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People and Family's of Mattishall
 
PICTURES OR MEMORIES - Do you have anything you would like to share?
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The wedding groups that were on this page have been removed and will appear on another page being prepared.

Courtesy of
Iris Coe
©

Rev Edward Madoc-Jones vicar of Mattishall 1896 - 1928.
This took a bit of tracing as Rev Madoc used several permeations of his name. Born Edward Maddocks Jones on January 28th 1856 the son of master upholsterer Edward Jones of 'Glentworth', Oswestry and Welsh born Emma Sarah Maddocks. Young Edward did his schooling at Shrewbury and was admitted to Caius College Cambridge on October 1st 1879 where he became Edward Madoc Jones before hyphenating his surname to Madoc-Jones. In the 1911 census he went on to recorded himself as Rev Edward Madoc Madoc. In 1901 he is recorded as Edward M M Jones.
On June 2nd 1896 Rev Edward married Theodora Chance at St Peter's Church Powick in the district of Upton of Worcestershire. After their marriage the newly wed couple moved to Mattishall where Edward became the vicar of All Saints church. Tragically the following year on March 12th Theodora died at the very young aged of 26. Theodora's remains were taken back to the churchyard of St Peter's Powick Worcester to be interned with her father where there is a memorial in their name. Her father was Arent de Peyster Chance, born New York USA 1836, died Paris 1906. He was a Midlands 'Brass Founder'.
In the Dec quarter of 1899 Rev Madoc married Grace Henrietta Warren in the district of Tunbridge Wells Kent the daughter of John Warren who in 1901 was a Solicitor, aged 49, of 47, Mount Ephraim, Tunbridge Wells, Kent and his wife Sarah Henrietta Charlotte (Charlotte Henrietta) Tucker. Rev Edward and Grace had four children, Edward Warren Darby Madoc-Jones born 1900, William Savile Madoc-Jones 1903, John Puleston Madoc-Jones 1906 and Mary Grace Madoc-Jones 1911 all born at Mattishall.
Rev Edward Madoc-Jones died on April 26th 1928 at the age of 72. It was said he was found dead at his desk whilst preparing a sermon. He was buried on May 1st in Mattishall Cemetery on Burgh Lane. It is not known what happened to Grace.
The picture above shows Rev Edward Madoc-Jones with his wife Grace and their daughter Mary. The pictures was taken about 1912-13.

Rev Madoc's son Edward Warren Darby Madoc-Jones dropped the Jones of his surname - He went on to become one of the 3 largest commercial beekeepers in Britain at least initially in Mattishall and invented a new type of queen bee cage. He is referred to in books and was still keeping bees in the late 1960s. He died in Hingham in 1982 - Gavin Willis

Mattishall's Bier:
Mrs Madoc donated a 'Bier' to the parish for those who could not afford a horse driven hearse - The 'Bier' (pictured below) is a stand on which a corpse, coffin, or casket containing a corpse, is placed to lie in state or to be carried to the grave. Mrs Madoc's bier was used by many families of the village and surrounding area. In those days the body of a loved-one would lie in the coffin in state inusually placed in the front-room of the families home, the usual method was to support it with two dining chairs, one at the head the other at the foot. There was a 'Chapel of Rest' at the side of 'Norfolk House', the premises of Arthur Horne & Son's builders and undertakers. On the day of the funeral the coffin would be placed on the bier and pushed to the church and then on to the cemetery with the family walking behind. Many villager's would line the road and it was the custom for people to close their front window curtains as a sign of respect. Men would remove their hats and bow their heads as the family walked by. The bier was kept in a shed on the Mattishall Burgh Lane Cemetery that is until the shed fell into disrepair.........


The Bier is now kept in All Saints Church and has a brass plaque on its side as below

In Memory of the
REV. E. M. MADOC
32 Years Vicar of Mattishall
Died April 26th 1928
Given by his Widow for the use of all the Parishioners
 
Courtesy of
Jerry Hipperson
©

Courtesy of
Perry Youngs
©

Dalton Turner Dalton was one of Mattishall's renowned milkmen, we see him here with a pony and cart but later he had a bike on which he would secure his milk churns to the handle bars before going from house to house selling his milk. In those days there were no bottles he would ladle the milk from his churns to his customers jugs or containers. The cost was 2d a pint. Dalton was born Chalres William D Turner in 1911 (we assume the 'D' stood for Dalton?) the son of William Isaac Turner a Farmer and Dealer of Walnut Tree Farm, Welgate and his wife Lousia Drew daughter of Jack Drew, a Dealer of Mattishall as seen in other pictures.

