The Family of John Meadows, Cooper, of Wickham Skeith

He was born at Mellis, 1784-6.

 

He married Elizabeth Youngman and with whom he had Harriet (1815), and twins Caroline (1818) and Ann (1818).  He is ‘associated’ with Sarah Ann (her husband, Charles Flint was a son-in-law and appointed an executor), Mary Ann (her daughter Mary Ann was a grandchild in 1861) and John (his father was John Meadows, cooper, on his marriage certificate). 

 

In the Watersfield (Wattisfield) Nonconformist register there are the following baptisms:

Born 16 March 1807 and baptised 28 June 1807, Sarah daughter of William Meadows of Wickham Skyeth by Elizabeth Youngman (daughter of William of Walsham).  There is also a baptism, 19 May 1807, of Sarah, daughter of William and Elizabeth Meadows at Walsham-le-Willows.

Born 5 October 1808 and baptised 21 May 1809, Mary Ann daughter of William Meadows of Wickham Skyeth by Elizabeth Youngman (daughter of William of Walsham).

Born 7 June 1810 and baptised 8 July 1810, John son of William Meadows of Wickham Skyith by Elizabeth Youngman (daughter of William of Walsham).

 

William and John appear to be the same person.  Both were married to Elizabeth Youngman, of Walsham and were from Wickham Skeith, and the children were born around the correct time and in the correct order.  Moreover there are no Meadows baptisms, marriages or burials in the transcript of the registers of Wickham Skeith except those already noted, so it seems not to be a case of a brother marrying his brother’s widow.  There is no overlap between William and John of Wickham Skeith – William ‘disappears’ by 1815 and John ‘appears’ then.

 

In 1841, at Wickham Skeith, John Meadows, cooper, was aged 55.  Elizabeth was aged 55, Harriet was aged 20, Ann was aged 18 and Mary Betts was aged 5.  All were born in the county.

 

In 1851, at Wickham Skeith, John was aged 65 a cooper born at Mellis.  His wife, Elizabeth, was aged 69 and born at Walsham-le-Willows and Ann, their daughter, was aged 32 and born at Wickham Skeith.

 

In 1861, at The Green, Wickham Skeith, John was a master cooper, aged 75 and born at Mellis.  His wife, Elizabeth was aged 79 and born at Walsham-le-Willows.  Their grand-daughter was Mary Ann Betts aged 25 and born at Burgate.

 

Elizabeth was buried at Wickham Skeith 8 January 1864 aged 83 (giving a birth year of 1780-1).

 

In 1871 at Wickham Skeith, John was aged 85, a widower and cooper, born at Mellis.  With him was a housekeeper, Anne Cammell a widow aged 72 and born at Thorndon.

 

John Meadows, cooper, of Wickham Skeith, died 7 September 1879 at Wickham Skeith (he was buried at Wickham Skeith 11 September 1879 aged 94).  His will was proved at Bury St Edmunds 8 November 1879 by Charles Bullock of 30A Church Street, Harwich, Essex, one of the executors.  His personal estate was under £100.

 

The will and probate were disappointing.  The will was made 5 June 1877 and John Meadows appointed Charles Bullock [husband of Ann] of Harwich cooper and Charles Flint [husband of Sarah Ann] of Hoxne tailor, his sons-in-law, to be his trustees and executors.  His estate was to be divided equally between his surviving children (unnamed) and if any had died in his lifetime leaving issue than the issue were to share the portion that the parent would have received.

 

The children of John Meadows and Elizabeth Youngman:

 

Sarah Ann (1807? – 1892), born about 1808 (range from censuses and death 1806-1811).  John appointed his son-in-law Charles Flint, tailor of Hoxne, to be one of his executors.

She married Charles Flint in the Hoxne district in 1844.

In 1851 at Cross Street, Hoxne, Charles was living and working with William Stolley an unmarried draper and tailor employing 1 journeyman and 1 apprentice born in Hoxne.  Charles was aged 30 a tailor born at Hempnall, Norfolk.  Sarah his wife was aged 40 and born at Stanton.  With them were their children Sarah aged 6, Catherine aged 5 and Thomas aged 3 together with Lucy Meadows aged 12 all born in Hoxne.

