- Mary Chapman of Banham on 3.5.1785 and witnessed by Elizabeth Hait (?). Mary is buried 17.7.1797, the same day as her son CHAPMAN, so probably died following complications during childbirth.
- SARAH born 13.3.1782 and baptised 4 days later at Banham.
- MARY born on 17.8.1785 and baptised 8 days later but there is also a record of their MARY being buried on 15.5.1785 aged 14 years at Banham check my records
- CHAPMAN born 30.4.1797 and baptised on 14.5.1797. He is buried in Banham on 17.7.1797 when his father is shown as a widower.
- Mary Berney of Banham married on 17.11.1798, just over a year after JOHN (b. 1764)'s first wife's death and at the age of about 34 years old. The marriage was witnessed by George Downs (Jnr). This is likely to be the same George Downs that witnesses ROBERT (circa 1766-1840) and MARY KENT's wedding a year later.
- Mary Drake of Banham on 1.11.1816 witnessed by MARIA GILBERT1. and ROBERT GILBERT. JOHN (b. 1764) would have been about 52 years old.
ROBERT (b.circa 1737) and ISABEL's second child is another ROBERT (circa 1766-1840) who was baptised in 1766 and in 1789 married MARY KENT. This ROBERT is my direct descendant, so more of him later in The Millwrights. He dies at the ripe old age of 74 sometime before the end of September 1840.
The next child is REBECCA (b. circa1770) (aka REBEKAH in 1790) who was baptised in Banham on 18.8.1770 2. REBECCA marries John Woods (Jnr) a Banham man on 10.12.1787 with ROBERT (either her father or her brother who is aged 21) as a witness. Sadly REBEKAH is buried on 7.10.1790 after having been married only three years and aged only 20 years old. There is no evidence, but her death could have been from childbirth.
ISABEL (bap 1772) is their next child and all we know about her is that she was baptised on 14.12.1772.
Their last child is LIVIA born 12.3.1781 and baptised 4 days later. Her father and mother would have been in their early to mid forties. ISABEL (bap. 1772) and LIVIA (b. 1781) don't appear in later marriage or death records for Banham.
Going back now to ROBERT (circa1766-1840) and MARY KENT who married in 1789. They have 10 children between 1790 and 1805, most of whom survive to marry. ROBERT (circa 1766-1840) seems to have been very successful; a wheelwright in 1802, a millwright in 1806 and a maltster. He dies leaving a Will showing he owned a house with a Millwright's shop ajoined to it in Banham, three dwellings with yard, gardens, newly built brick and tiled stables and a cart lodge, 3 acres of enclosed arable land, brick kilns, a malting and a post windmill...
...“with patent sails, fly wheel and all necessary and modern machinery lately completely fitted up and capable of doing an extensive business and now in the occupation of Mr. Jonas Mallett 3 and others.” (4)
ROBERT (circa 1766-1840)'s signature appears in the parish accounts of 1829 (and some other year's records) as an overseer that the accounts were correct indicating that he had been educated.5
ROBERT (circa 1766-1840) and MARY's first children are twin daughters MARY ANN (aka MARIA circa 1815) and REBEKAH ISABELL born on 10.1.1790 (4 months after their marriage and not easy to hide!). Both girls are baptised on 2.2.1790 6. We hear no more of REBEKAH, but when MARY ANN is 23 years old, she marries Joseph Howlett also of Banham on 26.5.1813. Their marriage is witnessed by the mark of GEORGE GILBERT (b.1796) who, assuming it is Mary Ann's brother, would be 17 years old 7. They appear to have only one child; George Howlett (b. circa 1828) born 15 years after they marry. In the 1841 census, George Howlett is 13 years old and found living with his uncle and aunt in Westgate Street, Banham. Further investigation into any Howletts of Banham might shed more light.
Two years into their marriage, ROBERT (circa 1766-1840) and MARY have their first son on 19th October 1791 and duly call him ROBERT (b.1791)! He is baptised 8 days later. More of him below.
Two more daughters follow. LUCY born 19.2.1793 and baptised 3 days later and of whom we hear no more, and HANNA MARIA born just over a year later on 27.3.1794 and baptised a week later.
HANNAH MARIA (b.1794) marries Edward Roper of Bressingham 6 on 13.4.1824. She would have been 30 years old, quite some age in those days. As her father is 58 by now she may have stayed at home to look after her parents and younger siblings - who knows?! HANNAH MARIA (b. 1794)'s brother and sister WILLIAM GILBERT (b1802) and SARAH WOODCOCK7 (aged 26) witness the wedding.
In 1841, Edward Roper is listed as a farmer living at Tickenhall Street, Banham with his wife HANNAH MARIA. They are both 45 years old and have three children John Roper aged 15 and born around 2 years after they married, Eliza Roper aged 12 and Edward Roper aged 4.
Twenty years later the 1861 census tells us that the family is living at 111 Great Green, Banham. Edward Roper Snr (aged 66) is a Farmer of 38 acres employing two labourers and a boy.
