Great Ellingham Hall 1960s
Courtesy of Susan Fay
Great Ellingham Hall and the ‘Ellingham estate’ came into the ownership of the Coleman family in 1712. Francis Coleman purchased the estate from the Potts family.
Francis Coleman’s Children
The surnames ‘Coleman’ and ‘Colman’ are consistently interchangeable in records. However on the most part, ‘Colman’ seems to be the preferred spelling in documentation referring to Francis Coleman’s son, Fysher Colman.
Francis Coleman (1670-1743) had two known children. His son and heir is Fysher Colman (1721-1758). He also had a daughter, Elizabeth. I do not know whether Elizabeth was older or younger than Fysher.
Fysher Colman (1721-1758) married Margaretta Maria Howman (1717-1780) in 1743. Sadly the couple left no surviving children. Their only known daughter, Elizabeth Fysher Colman, died within a few weeks of her 4th birthday.
Elizabeth Coleman married Daniel Negus also in 1743. They had two known sons, Francis Colman Negus (b.1744), and Daniel Negus the Younger (b.1749). Elizabeth’s husband, Daniel Negus, was an attorney-at-law at Eye, Suffolk. He died in October 1775.
Marriage Settlements
By a series of marriage settlements and other deeds, the ‘Ellingham estate’ was conveyed to certain Trustees. The trustees held the legal title to the estate and administered the terms of the trusts, which were set out in the various documents.
Many gentry families entered into marriage settlements as a way of securing the financial position of a couple upon marriage, as well as their future heirs. It was also a way of ensuring that property remained in the family.
Negus Family Beneficiaries
Following the deaths of both Fysher Colman and his wife Margaretta Maria Colman, Fysher’s sister Elizabeth Negus and her sons, Francis and Daniel, became the beneficiaries under the family’s trusts. The trust properties included the Ellingham estate – which also included Great Ellingham Hall.
Francis Colman Negus
Born in Norwich on the 7th July, 1744, Francis Negus was educated at Bury and Norwich schools. He also studied law at Clare College, Cambridge.
On the 12th July, 1767, at the age of 23, Francis was ordained a deacon at the Bishop’s Palace Chapel in Norwich.
By 1780, Francis Negus lived in Ipswich, but at other times he lived in various other parishes in Suffolk. He married in 1784, and later became Rector of Brome and Oakley in Suffolk.
The ‘Ellingham Estate’ after Margaretta Colman’s Death
Margaretta Maria Colman, the wife of the late Fysher Colman, died in Berkshire on the 19th September, 1780.
Although she held the ‘ladyship’ of the Manor of Ellingham Hall, and benefited from the rents and profits of her late husband’s estate in Great Ellingham (and other places), Margaretta did not legally own her late husband’s properties. They were owned by family trustees.
Accordingly, save for a sum of £800 which Fysher permitted her to pass on to her own beneficiaries in her will, Margaretta’s will does not deal with the ‘Ellingham estate’.
We need to look at Fysher Colman’s will to establish who next benefits from the Ellingham (and Ashwellthorpe) estates following the deaths of Fysher and Margaretta.
Elizabeth Negus
It is Fysher’s sister, Elizabeth Negus. However, Elizabeth’s lifetime interest in the estates is subject to the annuities of £12, £5 and £10 (mentioned in her late brother’s will). The Ashwellthorpe estate is also subject to the sum of £800 which Fysher allows his wife Margaretta to pass on to her own beneficiaries by her will.
Elizabeth Negus is now a widow and living in Eye, Suffolk. Her husband, Daniel Negus, died in October 1775.
1780 Indenture
On the 2nd December, 1780, widow Elizabeth Negus enters into a Deed with her eldest son, the Reverend Francis Colman Negus of Ipswich. Also party to the Deed are Thomas Maynard Esq., of Hoxne, Suffolk and Philip Meadows, gent., of Diss. Maynard and Meadows are trustees for Elizabeth and Francis.
