Illustration Christine Fuller
The Norfolk Chronicle published on Saturday 9th April 1853, included a report of some of the recent cases heard at the Norfolk Quarter Sessions at The Shirehall in Norwich.
Amongst the defendants is 18 year old William Wells.
Wells had been lodging with Robert Rose in Great Ellingham along with fellow lodger John Yeomans. It was whilst living there that Wells stole a pair of trousers belonging to John Yeomans.
William Wells pleaded guilty. He received a sentence of 21 days imprisonment with hard labour.
Robert Rose’s Dwelling
The 1851 census finds 59 year old Hopton born widower Robert Rose occupying a dwelling in Bow Street. With Robert is his 16 year old nephew (and namesake) Robert Rose and 68 year old housekeeper, widow Elizabeth Flint.
However the Great Ellingham Tithe Map of 1843, shows Robert Rose occupying Thomas Mann’s cottage along the Hingham Road, opposite the junction with Bow Street. The Tithe Map also lists ‘others’ occupying the dwelling. However, it does not list the names of the other occupiers.
John Yeomans
The 1851 census lists 18 year old Great Ellingham born John Yeomans with the household of farmer John Davy at ‘Davy’s Farm’. Although I do not know exactly where ‘Davy’s Farm’ is, it is around the area of Bow Street/Hingham Road/Stalland. John Davy employs John Yeomans as a farm servant along with 12 year old William Clarke.
John Yeomans was baptised in St James’s Church, Great Ellingham on the 10th February, 1833. He was one of 8 known children of Perry and Mary Ann Yeomans.
Sadly in July 1841, John’s mother, Mary Ann Yeomans died at the age of 40. His father, Perry, married Rebecca Hill in 1842. Perry and Rebecca had two known children Caroline and William.
Unfortunately, I cannot trace John Yeomans after the 1851 census.
William Wells
Disappointingly, I have not been able to identify William Wells. Although we know from the newspaper report that William Wells was lodging with Robert Rose in the village in 1853, I cannot pinpoint him on a census return. William Wells may well have moved into the village and out again between the censuses of 1851 and 1861.
However, it is possible that he is the 26 year old William Wells whose death was registered in the Wayland District between April and June 1860.
Sources:
9th April 1853 Norfolk Chronicle. Viewed via The British Newspaper Archive
Great Ellingham Parish Registers. Norfolk Record Office. PD 609. Also available via www.familysearch.org
1851 census HO107/1823/116
Great Ellingham Tithe Map 1843. Tithe Apportionments, 1836-1929 [database online]. TheGenealogist.co.uk 2023. Original data: “IR29 Tithe Commission and successors: Tithe Apportionments” The National Archives