Houses on Great Green, Banham (1997)
HANNAH MARIA (b. 1794) and Edward Roper live to a ripe old age for the time. They appear again in the 1871 census as being 76 and 77 years old. This time HANNAH MARIA (b.1794) is shown as being a year older than Edward. They now have retired and are living at 57 Great Green. Eliza Roper, still unmarried at aged 42, is living with them as is their grandaughter Martha E aged 6. It is unknown whether Martha E is the daughter of John Roper (b circa 1826) who would be 45 years old or Edward Roper (b circa 1837) who would be 34 years old or - shock! horror! – unmarried Eliza Roper (b circa 1829). The 'E' could stand for 'Eliza'!!!!!!
The Roper family stay in Banham for some time. Both White's History Gazeteer & Directory of Norfolk 1883 and 1892 list Miss Eliza Roper living at Yew Cottage and her older brother John Roper who is a farmer, assistant overseer and highway rate collector. By 1892 John is Clerk to the School Board and Attendance Officer 8. He would be 66 years old and his sister 63.
On 25th July 1796, ROBERT (circa 1766-1840) and MARY KENT have their sixth child and second son, GEORGE (b.1796). He is baptised 6 days later. Because the core architecture of Banham hasn't changed and because of the importance of his occupation to the economic survival of the village, I could find out a lot about GEORGE (b.1796), so he also gets a section The Brickmaker devoted to him later.
SARAH is born on 6.12.1798 and baptised 4 days later. She marries George Woodcock of East Harling in Banham on 20.7.1819. East Harling is a village on the road from Banham to Attleborough. The marriage is witnessed by John Gaymer and Mary Palmer. (See The Cider Makers below).
George Woodcock is shown in the Parish accounts to have paid 2/6d for firing cutting on 1.10.1823. I am not sure if this is a fine or a charge. It is likely that SARAH (b.1798) died between 1833 and 1841 in her mid-to-late 30s. We can guess this because George Woodcock is listed in the 1841 census as a Butcher of Whithurst Street, East Harling. He has four children; Ester (sic) aged 15, Charles aged 15, Mary aged 14 and George aged 8. No wife is listed.9 George Woodcock continues to be entioned in the 1850 Gazeteer as a Butcher (he would be about 50 years old).
ROBERT (circa1766-1840) and MARY KENT's third son (and eighth child) is born at Banham on 11.12.1800 and baptised 5 days after. He is named JOSEPH (b.1800) and is my direct line, so more about him later in The Engineers.
Their last child is LIVIA born 12.3.1781 and baptised 4 days later. Her father and mother would have been in their early to mid forties. ISABEL (bap. 1772) and LIVIA (b. 1781) don't appear in later marriage or death records for Banham.
Going back now to ROBERT (circa1766-1840) and MARY KENT who married in 1789. They have 10 children between 1790 and 1805, most of whom survive to marry. ROBERT (circa 1766-1840) seems to have been very successful; a wheelwright in 1802, a millwright in 1806 and a maltster. He dies leaving a Will showing he owned a house with a Millwright's shop ajoined to it in Banham, three dwellings with yard, gardens, newly built brick and tiled stables and a cart lodge, 3 acres of enclosed arable land, brick kilns, a malting and a post windmill...
...“with patent sails, fly wheel and all necessary and modern machinery lately completely fitted up and capable of doing an extensive business and now in the occupation of Mr. Jonas Mallett 3 and others.” (4)
ROBERT (circa 1766-1840)'s signature appears in the parish accounts of 1829 (and some other year's records) as an overseer that the accounts were correct indicating that he had been educated.5
ROBERT (circa 1766-1840) and MARY's first children are twin daughters MARY ANN (aka MARIA circa 1815) and REBEKAH ISABELL born on 10.1.1790 (4 months after their marriage and not easy to hide!). Both girls are baptised on 2.2.1790 6. We hear no more of REBEKAH, but when MARY ANN is 23 years old, she marries Joseph Howlett also of Banham on 26.5.1813. Their marriage is witnessed by the mark of GEORGE GILBERT (b.1796) who, assuming it is Mary Ann's brother, would be 17 years old 7. They appear to have only one child; George Howlett (b. circa 1828) born 15 years after they marry. In the 1841 census, George Howlett is 13 years old and found living with his uncle and aunt in Westgate Street, Banham. Further investigation into any Howletts of Banham might shed more light.
Two years into their marriage, ROBERT (circa 1766-1840) and MARY have their first son on 19th October 1791 and duly call him ROBERT (b.1791)! He is baptised 8 days later. More of him below.
Two more daughters follow. LUCY born 19.2.1793 and baptised 3 days later and of whom we hear no more, and HANNA MARIA born just over a year later on 27.3.1794 and baptised a week later.
HANNAH MARIA (b.1794) marries Edward Roper of Bressingham 6 on 13.4.1824. She would have been 30 years old, quite some age in those days. As her father is 58 by now she may have stayed at home to look after her parents and younger siblings - who knows?! HANNAH MARIA (b. 1794)'s brother and sister WILLIAM GILBERT (b1802) and SARAH WOODCOCK7 (aged 26) witness the wedding.
