James Randall, Laxfield, 1744

[windy_miller]

I've recently come across a JAMES RANDALL of Laxfield, who was described as a Miller in 1744.  Elsewhere, my notes so a JOHN RANDALL was connected to a post mill in Laxfield in 1862.

Does anyone know of a Will for JAMES RANDALL?  And how JAMES and JOHN were related?

The mill in question has gone now, but was supposedly constructed in about 1770, so, if true, this could add another +36 years to her story.

Windy Miller

[coombs]

I found a NBI index entry for a James Randall in 1789 in Laxfield, Suffolk. No evidence that this James left a will as of yet. I checked Suffolk Heritage Search, Norfolk NCC wills, and PCC wills.

[windy_miller]

Thanks. Coombs.  Looks like through search!!!

At least I have a probable end date for his tenure of which ever mill he had (assuming her worked till he dropped).

I'm sure James & John are related, but its just making the conclusive connection, and sometimes its just not possible.

Hard to come to terms with though.

Windy

[QueenoftheWest]

It looks like James' mill burned down in 1759:

HA18/BB/2/10
Laxfield: petition for charity from James Randall of Laxfield, whose
windmill had been destroyed by fire 1759

https://www.suffolkarchives.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IA-Subject-Index-M.pdf (see page 34)

Queenie 

[coombs]

I found a marriage of a James Randall in Worlingworth in Suffolk to Susan York in 1730. Worlingworth is about 2 or 3 miles west of Laxfield.

[windy_miller]

Hi QoW,

Wow, that is interesting.  Seems it may not have been insured if the community are trying to raise cash to help Randall.  HA18 looks like an Ipswich Records office number.  Is that correct?

Also means the later mill might have been built to replace the one destroyed by fire.

Thanks,
Windy

[windy_miller]

Hi Coombs,

I think your right, Susan York looks very likely to have been his wife.  Along with QoW's info seems I need to get to the Hold (Ipswich) ASAP!!

Cheers,
Windy

[coombs]

Interestingly my ancestor Richard Titshall and his wife Judith were millers, and in May 1760 they baptised a son William Titshall in Laxfield, a year after the mill fire. Either the mill was quickly rebuilt or there was another mill in Laxfield.

[windy_miller]

I suspect that the mill was insured (but may be Stock in Trade not).  I was quite usual for mills to be re-erected shortly after a fire (if the correct cover was in place), but the Stock not covered meant the miller was still effectively broke.

There were about 7 windmills in Laxfield (most records are from 1800 onwards), and Richard Titshall could have been at any of them (if they stood in the mid-1700s).  My guess would be that about 3 stood at that time.

I cannot see any references to Titshalls as millers in Laxfield, and so will add Jesse to my database.  Do you have a ref I can add?

Just looked at my Manorial db for Laxfield and cannot see Titshalls there either, so it was not a Copyhold mill, or Jesse was a journeyman miller.

Windy