CLARKE FAMILY

MILLERS OF CASTLE, BRADWELL & GORLESTON

18.2.1780, METFIELD, Stephen CLARK (b?) m. Barbary SEWELL (b. Cratfield, Suffolk, 23.4.1758)

There was a family of Clarks (note – no “e”), at Metfield Suffolk in the l750’s however it has not been possible to confirm that Stephen was the son of Joseph and Susanna CLARK, as I suspect.

I have the marriage entry for Barbary SEWELL’s parents, who married in Metfield in l750. It reads: “Marriage 1750 Sewell, Barber. Richard Sewell and Susanah Barber was married April l6th”. As far as I know, Barbery was the first child of Richard & Susanah, arriving eight years after their marriage. They had a son, John SEWELL, bap. in Metfield on 13.2.1767. There may have been other children, but, to date, I have not traced them.

I also have a copy of the marriage entry for Stephen and Barbary in the Metfield Parish Register, as follows: “The Year 1779 Stephen Clark of this Parish Single Man and Barbary Sewell of the same, single woman, Married in this Church by Banns this eighteenth Day of February in the Year One Thousand seven Hundred and eighty by me John Banks Curate. This Marriage was solemnized between Us, Stephen Clark (X his mark) and Barbary Sewell (X her mark). In the Presence of Amos Mayhew and William Sewell”.

PARENTS TO:

Metfield Church, Suffolk

Stephen and Barbary CLARK parents to:

Stephen CLARK, 8.7.1780 - 7.10.1780, Metfield, Sfk. Joseph CLARK, 16.12.1781 – 14.2.1782, Metfield, Sfk. Stephen CLARK, bap. 1.6.1783, Metfield, Sfk. John CLARK, bap. 28.1.1785, Metfield, Sfk. Richard CLARK, 22.5.1790, Ditchingham, Nfk. Phoebe CLARK, 10.4.1792, Ditchingham, Nfk. William CLARK, 8.9.1794,Beccles, Sfk Mary CLARK, 20.5.1804, Beccles, Sfk. Robert CLARK, 23.3.1806, Beccles, Sfk.

Richard CLARK, b. 1790, is my ancestor. The first six children are baptised in the Church of , however, by the time the last three children are born, the family must have converted to the Non-Conformist Church. Records show that the family attended the Beccles Independent though I am unsure where they actually lived.

At some point I believe the family moved to the area and, on 22.1.1818, Richard married Mary COBB in Burgh Castle, near Great Yarmouth which was then in Suffolk but is now in . I have a copy of their marriage entry in the Burgh Castle Parish Church. It reads: “Richard Clarke (note addition of the “e”) of this Parish, Single Man, and Mary Cobb of this Parish, Single Woman were married in this Church by Banns with Consent of Parents this twenty second Day of January in the Year One thousand eight hundred and eighteen By me A.Smyth Curate This Marriage was solemnized between us Richard Clarke (X his mark) and Mary Cobb (signed). In the Presence of John Clarke ( Richard’s brother) and Ann Cobb (Mary’s sister)”.

Richard Clarke became a miller – indeed, he ran the Burgh Castle Mill which was owned, along with property and land, by his father-in-law, William Cobb. Richard and Mary had their first child, Mary Ann, in Burgh Castle in l820, however, by l823 we know they had moved to Norfolk, to farm in . Three sons were born there, including our ancestor William, followed by six children in Burgh Castle – only two of whom are known to have survived.

About l830 Richard becomes miller at the newly-erected Burgh Castle Mill. As a post mill, it could have been moved from elsewhere so may not have been a new mill. It was blown down in a gale on 29th November l836 and the Suffolk Chronicle recorded that “the roundhouse under the latter was swept away by the storm, and a neighbouring field of turnips covered with flour, in such manner as gave it the appearance of drifted snow”. A new tower mill was erected and Richard Clarke is named as the miller until l864.

Burgh Castle Tower Mill c.1837

Photograph courtesy of the late Peter Dolman

22.1.1818, BURGH CASTLE, SUFFOLK Richard CLARK (b. 1790) m. Mary COBB (b. 1799 Belton, Sfk.)