Elizabeth conveys the benefit of the trusts of the Ellingham estate to herself and her son, Francis. This is subject to annuities payable to Hannah Moss of £10 and £60 to Elizabeth Negus (as provided by Fysher Colman’s will).
As far as I can see, the £800 plus interest (due to the estate of the late Margaretta Colman) remains payable in September 1782, from the family’s Ashwellthorpe estate.
The Ellingham estate is described as:
- all that Manor or Lordship of Great Ellingham
- all that Manor or Lordship of Ellingham Rectory
- and all the messuages, lands, tenements and hereditaments ….. late of Fysher Colman Esq., ….. in Great Ellingham, Little Ellingham, Rockland, Attleborough, Deopham, Hardingham & Morley
now in the tenure or occupation of George Catton, Thomas King, James Barnard, Isaac Levell [Lebbell], James Barnard the Younger, John Barnard, Edmund Lock, John Coatman, William Chaplin and Thomas Harpur.
I have no doubt that George Catton occupied Great Ellingham Hall, and Thomas King occupied the house which, later, became known as Mill Farmhouse.
Two years later, George Catton’s daughter Frances married local man, Robert Barnard. They lived at Great Ellingham Hall and, later, Robert Barnard agreed to buy it!
Ellingham Estate
In 1780, the Ellingham estate is also described as
The Manors of Great Ellingham & Ellingham Rectory
5 messuages
5 barns
5 Stables
1 dovehouse
4 gardens
4 orchards
200 acres of land
100 acres of meadow
100 acres of pasture
10 acres of wood
50 acres of furze & heath & common pasture for all manner of cattle
in Great Ellingham, Little Ellingham, Attleborough, Deopham, Hardingham, Morley
The Colman family also owned property and land in Ashwellthorpe, Hapton and Wreningham.
Marriage Settlement
Around 1784, a marriage was agreed between the Reverend Francis Colman Negus, then the Rector of Brome in Suffolk, to spinster Charlotte Dove. Charlotte is the eldest daughter of the Reverend Thomas Dove of Lilley in Hertfordshire.
In view of the impending marriage, members of the two families (together with various trustees), entered into a Marriage Settlement for the Reverend Francis Negus and his wife-to be-Charlotte Dove.
This was by way of a Lease and Release dated 24th and 25th September, 1784.
The family members to the deed are widow Elizabeth Negus, now living in Diss, her sons Francis Colman Negus (of Brome, Suffolk) and Daniel Negus (now living in London), as well as the Reverend Thomas Dove and his daughter, Charlotte.
The deeds also includes the appointment of new trustees – Major General William Rowley and the Reverend John Hawkins of Hertford.
By this time, the annuity of £10 payable to Hannah Moss (provided for in Fysher Colman’s will) has ceased, as Hannah Moss has now died. Further, the £800 plus interest which Fysher Colman allowed his wife Margaretta to pass by her will, has now been paid to Margaretta Colman’s estate.
Part of the Ellingham Estate
Once the marriage has taken place, Francis Colman Negus will have a lifetime benefit of a messuage and farm called Ellingham Hall Farm. However, this is only part of the family’s Ellingham estate.
On the death of Francis Negus, (and if still alive), his widow Charlotte will then have a life interest. On the death of the survivor of them, their child or children will then benefit from the trust. This will be in accordance with such directions left in writing by the Reverend Francis Colman Negus.
However, in the event that there are no surviving children of Francis and Charlotte Negus, then Charlotte is permitted to charge that part of the Ellingham estate with £500, and to leave that sum in her own will as she so wishes.
This is similar to Fysher Colman permitting his widow Margaretta to charge his estate with £800, and to leave this sum in her own will to whomever she wishes.
Ellingham Hall Farm
In 1784, the Ellingham Hall farm comprise the capital messuage (Great Ellingham Hall) and the houses, outhouses, edifices, buildings, barns, stables, dovehouse, yards, gardens and orchards along with lands, meadows, pastures, feedings, commons, sheep walk. These properties, premises and land are in Great Ellingham, Little Ellingham, Rocklands, Attleborough, Deopham and Morley.
