See also
Husband:
John Colchester (1848?-1922)
Wife:
Ellen Louisa Gladwell (1850-1933)
Children:
Marriage:
3 Dec 1886
St. Peter and St. Mary's Church, Church Walk, Stowmarket, Suffolk, England1 2 3
by special license, John a farmer of Mendlesham, Ellen eldest daughter of Martin Edwards, of the Rookery and Wood farms
Name:
Sex:
Male
Father:
-
Mother:
-
Occupation:
Birth:
Feb 1848 (app)
Cherry Tree Farm, Green Road, Mendlesham Green, Suffolk, England1 5 6 7 8
Census:
7 Apr 1861 (age 13)
Mendlesham Green, Suffolk, England10
aged 12 attending school unmarried. Born in Mendlesham Suffolk living with parents
Baptism:
5 May 1869 (age 21)
St. Mary's Church, Church Road, Mendlesham, Suffolk, England11
Census:
3 Apr 1881 (age 33)
Mendlesham, Suffolk, England12
aged 32, unmarried, Farmers son. Born in Mendlesham Suffolk, living with mother.
Census:
5 Apr 1891 (age 43)
Near Turnpike, Mendlesham Green, Suffolk, England6
married head of the household working as a farmer and living with his wife Ellen, daughters Beatrice and Ida, son Spencer, and a servant. Born in Mendlesham Suffolk
Census:
31 Mar 1901 (age 51)
Near Turnpike, Mendlesham Green, Suffolk, England7
married head of the household working as a farmer and living with his wife Ellen, son Spencer and daughters Ida and May. Born in Mendlesham Suffolk
Census:
2 Apr 1911 (age 60)
Street Farm, Mendlesham, Suffolk, England8
married head of the household working as a farmer and living in ten rooms with his wife Ellen, daughters Beatrice, Ida and May, and son Spencer. Born in Mendlesham Suffolk
Death:
1 Jan 1922 (age 74)
Ashes Farm, Oak Farm Lane, Mendlesham, Suffolk, England13 14 15
Burial:
Jan 1922
St. Mary's Church, Church Road, Mendlesham, Suffolk, England15
aged 74 years. Husband of Ellen Louisa who died 1933
Probate:
17 Mar 1922
Probate Registry, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, England14
farmer of Mendlesham Suffolk, effects of £2,980 14s 1d (~£75,000 in 2005) to Ellen Louisa Colchester widow, Spencer Colchester farmer and Alfred Preston auctioneer
Name:
Sex:
Female
Father:
-
Mother:
Note:
Ellen Louisa Colchester (1851-1933) was born illegitimately as Ellen Louisa Gladwell. Her mother, Susan, was maid to Martin Edwards (and was 20 years his junior) with whom she had an affair. Martin and Susan subsequently married and had a large family. However Ellen Louisa was not brought up by them, but by Martin's childless sister Mary and her husband Jeremiah Jarman and Mary Oxer. Adoption did not exist in those times and she was known as Louisa Gladwell Edwards. She was specifically not left an inheritance after her birth parents death, but was sole beneficiary of Jeremiah Jarman Oxer'sestate after his wife's death
She was married to John (Bonky) COLCHESTER in 1885 in Gipping. John (Bonky)COLCHESTER was born in 1847 in Mendlesham Suffolk, England. He was christened on 5 May 1869 in Mendlesham Suffolk, England. He died in 1922.He was known locally as 'Bonky' at a time when everybody had a nickname.He farmed first with his father at Cherry Tree Farm at Creeting St Mary andthen at Ashes Farm Mendlesham, which his father had purchased a few daysbefore he died. He remained at Cherry Farm until he married Ellen LouisaGladwell from Gipping a few years later when they set up home at Ashes Farm whilst continuing the management of Cherry Tree Farm for his sisters.
