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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Norfolk => Topic started by: shawd on Wednesday 08 June 22 01:40 BST (UK)
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Can anyone shed any light on what records may exist for an agricultural labourer around the 1850s in Field Dalling, Norfolk?
I'm very curious about the life of my 2nd great-grandmother Eliza Pointon.
I know that she was born to William Samuel Pointon and Mary Ann Clarke on 16 Nov 1849 in Field Dalling, Norfolk. She was one of at least 8 children (the second youngest of the known children) and was baptised on 21 Nov 1849 at St Andrews Church in Field Dalling. I know that many young children of agricultural labourers also worked on the farms, but the 1851 census shows that Eliza's siblings were in school. Her mother, however, was also listed as working on the land and her maternal grandmother was receiving parish support.
In 1851, the family was living on Little Marsh Road. When I look at maps of current Field Dalling, I see a Little Marsh Lane very close to the St Andrews Church and I wonder if the family lived in this area. Eliza's parents were also married in St Andrews Church and all the other children baptised there as well. Both of Eliza's parents were also born in Field Dalling, so it seems that the family was fairly stationary until they left for Canada (estimated around 1855, when Eliza was about 6 years old).
Would it be likely that any interesting records exist that would give insight into their lives - I'm wondering about possible records of William working for a farmer and finding out what wages he might have received, or perhaps records of the children in school. Maybe I could find out exactly where they lived? Were her parents educated at all (I am assuming that they couldn't read or write as they simply marked an X for their signatures on their record of marriage). I'm mostly interested to find out if they were struggling and why and how they ended up leaving for Canada. Did they receive assistance to go to Canada? When exactly did they leave and what was their route? How long did it take and on what ship? I have so many questions about what her young life was like.
I know that no one can tell me for sure what records do or don't exist, but as I am in Canada, I wonder if it would be worthwhile to travel to England eventually - but I don't even know if it's possible that there might be something to look through and where I would search. Right now I only have what is online - England census, marriage and baptism records mainly.
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There is a book
“My Ancestor was an Agricultural Labourer” by Ian Waller
It is probably useful to look at newspapers of the period and area.
pay sites for those = British Newspaper Archive or FindMyPast
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Once they get to Canada they identify as Methodist or Primitive Methodist.
Daughter Ellen had already married Matthew Sharpin and his brother Richard was living with them 1861.
Henry Pointon was also there with wife Alice.
So maybe more from the village went as well, those who had also possibly changed faiths
Look in Canada for stories about a group of coverts from Church of England to Methodist organizing and coming to Canada.
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I can find children of William and Mary baptized at Field Dalling*
*Ellen 1834 married Matthew Sharpin 1853 Norfolk (she had son John Sharpin Pointer 1852)
*Rebekah 1836 married George Edwards 1870 (she has an illegitimate son William in 1861 age 2)
*Phoebe 1839 married William Pointon son of Henry Pointon
*Hannah Maria 1841 married Richard Sharpin 1861 (brother of Matthew?)
*Rachel 1844 married William Thomas Jefferson 1872
Emma 1846 (from 1851 census) Baptized Aylsham 1846, 20 December - married Alfred Hope 1866
*Eliza 1849 married Moses Kernaghan
William 1853 civil registration mothers maiden name Clarke, at Walsingham Union
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Once they get to Canada they identify as Methodist or Primitive Methodist.
Daughter Ellen had already married Matthew Sharpin and his brother Richard was living with them 1861.
Henry Pointon was also there with wife Alice.
So maybe more from the village went as well, those who had also possibly changed faiths
Look in Canada for stories about a group of coverts from Church of England to Methodist organizing and coming to Canada.
Thank you very much for this! I will see if I can find anything along this line of possibility!
At first I thought there was a Rebekah Pointing enumerated with them (Eliza's sister), but I think it says Robert Pointing ... which might explain the young William Pointing. I'll have to figure out how they are related as I don't think Eliza had a brother named Robert (though maybe I just didn't find him yet.) Or he could be a cousin?
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1861 census Huron Canada
Matthew Sharpin 28 emmigrated 1853 born England
Ellen 26 England
John 9 England (the son born 1852 as John Sharpin Pointer Field Dalling)
Richard Sharpin 25
*Rebk 25 abbreviation for Rebekah, England
William I 2 born Canada
There is no brother Robert