 


Courtesy of
Neville Lake
©

Another Mattishall milkman was Manny Lake he was renowned as being a bit of a character. Manny was born Walter Horace Lake in the September quarter of 1922 the son of Thomas Lake and Mildred J Gunns who married in 1917. Manny married Georgia B Burton in 1942, they had three children. Manny was tragically killed in a road traffic accident on the Fakenham Road at Great Whitchingham in 1992 at the age of 70.

 

 

 

 


Courtesy of
The late Ruth Fisher
©

It was not so long ago we would see Donald Fisher doing his milk-rounds in the village with his milk-float. With the coming of the super-markets shopping habits were changing. Donald retired in 1994. Donald has also been known to deliver milk on a tractor and trailer when the village was cut off with snow. Donald Stanley Fisher is the son of Stanley Isaac Fisher (1895) who had a butchers shop on Norwich Road Mattishall and his wife Agnes May Horne (1896).

 

Walter Fisher with his wife Rachel together with four of their children
We can assume the boy to be Glen with Alice and Rachel.
It is unsure if the baby is Walter or Firm as Walter died in 1904 age 1.
If it is Firm it would date the picture to about 1907

Courtesy of
Jacki Greaves Latin of America

Walter Fisher - The man front right in the left picture above is Walter Fisher born 1863 at Mattishall son of James Fisher (1837) a Farm Labourer and his wife Alice Jane Pitcher of Shipdham. The other men in the picture are Walter's brothers, left believed to be Marshall the one behind is either George or John, on the right at the rear is Nero Fisher. Walters mother died in 1882. It is not known if loosing his mother was the reason but shortly after her death on August 1st 1882 Walter departed for the United States of America sailing on the 'Abysinnia'. His mother's parents (John Pitcher and Rebecca Brown) had already moved from Shipdham to Cache, Utah a few years earlier. The Pitchers had been brought up in Shipdam but in about 1863 missionaries visited the area and it was known that John and his wife Rebecca would welcome them into their home. Their daughter Elizabeth (then aged 7) for many years had suffered with fits and during one of the visits the Elders re-baptised the whole family and from then Elizabeth never had another fit. They considered this a special blessing from the Lord that she was healed of this serious affliction. After this their home became the headquarters for the Mormons in Shipdham. The Mormon meetings were held at their home. Missionaries, when they came to town, came to Pitchers first and were always made welcome. Many a missionary was made to rejoice in the splendid cooking of sister Pitcher. In 1869 Alice's parents decided to move to Utah America, John had no funds and it is recorded that the Mormons loaned him the money in a lump sum to pay the fare of himself and wife and his family including two daughters in-laws with their babies. The total sum is thought to have been £122 and 5shillings. Walter stayed with his grandparents after arriving in America and on March 26th 1884 Walter was baptised into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
On October 16th 1895 Walter Fisher married Rachel Roberts (seen on the left in the famly group) at Hyde Park, Cache, Utah - the next day they were sealed in the Logan Chapel. In 1912 Walter's father died at Mattishall and Walter returned to England to do missionary work. This is when the left picture of him and his brothers was taken. Walters descendants have written two fine articles on those early days in America and its hardships - more information on Walter and other Fisher families can be found HERE.

