Property Owner Benjamin Turner
At the turn of the nineteenth century, Benjamin Turner owned five dwellings and one Blacksmith’s Shop in the village of Great Ellingham.
Whilst Benjamin Turner occupied one of the dwellings himself, the other dwellings were tenanted and occupied by William Reeve, John Fox, Sarah Smith, James Savory, John Lebble (Lebbell), Philip Hunt and Susan Cockell. Two of the properties were occupied by more than one tenant.
The Blacksmith’s shop was occupied by James Lebble (Lebbell).
Blacksmith’s Shop Occupied by James Lebbell in Long Street
Accordingly to an 18th Century map for Town Green, Hyrne and Broad Commons in Great Ellingham (held at the Norfolk Record Office), Benjamin Turner owned property and land at Town Green which I believe at that time included properties in Long Street.
There was a Smithy near to the property “Grey Roofs” in Long Street. The 18th Century Map shows the property adjoining the northern boundary of “Grey Roofs” to be owned by Benjamin Turner. Accordingly I think it possible that James Lebbell’s Blacksmith Shop was the Smithy adjacent to “Grey Roofs” in Long Street.
Who was James Lebbell?
There are several entries for the name Lebbell in the Great Ellingham Parish Registers with variations of the name. For example, Lebbel, Lebble. However, to be consistent I will use the spelling ‘Lebbell’ whether or not a variation was used in the Parish Registers or other documentation.
Blacksmith James Lebbell was the son of Isaac and Sarah Lebbell and was baptised in the Parish Church on the 25th December, 1774. His mother was formerly Sarah Hardy.
James was one of at least a dozen children but, not unusually for the times, the parish registers reveal burials for some of the children.
James Lebbell married Rebecca Carley in the Church of St James on the 22nd September, 1799. Banns had been read. Both James and Rebecca were single and of Great Ellingham. James was aged around 25 and Rebecca 18.
Baptisms for three children of James and Rebecca Lebbell appear in the parish registers: James baptised on April 27th, 1800; Edward baptised June 27th, 1802 and Robert on November 25th, 1804.
Rebecca Lebbell died 1815 and James Lebbell died 1840
Rebecca Lebbell died at the age of 33 years and was buried on January 15th, 1815 in the churchyard at Great Ellingham. Son, James Junior, was buried two years later on April 22nd, 1817 aged 17 years.
An entry appears in the Great Ellingham Parish Church Registers for James Lebbell aged 64 years buried on January 31, 1840.
James was survived by his sons, Edward and Robert.
Edward and Robert sons of James & Rebecca Lebbell
In 1841, Edward Lebbell (as Lebble), a Blacksmith, is living at The Green, Deopham with his wife Mary and daughter Rebecca.
Robert Lebbell (also a Blacksmith) appears on the census at The Chequers Inn with his wife Elizabeth and their son Robert.
The name ‘Lebbell’ continues to appear in the Parish Registers for Great Ellingham well into the twentieth century.
Sources:
1841 census HO107/781/8 (Great Ellingham); HO107/767/10 (Deopham)
Great Ellingham Parish Registers – Norfolk Record Office – PD/609. Also available at FamilySearch.org https://www.familysearch.org/search/image/index?owc=4J8C-CB7%3A29627201%3Fcc%3D1416598
18th Century Map Town Green, Hyrne and Broad Commons in Great Ellingham held at the Norfolk Record Office Catalogue Ref: MC 2213/113, 941X7
1800 Inclosure Commissioner’s Particulars and Valuation Great Ellingham held at the Norfolk Record Office Catalogue Ref: MC 2213/119, 941X7