PARENTS TO:

Mary Ann CLARKE, bap.10.4.1820, Burgh Castle Sfk. Sarah CLARKE, b. l822 William Cobb CLARKE, bap.7.2.1823, Rollesby Nfk. Richard CLARKE, b. 8.7.1824, Rollesby – l4.9.1889 Bradwell Stephen CLARKE, bap. 1.5.1826, Rollesby Nfk. Maria CLARKE, b. 21.6.1827, Rollesby – 11.11.1827, B.Castle John Cobb CLARKE, bap. 2.11.1828, Burgh Castle, Sfk. George CLARKE, bap. 4.1.1832 – 24.5.l832 (7 months) George CLARKE, bap. 17.1.1833 – 5.5.l833 (5 months) Ann CLARKE, bap. l9.12.1834 Charles CLARKE, bap. 22.5.1836 – 5.8.l836 (3 months ) Christopher CLARKE, bap. 26.3.1838 – l3.4.l838 (l7 days)

In l84l, the census shows Richard (b. 1824) and his brother John (b. 1828) as male servants at the home of their maternal grandparents, William and Sarah Cobb, at Low Farm in Bradwell. Obviously no favouritism here! Meanwhile, in Burgh Castle, Richard and Mary are living at the Mill House, Mill Road. With them, are: their daughters Mary, 20, Sarah, l9, and Ann 6, and sons William, l8, and Stephen l5.

In l851, Mary (COBB) inherited Burgh Castle Mill, property and land from her father’s estate.

The original Bradwell Mill had also been badly damaged during the gale of l829 and attempts had been made to sell it by auction in l839, l842 and l843, still in its damaged state. I am not sure who bought it, but a year later William is listed in trade directories as the miller there. He is still there in l847, with his new wife Emma and his two sons. However, by l851 his brother Stephen has taken over as “master miller” and William is merely employed there. Both William, his wife and sons, and Stephen and his wife Mary are listed on the l85l as living together at the mill. Stephen is still listed as miller in l864, long after we have lost track of William. By l868 Stephen is no longer miller at Bradwell (though his brother Richard became a farmer there), however he turns up on the l88l Census as corn miller at Gorleston. Bradwell Mill was demolished in the early l900’s. The roundhouse survived until the l950’s. Nothing survives now.

Our ancestor, William Cobb CLARKE, was born in Rollesby Norfolk, in l823. It appears his parents were farming there for a while, returning to Burgh Castle around the time William was five. It appears that, in l827, William’s baby sister Maria dies in Rollesby at the age of 5 months. She is buried “back home” in Burgh Castle, and the family do not appear to return to Rollesby.

William’s mother Mary was a COBB – and, as it appears Mary had no brothers, the Cobb name would have died out. It therefore seems likely this was the idea behind William carrying the name on, pre-fixing the Clarke. Our first record of William is on the l84l Census for Burgh Castle, when he is eighteen (see above). We next find him on his marriage certificate. William marries Emma BRADSTREET of Charsfield, Suffolk, on June 5th l843.

Mary Ann, William’s eldest sister married a James Cattermole at Pakefield on 27 March l843. The couple are to be found on the l88l census farming the old family land at Burgh Castle, so perhaps Mary Ann was given this at some point prior to her mother’s death so that it did not appear in the Will. By l89l they are living at Bradwell, Low Farm – another property previously owned by her grandparents – the Cobbs. Mary Ann Clarke (widow of Richard Clarke, Mary Anne’s brother) was living in a cottage on the farm.The Cattermoles may have moved to Bradwell to take over Low Farm upon the death of Richard who had been farming there. This would mean that, at the time my great-grandfather, Edwin Clarke, moved to County Durham, he would still have had close family living and working in Burgh Castle.

