IPSWICH RAILWAY STATION MASTER
Born: 1852, at Loddon, Norfolk.
Beccles Town Hall
Beccles Town Hall Council Chamber.Father: ROBERT SAMUEL NORMAN, born on the 4th November 1829, at Beccles, and baptised on the 10th March 1830, at St. Michael’s Church, Beccles. Robert was a brazier and gas fitter – own account and employer. In November 1905, at the age of 76 years, Joseph was appointed Sergeant at Mace for the Beccles Corporation. In his 80s, he became the Curator at the Beccles Town Hall. Robert Norman was in his 92nd year when he died on the 4th April 1922, at his home at 3, Saltgate, Beccles.
Beccles Town Maces 1584.
A Town Sergeant/Sergeant at Mace is an ancient role, the servant to the town, delivering the the will of the council. Ceremonial duties include calling order and carrying the maces in council meeting and civic parades.
Mother: ELIZA NORMAN (nee Lockwood), born 1826, at Beccles, Suffolk. Eliza Norman died in 1871 in Beccles.
SIBLINGS:
MARY ANN (Pollie) NORMAN was born in 1854, at Beccles, and baptised on the 27th October 1854, at St. Michael the Archangel Church, Beccles. On the 10th February 1886, at St. Bartholomew’s Church, Heigham, Norfolk, by the Reverend Victor Reginald Bomford, Mary married William John Gower, a grocer – own account, born 1845, Topcroft, Norfolk. Mary and William had one daughter.
William Gower died on the 21st November 1899, at 62, Queen’s Road, Norwich.
ABIGAIL ANN NORMAN was born in 1856, at Beccles, and baptised on the 28th September 1873, at St. Michael the Archangel Church, Beccles, the same ceremony as her sister, Bessie. On the 25th March 1880, at St. Peter’s Church, Brighton, East Sussex, Abigail married James Abbott, a compositor, born 1855, Brighton. Abigail and James have two children. James Abbott died in 1886 at Brighton. After a few years on her own and working as a domestic servant, Abigail moved in to live with her son and his family. Abigail Abbott died in 1937, at Brighton
HANNAH ELIZABETH NORMAN was born in 1857, Beccles. On the 15th April 1895, at Christ Church, Eaton-St.-Andrew, Norfolk, Hannah married Thomas Albert Garrett, a domestic gardener, born on the 20th February 1857, Shadingfield, Suffolk. Hannah and Thomas had one daughter and made their family home in Banstead, Surrey.
Hannah Garrett died in January 1933, at her home of 69, Lansdowne Road, Purley, Surrey, and was buried on the 31st January at All Saints’ Churchyard, Banstead. Thomas Garrett died in November 1940, at the home of his daughter and son-in-law, 3 Court Cottages, Court Road, Banstead, Surrey. Buried on the 9th November 1940, at All Saints’ Churchyard, Banstead.
BESSIE NORMAN was born in 1859, in Beccles, and baptised on the 28th September 1873, at St. Michael the Archangel Church, Beccles, the same ceremony as her sister, Abigail. On the 20th December 1897, at St. Michael the Archangel Church, Beccles, by the Reverend Canon Bowsell, Bessie married Arthur Lewsley, a solicitor’s manager, born on the 7th February 1855, at St. Pancras, Middlesex. Bessie and Arthur had one daughter.
Arthur Lewsley died on the 16th March 1905, at his home of 4, Oakley Villas, 104, Palace Gates Road, Alexandra Park, Middlesex. After the death of her husband, Bessie and her daughter moved to Gorleston-on-Sea, Norfolk. Bessie Lewsley died in January 1940 in Norfolk.
ELLEN NORMAN was born on the 29th October 1860, at Beccles and baptised on the 20th June 1873, at St. Michael the Archangel Church, Beccles, the same ceremony as her brother, Robert. Ellen lived with her widowed sister Mary Gower in Norwich, where she was a manageress for a wine and spirit merchant. On the 27th September 1915, at St. Alban’s Church, Lakenham, Norfolk, Ellen Norman married Charles William Bullen, a widower and building inspector for the Norfolk Education Committee at Shirehall, Norwich, born on the 25th October 1859, at Broome, Suffolk. Ellen and Charles made their home at 1, Southwell Road, Norwich.
Charles Bullen died on the 14th June 1950, at the West Norwich Hospital, Norfolk, of 137, Southwell Road, Norwich. Ellen Bullen died on the 23rd January 1953, at Hellesdon Hospital, Norfolk, of 137, Southwell Road, Norwich.
