1893), (06 July 1917), (07 June 1929),Mill Road Cemetery