 

 


Courtesy of Emma Larnach ©

Fred Juby - Fred was born Frederick James Juby in the September quarter of 1876 at Cranworth son of James Juby (1851) a Farmer of Yaxham Road Mattishall born at Southburgh and Selina Coleman (1852) born at Ardleigh Green Essex. Fred as he was known was the eldest of thirteen children. Many of his siblings married well known people within the village. Fred was always very distinctive by the fact he always wore a 'Bowler Hat' and this would become his trade mark. With this and always being smartly dressed in a suit, white wing collar shirt and tie he was always eager to please and hear what folk had to say. The middle picture above shows him walking with a cane and his mack slung over his shoulder by the vicarage wall on Dereham Road. He was thought to look a bit like Charlie Chaplin. He was co-opted on to the Parish Council by his father in 1909 and later became Chairman in 1919. Fred was the village correspondent for the Eastern Daily Press and our local paper The Dereham & Fakenham Times, a post he held for over 50 years. On one occasion he put up a big white notice by the vicarage saying 'Cut closed, plight of vicar' - a maid had emptied a chamber pot down the wall and Fred thought the villagers should be warned.
He was a member of the local housing committee and a consumer member of the Local Food Control Committee. He was known as the workers friend being Secretary of the Mattishall branch of the National Union of Agricultural Workers, another roll he was very passionate about and again held for many years. He was brought up on the land but by the First World War he had become a Land Agents Clerk. Then the March quarter of 1902 Fred married Alice Jane Howes (1876). Fred and Alice had four children, Twin girls Bessie Selina and Ivy Maud in 1905, both girls died the same year, Bessie in the September quarter and Ivy in the December quarter, Frederick Clifford was born in 1906 and Herbert Henry in 1909. On October 22nd 1917 Fred's baby brother Dennis Albert Juby was killed in action in France - More on Dennis can be found HERE.
After many years of living in Mattishall Fred moved to Thetford. Alice died in the December quarter of 1949 age 74 and Fred died in the December quarter of 1954 age 78.

 



Courtesy of David Evans
& Newport Local History
©

The Right Honorable Sir James Bailey MP

James Bailey - James was born on November 10th 1840 at Mattishall, Norfolk. He was baptised together with his younger brother Robert at All Saints Church Mattishall on March 12th 1843. Both boys were recorded as the sons of William Bailey a labourer and his wife Sarah née Dunthorn(e). William and Sarah had married five months earlier at St Peter's Church Mattishall Burgh on June 8th 1840. James went to London to work as a servant/footman and soon became a Lodging House Keeper. This proved to be quite a success which gave him the opportunity to build and open the Bailey Hotel in Kensington London. James was Knighted on Monday 18th December 1905 at Buckingham Palace by King Edward VII. James never forgot his Mattishall roots for as he prospered he bought a farm and farmhouse on Dereham Road (east of Mattishall) for his parents which he named 'Kensington House'. When his mother died James donated a church organ in her memory which now stands in All Saints Church. For more information on Sir James Bailey click HERE.

 

Ray Taylor ©

Lebbell King - Lebbell was born in 1850 at Swanton Morely son of Charles King (1819) an Agricultural Labourer and his wife Maria Lebbell (1814). Nothing is known of Lebbell's early years only that after his schooling, which we assume was at Swanton Morley he took on the trade of a Carpenter. Lebbell married Sophia Garth (1855) of Thuxton in the September quarter of 1871 and they were living at South Green Mattishall by 1881. By 1891 Lebbell had become a Builder and an employer of men. Over the years Lebbell built many properties in and around the village as well as being renowned for his church alterations. in 1900 he removed some old building which were on the land in front of the decommissioned Duke of Edinburgh Public House on Dereham Road which had recently been bought by William Horne. Then on the site built the Methodist Church and School Rooms for the sum of £700. In 1903 Lebbell took on a young apprentice by the name of Arthur Edward Horne. They must have had a good working relationship for when Lebbell retired Arthur took over the business which included the funeral and undertaking side. Lebbell's wife Sophia died in 1907 and he remarried in 1909 to Arthur's Aunt, Katie Selina Horne (1873). Katie was the daughter of George Horne (1827) a Tailor of Mattishall and his wife Susanna Harriet Poll (1831). Neither Sophia or Katie's had children. Lebbell was also a highly respected Methodist Preacher which ran to 65 years of service on the Mattishall Circuit. Something which he took over from his mother Maria King. At his death on March 29th 1937 at the age of 87 Lebbell's memorial service was held at the Methodist Church on Dereham Road, the one he had built. After the service due to the vast volume of mourners the main road had to be closed for the funeral procession to make its way to the cemetery on Burgh Lane. PC Nightingale directed the traffic.

