The edition of the Bury & Norwich Post of Tuesday 15th June, 1869, included the following death notice:
On the 8th instant, aged one year, the infant son of the late Mr William Day of Eye, Suffolk, formerly of Great Ellingham
I endeavoured to find more information about this infant and his father, William Day. In particular, the name of the child and when William Day was in Great Ellingham.
Death of William Page Day
I found the registration of the death of one year old William Page Day in the Hartismere District of Suffolk during the June Quarter of 1869.
The death registration tells us that William Page Day aged one year died on the 8th June, 1869, at Castle Street, Eye. He was the son of William Day, Draper (deceased). Sadly infant William died following (w)hooping cough convulsions. Maria Chapman of Broad Street, Eye registered William’s death.
Death of Father, William Day
We know from the notice in the newspaper that infant William’s father, William Day, had died before his infant son.
I found the registration of the death of draper, William Day.
He died aged 35 on the 29th April, 1868 at Broad Street, Eye. His cause of death is given as disease of heart, jaundice. His death was registered by Sarah Flatt of Church Street, Eye. She was present at William’s death.
Young William’s Mother, Mary Page
The birth registration of one year old William Page Day tells us that his mother’s maiden name was Page – which is no surprise given that William’s full name included ‘Page’.
The Bury Free Press of Saturday 15th September, 1866, published the following marriage notice:
DAY-PAGE. On the 6th instant at the Baptist Chapel, Eye by the Reverend John Gibbs, Mr William Day, draper, to Mary Catherine fourth daughter of the late Mr Edward Page, leather cutter, all of Eye
1861 census
The national head-count of 1861 captures 26 year old William Day with his maternal aunt and uncle, Dinah and William Cason in Broad Street, Eye.
Postcard courtesy Jan Vidler
William Cason is a draper. The census gives William Day’s occupation as draper’s assistant. I have no doubt that William Day is working for his uncle.
The same census finds William Day’s bride-to-be, Mary C Page, with her widowed mother and siblings in Castle Street.
The census also tells us that both William Day and Mary Catherine Page were born in Eye.
1851 census
At the time of the 1851 census, 15 year old Eye born William Day is with his parents, Daniel and Sarah Day, and two brothers in Church Street, Eye. Carpenter Daniel Day was born in Eye and his wife Sarah in Witham, Essex.
Link to Great Ellingham
Given that both William and Mary were born in Eye, (and if we can believe the comment in the death notice of 1869), William Day must have been in Great Ellingham between the 1851 and 1861 census returns. Unfortunately, I have not (as yet) found any evidence of where he lived in the village and with whom. It maybe that he worked and lodged with one of the tailors or shopkeepers.
Sources:
11 September 1866 Bury & Norwich Post
15 September 1866 Bury Free Press. Newspapers viewed via The British Newspaper Archive website
Copies of images of death registrations obtained via GRO
1851 census HO107/1795/539
1861 census RG9/1150/23 & 25