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.