At this time, Great Ellingham Hall is occupied by Mary Catton at an annual rent of £160. She is the widow of George Catton who died in August 1784.
The Remainder of the Ellingham Estate
Elizabeth Negus and her sons, Francis Colman Negus and Daniel Negus, also completed another Lease and Release on the same dates i.e. 24th and 25th September, 1784. The other parties to these deeds are the Reverend Thomas Cowper and Meadows Taylor (family trustees) and Thomas Maynard and Henry Browne.
The deeds provide that the residue of the Ellingham estate remain subject to an annuity of £60 payable to Elizabeth Negus, the sister of the late Fysher Colman.
Elizabeth, Francis and Daniel Negus convey the remainder of the Ellingham estate (i.e. the manors of Ellingham Hall and Ellingham Rectory, several messuages, farms tenements, lands and hereditaments in Great Ellingham, Little Ellingham, Rockland, Attleborough, Deopham, Hardingham and Morley) to the trustees.
This is all the property and land late of Fysher Colman deceased, less Great Ellingham Hall farm and associated land. This had been included in the Reverend Francis Colman’s marriage settlement.
The occupiers of these premises are listed as Thomas King, James Barnard, Robert Howchin, Robert Barnard ‘and their assigns and undertenants’. The properties include the house later known as Mill Farmhouse, which is occupied by Thomas King.
The trust of this part of the Ellingham Estate benefits Francis Colman Negus during the lifetime of his mother, Elizabeth. It also benefits Elizabeth should Francis predecease her. On the death of Elizabeth Negus, her sons, Francis and Daniel are the beneficiaries of this part of the Ellingham Estate.
Francis & Charlotte Negus
I assume that Francis and Charlotte married not long after the marriage settlement was signed and sealed. I do not know where they lived following their marriage. However, I am certain that they did not live at Great Ellingham Hall.
Tenants of Great Ellingham Hall
I believe Great Ellingham Hall and the farm continued to be let to Mary Catton until her death in 1792. It was then let to her son-in-law Robert Barnard. However, it is likely that Robert Barnard and his wife Frances (George and Mary Catton’s daughter) also occupied the Hall during George and Mary Catton’s tenure.
Children of Francis & Charlotte Negus
Elizabeth may well have been the first child of the Reverend Francis and Charlotte Negus. She may have been born in Suffolk around 1786.
In 1788, Charlotte Negus gave birth to twin girls. Martha Maria and Harriot were baptised in the parish church at Palgrave. Sadly, Harriot was buried on the 22nd February, and Martha Maria on the 31st March.
Maria Sophia was born c.1789. She was followed by Susanna Frances Allanson who was baptised in Sudbury, Suffolk on the 26th December, 1791. Henrietta arrived in 1793.
The couple welcomed their son, Francis Arthur Thomas, on the 11th July, 1804. The child was known to the family as ‘Arthur’. Sadly Arthur died at the age of 11 at Brome in the November of 1815.
Death of Elizabeth Negus
Elizabeth Negus, the widow of Daniel Negus, died in Diss on the 29th June, 1791. She was, of course, the only sister of the late Fysher Colman and the only daughter of the late Francis Coleman
Like her late husband, Elizabeth was brought to Great Ellingham for burial. She was buried there on the 7th July.
Elizabeth is survived by her two sons, Francis Colman Negus and Daniel Negus.
She leaves a will dated 24th September 1789, with several codicils. However, as Elizabeth’s interest in the Ellingham estate is limited to her lifetime, there is no specific reference to the estate in her will.
Death of Daniel Negus Jnr
Just two years later, Elizabeth’s youngest son, Daniel Negus, dies on the 2nd March, 1793. He does not leave a will. His heir at law is his son, Fysher Colman Negus.
Great Ellingham Inclosures Act
Under the Great Ellingham Inclosure Act c.1800, certain pieces of land in the village were allotted to individuals to replace communal grazing and farming rights. In addition, several strips or parcels of land were also exchanged. It was also a time of consolidation of land and property ownership.
