On the 3rd October, 1820, Jeffrey Towler, a yeoman, of Great Ellingham signed his last will and testament. Robert Sheldrake, Elizabeth Yeoman and John Steel all witnessed his signature.
Jeffrey was 67 years old. The will tells us that at the time Jeffrey made his will, he was “in perfect good health and of sound mind, memory and understanding”.
Baptism
A son of Jeffrey and Susan Towler, Jeffrey (also found as Jeoffrey) was born on the 25th November, 1753. George II was on the British throne. However when Jeffrey signed his will, the monarch was George IV.
Church of All Saints, Snetterton
Just two day’s later, Jeffrey was privately baptised. He was later ‘received into the congregation’ of All Saints Church, Snetterton. A reason for the private baptism could be that baby Jeffrey was weak, and there was a concern that he would not live until the next public worship service. The Towler family probably lived in Snetterton at that time.
Marriage
All Saints, Rocklands
On the 20th December, 1781, 28 year old Jeffrey married Hannah Brooke in the Parish Church of Rockland All Saints with Saint Andrew. They were both living in the parish at that time. Indeed it seems that the couple settled there.
Children
Their son Jeffrey was born the following year and baptised in the same church. The couple would go on to have 6 more children baptised in Rockland All Saints. John in 1785, William 1787, James in 1790, Jane in 1792, Mary 1795 and Robert in 1797.
Further Children in Great Ellingham
However by 1800, Jeffrey and Hannah Towler were in Great Ellingham.
Church of St James Great Ellingham
Their daughter, Rebecca, was baptised in St James’s Church, Great Ellingham on the 12th January 1800. Sadly, the couple buried their daughter, Hannah, in the churchyard on the 9th April of the same year.
Hannah Towler gave birth to another son in 1803. Charles was baptised on the 7th August, 1803. However, he was buried just weeks later on the 7th September.
Death of Hannah Towler
Tragedy would visit the family again. In 1805, Hannah Towler died. Records show that Hannah was buried in the churchyard at Great Ellingham on the 7th June, 1805.
Jeffrey and Hannah had 10 known children. Of these, 8 survived childhood. Nevertheless, the couple’s eldest son, Jeffrey, died at the age of 34 in 1816. He too is buried in Great Ellingham churchyard.
Property Owner
The Great Ellingham Inclosure documentation c.1800 shows that Jeffrey owned several properties in Great Ellingham. He leased two dwellings together with 22 acres of land to Samuel Hilling. These properties were at the end of the lane which we know today as Swamp Lane.
He rented a cottage to John Ashby. Another cottage with a garden is occupied by ‘J. Greengrass & another’. Nevertheless, Jeffrey used his own barn and five acres of land but where did he live in Great Ellingham?
Occupier
The Statement of Claim c.1800, prepared in connection with the Great Ellingham Inclosures shows that Jeffrey Towler occupied a ‘Message and Orchard’ belonging to John Towler.
An associated Particulars & Valuation reveal that the Messuage comprise a House, Outbuildings, Yard and Garden covering an area of 2 roods and 24 perches. Jeffrey also ‘occupied’ an allotment on Town Green, which again was owned by John Towler.
Extract from 1802 Map of Great Ellingham. Russell James Colman Plans. Norfolk Record Office Cat. Ref. C/Ca 1/84.
All rights reserved Norfolk Record Office. With kind permission of NRO
The arrow on the above extract from the 1802 Great Ellingham Inclosure Map shows the house occupied by Jeffrey Towler and his family. Today, the house is known as ‘Grey Roofs’.
‘Grey Roofs’, Long Street once the home of Jeffrey Towler & his family
Photograph taken Christmas Day 2023
Death of Jeffrey Towler
Jeffrey lived for some 8 years after he had signed his will. He died in the June of 1828 at the age of 75. He is also buried in the churchyard in Great Ellingham.
Content of the Will
When Jeffrey signed his will in 1820, his surviving son, Robert, was coming up to 23 years of age. However when his father died, Robert was then 30.
He left instructions that Robert should deal with the sale of “all my messuages, lands, tenements and hereditaments in the Parish of Great Ellingham or elsewhere now in the occupation of Richard Pitcher as my tenant …..” Robert is to arrange a sale by either public auction or a private contract.
After settling all his debts, funeral charges etc, Robert should divide the proceeds amongst himself and the rest of Jeffrey’s surviving children.
Jeffrey also gave instructions to Robert to sell all his household furniture and personal estate and, again, to divide the proceeds amongst himself and his siblings. He should also be ‘reasonably’ paid for his trouble in carrying out his father’s wishes.
Grave Stone
Finally, it is Jeffrey’s wish that a grave stone is placed “at the head of my grave at an equal expense of my children”.
I wonder whether Jeffrey’s wish was fulfilled? I have not yet come across a headstone for Jeffrey Towler in Great Ellingham churchyard.
Sources:
1828 Jeffrey Towler of Great Ellingham, Yeoman. Viewed on microfilm at The Norfolk Heritage Centre, Millennium Library, Norwich. Ref: GS0167174. ANF 1828-1830 fo.121 1828 No.58. ANF & and 1818-1857. MF 246
Rockland All Saints with Saint Andrew Parish Registers. Norfolk Record Office PD 335. Viewed via www.ancestry.co.uk
Great Ellingham Parish Registers. Norfolk Record Office. Ref: PD 609. Also available online www.familysearch.org
Snetterton Parish Registers. Norfolk Record Office. PD 21. Viewed via www.ancestry.co.uk
1800 Inclosure Commissioner’s Particulars and Valuation. Great Ellingham. Norfolk Record Office MC2213/119
F.W. Horner, Records of the Surveyors to Commissioners for Inclosure in Parishes in Norfolk & Suffolk. 1799-1842. Great Ellingham (Act 1799). Norfolk Record Office. Catalogue Ref BR 90/2
1802 Map of Great Ellingham. Russell James Colman Plans. Norfolk Record Office. Catalogue Ref. C/Ca 1/84
1799 Statement of Claims. Great Ellingham Inclosure. Norfolk Record Office. Cat. Ref: MC 2213/118