Sarah CLARKE, William’s sister married James BALLS (a Somerleyton innkeeper) at the Church of St. Nicholas, Gt. Yarmouth, on October 3lst l842. Sarah described herself to be a “Spinster Gentlewoman”, living in “Row No. 52” Great Yarmouth at the time of her marriage. I gather this was one of the more wealthy Rows – housing the Mayor and a local surgeon! They had five sons and three daughters. James died in l863 and is buried at Burgh Castle. He had been a “Calf and Pig Dealer”. After James’ death, Sarah went into the lodging house business in Great Yarmouth.

Stephen CLARKE, William’s brother, married Mary Turner PLANE on 26th March l848 at the Church of St. Nicholas, Parish of Gt. Yarmouth. He became the master miller at Bradwell. They had eight daughters and two sons. Stephen died in l895 at Cobholm Island where he had also been a master miller.

Richard CLARKE, William’s younger brother, married Mary NEWMAN in Bradwell in l846. He became a farmer at Belton. They had five daughters and one son. Richard died at Bradwell in l889.

Anne CLARKE, William’s youngest sister married James Robert MARJORAM on l3th June l872 at Middlegate Congregational Church, Great Yarmouth. They married shortly after the death of Anne’s mother. James was a carpenter in l872 and a Maltster by l89l when I find them living in Chatham Terrace, Gt Yarmouth. By l90l they were living at High Mill Road, Gorleston. It would appear they had no children.

Of John Cobb CLARKE, William’s younger brother, I know very little. He is said to be unmarried in l85l, working for his father, Richard, at the Mill in Burgh Castle. He married Harriet Foreman NICKER of Gorleston at Gt. Yarmouth in September l852. I believe they then moved to Lowestoft where their daughter, Harriet Laura was born. The next time I find reference to him is in the Will of his mother, Mary, in l872. He was to receive the “Messuage and premises situate in Dukes Head Street Lowestoft”. There is a subsequent Codicil to this Will indicating that John should pay a sum of “fifty pounds” to the estate within three months of inheriting the properties otherwise the Will would be revoked!”

I have located the death certificate for Christopher CLARKE who died, aged l7 days, on April 7th l838 at Burgh Castle. It says that he died of “Exhaustion”, and his death was registered by his mother, Mary, five weeks later.

5.6.1843, CHARSFIELD, SUFFOLK William CLARK (b. 1823) m. Emma BRADSTREET (b. 1820 Charsfield)

PARENTS TO:

William Cobb CLARKE, bap. 12.5.1844, Bradwell Richard CLARKE, bap. 22.2.1846, Bradwell Edwin Bradstreet CLARKE, bap. 22.6.l852, Burgh Castle George Parker CLARKE, bap. 6.5.l855

I have a copy of the marriage entry in the Charsfield Parish Church register. It reads: “ June 5 l843 William Cobb Clarke, Age: minor, bachelor, Miller, resident of Burgh Castle, Father Richard Clarke, Miller married Emma Bradstreet, Age: full age, Spinster, resident of Charsfield, Father Joseph Bradstreet, Farmer. Married in the Church by License. This Marriage was solemnized between us, William Cobb Clarke (signed) and Emma Bradstreet (signed) in the Presence of Us Samuel Randall and Sarah Ann Randall. (Emma’s sister and brother-in-law).

It is interesting to note that William was regarded as a minor – being under 2l years of age – and that Emma was “of full age”. In fact, William was 20 and Emma 23, almost to the day. I believe a licence would have been required in view of William being “under age”. Emma’s parents had died shortly before, which is why Emma’s sister and husband signed the record. William was said to be a miller.

We next find a record of William and Emma in the l85l Census. They are living at the Mill House, Turnpike Road, Bradwell, with William’s younger brother Stephen and wife (see above). By now, William and Emma have two sons, William, baptised l2th May l844 and Richard baptised 22nd February l846, both at Bradwell Parish Church. It is interesting to note that William junior is baptised as William Clarke COBB (reversal of surname). This could well have been because William’s grandfather, William Cobb, had died in January l848, leaving no male line*. It was obviously intended that the name should carry on through the two Williams. On the l85l Census William junior is aged 7 and a scholar and Richard is aged 6 – at home. Their third son, our ancestor, Edwin Bradstreet Clarke, is not born until l852 (baptised 22nd June l852) and their fourth son, George is born in l855 (baptised 6th May l855). Edwin and George were both baptised at Burgh Castle, Suffolk (now Norfolk). Edwin had a private christening, which could indicate that he was not expected to survive. I have a copy of his baptism record which reads: “Baptism solemnized in the Parish of Burgh Castle in the County of Suffolk in the Year l852, June 22, Private, Edwin Bradstreet, son of William and Emma Clarke, resident Burgh Castle, Father Miller”.

