‘Elizabeth Asty’s House’ in Long Street. Photograph taken November 2024 Earlier History This delightful ‘old cottage’ in ‘Chapel Yard’, Long Street was once owned by Elizabeth Asty. She died in or about 1724. Elizabeth was the eldest daughter of George and Elizabeth Asty. The cottage had belonged to Elizabeth’s mother before her marriage. However when…
Category: Mitson
The Marriage Settlement of Harriet Barnard and Richard Clarke
Historically it was common for aristocratic families, the gentry and those families owning land, to want to control the descent of their property. This could be done by incorporating a trust within a purchase deed or in a Will. However it was also common to do this by Marriage Settlements. Arranged Marriages For centuries, arranged…
Mary Dennis Inherits Property in Town Green
Legacy of Property and Land in Great Ellingham Anthony Porter of Great Ellingham died c.1786, and left all his freehold and copyhold lands in Great Ellingham to his niece, Mary Dennis (née Willomatt). At this time, Mary was living in the town of Watton, some 8 miles from Great Ellingham. Mary’s use and benefit of…
Daniel William Cocking, a Beneficiary at 14 years of age
Daniel Cocking was just 14 years of age when his maternal grandfather, Daniel Lister, died in 1799. He inherited all his grandfather’s property and land in Great Ellingham which included a thatched house in Church Street, which in more recent times, was known as ‘Ye Olde Thatche Shoppe‘. Although pictured over 100 years later, on…
Mitson Family Emigrate to Canada
Emigration Like many other families and individuals from the eastern counties, several families from Great Ellingham also emigrated in 1836. This mass emigration was likely as a result of the hardship being suffered by many agricultural workers following the introduction of machinery. Many agricultural labourers were out of work or, those still in work, found…