1820 Auction The Norfolk Chronicle & Norwich Gazette of the 15th July, 1820 included Notice of a forthcoming Auction of a ‘Valuable Estate’ in Great Ellingham. The Auction would take place at the Crown Inn in Great Ellingham on the 27th July, 1820 at four o’clock in the afternoon. The estate comprised ‘a good farmhouse,…
Category: Farmers
A Fall from Grace leads to Emigration
Bury Hall, Great Ellingham. Courtesy of Emma Wilson Towards the end of 1897, and, having fell into some disgrace, 38 year old Ernest Edwin Rushbrooke packed up the family’s belongings at Bury Hall, Great Ellingham, and headed off with his wife, six children and members of his wife’s family to New Zealand to begin a…
Transportation for ‘Respectable-looking Farmer’
The edition of The Northern Star of March 31st, 1849 reported on the cases heard at the Norwich Assizes on March 27th. One such case was that of William Kiddle Warren, described as a ‘respectable-looking farmer‘, who pleaded guilty to two charges of forgery. Warren had forged two bills of exchange (otherwise known as promissory…
Three Sons-in-law with the name John!
Illustration by Christine Fuller Death of William Downes William Downes died on the 30th August, 1853 at the age of 79. He was buried in the churchyard at the Parish Church of St James a few days later on the 4th September. Just three weeks earlier, William had put his affairs in order. He signed…
William Barnard in Financial Difficulties at Bury Hall
Bury Hall, Great Ellingham. Courtesy of Emma Wilson To be unable to meet the demands of creditors would have been bad enough for William Barnard and his family to endure, but it seems that this Barnard family suffered additional heartache. William Barnard A son of James and Sarah Barnard (née Rose), William Barnard was born…
A Long Marriage of 52 Years
William & Emily Houchen. Photograph taken 1921. Courtesy Pauline Bezant William and Emily Houchen had completed 52 years of marriage when William died in 1934. The couple had lived for many years in Reymerston before retiring to Yaxham. Early Life in Great Ellingham However, both William Houchen and his wife Emily (neé Rivett) were born…
Great Ellingham ‘Born and Bred’
Mary Ann Rivett nee Warren. c.1810 to 1888. Photograph courtesy of Pauline Bezant Mary Ann Rivett, the wife of Jonathan Rivett, was very much a ‘Great Ellingham girl’. She lived in the village for her entire life. Warren Family Baptised in the Church of St James on the 28th January 1810, Mary Ann was the…
‘Bastardy Orders’ against Great Ellingham Men
Illustration by Christine Fuller Maintenance payments for children born out of wedlock is not a modern day provision. Reputed Father: Robert Downs of Great Ellingham When Mary Cable of Bunwell was delivered of a male child in the Parish of Bunwell on the 9th May, 1806, and was unable to (or chose not to) provide…
James Beatson, Trustee & Farmer
James Beatson, one of the Overseers of the Poor for the Parish of Great Ellingham in 1873, was also one of the Trustees of the Fuel Allotment Charity. But who was James Beatson and was he a local man? The 1861 census finds 47 year old farmer, James Beatson and his 54 year old wife…
Auction of Charles Rivett’s Farmhouse
Trustee and Overseer An application to the Charity Comissioners of 1873 by the Trustees of the Great Ellingham Fuel Allotment Charity refers to Charles Rivett as being one of the Trustees of the Charity. Charles Rivett was also one of two Overseers of the Poor for the Parish. James Beatson being the other. Local Man…