For a long while I could not find out why Edwin was called Bradstreet and I was delighted to find that he was named after his mother’s family. It is also strange to note that there is a reference in the Civil Birth Records of all the Clarke sons except Edwin – we only have his baptism. George Parker Clarke was named after Emma’s brother Parker.

* It is worth mentioning here that, three months prior to the birth of William Cobb Clarke in l848, his cousin , William Cattermole was also baptised William Cobb Cattermole in Burgh Castle. A possible bit of competition between William Clarke and his sister Mary Ann Cattermole?

There is a Census record for l85l showing William’s grandmother, Sarah Cobb, widow, aged 78, still living at Low Farm Bradwell, although she died two months after the Census was taken. Living with her is her grandson, Richard Clarke (Edwin’s uncle) his wife Mary Ann Clarke, their daughter Emma aged l and four servants.

When Sarah Cobb died in l85l, a substantial amount of land and property, including Burgh Castle Mill, passed to her youngest daughter Mary, married to Richard Clarke. This had been bequeathed to Mary by her father, through his Will, back in l848 and became available to her upon the death of her mother. I have a copy of the Will dated l848. This illustrates that the family, at that time, would have been comfortably well- off and it is not immediately apparent what happened over the following years when the family appears to “fall apart”. A sum of £600 was also left to William’s eldest daughter, Ann, wife of William Sheppard of Wheatcroft Hall, Bradwell. In today’s money this would amount to £36,000!

Burgh Castle, Parish Church

In l856, Emma Clarke died, leaving a husband and four young sons, aged 12, 10, 4 and 1. Edwin was four. I have visited the churchyard at Burgh Castle and found Emma’s headstone. It must have been very beautiful in its day and it reads: “In loving memory of Emma, the beloved wife of William C. Clarke who died June l2th l857 aged 30” This must have been erected some time after her death as the given year, l857, is wrong – She died in l856 – and she would have been a couple of days short of her 36th birthday. She was baptised on June l8th l820 and buried on June l8th l856.

The next record we have of Edwin is in the l86l Census where we find him, aged 9, living with his grandparents, Richard and Mary who are still at the Mill House in Burgh Castle. This is the property they inherited from Mary’s father ten years previously. Also in the house is Ann their daughter, aged 26, (b. l834) who is said to be a dressmaker and as yet unmarried and her brother John who is said to be an Agricultural Labourer. Edwin’s little brother George is not living with the family. He is to be found living in the next village – Belton – at the home of the local schoolmistress in “Lockless Lane”. I have, to date, not found further mention of Edwin’s older brothers, William (b. l844) and Richard (b. l846).

We know from records that Richard senior (b.l790) is still milling at Burgh Castle in l864 and that he dies at Trafalgar Road, Great Yarmouth, on l3th November l867 aged 78.

It appears that the Mill was in new hands by l868 and that it may have been passed on to someone in the family. Mary Clarke (Cobb) died four years after her husband, also at Great Yarmouth, on 22nd February l872 aged 72. She had become lodging house keeper at Collingwood House, Marine Parade – probably owned and run by her . She lived there together with her unmarried daughter, Anne and her widowed daughter, Sarah (Balls). I have now located the Wills of both Richard and Mary. Richard left everything to his wife and Mary, in turn, asked for all the family assets – including named properties – to be sold and divided up between her six surviving “children”. I would imagine properties at Burgh Castle and Bradwell had been passed on prior to death because there is no mention of them in the Will, however they remain inhabited by family members many years later. All six children were given £l00 each (approx £6,000 each in today’s money) - including Edwin’s father William, however he was afforded scant mention in the Will.

