The finding of a newspaper article relating to a Golden Wedding celebration, provides an insight into the life of Great Ellingham born Ellis Beales.
Ellis recounts in much detail his working life, which began when he was just 8 years old.
From the Yarmouth Independent dated 1st December, 1934:
GOLDEN WEDDING
MR & MRS ELLIS BEALES OF SHERINGHAM
A well-known couple in Sheringham and the surrounding district, Mr and Mrs Ellis Beales, celebrated their golden wedding at their home at “Cairndhu”, The Rise, Sheringham, on Thursday. Mr Beales is 76 years old, and Mrs Beales is 73.
Mr Beales was born at Great Ellingham. At the early age of eight years he started work for Mr John Tingey at Little Ellingham, for a wage of 2s [two shillings] a week.
At the age of 13½ years he commenced to travel with C. Burrell’s road engines, his job being to walk and carry, by day a red flag, and by night a red lamp, in front of the engine, who speed was about 4 mph.
A large part of the travelling was done at night. In his journeys he visited Thetford, Bury, Norwich and Hardingham. After two years of this he received an offer to go into Mr Tingey’s steam flour mills.
Later he went for two years as an importer at Dickleburgh steam flour mills, and following that took up windmill work and went to mills at Fincham, Rockland and Cley-next-the-sea, spending two years at each.
He then moved to Weybourne Water Mill and when he had been there for nearly two years he was married at Caston Church to Miss Sarah Hammond. He lived at the Weybourne Mill for 41 years, the latter part of the time taking over the business for himself. He then retired and went to live at “Cleveland”, Weybourne, and later to Sheringham.
During this time at Weybourne he was a member of the Rocket Life Saving Brigade for 28 years, receiving a long service medal presented by the late Commander Murray. He remembered one morning helping to save ten people from a Norwegian ship “Ida” and on several other occasions he was called upon but cannot remember the ships concerned.
He was also a member of Weybourne Church Choir for a period of 46 years. He was well known as a a singer in the neighbourhood and was in great demand at local concerts.
They have two sons and one daughter surviving, another son and daughter died at an early age. Both surviving sons served in the war.
Mr Beales present hobby on which he spends many hours, is carving with penknife model ships and windmills out of wood. He has also been a keen bowls player.
Born in Great Ellingham
Parish Church of St James, Great Ellingham
Ellis Ephraim Beales was born in Great Ellingham on the 25th July, 1858. Just a few weeks later, on the 22nd August, his parents, Robert and Naomi Beales, took him for baptism at the local Parish Church.
Bow Street
The 1861 census captures two year old Ellis with his parents, Robert (29) and Naomi (24), at their home in Bow Street, Great Ellingham. Robert and Naomi also have a four-month old son, Frederick. Robert Beales is working as an agricultural labourer.
I believe the family are still in Bow Street at the time of the 1871 census. Ellis aged 12 and ten year old Frederick are now joined by Harriet 6, Alice 3 and one year old Philip.
We know from the newspaper article that Ellis is working for John Tingey in nearby Little Ellingham.
Little Ellingham
By 1881, Robert and Naomi Beales have moved their family to The Green, Little Ellingham. 48 year old Robert Beales is working as a farm labourer. 22 year old Ellis is now a corn miller. Alice (now 13) and 11 year old Philip are also still living with their parents.
Marriage
Around 1882, Ellis Beales relocates to work at the Watermill at Weybourne.
The Church of the Holy Cross, Caston
Photograph taken May 2020
Towards the end of 1884, he marries Sarah Hammond in the Parish Church at Caston. 50 years later, the couple would celebrate their Golden Wedding anniversary.
Children
During the early part of 1886, the couple welcomed their first child, Frederick Harry. Alice Ethel arrived just two years later in 1888 with Ernest William in 1890.
1891 census
The national head-count of 1891 finds 32 year old flour miller Ellis Beales and his 29 year old wife Sarah and the three children at the Mill House, Weybourne.
Another son, Bertie, arrived in 1892.
Ellis & Sarah Beales with four of their children
Courtesy Kristina Bucke
Loss of Children
Sadly the family suffered great heartache when 6 year old Alice and 4 year old Ernest died within days of each other in 1894. Both children were buried at Weybourne. Alice was laid to rest on the 4th November and Ernest on the 7th November.
Further Daughter
Towards the end of 1895, Sarah Beales gives birth to another daughter. The infant is given the name Eveline Alice Daisy.
1901 census
The census of 1901 captures Ellis and Sarah with their three surviving children, Frederick 15, Bertie 8 and Evelyn 5 still at the Mill House, Weybourne.
1921 census
By 1921, Ellis Beales is working for himself at the Water Mill, Weybourne. The 1921 census describes Ellis as a ‘Grist Miller & Flour Retailer’ and gives the family’s address as Beach Lane, Weybourne. Ellis and Sarah’s 25 year old unmarried daughter Evelyn is still living ‘at home’. The household has two visitors – Francis and Betty Symondson.
By 1934, Ellis has retired and the couple move to Sheringham.
1939 Register
The 1939 Register for England & Wales (which provides a snapshot of the civilian population at the begining of WWII), finds retired miller Ellis Beales and his wife Sarah in Sheringham.
Ellis & Sarah Beales
Courtesy Kristina Bucke
Death of Ellis Beales
Great Ellingham born Ellis Beales died at the age of 86 on the 21st October, 1944.
Sources:
1934 December 1. Yarmouth Independent. Viewed via The British Newspaper Archive.
1939 England & Wales Register. The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1939 Register; Reference: RG 101/6530H Ancestry.com. 1939 England and Wales Register [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2018.
1921 census RG15/9630, ED3, Sch.150.
1901 census RG13/1827/47
1891 census RG12/15/12//50
1881 census RG11/1974/104
1871 census RG10/1841/80
1861 census RG9/1237/84
GRO website
Great Ellingham Parish Registers. Norfolk Record Office PD 609. Also available at FamilySearch website
Norfolk England, Church of England Marriages & Banns 1754-1938. Norfolk Record Office; Norwich, Norfolk, England; Norfolk Church of England Registers Ancestry.com. Norfolk, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1938 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016.
England & Wales National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administration) 1858-1995, Ellis Ephraim Beales. Died 21 Oct 1944. Probate Norwich 23 May 1945. Principal Probate Registry; London, England; Calendar of the Grants of Probate and Letters of Administration made in the Probate Registries of the High Court of Justice in England. Ancestry.com. England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.
Thanks to Kristina Bucke for the photographs