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19 New Square

History of 19 New Square

1857

The Cambridge Ghost Book, Halliday and Murdie, 2000, tells the account of Margaret Wheatcroft who on the morning of 15th November 1857 witnessed her husband’s death even though he was 2,000 miles away.

Margaret, born Bicheno, had married German Wheatcroft, and army officer in London in 1857. In September of that year he left with the Sixth Dragoon Guards for India, where h India mutiny had broken out. As  German sailed through Malta he bought a dress fr his wife in Malta which he posted back.

On the morning of 15th Margaret awoke to see German standing over her bed. He was in uniform, wide-eyed, anxious, trembling and unable to speak. He stood there for more than a minute before disappearing. Margaret was convinced that German had been killed in action; given the time difference, she believed he had died on the afternoon or evening of 14th November.

From 15th November Margaret wore black as a sign of mourning and also declined invitation to go to concerts. In December she received a telegram which said that Captain German Wheatcroft was killed in action on 15th November 1857. Margaret was sure that the dat was wrong; the War office refused to verify the date but in March 1858 one of German’s fellow officers confirmed that he had been struck by a shell fragment on the afternoon of 14th November. He remained alive for some time but unable to speak. He was buried under a cross inscribed: GW 14th November 1857.

1861

John Bicheno, 89, glover, b Over

Harriet, 62, b Lincs

Margaret Wheatcroft, daughter, widow, 30, b Cambridge

Kate Mary Bicheno, granddaughter, 11, b Yorks

John Bicheno, grandson, 9, b Cambridge

In 1851 the Bicheno family were living in Ferry path.

1871

Margaret Wheatcroft, 40, pensioner, b Cambridge

Harriet Bicheno, 72,

John Bicheno, nephew, 19, auctioneer’s clerk, b Cambridge

1881

Margaret Wheatcroft, 49, annuitant

Harriet Bicheno, 82,

1970

Arthur Stafford

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