MINNIE NORMAN was born in 1863 at Beccles. On the 26th September 1889, at St. Michael the Archangel Church, Beccles, by the Reverend John Rowsell, Minnie married John William Reeve, born 1857, Diss, Norfolk. Minnie and John had three children and made their home at Church Street, Diss, where John Reeve was an auctioneer’s clerk at Frenze Hall.
In the evening of Thursday, 13th June 1901, John Reeve attended a Volunteer Dinner at the Corn Hall, Diss. He left with the other gentlemen and started his walk home. He was found lying near the footpath of Church Street by other guests at the dinner who thought he was asleep, and carried him indoors, undid his collar and tunic, and laid him on the couch with a pillow under his head. On Friday, a surgeon visited John and found him in a comatose condition and had convulsions. John Reeve died on Saturday, 15th June 1901, and was buried on the 18th June, at Diss Cemetery. Minnie and her three children lived at The Wigwam, Wortham, Suffolk, with Edward Tudor Frere, a Catholic Priest. Minnie Reeve died on the 4th October 1916, at The Wigwam, Wortham. The Reverend Edward Frere died on the 16th January 1917, at The Wigwam, Wortham.
ROBERT NORMAN was born in 1866, at Beccles, and baptised on the 20th June 1873, at St. Michael the Archangel Church, Beccles, in the same ceremony as his sister, Ellen. Robert Norman died on the 20th January 1876, at Beccles.
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On the 31st March 1872, at St. Stephen’s Church, Norwich, Norfolk, by the Reverend Mr. Ram, widower Robert Samuel Norman married FRANCES (Fanny) KING (nee REEVE), a widow born on the 13th March 1838, in Hopton, Suffolk.
Fanny was first married in 1861 to Thomas Frances King, born in August 1833, in Eaton, Norfolk, a railway porter who died in April 1870, in Norfolk. Fanny and Thomas had four children:
JOHN HENRY KING
Maude Mary WilkinsonJOHN HENRY (Harry) KING, born on the 6th April 1862, in Cringleford, Norfolk. In March 1900, in Reno, Nevada, U.S.A., John married Mary Maude Wilkinson, born in October 1879, Penngrove, California. Mary and John had one son. Mary King died in 1902, in Penngrove. John King died on the 24th February 1950, in Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.
FANNY JANE KING was born on the 13th March 1864, in Cringleford. Fanny was the proprietor of a fancy dress and toy business at 165-67, Cleethorpe Road, Grimsby, Lincolnshire. Fanny King died on the 6th February 1940, at her home of 26, Maclaren Road, Moordown, Bournemouth.
THOMAS GEORGE KING was born on the 22nd March 1866, in Cringleford. In August 1896, Norwich, Norfolk, Thomas married Alice Hubbard, born January 1879, Horsford, Norfolk. Alice and Thomas had two children and made their family home in Norwich, where Thomas was a clerk for the railway. Thomas King died on the 27th January 1953, at the St. Helen’s House Nursing Home, Bishopgate, Norwich, of 13, Cathedral Street, Norwich.
ERNEST EDWARD KING was born in 1870, in Norwich, Norfolk. Ernest died on the 21st September 1890, as a result of an accident.
Norfolk Chronicle – Saturday, 27th September 1890 – SAD DEATH BY DROWNING – An inquest was held at the Beccles Police Court, on Monday, 22nd September before Suffolk County Coroner Mr. Charles Walter Chaston, on the body of Ernest Edward King, aged 20, a wine merchant’s clerk. Robert Samuel Norman, stepfather to the deceased, said that Ernest left home on Sunday morning in good spirits to go on a river trip to Norwich by the steam launch Marie. His dead body was brought home at 10 that night. Harrty6 Youngs, of the Kings Head Hotel, stated that the deceased was one of a party of 30 who went to Norwich on Sunday. All was well till they reached Bramerton, when Ernest, who had been leaning on the flagstaff, was seen swimming in the water. The flagstaff was missing, and it is supposed that it came out of the socket and let him fall overboard.
The engine was at once reversed and run into the bank, but the deceased, who had swum strongly for 30 yards, was then seen to sink. He came up after 10 seconds and then sank again and rose no more. Henry Gibson and William Youngs corroborated. The Jury returned a verdict of “Accidentally Drowned.”
Frances Norman died on the 21st January 1922, at her home at 3, Saltgate, Beccles and was buried at Beccles Cemetery.
STEPSIBLINGS:
ALBERT REEVE NORMAN was born in 1873 at Beccles and was baptised on the 22nd August 1873, at St. Michael the Archangel Church, Beccles. Albert Norman died on the 26th December 1873, at Beccles, aged 5 months.
