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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Suffolk => Topic started by: cjtrigg on Saturday 12 April 08 15:20 BST (UK)
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Hi all. I'm researching the SHARMAN (sometimes appearing as SHERMAN) and LOCKWOOD names in the central Suffolk villages of Gosbeck, Pettaugh, Helmingham and Crowfield. It would be good to hear from anyone with a connection!
On a recent trip to Suffolk, I read about 8 men being jailed for 1 month in 1815 for smashing two threshing machines at Gosbeck, thus beginning a series of similar incidents over the following years, as the argicultural workers feared for their jobs with the onset of mechanisation. I'd love to be able to track down the names of the men arrested (if for no other reason to tease my partner for being descended from anarchists!), does anyone know where I would begin on this?
Also, another random question, whilst in Helmingham recently we observed a war memorial for a distant relation who had died during WW1. His name had been highlighted, along with several others, and the highlighting was explained at the bottom of the inscription as men who had made the "supreme sacrifice". Can anyone shed any light on what this sacrifice may have been? My own guess is that it meant he died to save others, but if there is a more concrete definition I'd love to know.
Many thanks.
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Just to help on the WWI query.
I am researching our war memorial in our Suffolk village at the moment and it is possible to find a lot of information via the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and via the National Archives.
You have the name of the person, did you note the rank? This is a clue to which of the armed services he served with.
Also, several years ago Gwyn Thomas (lately of the Suffolk Record Office) conducted a research project on many of the war memorials around the county.
On my web site at the moment is a tiny photograph of me at Fressingfield war memorial which I visited last autumn.
The URLs you need are
www.cwgc.org/
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/
www.ww1battlefields.co.uk/index.html
www.roll-of-honour.com/
The Suffolk Regiment can be found at
http://www.stedmundsbury.gov.uk/sebc/visit/sufreg.cfm
SM ...
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Me again ;D
Regarding the riots
There is a report from the Bury and Norwich Post in the archived newspaper reports to be found on line at
www.foxearth.org.uk/
If you go to the page of reports from 1814-1817 you will find the story of the Gosbeck riots.
I think these newspapers are on film at the Bury St Edmunds branch of the Suffolk Record Office. You could email them to see if they hold copies?
SM ...
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Mant thanks for this info. Regarding the WW1 memorial, it was a hand-written/drawn piece, framed in Helmingham church, and we know Herbert Sharman was a Private in the 2nd Battallion Suffolk regiment. Had a quick look at the War Graves site yesterday and also some regimental history pages which points to him dying in the Battle of the Somme. I'm still intrigued as to the meaning of the "supreme sacrifice", perhaps getting in touch with people through the websites you've given me might be the way forward.
As for the riots, the reports you mention from the Bury and Norwich post are the ones I'd read already :) But perhaps the Bury branch of the record office would have the criminal records related to the event to show the names of the men involved? I'll make a note for the next time we visit Suffolk.
Many thanks again!
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Could the War Memorial in Helmingham Church have been a Roll of Honour - recording all the men of the parish who fought in the war and those who died having made the "supreme sacrifice" ? I have found Rolls of Honour in Walberswick and Hitcham churches while looking for my family.
Just a thought Annelesie