 


Iris Coe ©
Francis Webster Beckham

 


Iris Coe ©
Mary Ann Beckham nee Caley

 


Iris Coe ©
Rex Norman descendant of Francis and Mary Ann
   

Mattishall's Convicts:
Francis Webster Beckham was born October 23rd 1808 and baptised a few days later at All Saints Church Bradon Pava on November 10th. Francis was the second child of Daniel Beckham and his wife Dinah Webster. Daniel and Dinah had ten children. Daniel was a farm labourer and like other labours of those times had to move were the work took them although the family finally settled in about 1817 at Mattishall Burgh.
Francis married Mary Ann Caley on December 7th 1830 at St Peter's Church Mattishall Burgh. Francis and Mary Ann had six children, all baptised at St Peter's Church Mattishall Burgh. On April 4th 1843 Francis and his brother Henry were accused of sheep stealing from their neighbour James Mack of North Tuddenham. Their trial took place on June 28th 1843 at Norwich Quarter Sessions they were found guilty and transported to Australia for ten years. Both Francis and Henry departed England on November 4th 1844 on the ship Sir George Seymour carrying 345 convicts. They arrived in Australia on February 27th 1845.
From all accounts Francis and Henry became model prisoners and as there was a shortage of labour were soon employed. We can't imagine how Mary Ann coped without her husband but by 1849 Francis and Henry had done well enough for themselves to bring their wives and children to Australia where they bought land and over the years prospered. They never returned.
Iris Coe has written a splendid story on the Beckham's and their descendants, as well as a transcript of the trial, which can be found HERE.

 

A few years back two ladies of Mattishall, Jenny Pennell and Liz Gilding took time to visit some of our senior member living in the village and recorded their memories of village characters. We don't have pictures of them but their stories may be of some interest - keep in mind these are their personal memories.

PEOPLE OF MATTISHALL

William Cowper -
Another famous person linked to the village was the poet William Cowper. He often came to visit his cousin, Mrs Bodham, who lived in the Georgian house at South Green. It was Mrs Bodham who sent Cowper the picture of his mother which then inspired one of his most moving poems.

Arthur Savory - painter and decorator (dates 1937)
Used to live in Mill Road and was known as Jam Jar because he used to have a jam jar tied to the front of his bike with a candle in it to act as a headlamp and also had jars to keep his paint in. He was also known as 'Putty'. He was a Sunday school teacher at the Old Moor and although he was a Methodist he used to visit 'The Ringers' every night and sit quietly in one of the two rooms down a little passage. One room was for the roughs and the other for the nobs.

John Mayer - chimney sweep early 1900's - late 1930's
Used to live in one of the two cottages next to the Ringers Pub and had a daughter called Elsie. He had a small hand cart in which he used to carry his brushes. When he was around 60 he fell head first down into a shallow well in the back yard and Billy Norton was held by his feet over the well to try and save him by tying a rope round his feet. Unfortunately it was too late and Mr. Mayer came out stiff. There was an open verdict recorded. It was known that Mr. Mayer did get drunk sometimes - The only death of a John Mayer was in 1935:
1935: Death record – John Mayer at Mitford – Jun quarter (4b 291) age 74 - He was buried on May 13th at Mattishall Cemetery.

Edward 'Seed' Pearce - harness maker (1920's - 1937)
His business was situated in a wooden hut under a chestnut tree in South Green. He was a tall, thin man who walked badly because he was slightly crippled and used to wear a white coat. People brought him cricket bats to be bound and they also bought linseed oil from him.

Jimmy Hewitt - slaughterer (1908 - 1937)
Worked in an old barn which was the slaughter house near the Primitive Chapel where he killed and castrated the pigs and also slaughtered old horses. He was very good with animals and used to act as a vet.

Bertie Bell - hairdresser (1920's)
Nicknamed Tiger and 'pudding basin' as he used to cut round a pudding basin placed on the customer's head. He lived in Allotment Lane, South Green and had a wooden leg. He worked from a little hut in Frank Norton's yard and was probably settlement trained. The boys used to have their hair cut for 2d. He used to ride a bike with a strap on the pedal to keep his wooden leg in place.

Mr. Grimes - motor mechanic (dates?)
He was the husband of Nurse Grimes and lived in Welgate. He used to drive an Austin 7 He continued with his business when he moved to Mattishall, maintaining and servicing Brooke Bond Trojan vans from Dobb’s yard and repairing 3-4 two stroke petrol engines at a time, the engines being under the drivers seat.