There is a family plot at the church of SS. Peter and Paul at Burgh Castle. I have transcribed the monumental inscriptions as best I can. It is, perhaps, interesting to note that the best preserved are the oldest – those of William and Sarah Cobb. They are carved granite and are easily legible.

They read: “Sacred to the Memory of Sarah Cobb, the beloved wife of William Cobb who departed this life May 6th l85l aged 78 years”. “Sacred to the memory of William Cobb who died 8th January l848 aged 75 years”. Another two read: “Sacred to the memory of Mary Clark, beloved wife of Richard Clark. Died 72 years” and “Sacred to the memory of Richard Clark Beloved husband of Mary Clark who died l3th November l867 aged 78”. Emma is lying next to her husband’s grandmother, Sarah Cobb.

Cobb and Clarke burial plot at

The Parish Church of SS Peter & Paul, Burgh Castle, Norfolk

On the l88l Census I have found Edwin’s father William living in Gorleston and remarried to Harriet “of Belton”, ten years his junior. William died on 7th January l886 at Fen Street, Gorleston, aged 63. His death certificate tells us he died of Bronchitis and I understand the winter of l885-l886 was particularly severe. William is buried at Gorleston (Old Cemetery) together with Harriet who died in l900, having ended her days in the Yarmouth Workhouse. On William’s death certificate his occupation was given as “miller”…a proud profession he took with him to the grave.

Stephen, William’s brother, continued to work as a “Corn Master” until his death in l895 at the age of 69. He died at Cobholm Island and I am tempted to believe that he may have been a master miller at High Mill – the “World’s tallest windmill” which was built on Cobholm Island, Great Yarmouth, in l8l2. Interestingly, the mill closed down in l898 – a couple of years after Stephen’s death. Archive information tells us that Cobholm mill was run by a double shift of four men each so it was possible that William worked here along with Stephen.

WINDMILLS AND BAKERIES – ENGLAND IN THE 1800’S (Taken from information supplied to Norfolk-List @ Rootsweb by Paddy Apling)

Throughout the l860’s to l890’s, there was a drastic change in milling and baking practices in England. There was a change from baker’s flour provided by local mills (windmills & watermills using locally grown wheat) to baker’s flour provided from large port mills (i.e mills at the ports based on the new steam-driven roller mills, originally developed in Hungary). These new mills processed wheat imported from around the world – Canada, Argentine, Australia, Russia and Hungary. The imported hard wheat could not be milled satisfactorily by the millstones of the local mills and the bread produced from the hard-wheat flour gave so much lighter, larger loaves that very rapidly local mills were reduced to milling for animal feed, biscuits or filler wheat. In succeeding years many gave up the business. This brought about an agricultural depression throughout the last 20 years of the l9th Century which led to many farmers’ sons moving to the industrial north or even emigrating to Canada and Australia etc.

Our own family would have been affected by these practices and may explain why the Clarkes all but “died out” in Suffolk – and, in our case, reappear all over England in a variety of occupations….none of them foreseen by their milling, land-owning forefathers.

My great grandfather, Edwin CLARKE, was William’s third son. He became a mason in County Durham…He lies in a council-owned grave without a headstone in Thornaby Cemetery. George, his brother, worked on the railways, travelling from one end of the country to the other, probably in search of work. He became a foreman for a while working on the construction of the Manchester Ships Canal and I lose track of him at the beginning of the 20th century. William, the eldest son became a cattle dealer living in Brentford, Middlesex! As for Richard I simply do not know what happened to him. I last find him aged l4, working as a servant for his great uncle and aunt, William and Anne SHEPHARD in Gorleston.

The hopes that William COBB may have had for his daughters’ families were probably fulfilled for a while at least but he could not have foreseen how times would change so rapidly. The day came all too soon when his land and mills could no longer sustain a growing, expanding family. For most of his descendants, Suffolk would become a distant memory. That was until one day in l998 when one of his great-great-great grand-daughters set about discovering her roots…..

Diane Johansen [email protected]