This was not a good time to move farm as agriculture was in decline and 1879 was a disastrous year, with rust disease rampant in the wheat crops and falling prices to exacerbate the problem. The outlook was bleak, the farm run-down, the barn derelict and the house in bad repair, a gable end subsequently collapsing. But John survived, although corn had to be stored in sacks in the house for several years running until a new barn erected by the Arbon family from the Green, came in to use in 1891. The £300 it cost was borrowed and still remained unpaid when John died on 1st January 1922 although he had increased the size of the farm by 12 to 101 acres in 1892
.He developed the farm, erecting a four bay barn, raising the granary above the three bays cartlodge, adding a lean-to gighouse and pony stable, and building a stable for the carthorses and installing cow, bullock and coltyards with calfboxes and pig sties to accommodate several sows and a boar.All to compliment the existing nine place thatched nettis (neat house) where the cows were milked, and even this was given a small lean-to known as the engine house, so named because it housed the horse drawn grass clipper
Birth:
24 Jan 1850
1901 census says born in Wetherden
Baptism:
24 Mar 1850 (age 0)
St. Mary's Church, Duke Street, Haughley, Suffolk, England17
base born daughter of Susan Gladwell of Haughley
Census:
30 Mar 1851 (age 1)
Brickwall Farm, Stowmarket Road, Wetherden, Suffolk, England16 18
servants daughter aged 12 months as Louisa Gladwell, living with her mother in home of Robert Edwards and Martin Edwards and another servant. Born in Haughley Suffolk
Census:
7 Apr 1861 (age 11)
Stow Road, Gipping, Suffolk, England19
niece aged 11, attending school and living with Jeremiah and Mary Oxer and two servants. Born in Haughley Suffolk
Census:
2 Apr 1871 (age 21)
Gipping, Suffolk, England20
niece aged 20 single as Louisa Oxer, living with Jeremiah and Mary Oxer. Born in Haughley Suffolk
Census absence:
3 Apr 1881 (age 31)
Census:
5 Apr 1891 (age 40)
Near Turnpike, Mendlesham Green, Suffolk, England6
married wife living with her husband John, daughters Beatrice and Ida, son Spencer and a servant. Born in Haughley Suffolk
Census:
31 Mar 1901 (age 50)
Near Turnpike, Mendlesham Green, Suffolk, England7
married wife living with her husband John, son Spencer, and daughters Ida and May. Born in Wetherden Suffolk
Census:
2 Apr 1911 (age 58)
Street Farm, Mendlesham, Suffolk, England8
married wife living in ten rooms with her husband John, daughters Beatrice, Ida and May, and son Spencer. Born in Haughley Suffolk and married for twenty-five years with four children all of whom are still living
Death:
22 Jan 1933 (age 82)
Burial:
Jan 1933
St. Mary's Church, Church Road, Mendlesham, Suffolk, England15
aged 82 years. Wife of John who died 1922
Probate:
12 Mar 1933
Probate Registry, Arcade Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, England14
widow of Front Street Mendlesham, effects of £399 12s 2d (~£14,000 in 2005) to Spencer Colchester farmer
Name:
Sex:
Female
Occupation:
housekeeper24
Birth:
4 Feb 1887
Ashes Farm, Oak Farm Lane, Mendlesham, Suffolk, England1 22 9 23 6 25 8 24
1901 census says born in Gipping and 1939 register says born on 4th February 1890
Census:
5 Apr 1891 (age 4)
Near Turnpike, Mendlesham Green, Suffolk, England6
daughter living with her parents John and Ellen, sister Ida, brother Spencer and a servant. Born in Mendlesham Suffolk
Baptism:
14 May 1893 (age 6)
St. Mary's Church, Church Road, Mendlesham, Suffolk, England4 23
daughter of John Colchester (farmer) and Ellen Louisa of Street Farm Mendlesham, born in February 1887 and baptised with sisters Ida and May
Census:
31 Mar 1901 (age 14)
Finborough Road, Stowmarket, Suffolk, England25
a boarder and pupil at a private school living with two governesses, six other pupils and two servants. Born in Gipping Suffolk
Census:
2 Apr 1911 (age 24)
Street Farm, Mendlesham, Suffolk, England8
unmarried daughter living in ten rooms with her parents John and Ellen, sisters Ida and May, and brother Spencer. Born in Mendlesham Suffolk
Census:
29 Sep 1939 (age 52)
College Farm, Earl Stonham, Suffolk, England24
an unmarried housekeeper living with Ernest Matthew. Born on 4th February 1890
Death:
23 Nov 1958 (age 71)
Probate:
23 Dec 1958
Probate Registry, Arcade Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, England28
of Helmingham Road Otley Suffolk died 23rd November 1958 at Melton Suffolk, administration of effects of £626 3s 4d (~£13,900 in 2017) to Spencer Colchester a farmer
Son: Spencer Colchester
Name:
Sex:
Male
Spouse:
Occupation:
Note:
He took over the family farm in 1922. As his father died intestate, Spencer farmed as a trustee for his mother and three sisters until the farm was sold in 1926. His father in-law, Samuel Cobbold, bought it back for him - interestingly, at half the price paid in 1879. Spencer had the reputation for being a good farmer, if rather conservative, thus the annual round of tasks had barely changed for 100 years. He slowly mechanised the farm. First by hiring a tractor as back up to the horses and acquiring a McCormack binder in 1926. Occasionally steam engines winched cultivators across the fallows. In 1944 he bought a Standard Fordson and Ransomes plough, but still two pairs of horses were retained for ploughing, drilling and a host of ancillary tasks.Ten years later he purchased a combine harvester. He never relinquished the reins of running the farm, and slipped quietly away only two weeks after winning the beef cattle prizes at the 1962 Christmas Fatstock Show in Stowmarket.