Statement of Claims
The Statement of Claims c.1799, lists the claim ‘for his natural life’ of Francis Colman Negus as:
- One messuage called Great Ellingham Hall and 260 acres of land, occupied by Robert Barnard. Certain pieces of this land are copyhold.
- the Manors of Ellingham Hall and Ellingham Rectory with all the fines, corn-rents and quit rents, the Court Baron, Court Leet and view of Frankpledge, the right to the soil of all the Commons and waste lands within Great Ellingham, and the right of drift of all the Commons, all the waifs and estrays happening within Great Ellingham (except any happenings upon land of Bury Hall Manor).
- one messuage and 24 acres of land occupied by Thomas King (the property later known as Mill Farmhouse)
- one messuage and 12 acres of land occupied by Robert Day
- six pieces of land containing 9 acres occupied by Robert Barnard
- three piece of land 2 acres 2 rood occupied by John Barnard
- a close of pasture of 6 acres occupied by James Barnard
- one acre and a half ‘in a close of Robert Barnard’s’, a pightle of pasture adjoining, and one rood of land ‘in another close of the said Robert Barnard, called fatlands’
- five acres of land in two pieces in Lepseys field occupied by William Chaplin
- two half acres of land, lying intermixed with lands of Jeffrey Warren, and occupied by him ‘at an ancient rent of 18 shillings’
- half an acre of land lying intermixed with lands of Flodman Clover, and occupied by him ‘at an ancient rent of 7s 6d’
- one acre of land ‘doled out, occupied by Jeremiah Smith’
Of these, the messuage occupied by Robert Day and 11 acres 2 roods of land are copyhold of the Manor of Bury Hall.
Some other parcels of land of Francis Colman Negus are copyhold of the Manors of Buckenham Castle, Buckenham Close and Buckenham Lathes outsoken.
Death of Charlotte Negus
Charlotte Negus, the wife of the Reverend Francis Colman Negus, died in November 1811. She was buried in the parish of Brome, Suffolk on the 23rd November. The family lived at the Rectory House in Brome.
Francis is left with 5 surviving children – 4 daughters and one son, Arthur aged 7.
Family Agreement
It transpires that during his lifetime, Daniel Negus (the younger brother of Francis Colman Negus) became indebted to his brother. Indeed, Daniel had entered into a Bond with his brother to secure the sum of £1,072 14s 4d with interest. In addition, other monies were owed by Daniel to Francis.
The agreement between Francis Colman Negus and his nephew, Fysher Colman Negus, is set out in deeds dated the 3rd and 4th April, 1812.
The deeds describe Fysher Colman Negus as a lieutenant in the East Suffolk Militia.
Ellingham Hall Farm
In the first place, Francis Negus and his nephew, Fysher Negus, convey Great Ellingham Hall with the farm, barns, stables etc and associated land to the Reverend John Hawkins, as trustee. Francis Negus continues to be the beneficiary.
The Manors & Remainder of the Estate
With regard to the remainder of the ‘Ellingham estate’, Fysher Colman Negus agrees to convey his share (as the son and heir of his late father Daniel Negus the Younger) in the remainder of the Ellingham estate to Harry Browne, a gentleman of Diss. Browne is acting as trustee for Francis Colman Negus. This includes the Manors of Ellingham Hall and Ellingham Rectory.
This agreement is subject to the payment of the purchase price.
Purchase Price
The agreed purchase price to be paid by Francis Negus for Fysher Negus’s share of the (remainder) of the Ellingham estate is £2,872 14s 4d. However, Francis Negus retained £1,072 14s 4d in satisfaction of all the monies owed to him by his late brother, Daniel Negus.
Since the death of Elizabeth Negus (mother of Francis and Daniel), Francis had benefited from all the rents and profits from the two Manors as well as the properties. However, Daniel Negus was entitled to a half-share.
It is agreed that the total of Daniel’s share of the rent and profits is ‘nearly equal’ to the interest due on the £1,072 14s 4d.