KATE (Kitty) REEVE NORMAN was born on the 20th August 1874, at Beccles and baptised on the 18th September 1874, at St. Michael the Archangel Church, Beccles. On the 29th January 1912, at St. Peter and St. Paul Church, Healing, Lincolnshire, by the Reverend Gilbert Surman, Kate married Charles Roland Morris, born on the 21st June 1881, at Bottisham, Cambridgeshire. Kate and Charles had two daughters and one son, who was killed during the Second World War.
Charles Morris was educated at King’s Grammar School and later entered his father’s clothing business. In 1905, he went to the U.S.A., working as a departmental manager at John Wanamaker’s store. He then teamed up with three other Englishmen and obtained a trading licence to barter with the Native Indians. Making Oklahoma their headquarters, they travelled by bullock wagon. Charles returned to England in 1911, exhausted by the effects of malaria. In 1912, after his marriage to Kate Norman, he took over his uncle’s business in March, Cambridgeshire. Due to continuing illness, he sold the business in 1924 and moved to Liverpool. In 1931, he took over the Rugeley clothier’s business of the late Mr. James Bradford; for many years, he and Kate were the only directors of Bradfords (Rugeley) Limited. The Rugeley Times – Saturday, 10th February 1962
Charles Morris, formerly of Etching Hill, Rugeley, died on Friday, 1st November 1968, at Apley Park School, Bridgnorth, Shropshire, the home of his daughter and son-in-law. The funeral service was held on Monday, 3rd November at St. Augustine’s Church, Rugeley, before burial at Eccleshall Road Cemetery, Stafford.
Kate Morris died after a long illness on Wednesday, 30th December 1964, at 16, Peakes Road, Etching Hill, Rugeley. The funeral service was held on Monday, 4th January 1965, at St. Augustine’s Church, Rugeley, before burial at Eccleshall Road Cemetery, Stafford.
EDITH (Peggy) REEVE NORMAN was born on the 28th November 1875, at Beccles and was baptised on the 10th December 1875, at St. Michael the Archangel Church, Beccles. On the 4th September 1911, at St. Michael the Archangel Church, Beccles, Edith married Herbert Pettitt, a widower and station master at Bentley Great Eastern Railway Station, Suffolk, born 1869, at Chapel, Essex. Edith and Herbert had one son. After 19 months of marriage, Edith and Herbert were granted a Deed of Separation drawn up by Mr. Kersey, solicitor. On the morning of Thursday, 5th August 1915, the dead body of Herbert Pettitt was discovered on the up-line platform near the Ipswich end of the Ipswich to Hadleigh line. The Jury returned a verdict of “suicide during temporary insanity.”
On the 17th March 1930, at Aylsham, Norfolk, Edith Pettitt married Henry Herbert Wheeler Millichamp, a widower and a clothier and outfitter, born 4th February 1871, at Gorleston-on-Sea, Suffolk. Edith’s sister, Katie Morris and son Norman Pettitt were witnesses at the ceremony. After Henry’s retirement, Edith and Henry had a boarding house at 11, Fairway, Stafford, Staffordshire.
Henry Millichamp died in 1949 in Stafford. Edith Millichamp died on the 17th March 1962, at 11, Fairway, Stafford.
ROBERT REEVE NORMAN was born on the 7th September 1877, at Beccles. On the 8th May 1909, at St. Michael the Archangel Church, Beccles, Robert, a printer’s bookbinder, married Ethel Mary Foyster, born 10th November 1879, at Beccles – daughter of Walter Wakeling Foyster, a gardener, and Anna Foyster (nee Carter), of 1, London Road, Beccles. Robert and Edith had two sons and made their family home at 14, Gosford Road, Beccles.
Ethel Norman died on the 31st May 1956, at Lothingland, Suffolk. Robert Norman died on the 18th July 1974 in Manchester, Lancashire.
MAGGIE REEVE NORMAN was born on the 19th September 1878, at Beccles and baptised on the 18th October 1878, at St. Michael the Archangel Church, Beccles. Maggie Norman died on the 18th March 1938, at 11, Fairway, Stafford, Staffordshire, the home of her sister Edith Millichamp. Buried at Eccleshall Road Cemetery, Stafford.
Joseph Norman’s step-nephew lost his life on the 28th January 1944, during the Second World War – 23 year old ARTHUR CHARLES NORMAN MORRIS, a Flight Sergeant/Pilot, for the R.A.F.V.R., No. 115 Squadron, was a crew member of Avro Lancaster LL682, which took off from R.A.F. Witchford, Cambridgeshire, on a mission to Berlin, Germany. At 00:55, LL682 transmitted a weak S.O.S. signal. An A.S.R. search was unable to find the aircraft and crew. All seven crew members were killed. Arthur’s body was never recovered, and he is remembered at the Runnymede Memorial, Surrey.
