I am grateful to Judy Marsh and Edward Pettit for some of the information on this page.
Samuel Pettit was born 4 September 1871 and was baptised 10 September 1871 at Hargrave, a son of John Pettit labourer and Eliza formerly Birch. The 1939 register has his birth date as 25 July 1871.
He married Alice Clarry 24 September 1896.
In the 1901 census of Depden he is living ‘By the Green’, aged 29 and a farmer (employer), born at Hargrave. Alice, his wife, was aged 28, born at Chevington and his two children, Ethel and Samuel were aged 3 years and 11 months respectively and both were born at Depden. Harry Clarry was a servant (worker) aged 14, a carter on farm, born at Chevington.
In 1911 at Chevington, in 7 rooms, he was aged 39, a farmer and born in Hargrave, Alice was aged 38, born in Chevington. They had been married for 14 years and had had three children all of whom were living. These were Irene was aged 13 born at Depden, Herbert was aged 10 born at Depden and Oliver was aged 5 born at Chevington.
In 1907-9 Samuel’s address was given by Oliver as Debden (sic) Green, near Bury St Edmunds.
Samuel bought Broadgreen Farm when Eliza died. His son Samuel Herbert John moved into Broadgreen when he married, and Sam retired to a farm, rented from Lord Bristol (was this College Farm?).
In 1939 (register) he was living in the Thingoe RD with Alice (birth year 1872) and another person and with 4 others whose records are closed. Samuel’s date of birth was found to be 25 July 1871.
Samuel died 25 June 1954. His obituary (Bury Free Press, 2 July 1954) records: “Chevington has lost one of its oldest inhabitants by the death at his home, College farm, of Mr. Sam Pettit, aged 82. Born at Knowles Green Farm [Pluck Hall Farm] Hargrave, he spent some of his early years in Australia. On his return to England, he farmed Pratts Farm. Depden and later, Broadgreen and College Farms, Chevington. He took keen interest in village life, especially in sport, and in his failing years he spent happy hours in his wheel chair by the window where he could watch the cricket and football matches. He was a trustee of the village hall and a district trustee of the Ancient Order of Foresters. He leaves a widow, two sons and a daughter. The funeral took place on Monday. The rector, the Rev. P. Seymour officiated.”
Samuel’s will was dated 24 March 1910, when he was described as a farmer of Chevington. He appointed Rowland Hill Wilson (solicitor), Charles Ball of 31 Clifford Row(?) Cannon Town, Essex (Canning Town?) and Elijah Bradfield of Hall Farm, Chevington as executors and trustees. He left £5 to Charles and Elijah if they acted as executors and trustees. He left £20 to his wife for immediate use and the use of the furniture and other household effects during her life or until she remarried. The rest to be formed into a trust, the income to his wife and the capital to his children after her death or her remarriage. His farming business at Chevington and Depden or elsewhere was to be continued and run by his executors and trustees at their discretion. Codicil 1, dated 21 December 1921, appointed new executors: wife Alice Pettit, son Samuel Herbert John Pettit and Thomas Wilson (solicitor). Codicil 2 dated 22 May 1929 appointed son Oliver Charles Pettit as an additional executor and trustee. Probate was granted at Ipswich to Alice Pettit, widow, Samuel Herbert John Pettit, farmer, Thomas Wilson, solicitor and Oliver Charles Pettit, farmer. His effects were valued at £5,040.8s.2d.
Alice died 30 October 1955 at College farm, a widow and intestate. Letters of administration were granted 19 December 1955, at Ipswich, to Ethel Irene Pettit, daughter, of College Farm. Alice’s estate was £1,524.0s.3d gross, £1,482.2s.9d net.
Samuel and Alice are buried in separate graves, next to each other, at Chevington (north-west corner). Their stones are inscribed “In memory of a beloved husband and father Samuel Pettit who passed away 25 June 1954 in his 83rd year. In life a comfort and happiness to many. In memory an inspiration for the days to come.” and “In memory of a beloved mother Alice Pettit who passed away 30th October 1955 aged 82. Sunshine passes, shadows fall but love and remembrance outlasts all”.
Samuel and Alice’s children were:
Ethel Irene Pettit (1897 – 1985), born 2 August 1897. She was baptised 9 October 1897 at Depden (father of Depden, farmer). She is buried at Chevington, in the west extension: “In loving memory of Ethel Irene Pettit who passed away 17th August 1985 aged 88 years sister of Oliver Charles Pettit”.
Samuel Herbert John Pettit (1900 – 1966), born 23 April 1900. He was baptised 10 June 1900 at Depden (father of Depden, farmer). He moved into Broadgreen Farm in 1924 and Samuel moved into College Farm at retirement. He married Bessie Arbon (born 14 February 1902), 10 December 1925 and died 26 November 1966. He is buried at Chevington. His gravestone reads “In loving memory of Samuel Herbert John Pettit. A beloved husband and father who died 26th November 1966 aged 66 years. Rest in peace.”
Oliver Charles Pettit (1905 - 1985), born 15 June 190512. He married first Faith Ellen Clarke, 21 April 1930. Faith Ellen Pettit died 6 November 1951 and is buried at Chevington, next to Samuel. Her memorial reads “In loving memory of a beloved wife and mother Faith Ellen Pettit who passed away 6th November 1951 aged 54 years. When the day of life is done, And the hour of death is come, Father grant thy wearied one, Rest for ever more.” Oliver married secondly Enid Grace Johnson, 4 January 1956.
Oliver Charles and Enid Grace were buried at Chevington, in the west extension: “In remembrance of a beloved husband and father Oliver Charles Pettit died 21 February 1985 aged 79 years. Also his dear wife and a loving mother Enid Grace died 4 February 1991 aged 67 years”.
Posted December 2016