Illustration by Christine Fuller
The Norwich Mercury of Saturday 23rd July, 1881, reported on the recent cases at the East Harling Petty Sessions.
Amongst the defendants were Great Ellingham labourers, Frederick Sharman, Robert Carter, Henry Lake and John Lee. They were charged with taking fish from a pond in the village of Great Ellingham.
All four were found guilty. They each received a fine (with costs) of £1 8s 6d (one pound eight shillings and sixpence).
Although I have not yet been able to find Frederick Sharman and Henry Lake on the census for 1881, I believe I have identified Robert Carter and John Lee.
Robert Carter
The 1881 census shows a 32 year old single man Robert Carter boarding with his 56 year old mother, Martha, with widower Thomas Wilkins at Low Common. Whilst the census gives the area as ‘Low Common’, I think it more than likely that the household was in Swamp Lane. The census also captures young Frederick Wilkins with his grandfather.
At 71 years of age, Thomas Wilkins is still working as a farm labourer. Robert Carter’s occupation is a general labourer.
For some 20 years, Martha Carter had lived with Thomas Wilkins as his housekeeper. I think it more than likely that, throughout this time, Robert Carter boarded there too.
John Lee alias Hoy
I am confident that John Lee is a member of a particular family who used the last names of ‘Lee’ and ‘Hoy’.
The 1881 census captures 25 year old general labourer John Hoy boarding with James and Jane Lister and their four children in Long Street.
By 1891 John Lee had married. The 1891 census finds 34 year old John Lee with his wife Jane and three young children (John 5, Albert 3 and Ethel 1) still living in Long Street – not far from James and Jane Lister.
Ten years later, John and Jane Hoy had moved to Bow Street. The 1901 census reveals that the couple occupied a three-roomed dwelling with seven children (John 15, Albert 13, Ethel 11, Sidney 9, George 6, May 3 and Harry 1).
I am still on the ‘look-out’ for Frederick Sharman and Henry Lake!
Sources:
Norwich Mercury 23rd July, 1881. Viewed via The British Newspaper Archive
1861 census RG9/1237/91
1881 census RG11/1974/93, RG11/1974/90
1891 census RG12/1549/79
1901 census RG13/1867/72