His wife Betsy was a poultry dealer's daughter, so one of the daily chores on the farm was the collection of eggs from nest boxes and anywhere else the hens would hide them
Birth:
12 Apr 1889
Ashes Farm, Oak Farm Lane, Mendlesham, Suffolk, England1 29 30 6 7 8 32 33
Baptism:
12 May 1889 (age 0)
St. Mary's Church, Church Road, Mendlesham, Suffolk, England9 30
son of John Colchester (farmer) and Ellen Louisa of Mendlesham, born on 12th April 1889
Census:
5 Apr 1891 (age 2)
Near Turnpike, Mendlesham Green, Suffolk, England6
son living with his parents John and Ellen, sisters Beatrice and Ida, and a servant. Born in Mendlesham Suffolk
Census:
31 Mar 1901 (age 11)
Near Turnpike, Mendlesham Green, Suffolk, England7
son living with his parents John and Ellen, and sisters Ida and May. Born in Mendlesham Suffolk
Census:
2 Apr 1911 (age 21)
Street Farm, Mendlesham, Suffolk, England8
unmarried son working on the family farm and living in ten rooms with his parents John and Ellen, and sisters Beatrice, Ida and May. Born in Mendlesham Suffolk
Military Service:
btw 1915 and 1918 (age 25-29)
and suffered heavily at the Somme, being wounded, injured from the effect of mustard gas, and shell shocked
Medals:
Victory and British medals
Census:
29 Sep 1939 (age 50)
Ashes Farm, Oak Farm Lane, Mendlesham, Suffolk, England32
a married farmer living with his wife Betsy and a closed record (presumably son Roy). Born 12th April 1889
Administrator:
23 Dec 1958 (age 69)
Spencer Colchester was appointed as an administrator at the probate hearing of Beatrice Harriet Mary Colchester on Tuesday on 23 December 1958 at the Probate Registry, Arcade Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, England
Death:
27 Dec 1962 (age 73)
Ipswich and East Suffolk Hospital, Anglesea Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, England4 31 33 36
Probate:
13 Mar 1963
Probate Registry, Arcade Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, England36
of Ashes Farm Mendlesham Suffolk died 27th December 1962 at the Ipswich and East Suffolk Hospital (Anglesea Road Wing), administration of effects of £9,334 10s 7d (~£177,000 in 2017) to Betsy Rosetta Colchester widow and Roy Bernard Samuel Colchester farmer
Daughter: Ida Henrietta Colchester
Name:
Sex:
Female
Spouse:
Occupation:
Red Cross nurse in 1914-18 war39
Birth:
3 Oct 1890
Ashes Farm, Oak Farm Lane, Mendlesham, Suffolk, England1 37 6 9 38 7 8 40 41
Census:
5 Apr 1891 (age 6 mns)
Near Turnpike, Mendlesham Green, Suffolk, England42
daughter living with her parents John and Ellen, sister Ida, brother Spencer and a servant. Born in Mendlesham Suffolk
Baptism:
14 May 1893 (age 2)
St. Mary's Church, Church Road, Mendlesham, Suffolk, England4 9 38
daughter of John Colchester (farmer) and Ellen Louisa of Street Farm Mendlesham, born in October 1890 and baptised with sisters Beatrice and May
Census:
31 Mar 1901 (age 10)
Near Turnpike, Mendlesham Green, Suffolk, England7
daughter living with her parents John and Ellen, brother Spencer and sister May. Born in Mendlesham Suffolk
Census:
2 Apr 1911 (age 20)
Street Farm, Mendlesham, Suffolk, England8
unmarried daughter living in ten rooms with her parents John and Ellen, sisters Beatrice and May, and brother Spencer. Born in Mendlesham Suffolk
Military Service:
btw 3 Nov 1915 and 3 May 1917 (age 25-26)
Red Cross as a volunteer nursing member; East Suffolk Hospital, Anglesea Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, England39
Military Service:
btw 28 Apr 1917 and 2 Apr 1918 (age 26-27)
Red Cross as a volunteer nursing member; Coonoor Hospital, Thorpe Road, Thorpe St. Andrew, Norfolk, England39
Census:
29 Sep 1939 (age 48)
Willow Farm, Finningham Road, Cow Green, Bacton, Suffolk, England40
married doing unpaid domestic duties and living with her husband Frederick, step-son Frederick, son James, four closed records and a John Russell. Born on 3rd October 1890
Death:
7 Feb 1976 (age 85)
Ipswich and East Suffolk Hospital, Anglesea Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, England1 41 43
Probate:
7 Apr 1976
Probate Registry, Arcade Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, England43
of 22 Stradbroke Road Southwold Suffolk died 7th February 1976, probate of £7,460 (~£51,400 in 2017)
Daughter: May Colchester
Name:
Sex:
Female
Spouse:
Birth:
6 Feb 1893
Ashes Farm, Oak Farm Lane, Mendlesham, Suffolk, England1 46 9 45 7 8 47
1939 register says born on 6th February 1894
Baptism:
14 May 1893 (age 0)
St. Mary's Church, Church Road, Mendlesham, Suffolk, England4 9 45
daughter of John Colchester (farmer) and Ellen Louisa of Street Farm Mendlesham, born in February 1893 and baptised with sisters Beatrice and Ida
Census:
31 Mar 1901 (age 8)
Near Turnpike, Mendlesham Green, Suffolk, England48
daughter living with her parents, brother Spencer and sister Ida. Born in Mendlesham Suffolk
Census:
2 Apr 1911 (age 18)
Street Farm, Mendlesham, Suffolk, England8
unmarried daughter living in ten rooms with her parents John and Ellen, sisters Beatrice and Ida, and brother Spencer. Born in Mendlesham Suffolk
Census:
29 Sep 1939 (age 46)
52 Douglas Road, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, England47
married doing household duties and living with her husband James. Born on 6th February 1894 (birth index says 1893)
Death:
24 May 1966 (age 73)
Probate:
10 Jun 1966
Probate Registry, Arcade Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, England50
of 3 Maple House Lake Avenue Bury St. Edmunds died 24th May 1966, administration of £2,156 (~£36,500 in 2017) to Roy Bernard Samuel Colchester farmer
Father William Thomas Worledge Colchester (c1810-1879)
Jane Catherine Elizabeth Finbow personal communication. letter. Cit. Date: 22 May 1999.
England and Wales Marriage Index 1837 - 2005, (on-line at www.ancestry.co.uk and www.findmypast.co.uk). Stow 1886 quarter:4 volume:4a page:1310.
FindMyPast Newspaper article, (on-line at www.findmypast.co.uk). The Ipswich Journal Saturday 10 December1886 page:8.
Giles Colchester personal communication. email. Cit. Date: 14 October 2001.
England and Wales Birth Index 1837 - 2021, (on-line at www.gro.gov.uk, www.findmypast.co.uk and www.ancestry.co.uk). Hartismere 1848 quarter:1 volume:13 page:446.
England and Wales Census 1891, (on-line at www.ancestry.co.uk and www.findmypast.co.uk). National Archive reference:RG12 piece:1458 folio:4 page:1. Cit. Date: 5 April 2020.
England and Wales Census 1901, (on-line at www.ancestry.co.uk and www.findmypast.co.uk). National Archive reference:RG13 piece:1763 folio:62 page:18. Cit. Date: 4 April 2020.