In 1841, Edward Roper is listed as a farmer living at Tickenhall Street, Banham with his wife HANNAH MARIA. They are both 45 years old and have three children John Roper aged 15 and born around 2 years after they married, Eliza Roper aged 12 and Edward Roper aged 4.
Twenty years later the 1861 census tells us that the family is living at 111 Great Green, Banham. Edward Roper Snr (aged 66) is a Farmer of 38 acres employing two labourers and a boy.Houses on Great Green, Banham (1997)
The Roper family stay in Banham for some time. Both White's History Gazeteer & Directory of Norfolk 1883 and 1892 list Miss Eliza Roper living at Yew Cottage and her older brother John Roper who is a farmer, assistant overseer and highway rate collector. By 1892 John is Clerk to the School Board and Attendance Officer 8. He would be 66 years old and his sister 63.
On 25th July 1796, ROBERT (circa 1766-1840) and MARY KENT have their sixth child and second son, GEORGE (b.1796). He is baptised 6 days later. Because the core architecture of Banham hasn't changed and because of the importance of his occupation to the economic survival of the village, I could find out a lot about GEORGE (b.1796), so he also gets a section The Brickmaker devoted to him later.
SARAH is born on 6.12.1798 and baptised 4 days later. She marries George Woodcock of East Harling in Banham on 20.7.1819. East Harling is a village on the road from Banham to Attleborough. The marriage is witnessed by John Gaymer and Mary Palmer. (See The Cider Makers below).
George Woodcock is shown in the Parish accounts to have paid 2/6d for firing cutting on 1.10.1823. I am not sure if this is a fine or a charge. It is likely that SARAH (b.1798) died between 1833 and 1841 in her mid-to-late 30s. We can guess this because George Woodcock is listed in the 1841 census as a Butcher of Whithurst Street, East Harling. He has four children; Ester (sic) aged 15, Charles aged 15, Mary aged 14 and George aged 8. No wife is listed.9 George Woodcock continues to be entioned in the 1850 Gazeteer as a Butcher (he would be about 50 years old).
ROBERT (circa1766-1840) and MARY KENT's third son (and eighth child) is born at Banham on 11.12.1800 and baptised 5 days after. He is named JOSEPH (b.1800) and is my direct line, so more about him later in The Engineers.
1. MARIA is likely to be MARY ANN (b1790) daughter of ROBERT (circa 1766-1840) as she is stated as being MARIA in the 1815 census and would be about 26 years old. ROBERT could be her brother (b1791) who would be aged 25 or her father who would be 50 years old.
2. This is 4 years after her brother so it is still conceivable that SUSANNAH, who I have put in SAMUEL and SUSANNA's family, could fit as an elder sister.
3. Probably his employees keeping the business going.
4. Norfolk Chronicle - 26th September, 3rd & 10th October 1840 quoted on www.norfolkmills.co.uk
5. I am assuming the Robert Gilbert referred to in the parish records at this time is Robert (bapt 1766) and therefore aged around 53 and not his son Robert (b.1791) who would be aged 38 – this may be a misassumption and needs further evidence to prove. His son George (b1796) can not write at age 17.
6. We know REBEKAH is not the one buried 7.10.1790 because that record clearly states the person as being aged 20 years at death.
7. Would he be able to be a witness at this age?
8. Kelly's 1892.
9. Assuming SARAH mothered all the children, CHARLES would have been born circa 1833. in 1841 SARAH does not appear in the census entry. Death is far more likely than divorce in those days!
3. Probably his employees keeping the business going.
4. Norfolk Chronicle - 26th September, 3rd & 10th October 1840 quoted on www.norfolkmills.co.uk
5. I am assuming the Robert Gilbert referred to in the parish records at this time is Robert (bapt 1766) and therefore aged around 53 and not his son Robert (b.1791) who would be aged 38 – this may be a misassumption and needs further evidence to prove. His son George (b1796) can not write at age 17.
6. We know REBEKAH is not the one buried 7.10.1790 because that record clearly states the person as being aged 20 years at death.
7. Would he be able to be a witness at this age?
8. Kelly's 1892.
9. Assuming SARAH mothered all the children, CHARLES would have been born circa 1833. in 1841 SARAH does not appear in the census entry. Death is far more likely than divorce in those days!
Great to find your website!
ReplyDeleteRe: ROBERT (circa 1766-1840) and MARY's first children are twin daughters MARY ANN (aka MARIA circa 1815) and REBEKAH ISABELL born on 10.1.1790 (4 months after their marriage and not easy to hide!). Both girls are baptised on 2.2.1790 6. We hear no more of REBEKAH, but when MARY ANN is 23 years old, she marries Joseph Howlett also of Banham on 26.5.1813.
Mary Ann Gilbert and Joseph Howlett are my direct Ancestors. Mary Ann Gilbert b1790 was as far as I had got back on my tree. I am interested to see you have her [and twin sister's] parents as Robert circa 1766-1840 and Mary Kent. I cannot find the baptism of Mary Ann and REBEKAH ISABELL on Ancestry and wonder if you would be kind enough to share your source?
Regards,
Brigitte