#attleborough

Spencer Pablo Larraín. 2021

Church Shropham, Attleborough NR17 1EX, UK See in map

In the 1850s John Tingey, a Norfolk merchant with a passion for agriculture, began to develop a small estate in the village of Little Ellingham near Attleborough, in Norfolk. Despite investing heavily in new buildings and technology, he was not the owner of the land, and claimed his vast complex of farm buildings was the largest range ‘ever erected by a tenant farmer in England’. But the…

Vital Records of Attleborough Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849 (Salem, MA: The Essex Institute, 1934).

This book is available online in a transcribed format on ma-vitalrecords.org, rays-place.com, and dunhamwilcox.net. Of those, one includes transcribed births/baptisms of Packards in Attleborough:

––––, s. Martin, laborer, Aug. 23, 1844. Freelove, d. Robert, bp. June 6, 1756. CR2 Lidia, d. Robeert, bp. June 6, 1756. CR2 Melzar, ch. Robert, bp. June 6, 1756. CR2 Silence, d. Robert and Lydia, bp. Feb. 26, 1758. CR2

CR2 refers to the Second Congregational Church in Attleborough according to another transcription, this time of the book's abbreviations.

Also transcribed are Packard marriages in this area:

Elisha, of St. George, and Keziah Lane, int. Oct. 13, 1769. Martin, and Mary M. Skinner, unm., of Mansfield, int. Nov. 9, 1827. Silance, and Adin Stanley, July 22, 1784.

Apparently not on that site, this one, or any other, are any Packards listed among those who died in the area. Perhaps they moved somewhere else. The full view of the book is available on Haithitrust.

In sum, this book doesn't really say much about the Packards at all, but is a good source although, once again, transcriptions should be completely taken for granted.

Note: This was originally posted on Apr. 27, 2018 on the main Packed with Packards WordPress blog (it can also be found on the Wayback Machine here). My research is still ongoing, so some conclusions in this piece may change in the future.

Vital Records of Beverly Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849, 2 Vols. (Topsfield, MA: Topsfield Historical Society, 1906-1907).

In neither vol 1 or vol 2 are any mentions of the name "Packard" made. Likely this was included in Mr. Cook's sources as he has other pages which relate to other families in the Plymouth colony.

Henry Bond, Genealogies of the Families and Descendants of the Early Families of Watertown, Massachusetts, Including Waltham and Weston, to Which Is Appended the Early History of the Town, 2 Vols. (Boston: Little, Brown &Co., 1855).

The version currently on Internet Archive is superior to that on HathiTrust as two volumes are put into one. There are very few mentions of the Packards in this book, which are shown in the photo below:

Above cited are pages 75, 530, and 666.

So this book, like the Vital Records of Attleborough Massachusetts, doesn't really say much about the Packards at all. Some tidbits, but that's it. Likely this was used by Mr. Cook when writing about other families in Watertown, MA.

Note: This was originally posted on Apr. 27, 2018 on the main Packed with Packards WordPress blog (it can also be found on the Wayback Machine here). My research is still ongoing, so some conclusions in this piece may change in the future.

Elizabeth Lake was born 14th May 1845 in the Norfolk village of Attleborough, she was eldest of six children born to John Lake and Rebecca Lake nee Dixon. She was baptised in the beautiful village church of St. Mary’s, in Attleborough on 19th April 1846, the informant at the time of the Baptism was her Mother Rebecca Lake. Her Father John is listed as a Labourer on the Baptism record.

  (St.Mary’s Church, Attleborough)

Elizabeth is listed in the 1851 Census with her parents John and Rebecca and her two sisters, Mary Ann Lake and Sarah Ann Lake, the family are living at Havenscroft Street, Attleborough.

1851 Census

Between 1851 and 1861, the Lake family up sticks and move down from Norfolk to Essex, presumably for John Lake’s agricultural work. By 1861 the family are residing at South Ockendon in Essex, the family home was listed as Peacock Farm and Elizabeth Lake was listed as a House Maid working at Mollands Hall, for a Farmer called Abraham Manning. Not much further down the lane, Matthew Chiddicks was residing at Little Mollands Hall in 1861 and it is presumably here that their two paths crossed.

1861 Census

At the tender age of just 20, Elizabeth Married Matthew Chiddicks and the two were married at North Ockendon Parish Church on 7th October 1865. My original assumption had been that the couple had Married in South Ockendon, the Parish that they were living in at the time, but we can only speculate as to the reason they married in North Ockendon, rather than South Ockendon, the Parishes are that close together. All I can say is their first born child, William Chiddicks was born 18th March 1866.

(Original Parish Register entry)

  (North Ockendon Church)

By 1871 Elizabeth is living at Plough Cottages in South Ockendon and her occupation is listed as a Farm Labourer’s Wife. She is listed at home with her Son William and two Daughter’s, Elizabeth and Louisa as well as her own Sister Louisa. Her husband Matthew is counted as living two doors away and is listed with Elizabeth’s own parents, John Lake and Rebecca Lake, the two families living just two doors away from each other.

(Plough Cottages are on the left of The Plough Public House in the picture)

1871 Census

In 1881 Elizabeth and the family are living in James Row, South Ockendon, just off the main High Road and counted at home with Elizabeth are husband Matthew and children William aged 16, Elizabeth aged 12, Louisa aged 10, John aged 4 and Alice aged 1.

1881 Census

By the time of the 1891 Census the Chiddicks family had grown quite considerably, the family home was still in the High Road, South Ockendon and living at home with Elizabeth and her husband Matthew are children William aged 25, Louisa aged 20, Polly aged 16, John aged 14, Alice aged 11 and Walter aged 8. Also listed living with the family at the time of the Census is Ethel Acton aged 10 who is listed as a visitor and is the future Niece of Louisa Chiddicks who later Marries William Acton. So we can see a family link and connection to the Acton Family from Sutton-at-Hone in Kent.