In 1861, at Cross Street, Hoxne, Charles was aged 40 a tailor born at Hempnall, Sarah was aged 52 and born at ‘Stanton’ and Sarah was 16, Catherine was 15, Thomas was 13 and Harriet was 8, all born in Hoxne.

In 1871, at Cross Street, Hoxne, Charles was a tailor employing 1 man and 1 boy, aged 50 and born at Hempnall.  Sarah, his wife, was aged 50 and born at Stanton and Harriet their daughter was aged 18, a milliner, born at Hoxne.  Lucy Meadows, wife’s daughter, was also with him aged 29, a lady’s maid, born in Hoxne.

In 1881 at Cross Street, Hoxne, Charles was aged 60 a tailor employing 1 apprentice, and born at Hempnall, Norfolk.  Sarah Ann was aged 72 and born at Stanton, Suffolk.  Their single daughter, Harriett Annah was aged 27, a dressmaker born at Hoxne.

Charles Flint died 25 February 1887 at Hoxne, a tailor and administration was granted to Sarah A Flint, the widow 12 March 1887.  His personal estate was £70.19s.1d.  He was buried at Hoxne 2 March 1887 aged 67.

In 1891 at Crich Chase, Crich, Derbyshire, Sarah Flint was a widow aged 83, living on her own means and born at Stanton, Suffolk and living with her son-in-law and daughter who were Henry Denny aged 35, a farmer born in Suffolk, Swaffling and Lucy aged 42 and born in Hoxne.  There was also their daughter Kate aged 9 and born in Chase Cliffe, Derbyshire.

Sarah Flint was buried at Crich 10 May 1892 aged 85.

 

Mary Ann (1808? – 1850), born about 1809-10 (age at death).  Mary Ann Betts, granddaughter, was living with John and Elizabeth Meadows in 1861.

Mary Ann Meadows and William Christopher Betts were married at Rickinghall Superior/Inferior 9 October 1834.

In 1841, at Little Green, Burgate, Suffolk, William was aged 30 a blacksmith, Mary Ann was aged 30, Harriet was aged 3 and n.k. was 5 days.  All were born in the county. 

Mary Ann Betts was buried 27 January 1850 at Burgate aged 41.

In the Norfolk Chronicle for 2 February is the notice that Mary Ann, wife of William Betts and second daughter of Mr Meadows of Wickham Skeith died at Burgate in her 42nd year.

In 1851, at Burgate, William was a widower aged 42, a blacksmith born in London.  His children were Mary Ann aged 15, Harriet aged 13, Laura aged 9, Julia aged 7, Ann aged 5 and William aged 3 all born in Burgate.

 

 

John (1810? – 1875), born about 1810

John Meadows married Susan Crack (X) at Ixworth on 20 October 1845, after banns.  Susan was of full age and a spinster and servant of Ixworth, the daughter of Thomas Crack, a farmer.  John Meadows was of full age and a bachelor and butcher of Bardwell, the son of John Meadows, a cooper.  The witnesses were Thomas Muskett Green [brother-in-law to John Meadows] and Eliza Manister (X).  He died at Burston, Norfolk and was buried at Depden, Suffolk 1875.

 

Harriet (1815 – 1886), born 1 March 1815 and baptised 10 November 1822 at Wickham Skeith a daughter of John Meadows and Elizabeth Youngman of Wickham Skeith, cooper.

In 1851, at Squirrels Hall, Wattisfield, Harriet was unmarried, aged 35 and housekeeper to Mrs Youngman Farm House and born at Wickham Skeith.  With her was her nephew, William M Youngman aged 15 and born at Walsham.  There was also an agricultural labourer, John Fockerd aged 22 and born at Walsham.

Harriet Meadows married George Everard in the Risbridge district in the September quarter 1856.

In 1861, at Clopton Farm, Wickhambrook, George was aged 51, a farmer of 163 acres employing 8 men and 1 boy and born at Denston.  Harriet was aged 44 and born at Wickham Skeith.

In 1871 at Clopton Farm, Wickhambrook, George was aged 61 a farmer born at Denston.  Harriet his wife was aged 54 and born at Wickham Skeith.  There was also a servant, Emma Coote aged 15 and born at Wickhambrook.