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CENSUS
1861 Blyburgate Street, Beccles, Suffolk.
Joseph was 8 years old and lived with his parents and sisters.
Robert Norman, 31, a Brazier and Tinman.
Eliza Norman, 35.
Mary Norman, 6.
Abigail Norman, 5.
Hannah Norman, 3.
Bessie Norman, 2.
Ellen Norman, 5 months.
1871 Blyburgate Street, Beccles, Suffolk.
Joseph was 18 years old and a Railway Clerk. He lived with his parents and siblings.
Robert Norman, 41, a Brazier and Gas Fitter.
Eliza Norman, 45.
Mary Norman, 16.
Hannah Norman, 13.
Bessie Norman, 11.
Ellen Norman, 10.
Minnie Norman, 8.
Robert Norman, 5.
1881 Forncett St. Peter, Norfolk.
Joseph was 28 years old and a Great Eastern Railway Station Master. He was married and head of the household.
Ellen Norman, 30.
Ernest Norman, 6.
Ethel Norman, 2.
1891 Railway Station, Victoria Road, Diss, Norfolk.
Joseph was 38 years old and a Railway Station Master. He was married and head of the household.
Nellie Norman, 38.
Ernest Norman, 16, a Railway Clerk.
Ethel Norman, 12.
Joseph Norman, 6.
Eva Norman, 3.
mother-in-law – Mary Ann Boston, 71, a widow.
1901 Railway Station, Ipswich.
Joseph was 48 years old and a Railway Station Master. He was married and head of the household.
Ellen Norman, 48 years.
Ethel Norman, 22.
Eva Norman, 13.
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On the 10th June 1873, at St. Michael the Archangel Church, Beccles, Joseph married ELLEN BOSTON, born in May 1850, at Beccles and baptised on the 6th October 1850, at St. Michael the Archangel Church, Beccles – the daughter of Henry and Mary Ann Boston.
HENRY BOSTON was born in 1821, at Rickinghall Superior, Suffolk and baptised on the 13th May 1821at St. Mary’s Church, Rickinghall Superior. Henry was a master hairdresser. Henry Boston died on the 14th May 1886, at Bungay, Suffolk (formerly of the Old Market, Beccles), and was buried on the 19th May 1886, at St. Mary’s Churchyard, Bungay, Suffolk.
MARY ANN BOSTON (nee Batley) was born in 1820, at Rickinghall Superior, Suffolk and baptised on the 2nd April 1820, at St. Mary’s Church, Rickinghall Superior. Mary Boston died on the 16th July 1891, at Railway Station Master’s House, Victoria Road, Diss, Norfolk and was buried at St. Mary’s Churchyard, Bungay, Suffolk.
Ellen and Joseph Norman had four children:
ERNEST HENRY BOSTON NORMAN was born on the 30th November 1874, East Dereham, Norfolk and was baptised on the 23rd December 1874, at St. Nicholas Church, East Dereham. He first entered the service of the Great Eastern Railway Company at Bungay Station on the 15th July 1889 as a lad clerk and continued serving as a railway clerk until his retirement. After his retirement, he lived with his sister, Ethel Norman, at the Norman family home of 4, Fairview Terrace, Great Blakenham, Suffolk. Ernest Norman died on the 19th August 1946, at Onehouse, Suffolk, of 4, Fairview Terrace, Great Blakenham.
ETHEL MARIAN ELLEN NORMAN was born on the 2nd July 1878, at East Dereham, Norfolk and baptised on the 6th August 1878, at St. Nicholas Church, East Dereham. Ethel lived with her widowed mother at the Norman family home of 4, Fairview Terrace, Great Blakenham, Suffolk. Ethel Norman died on the 21st August 1950, at the East Suffolk and Ipswich Hospital, of 4, Fairview Terrace, Great Blakenham.
JOSEPH WILLIAM PERCY NORMAN was born on the 14th May 1884, at Forncett-St.-Peter, Norfolk and baptised on the 15th June 1884, at St. Peter’s Church, Forncett. Joseph Norman died on the 10th August 1894 at Sudbury Station House, Suffolk.
EVA VICTORIA ANNIE NORMAN was born on the 5th June 1887, at Bungay, Suffolk and baptised on the 1st July 1887, at St. Mary’s Church, Bungay. Eva was a long-term patient at St. Audrey’s Hospital, Melton, Suffolk. She died at the hospital on the 28th March 1950.
SOURCES:
www.ancestry.co.uk for census returns, births, marriages, deaths, probates, military records, and other historical online records.