1891 Census

1901 brings a big change to the Chiddicks ,as the family have upped sticks and moved from South Ockendon, in Essex, to Watford, in Hertfordshire, we can only presume it was for Elizabeth’s Husband Matthew’s, pursuit of work. Still living at home in the family home are Sons John Chiddicks and Walter Chiddicks. the family are living at 7, Harefield Terrace, Judge Street, Watford.

1901 Census

In 1911, Elizabeth and Matthew are living alone in a 5 room house at 16 Southwold Road, Watford. Matthew is still working as a Labourer at the age of 67 and Elizabeth is still working at home carrying out her Domestic Duties.

(16, Southwold Road, Watford)

1911 Census

Sometime between the 1911 Census and Elizabeth’s sad Death in 1916, both Elizabeth and Matthew move to Biggleswade in Bedfordshire, at the time their Daughter Alice Dray (nee Chiddicks, was residing at 23, Shortmead Street, Biggleswade, Beds.

(23, Shortmead Street, Biggleswade)

Elizabeth sadly died on 23rd September 1916 whilst at her Daughter Alice’s home of 23, Shortmead Street, Biggleswade, Beds. The cause of Death was Malignant disease of the stomach and exhaustion, present at her Death and the person who registered the Death was her eldest Son, William Chiddicks.

Elizabeth was buried on 27th September 1916 at Drove Road Cemetery, Biggleswade in Plot Number 2125.

    The story doesn’t end there, as I was able to find this wonderful Newspaper Announcement of Elizabeth Chiddicks funeral. The detail included is pheneomenal and includes every last detail.

  In case it’s not that easy to see on your viewing device, I have transcribed the newspaper entry for the Funeral Announcement here;

Funeral of Mrs Chiddicks

We regret to report the death this week of Mrs Chiddicks, the Mother of Mrs Dray, of 23, Shortmead Street. Deceased has suffered from an internal complaint and passed away on Saturday at her daughter’s residence. The funeral took place Wednesday at the cemetery. The cortege consisted of a glass hearse and two mourning coaches. The Vicar impressively officiated at the services inside the chapel and at the graveside. The Coffin was of plain elm with black and gilt furniture and was inscribed : “Elizabeth Chiddicks died 23rd September 1916 aged 71 years”. The mourners were Mr.M.Chiddicks (husband). Mr Wm Chiddicks, Mr. John Chiddicks and cyclist Walter Chiddicks 2/25th London Cyclist Battn, (sons), Mrs E.Goode, Mrs W.Acton, Mrs MA Steward and Mrs EA Dray (daughters), and Mr W.Acton (son in law). Among sympathisers present were Mrs W.T.Skipp and Mrs H.Endersby. Floral tributes of great beauty were inscribed thus: In ever fond remembrance from her sorrowing husband; “Rest in peace” –  With deepest sympathy and fondest memory, from her son and daughter; “Peace perfect peace” – in ever loving memory to our dear Mother, from her sorrowing son and daughter, Henry and Lizzie; “Thy will be done” – In loving memory of our dear mother, from Louie and William – With deepest sympathy, from her loving son Walter – With affectionate sympathy, from Jack, Kate and Reggie – In fond remembrance  to our dear grandma, from her grandchildren, Harry, Cissy and Harold – In fond remembrance to our dear grandma from her grandchildren Doris and Gerald – With deepest sympathy, from Mr and Mrs Skipp, Messrs Styles and Son were the undertakers.

Whilst carrying out my research into the life of Elizabeth Lake and the Lake family in general, I was able to carry out some more detailed research into the Village that her family lived, Attleborough, in Norfolk.

The major employer in town is Banham Poultry and turkeys seem to feature quite prominently in the town history, as they appear on the town sign along with cider apples, as Gaymers Cider used to be in town too, but have long gone. All that’s left is Gaymers Meadows a park left to the people of Attleborough.

There has been a settlement in the vicinity since Saxon times and there has been a place of worship here since those times, but St Mary’s was built in the Norman period. There is one notable event in 1549 before my family were here, but still interesting. When the practice of enclosing off common land came in, the ordinary people of the country as a whole were not happy. A short lived revolt in the summer of 1549 started here. When the lord of Wilby Manor began fencing off parts of the commons of Attleborough and Hargham, the fury and anger against the landowning classes was unleashed. Attleborough men tore down these fences and hedges, the first demonstration of physical defiance. News of this soon travelled to the next town, Wymondham, where there happened to be a large gathering at Wymondham Abbey where they had been holding a special service. A chap named Robert Kemp latched on to this and led a huge band into rebellion. There was a battle at Dussingdale which is north of Norwich where between 2-3,000 men were killed by government forces. Attleborough men could well have been among them. This has become known as Ketts Rebellion. Needless to say he met an extremely unpleasant end being drawn and hung at Norwich Castle.

The first national Census, taken in 1801, listed the population of Attleborough as 1333 and by 1845 the population had grown to almost 2000, with an acreage of around 5,200 acres and a growing centre of trade and commerce. A thriving Market Town was developing and William White recorded in 1845 the following occupations:

2 Auctioneers, 6 Teachers, 5 Attorneys, 3 Bakers, 3, Blacksmiths, 6 Boot Makers, 4 Butchers, 3 Corn Millers, 33 Farmers, 4 Grocers, 2 Joiners, 2 Plumbers, 2 Saddlers,              2 Surgeons, 4 Tailors and 2 Watchmakers. All evidence of a thriving and growing community of which the Lake family were very much a part of.