England and Wales Census 1911, (on-line at www.ancestry.co.uk and www.findmypast.co.uk). National Archive reference:RG14 piece:10703 class:RG78 piece:577 registration district:210 sub-district:1 enumeration district:5 schedule:42. Cit. Date: 4 April 2020.
Suffolk Records Office (Ipswich) - Parish Records. Mendlesham St. Mary fiche:21. Suffolk Record Office (Ipswich), Suffolk Record Office, Gateacre Lane, Ipswich, Suffolk, England.
England and Wales Census 1861, (on-line at www.ancestry.co.uk and www.findmypast.co.uk). 1861/RG9/1148/P46.
Giles Colchester personal communication. email. Cit. Date: 31 January 2003.
England and Wales Census 1881, (on-line at www.ancestry.co.uk and www.findmypast.co.uk). National Archive reference:RG11 piece:1852/81/12.
England and Wales Death Index 1837 - 2021, (on-line at www.gro.gov.uk, www.findmypast.co.uk and www.ancestry.co.uk). Hartismere 1922 quarter:1 volume:4a page:1405.
Ancestry England and Wales National Probate Calendar (Index to Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966, (on-line at www.ancestry.co.uk).
Find a Grave, (on-line at www.findagrave.com).
Jane Catherine Elizabeth Finbow personal communication. Cit. Date: 22 May 1999.
Suffolk Family History Society - Stow and Thedwastre Baptisms 1813-1900, (2011 SFK-BPI-05/P1 own copy).
England and Wales Census 1851, (on-line at www.ancestry.co.uk and www.findmypast.co.uk). National Archive reference:HO107 piece:1794 folio:352 page:10.
England and Wales Census 1861, (on-line at www.ancestry.co.uk and www.findmypast.co.uk). National Archive reference:RG09 piece:1146 folio:110 page:17.
England and Wales Census 1871, (on-line at www.ancestry.co.uk and www.findmypast.co.uk). National Archive reference:RG10 piece:1733 folio:110 page:19.
England and Wales Death Index 1837 - 2021, (on-line at www.gro.gov.uk, www.findmypast.co.uk and www.ancestry.co.uk). Hartismere 1933 quarter:1 volume:4a page:1401.
England and Wales Birth Index 1837 - 2021, (on-line at www.gro.gov.uk, www.findmypast.co.uk and www.ancestry.co.uk). Stow 1887 quarter:1 volume:4a page:729. Cit. Date: 26 September 2020.
Suffolk Family History Society - Hartismere Baptisms 1754-1812, (2015 SFK-BPI-10/P1 own copy). Mendlesham St. Mary baptisms entry:345. Cit. Date: 4 April 2020.
UK 1939 Register, (on-line at www.findmypast.co.uk). National Archive reference:RG101 piece:6640J page:20 line:28 letter code:TXFO. Cit. Date: 27 September 2020.
England and Wales Census 1901, (on-line at www.ancestry.co.uk and www.findmypast.co.uk). National Archive reference:RG13 piece:1762 folio:103 page:15. Cit. Date: 26 September 2020.
Roy Colchetser personal communication.
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UK Government Probate Service, UK Government Find a Will, (on-line at www.probatesearch.service.gov.uk, www.ancestry.co.uk and www.findmypast.co.uk). Ipswich 1958 page:387. Cit. Date: 27 September 2020.
England and Wales Birth Index 1837 - 2021, (on-line at www.gro.gov.uk, www.findmypast.co.uk and www.ancestry.co.uk). Hartismere 1889 quarter:2 volume:4a page:775. Cit. Date: 4 April 2020.
Suffolk Family History Society - Hartismere Baptisms 1754-1812, (2015 SFK-BPI-10/P1 own copy). Mendlesham St. Mary baptisms entry:249. Cit. Date: 4 April 2020.
England and Wales Death Index 1837 - 2021, (on-line at www.gro.gov.uk, www.findmypast.co.uk and www.ancestry.co.uk). Ipswich 1962 quarter:4 volume:4b page:910. Cit. Date: 6 April 2020.
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England and Wales Birth Index 1837 - 2021, (on-line at www.gro.gov.uk, www.findmypast.co.uk and www.ancestry.co.uk). Hartismere 1893 quarter:1 volume:4a page:835. Cit. Date: 20 November 2017.
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