John Challis was born 8, checked against the original document, (IGI has 9) March 1861 at Ousden and baptised 19 May 1861 at Ousden, a son of George Challis (of Little Ousden, labourer) and Sarah formerly Crack.
In the 1881 census of Bardwell, he was an unmarried servant aged 20, born at Ousden, living in the household of George C. Browning, a blacksmith, in Quakers Lane. The connection with Bardwell was probably because his grandmother, Susan Meadows, had married John Meadows, butcher of Bardwell.
He married Alice Eliza Feakes in the Thingoe district in the December quarter 1882.
In the 1891 census of Blacksmith’s Forge, Quakers Lane, Bardwell (indexed as Clallis), John was aged 30, a Blacksmith born at Little Ouseden. With him were his wife, Alice E. aged 36, and children Reginald D. aged 6, Violet M aged 1 and Walter F. Aged 1 month (?) and all were born at Bardwell.
In the 1901 census of Stonham Aspal Street, Stonham Aspal, near Stowmarket, John was aged 40, a blacksmith journeyman, born at Ousden. His wife, Alice Eliza was aged 36, born at Bardwell, and their children were Catherine Maud, aged 12, Violet Mildred aged 11, Walter Frederick aged 10, Melvina Alice aged 7, all born in Bardwell and Eleanor Victoria aged 3 and William George aged 2, both born at Debenham.
In 1911 in 5 rooms at Stonham Aspel, in the Bosmere district, John was aged 50, a blacksmith and born at Hargrave, Alice, his wife was aged 47 and born at Bardwell (she had been married for 28 years and had had 11 children one of whom had died), and his children were Eleanor aged 13 and born at Debenham, William aged 12 and born at Debenham and John aged 4 and born at Stonham Aspel. There was also a boarder, Charles Craske (?) aged 19, single and a blacksmith and born at Debenham.
He is the ‘Mr Challis (Stonham)’ who was a principal mourner at the funeral of Sarah Challis, his mother in 1915.
His death may have been registered in the Woodbridge (Woodbridge is 11 miles from Stonham Aspal) district in the March quarter 1924. He was aged 63.
John and Alice Eliza’s children were
Reginald D Challis, born c. 1884/5 at Bardwell.
Beatrice Challis, born c. 1886, at Bardwell. In the 1891 census of Depden, Great Green, Grocers Shop, she was with her grandparents, aged 4 and born at Bardwell.
Catherine Maud Challis, born 1888/9 at Bardwell.
Violet Mildred Challis, born 1889/90 at Bardwell.
Walter Frederick Challis, born 1891 at Bardwell, registered Thingoe reg. dist. June 1891 quarter.
Melvina Alice Challis, born 1893 at Bardwell, registered Thingoe reg. dist. September 1893 quarter.
Eleanor Victoria Challis, born 1897/8 at Debenham.
William George Challis, born 1899 at Debenham, registered Bosmere (includes Debenham) reg. dist. June 1899 quarter.
John Challis, born about 1906/7 at Stonham Aspel.
Posted December 2016