Fickling roots in Norfolk

[GeorgeJen]

I have a Jane Fickling in my family tree, born 1811 in Barnigham, Norfolk. She married james Waterson on 25/12/1833 in Stody, Norfolk. Her grandmother's name was Lydia. Does anyone know of this family, please?

[John Whysall]

Heaven knows why I'm opening this particular can of personal worms ...

I have little to offer directly, except idle chatter; but I know/knew of some Ficklings. They lived at the Carpenters Arms (yes, a pub) in Wighton, North Norfolk. See http://www.norfolkpubs.co.uk/norfolkw/wighton/wightca.htm.

By the time I knew them they were Marshalls: the two children (born in the 1940s?) were of my generation. The real link was through my mother, who was a particular school-friend of their mother (whose name was, as I recall, Bertha Marshall - nee Fickling). My mother's version was that, every Monday morning on the train to Fakenham from Wells, the two of them had been "helped" with their Maths homework by the Rev. Harold Davidson, the (in)famous Vicar of Stiffkey.

I particularly remember the father (John Marshall) ran a Morris 8 (registration BPW 243!) and was a painter-and-decorator (no money in small country pubs). And! -- they had a television in time for the 1953 Coronation (we did not get TV in North Norfolk until the Tacolneston transmitter opened - even then the reception was pretty patchy). So I am now reminded where I was on the 2nd June 1953.

[GeorgeJen]

Thanks, John,
Well, as far as I am concerned, half the fun of this genealogy stuff is a glimpse into the lives people lived. Is your mother still alive (my parents are long gone)? If so can you get any other reminiscences?
My God, you have a good memory to remember the license number in 1953! My wife remembers seeing the Coronation on her grandmother's TV - one of the very few around in Mumbles, Wales. A tiny screen - and she remembers seeing Queen Salote of Tonga sitting out in the rain! Must have filled the screen!
Thought you might like this extract from the Anglican Church News online:
"24 November 2001: We hear from the vicar of Stiffkey
The Guardian has published an essay by the current vicar of Stiffkey about Harold Davidson, rector of that parish from 1906 to 1932, who was defrocked for 'systematic misbehaviour'. A note to our readers who are not English: the word 'Stiffkey' is actually pronounced 'Worcestershire'." It is at www.guardian.co.uk/religion/Story/0,2763,605275,00.html
Thanks again and kind regards,
George

[John Whysall]

Alas, my mother is dead this decade and a half.

I like the news clipping: I missed that one. Local opinion (at least, that among us "lower orders") in Stiffkey and North Norfolk was, to my recollection, far from hostile to their famous former pastor. Somewhere among my mother's papers is a photograph of the Fakenham Grammar School hockey 1st team (circa 1930-31). Since these were the girls "hitting on" poor old Davidson on the Monday morning train, my sympathies are largely with him.

The Queen Salote thought is incomplete without the image of her in that open landau, which she shared with some other dignitary: he was as small as she was large. Please tell me that the BBC commentary did not refer to this ill-matched pair as "Queen Salote and her lunch".

A couple of other details slipped into my recollection:

* the Marshall children were Gary and Elizabeth;
* their mother (whom my mother always called "Bertha", but that could well not be her baptised name) moved to Norwich; and (I believe) was in the admin staff for "Her Majesty's Hotel" (i.e. the one with involuntary, long-term guests) - but that would be back in the 70s. [/li]

[moscan]

I have just got a marriage cert from UK GRO of a rele William Bridges who married a Dinah Fickling Pegg in Nov 1841.

Her mother was Elizabeth Fickling... I think she died around the 1820 mark as by the 1841 census Dinah's father was married to Maria?

Paul Pegg was a farmer in Gunthorpe, Norfolk... would appreciate if anyone out there has connections that may fill in a few gaps or advice where I could look now..

Thanks...

Best wishes

Mo

[GeorgeJen]

Thank you, John and Mo.
John, my wife says she does not remember such a comment (she was 10 at the time) but the mental image is wonderful and it would have ben appropriate! Here in Aus we had to wait weeks!
Mo, thank you for that - I'll also be trying to make the connection and will advise you if I have anything.
I got a lot of help by using various search engines the name I was interested in, plus genealogy e.g. Allan +genealogy in the search box.  I was able to contact some very helpful people that way.
Cheers, George.

[Bitzer1]

Moscan,

I saw your old post while searching for Paul Pegg.  Did you have any luck tracing him back further?

[Annette7]

For anyone else coming across this thread (I appreciate it is 15 years ago)  - Jane Fickling was born in Briningham (not Barningham) and Lydia Fickling was her mother, not grandmother.

Jane Fickling born 19/12/1810, bp.23/12/1810 Briningham, illegitimate daughter of Lydia Fickling.

Lydia herself was bp.19/4/1778 Stody, illegitimate daughter of Jane Fickling.

Annette