Accordingly, Francis Colman will pay the balance purchase money of £1,800 to Fysher Negus.
Sole Beneficial Owner
As from the 4th April, 1812, Francis Colman Negus became the sole beneficial owner of all the Ellingham estate properties and land. This includes the lordship of the Manors of Ellingham Hall and Ellingham Rectory.
Mortgage
However, it appears that £1,600 of the £1,800 balance purchase money due to Fysher Colman Negus by Francis Colman Negus, is secured by way of a mortgage in favour of Fysher Colman Negus over the entire Ellingham Estate (including the Manors), save for a few acres of land.
Death of Francis Colman Negus
Francis Colman Negus’s tenure of the Ellingham estate and the lordships of the Manors of Ellingham Hall and Ellingham Rectory came to an end when he died on the 14th December, 1818 at the age of 74.
It is after his death that the Ellingham estate (including Great Ellingham Hall) and the Manors of Ellingham Hall and Ellingham Rectory came into separate ownership.
Sources:|
1749 Baptism. Daniel Negus. Eye. Suffolk, England Church of England Baptisms Marriages & Burials 1538-1812. Suffolk Archives; Suffolk, England; Church of England Parish Registers; Reference: FB135/D1/2 Ancestry.com. Suffolk, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2025. Original data: Suffolk Archives. Church of England Parish Register. Suffolk, England
1744 Baptism. Parish of St Andrews Norwich. Francis Coleman Negus. Norfolk England Transcripts of England Baptism Marriage & Burials Registers. Norfolk Record Office; Norwich, Norfolk, England; Norfolk Church of England Registers; Reference: AT Norwich city parishes 1744-45
Norfolk, England, Transcripts of Church of England Baptism, Marriage and Burial Registers, 1600-1935 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2018.
Original data: Church of England Bishop and Archdeacon Transcripts of Parish Registers. Norfolk Record Office, Norwich, Norfolk, England.
Francis Colman Negus. England Clergy of the Church of England Index 1540-1835. Arts and Humanities Research Council; England; The Clergy of the Church of England Database 1540-1835; URL: https://theclergydatabase.org.uk/
Ancestry.com. England, Clergy of the Church of England Index, 1540-1835 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2024.
Original data: The Clergy of the Church of England Database 1540-1835. England: Arts and Humanities Research Council. https://theclergydatabase.org.uk/ Accessed: Mar 2024.
Francis Colman Negus. The Oakes Diaries vol 2. 1801-1827. www.ancestry.co.uk `
Suffolk England Church of England Baptisms Marriages and Burials 1538-1812. Suffolk Archives; Suffolk, England; Church of England Parish Registers; Reference: FB127/D1/3
Ancestry.com. Suffolk, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2025.
Original data: Suffolk Archives. Church of England Parish Register. Suffolk, England.
Elizabeth Negus. England & Wales Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills 1384-1858. Probate 30 Aug 1791. The National Archives; Kew, Surrey, England; Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Series PROB 11; Class: PROB 11; Piece: 1210 Ancestry.com. England & Wales, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013.
Fysher Colman. England & Wales Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills 1384-1858. Probate 11 Aug 1758. The National Archives; Kew, Surrey, England; Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Series PROB 11; Class: PROB 11; Piece: 839
Ancestry.com. England & Wales, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013.
Margaretta Maria Colman. England & Wales Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills 1384-1858. Probate 7 Nov 1780. The National Archives; Kew, Surrey, England; Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Series PROB 11; Class: PROB 11; Piece: 1070 Ancestry.com. England & Wales, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013.
Great Ellingham Parish Registers Norfolk Record Office PD 609. Also available www.familysearch.org
Great Ellingham Hall Farm Estate formerly of the Barnard Family. Deeds. Norfolk Record Office
Ref: MC 114/1/36, Part 1, 583X2, Part 2, 583X3
1799 Statement of Claims. Great Ellingham Inclosure. Norfolk Record Office. Catalogue Ref: MC 2213/118