Let me tell you about the history of one of the residents of a small place in Norfolk called Horning. This place is situated on the Norfolk Broads, which is a great tourist destination in modern times. Horning has an Upper St on the northern side of the Vicarage with a few houses and a Hall, and Lower St is situated next to the broads. In 1841, Mary Thurtle is living with her father John Thurtle and mother Triphena Thurtle nee Greensides in Upper St. Mary was John and Triphena's oldest child, born in 1793 so she is now 42. Both of her parents are 70 years old, and Mary has stayed at home and never married so she is caring for them in their dotage.
Just down the road lives Mary's brother, Thomas Thurtle, who is a Husbandman, which means that he owns (or maybe rents) a few acres of land that he farms in the village. Thomas married Maria Austick in 1818 and they have 6 children by 1841. The oldest son is named Thomas Austic Thurtle, one name from his father and one from his mother, her maiden name. It seems that this is an important name to keep, because Mary's grandmother Kezia Withers nee Austick also lives in Upper St, and the census of that year says that she is a woman of independent means. There are other families in England at that time that have the surname Austick that own or are tenanted on large amounts of land, seen in the Land Registry. Kezia may have inherited land and that is what makes her independent. In 1841 she does not appear to have a large house, but she has taken in Thomas Austic Thurtle, his wife Hannah Thurtle nee Tubby, and their children Tryphena and Kezia. They do like to use the same names!
In 1851, Mary is now living with her father John as her mother Tryphina has died. Thomas Thurtle, Mary's brother, and wife Maria are still living in Upper St as well, and in 1847 they celebrated their daughter Elizabeth getting married to Robert Crowe, from the Crowe family that had just moved to Horning. Robert was listed as a Waterman on the marriage certificate, so it was a good place for him to ply his trade. Unfortunately this profession came with many dangers, and he died in 1850, so Elizabeth and their 6 month old daughter Anna are back living with Elizabeth's parents Thomas and Maria. There is a 25 year old named James Simms living there too, and he is described as a nephew. In 1841 James was not living in Horning because he was in the Gaol and House of Correction in Great Yarmouth. He had been charged with Burglary (simple). Fortunately, he was aquitted in 1841, and so was found here in 1851. Kezia Withers is still alive and well and now has two different grandchildren living with her. Thomas Austic Thurtle and wife Hannah have moved to Hemsby to take over the Bell Inn public house.
In 1861, Mary is now living on her own. At age 68 both parents are now deceased. Her brother Thomas Thurtle had taken wife Maria Thurtle nee Austick and all of the children and moved to Ludham, just 8 miles away and nearer Great Yarmouth. It is not known what happened to the land that he farmed. Kezia Withers nee Austick died in 1858. Kezia's probate shows that she left less than 50 pounds in her will, so she does not leave enough for any of her offspring to also become people of independent means. Then shortly afterwards in 1859 Thomas Thurtle died. Mary is the last of this generation of Thurtles to live in Horning.
In 1871 Mary is now living as a boarder, and is 77 years old. She has moved in with Christmas (aka Christopher) Simms, his wife Mary and their 7 children. Christmas was the son of Benjamin Simms who lived in Horning, but Christmas has moved to Norwich for a while, and is now back in Horning. Christmas, the family, and Mary live in Lower St.
Mary died in 1872.
Mary's brother Thomas is the 2 times great grandfather of Walter Herbert Thurtle.
Still to be discovered:
How does the younger family fare in other parts of Norfolk?
How were Christmas Simms and James Simms related?
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