Bill Rayner - wheelwright (1908 1937)
He lived in Honeysuckle Cottage near the claypit in Dereham Road. He had one of the few cherry trees in Mattishall and used to sell them to the children for a penny a bag. He sung in the church choir.

Fred Beckett - shoemaker 1900 - early 1940's
He was a very small man who was very fond of music. He lived in a little extension in Dereham Road (now No.65) before the war. He was Ernie Dobbs' wife's brother. He used to sit on the floor to repair the villager's shoes in his shop which was an annex at the corner of Mill Road where the chestnut tree next to Dobbs House. He spent a lot of time in company with Jack Drew who he used to call 'his secretary'. Next door, around the First World War era there was a small grocers shop which was run by Fred's younger brother Tom Beckett (known as Tip) who was also a very small man. He used to sell slabs of toffee which he broke up with a little hammer to the children for a penny.

Herbert 'Bedo' Blanch - Blacksmith 1920's - 1930's
He had a hut where he carried out blacksmithing just past Moat Farm. He was arthritic and lived in one of three cottages near the Old George pub with his son Sonny who was found dead in mysterious circumstances at the bottom of the stairs. Sonny's son Russell, shot his right arm off while climbing through a hedge in his garden with a loaded gun. He also had a son called Albert nicknamed 'Bloater' as well as Vernon and Colin and daughters Sheila and Kathy. He had a forge in Mattishall Burgh opposite the cemetery next to the bowling green. The children used to throw stones on the galvanised roof whilst he was shoeing horses underneath and the boys from Hockering used to cheek him and he used to hit them with a stick. He was also a poacher and used to boast a lot. When electricity came to Mattishall and the current was switched on he said he picked up a bag full of birds that had dropped off the power lines.

George Crown - blacksmith and farrier. 1890
He lived in the first old council house going out of the village. He used to make the horseshoes himself and carry out other repairs including laying harrows which is when the teeth have pieces welded on after they have worn down. He worked for the Dobbs brothers. He attended an apprenticeship course during the first World War and had to make minature anvils. He successfully passed this and was sent to Russia to shoe the horses during the war.

Edward 'Knacker' Edwards - saddler & horse trainer-,-early 1900's
He was the father of Millie Edwards (schoolteacher) and Billy who was a little simple. The family lived in South Green where he used to train horses on a leading rein in the road which fascinated the children but also frightened them. He used to repair reins and mend saddles with pieces of cloth. When the Edwards left Humphrey George who was a roadman moved in followed by the Arthurton family.

Herbert Tofts - Carpenter (?1922 - 1937)
His nickname was Kiffernick and was a bit rough and ready and his wife used to have newspapers all over the floor. His father was Nicholas Tofts a cattle dealer who kept the Duke of Edinburgh in 1890. Kiffernick mostly made ladders but was thought not to be a very good carpenter. He also kept cows. There was a rhyme about him:- Kiffernick he bought a cow The way to milk it he didn't know how He pulled its tail instead of its tits All he got was covered in !!!!! At the beginning of the war the local defence volunteers had live amunition of which Kiffernick was one. He with Billy Norton and Russell Smith were sitting chatting in Farrow's yard when there was an almighty bang and a hole appeared in the wall between Billy and Russell - Kiffernick had accidentally let off his rifle. --

Devoney Howard - builder and undertaker (1916 - 1955)
Used to live in what is now kn'own as Walnut House. He had a daughter named May and son Gerald who had a car hire business He built several houses in Mattishall and farm buildings and was responsible for demolishing the Maltings and also four cottages where they built the four council houses. He also built two houses where the fish and chip shop is now and Farrow's office. His workshop in Back Lane remained until 1956 where he worked doing odd jobs even after his retirement.

Hookie Skipper - As well as the numerous trades within the village, Mattishall had many visitors selling their wares including fishmongers, chimney sweeps and gypsies selling pegs. One of the most memorable characters was a gentleman known by the name of Hookie Skipper who used to come round selling winkles on a Saturday night. He was known to sleep under his cart and cook and eat hedgehogs.

 
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