In Remembrance
Some of us have long lives and some short, they are all important.
One of Carbrooke Heritage Group members has been researching and collating the information on Carbrooke churchyard gravestones, using further information from the burial, baptism, marriage registers and census entries.
In an undisturbed area on the north side of Carbrooke graveyard, and under a large holly tree, formerly known as the ‘Babies graveyard’, is a cracked and almost illegible gravestone to Alfred Ainger, son of William and Mary. This was the last gravestone to be collated as part of this project. Further information on the gravestone was buried beneath the soil.
It appears it was usual practise in many Christian churches for unbaptised babies and young children to be buried in these parts of churchyards, and this area in Carbrooke churchyard has been used within living memory.
However it is unusual for a gravestone of this type to be erected for a young child, and there are no other grave markers in this area, although highly likely that many children were buried here over the years.
Nor do William or Mary Ainger have gravestones.
So, who was Alfred Ainger, when did he die, how did his death affect his family.
We can presume that Alfred must have been rather young at the time of death, and searching the burial registers, we discovered Alfred Ainger was buried 3rd December 1858 aged 5 (years*). According to the gravestone his parents were William and Mary Ainger.
*This appears to be either a transcription error or mistake by the Vicar.
A search on the GRO website for births and deaths brings up the following entry.
On 30th November 1858 at Carbrooke, Alfred Ainger aged 30 days died, the son of William Ainger an agricultural labourer, who was present at the death. Alfred died of debility, a common term at the time for infant death, he had probably been sickly from birth, perhaps premature, or unable to benefit from nutrition. As an agricultural labourer, William Ainger and family would have been poor, it would be reasonable to assume, a gravestone would be well beyond their finances.
It appears that Alfred was not 5 years (as the burial register), but 5 weeks. Further search on the GRO website brings up his birth entry.
He was born 28th October 1858 to William Ainger an agricultural labourer and Mary ‘formerly Cadge’. William registered the birth and death on 30th November, the date of death.
Alfred does have an entry in the baptism records. He was baptised at Carbrooke on 25th November 1858, perhaps his parents were keen to have him baptised as he appeared to be so frail.
Taking a step further back to the marriage of William and Mary.
Date – 08.10.1842 at Carbrooke Church.
Husband -WILLIAM AINGER of FULL AGE
BACHELOR of CARBROOKE, FARMER
Father – JOHN AINGER, BAKER
Wife – MARY CADGE (ILLEG), MINOR
SPINSTER of CARBROOKE
Father – JOHN FULLER, CARPENTER
Witnesses – Amelia Thimblethorpe, James Johnson X
A search of Carbrooke baptism records revealed that William was baptised 10th December 1820 to John Ainger, Baker, and Elizabeth.
To confuse things, there was also a William Ainger baptised to Thomas Ainger, Labourer, and Ann 23rd January 1820.
Mary Cadge was baptised 6th June 1824 (born illegitimately to Charlotte Cadge).
Charlotte Cadge married John Fuller on 2nd December 1824 at Carbrooke. This date would imply that John Fuller was likely Mary Cadge’s father.
Using the GRO website search facility – the following children were born to William and Mary (Cadge) Ainger.
Sarah baptised 23 April 1843 to William (Farmer), and Mary, (no entry found GRO).
Thomas baptised to William (Farmer), and Mary 31 March 1843, (no entry found GRO)
John GRO 1846 – baptised 12th March 1848 (labourer).
William GRO 1848, baptised 9th February 1848, (labourer).
Charles GRO 1850 – baptised 30 June 1872 (adult).
Elizabeth GRO 1855
Mary GRO 1857
Alfred GRO 1858 – d.1858 baptised 25 November 1858. (Labourer).
George GRO 1860
Mildred GRO 1863 – 1867
Alfred GRO 1864
Emma GRO1866
- Alfred died in 1858, a further son was named Alfred in 1864, it was a reasonably common practise to give a subsequent child the name of one who had previously died.
Further research shows that Alfred born 1864, also died as a child, aged 13. He was buried on 15th September 1877 in Carbrooke churchyard. It seems more likely this would be the gravestone we have discovered, but perhaps there is more inscribed on the stone and buried beneath the soil that we could investigate, to discover more.
On 11th September 1877, at Carbrooke Alfred Ainger son of William a farm labourer, died, aged 13 years.William was present at the death.
A rather sad story emerges. Alfred died from acute catarrhal laryngitis. An infection of the larynx which can cause fever, sore throat, difficulty breathing. It must have been a serious infection to have caused death and probably caused problems breathing, swallowing, etc. for a while prior to death. Today, antibiotics could cure it, but in those days, such infections were common and serious. Alfred coming from a poor family, was perhaps undernourished to begin with.
Going further back to find out more of Alfreds family, and perhaps why they erected this gravestone.
In the 1841 census, William’s father (John as per his marrige), was a baker in the village.
1841 HO107/785/16 CHAPEL STREET household 43 (now known as Broadmoor Road)
JOHN AINGER 40 Baker, born Norfolk
ELIZABETH AINGER 44 born Norfolk
ELIZABETH AINGER 15 born Norfolk
And it seems likely that William was living/working with his grandfather?, also William. This will need further checking.
1841 HO107/785/16 CHURCH STREET 117
WILLIAM AINGER 60 BAKER born NORFOLK (living at Old Bakehouse)
ANN AINGER 60 born Norfolk
WILLIAM AINGER 20 born Norfolk
ANN CLAXTON 12 Female servant born Norfolk .
By 1851 William and Mary were well established in their own family.
HO107/1823 CHURCH ROAD household 45
- William Ainger 30 Head – Married, Ag. Labourer, born Carbrooke Nfk.
- Mary Ainger 27 Wife born Carbrooke Nfk.
- Sarah Ainger 8 Dau, born Carbrooke Nfk.
- Thomas Ainger 7 Son, born Carbrooke Nfk.
- William Ainger 3 Son, born Carbrooke Nfk.
- James Ainger 11mths Son, born Baston NFK
1861 e West) RG9 1238 (TUN MORE) ROAD Household 60 (This is now Shipdham Road)
- WILLIAM AINGER 40 HEAD-MARRIED AG LABOURER CARBROOKE NFK
- MARY AINGER 37 WIFE-MARRIED AG LABOURER CARBROOKE NFK
- JOHN AINGER 15 SON-UNMARRIED AG LABOURER CARBROOKE NFK
- WILLIAM AINGER 14 SON AG LABOURER CARBROOKE NFK
- JAMES AINGER 11 SON AG LABOURER CARBROOKE NFK
- CHARLEY AINGER 9 SON AG LABOURER CARBROOKE NFK
- 1871 RG10 1842 P34 West – SHIPDHAM ROAD Household 17
- WILLIAM AINGER 50 M HEAD-MARRIED AG LABOURER CARBROOKE NFK
- MARY AINGER 47 F WIFE-MARRIED CARBROOKE NFK
- CHARLES AINGER 19 M SON AG LABOURER CARBROOKE NFK
- MARY AINGER 14 F DAU CARBROOKE NFK
- GEORGE AINGER 10 M SON AG LABOURER CARBROOKE NFK
- ALFRED AINGER 6 M SON SCHOLAR CARBROOKE NFK
- EMMA AINGER 5 F DAU CARBROOKE NFK
19 May 1905 Burial William Ainger aged 84
21 December 1893 Burial Mary Ainger aged 70.
To be continued.