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48 York Street

Retired Schoolmistress

1876 – 1907

Head of household in 1881 is Elizabeth Mary Daffen, a 52 year old retired schoolmistress who was born in Cambridge.  The census records that she is “living on rents”.  The Cambridge electoral register shows that she has lived here since 1876 and remains in this property until 1888.

Currently living with Elizabeth is her 8 year old great niece, Florence M Daffen, a scholar who was born in Wandsworth, Surrey.

This property is not on the 1891 Census.  Elizabeth Daffen is living in number 3 Sleaford Street (now no.5) on the night of the Census (3rd April 1891).  However, the electoral roll shows that she moves back here at some point in 1891 and remains at 48 York Street until her death on the 4th September 1907.

In 1901 she is living here with niece Margaret K Daffen.

After the death of Elizabeth, an advert appears in the newpaper announcing the sale of 46 and 48 York Street (along with houses on Willow Walk and Grafton Street a total of seven “dwelling houses”, and nine cottages on New Street) “Let to old Weekly Tenants, the whole producing a gross rental of £168 17s 8d per annum” the advert goes on to say “Catling & Son are favoured with instructions from the Executor of the late Miss E M Daffen and of the late Mr Thomas Daffen.” Thomas was Elizabeth’s brother who died in 1906.

The 1881 Census recorded that Elizabeth “lived on rents”.  The rents would have come from these sixteen properties.  A couple of weeks later the paper reveals the outcome of the sale, “Nos. 46 and 48 York Street, the former letting at an annual rental of £9 10s 8d and the latter, the late residence of the deceased owner, being in hand, made £220.”

Sources: 1861, 1871, 1881, 1891, 1901 UK Census, National Probate Calendar (1858-1995), Cambridgeshire Electoral Registers, Burgess Rolls and Poll Books (1722-1966), Cambridge Independent Press, 11 October 1907 and 25 October 1907,

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