In 1881 in Church Street, Walsham-le-Willows, Sarah Meadows was a widow aged 61 and born at Walsham-le-Willows and her lodger was Harriet Everard a widow aged 64 and born at Wickham Skeith.  Neither had an occupation.  Sarah formerly Pearson was married at Walsham-le-Willows 22 February 1838 to Robert Meadows of Thetford, a butcher and in 1871 they were living at Walsham-le-Willows next door to the family of Philip Youngman also a butcher.

Harriet died 17 June 1886 at Finningham.  She was a widow of Finningham and her will was proved at Bury St Edmunds 28 July 1886 by Anna Elizabeth Green of Eye, spinster and niece and Arthur Valentine Bolton of Shimpling Hall, Shimpling, Farmer.  Her estate was £387.6s.9d.  She was buried at Wickham Skeith 21 June 1886 aged 69.

 

Caroline (1818 – 1899), born 30 June 1818 and baptised 10 November 1822 at Wickham Skeith, a daughter (twin with Ann) of John Meadows (cooper) and Elizabeth Youngman of Wickham Skeith. 

Thomas Muskett Green (bachelor of Brinton, Norfolk) married first Elizabeth Hastings (spinster of the parish) at St Margaret with St Nicholas, Kings Lynn 1 April 1832. 

As Thomas Green, a widower and grocer, he married secondly Caroline Meadows, daughter of John Meadows, cooper, at Wickham Skeith 17 April 1840. 

In 1841 at Burgate, Thomas was aged 30 a stock keeper, Caroline was 20 and Elizabeth was aged 1 month.  All were born in the county.

In 1851 at Burgate, Suffolk, Thomas M. Green was aged 42, a grocer born at Burgate.  His wife Caroline was aged 31 and born at Wickham and their children were Ann aged 10, Jane aged 6 and Henry aged 2, all born at Burgate.

In 1861 at The Green, Mellis, Thomas was aged 51 a grocer born at Burgate.  His wife, Caroline was aged 41 and born at Wickham Skeith and their children were Ann E. aged 20 a dressmaker, Jane aged 16 and Henry aged 12, all born at Burgate.

In 1871 at Church Street, Eye, Thomas Muskett Green was aged 62 a grocer journeyman born at Burgate.  His wife, Caroline was aged 52 and born at Wickham Skeith and their daughter was Ann Elizabeth aged 29, single and a dressmaker born at Burgate. 

In 1881 at Church Street, Eye, Thomas was aged 71, a retired grocer born at Burgate.  His wife, Caroline was aged 61 and born at Wickham Skeith and their daughter Anne Elizabeth was aged 39 a dressmaker born at Burgate.

Thomas Muskett Green was buried at Eye 11 December 1883 aged 75. 

In 1891 at Church Street, Eye, Caroline was a widow aged 72 and born at Wickham Skeith and her daughter, Anne E. was aged 47 a dressmaker born at Burgate.

Caroline Green was buried at Eye 5 January 1899 aged 78.

 

Ann (1818 – 1879), born 30 June 1818 and baptised 10 November 1822 at Wickham Skeith, a daughter (twin with Caroline) of John Meadows (cooper) and Elizabeth Youngman of Wickham Skeith. 

She married Charles Bullock in the June quarter 1852 in the Hartismere district.

In 1861 in Hopkins Lane, Harwich, Charles Bullock was aged 35 a cooper born at Bildeston, Suffolk.  His wife, Anne was aged 46 and born at Wickham Skeith. 

In 1871 at 3 Custom House Lane, Harwich, Charles was aged 45 a cooper in general born at Bildeston, Suffolk.  His wife, Ann was aged 50 and born at Wickham Skeith and there was a visitor, Ann Betts aged 25 a domestic servant born at Burgate.

She died 8 November 1879 at Church Street, Harwich, the wife of Charles Bullock and youngest daughter of John Meadows of Wickham Skeith.  She was aged 60.

In 1881, at 4 Custom House Lane, Harwich, Essex, Charles Bullock was aged 55 a master cooper born at Bildeston, Suffolk.  His wife was Charlotte aged 40 and born in Scotland.  His nephew was Walter J. aged 18 a cooper’s apprentice born at Diss, Norfolk.

Posted 31 March 2016

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