Church of St James Great Ellingham
Burial
Mary Green was buried in the churchyard of St James, Great Ellingham, on Easter Day, 7th April, 1901. She was 83 years old. The burial register records that Mary was living in Deptford at the time of her death.
What link did Mary Green have with Great Ellingham?
Census Returns
Looking through various census returns, I found that Mary Green was the widow of John Green, a former landlord of the Curriers Arms in Great Ellingham.
1861 census
The 1861 census captures 47 year old Yaxham born Mary Green living in Caston with her husband, John Green, and children Elizabeth 18, William 15 and 10 year old twins Eliza and Mary. John Green is described as a master shoemaker.
Curriers Arms
Just a few years later, the Green family moved to the Curriers Arms in Watton Road, Great Ellingham. However, John Green’s time of being the landlord of the Curriers Arms came to an end following a court case in 1866.
1871 census
After leaving the Curriers Arms, John and Mary Green continued to live in Great Ellingham. The 1871 census finds the couple with their 23 year old son William in Watton Road.
1881 census
By the time the next census, John Green had died leaving Mary a widow. The 1881 census reveals 68 year old widow Mary Green, described as a nurse and a visitor, at the home of John and Mary Reader [sic] and their three young daughters, Gertrude 3, 21 month old Jessie and six month old Mabel at No.26 Belvoir Street, Norwich. John Reader is described as a confectioner counterman.
1891 census
Ten years later, Mary (now 75 and still described as a nurse) is with her daughter and son-in-law, Mary and William Bush at 8 Mancroft Street, Norwich. It is possible that Mary was helping (or perhaps nursing) her daughter who has a six week old son.
1901 census
The census of 1901 was undertaken on the 31st March 1901, just a week before widow Mary Green was buried in Great Ellingham. I have not been able to find Mary Green on this census. Accordingly, Mary may have died just before or on census day 1901.
Death in Deptford
The registration of the death of 83 year old Mary Green appears in the Greenwich District between April and June 1901. Deptford lies within this district.
I wonder how Mary’s remains were transported from Deptford to Great Ellingham, a distance of some 100 miles?
Sources:
Great Ellingham Parish Registers. Norfolk Record Office/PD/609. Also available at FamilySearch.org
GRO Index. FreeBMD website.https://www.familysearch.org/search/image/index?owc=4J8C-CB7%3A29627201%3Fcc%3D1416598
https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?cite=8mrXT7l%2BW5bTK%2BiTTt4Lsw&scan=1
https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?cite=AdhSSASr9ymlGejj9HAfQw&scan=1
1861 census RG9/1238/65
1871 census RG10/1841/79
1881 census RG11/1951/126
1891 census RG12/1531/75