James Raynham baptism register entry 1832.

James baptism occurred 18 months after that of his older brother John [4] which was also held at the parish church. This provides further evidence that both James and John were baptised shortly after birth, children who are baptised later tend to have this done as family and may include other siblings at the same time.

James was born at a time when the farming community had and would continue to experience many years of depression with significant numbers of the Suffolk working population being unemployed. Such was the problem it has been estimated that half the Suffolk population was receiving some form of parish relief by 1834.

The prominent reason for the pressure on the parish finances was the industrialisation of the north of England and the slow demise of the wool and spinning industry, which many Suffolk families were involved in, in addition to their work on farms.

One example was a family from Lavenham, a village 10 miles east of Offton who in 1843 had earnings of 13s. 9d., of this rent was ?1s. 2d., food 11s. 1d., and heating and other necessities 1s. 6., that exactly matched their earnings. [5]  This did not allow for any meat, clothing or boots, these earnings equates to ?37.00 in today's money, whereas the average weekly wage of a non skilled male person in the UK today is around ?300.00 per week.

Nationally King William 1V was on the throne at the time of James's baptism and two years later the British Government abolishes slavery within the British Empire and Louis Braille perfects a system of characters for the blind to read. The British became involved in the First Afghan War in 1838, the object being to try to prevent Russia increasing its influence in the region. Charles Dickens publishes Nicholas Nickleby and the National Galley in London was opened. [6]

On the sporting scene the Grand National first race was run at Aintree and in Suffolk at the Newmarket racecourse the Cesarewitch both in 1839.

In 1835 James's younger brother William Frederick Raynham [7]  was baptised on Thursday 4 June 1835 at St Mary's Church, Offton . [8]  Of interest William attended St Mary's Church on the 22 February 1837 when the name "Frederick" was added to William, the Vicar confirmed this in the register. [9]

Baptism entry for William Raynham for the 4 June 1835

Register entry confirming the addition of the name "Frederick" for William

For the family the death of their father James around 1836, at the young age of 33 years would have been a tragic event. However for the boys having a mother like Dinah must have been a blessing, for the family appears to have prospered with Dinah taking over the responsibility of bringing up her young family.

Dinah appears to have coped with her situation, it was not unusual for widows to remarry very quickly and given the farm assets that she had Dinah would have been a good "catch"; however in regards to Dinah this does not appear to have happened. With three boys under the age of five years and a large farm to look after Dinah may have received help from the other farming families, additionally she would have been employing a number of farm labourers and servants.

James appears in the 1841 census  for Offton [10] , the actual day of enumeration was Sunday 6 June. He was at Hill House  as were his brothers John and William along with their mother Dinah, James age was given as 8 years. Also at Hill House  was Anna Parmer, aged 12 and James Smith aged 5, pupils; Elizabeth Cook aged 25 and Phoebe Gosling aged 17, female servants; James Martle aged 23 and John Crick aged 18, male servants.

Also listed at Hill House  were other farming families, possibly tenants of Dinah for which she may have been receiving some rental income.

Extract from the 1841 census  entry for "Hill House ", Offton

Ten years later the 1851 census [11] was undertaken on Sunday 30 March, in intervening years David Livingstone began his missionary work in Africa, the zinc carbon battery had been invented and the Second Afghan War ends with British victory in 1842. Queen Victoria celebrates ten years reign and the Mormons founded Salt Lake City and gold is discovered in California, which leads to the first "gold rush" in 1847. Medical progress was achieved with the use of chloroform as an anaesthetic during childbirth in the same year.

The repeal of the Corn Laws in 1846 would pave the way for further financial misery for the rural community. The 1851 census has James at Hill Farm with his two brothers and mother Dinah.

Extract of 1851 census  for "Hill Farm ", Offton.

At Hill Farm , Dinah with James now aged 18 years was designated as head of household and the family were farming 210 acres of land and employing 6 labourers. Also at the farm was a nephew James Palmer, aged 7 years and house servant Mary Sturgeon and farm servant Henry Martle.

The census also noted John Raynham [12] and his wife Ann who were farming 304 acres, this was James's uncle who were in residing at "Marshalls ".

Extract of 1851 census  for "Marshalls ", Offton & Uncle John Raynham.

During the next ten years it appears that James elder brother John took over the running of the farm, their mother Dinah appears to have left Offton to go and live with her younger son William  at Great Blakenham. The 1861 census  for Great Blakenham Suffolk  has her located at "Mill Gr.," with William Frederick, she was listed as being a widow and landowner.

It is possible that Dinah had handed over the running of Hill Farm  to her eldest son John and it is likely that she was receiving an income from the farm. Why she was with William is not at all clear, William was still a young man, aged 25 at the time of the census and his occupation was given as miller and malster, the census states that he was employing 4 men and 1 boy.

However it is clear that given that James would not inherit Hill House  Farm he had made the decision to leave Offton and take up farming at Hessett, a parish 12 miles north west of Offton. Why Hessett, which has no previous Raynham connection [13] is not known, although other Raynhams had been living and working in the adjacent village of Bradfield St George  since the 1830s when John Andrews Raynham [14] (Circa 1804-1868) had arrived from Thorpe Morieux, he married a local girl Francis Austin in1834.

There is no evidence that the families were known to each other, but John Andrews was a second cousin of James. Additionally James's grandfather [15] originally came from Brettenham and John Andrew's father [16] also came from Brettenham, it is therefore possible that they new each other.

James possibly moved to Hessett following his marriage to Elizabeth Vince Kistruck  on Thursday 17 March 1859 at St Mary, Creeting St Mary , a parish about five miles north east of Offton.

St Mary Church, Creeting St Mary.

Offton to Hessett Modern Map

Elizabeth his new bride was born on Saturday 26 December 1835 [17] and thus was 24 years of age at the time of her marriage, James would have been about two years older. Their first daughter Ellen Mary [18] was born in 1860 and baptised on Sunday 5 February 1860 at The Church of St Ethelbert, Hessett .

 
St Ethelbert, Hessett

The church is considered to be one of Suffolk's most beautiful, which is indeed a compliment given the many attractive churches that are in the County. The church was dedicated to St. Ethelbert, son of Ethelred, King of the East Angles (Norfolk and Suffolk).

The earliest parts of the church are the early 14^th century chancel, along with the 14^th century nave that underwent rebuilding in the following century.

The tower is a handsome structure and is known to have been restored in the 15^th century; it is thought that the Lords of the Manor of Hessett, the Bacon family were responsible for the building of the South porch. Internally there are mediaeval wall paintings, stained glass and memorials, some of these are covered by floor carpets and include 13^th century coffin lids and stone burial slabs. [19]

In the year of the 1861 census  Charles Dickens publishes "Great Expectations" and Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria dies, the census held on Sunday

7 April has James at Green Farm, Hessett  with his wife Elizabeth Vince Raynham and daughter Ellen Mary ; their ages were given as 28, 25 and 1 respectively. James was farming 200 acres and employed 10 men and 5 boys, the family also employed two servants, one a cook and the other a house servant.

Extract of 1861 census  for" Green Farm ", Hessett.

In quick succession a further ten known children were born to James and Elizabeth they were Adela Elizabeth  baptised 10 November 1861, James Kistruck  baptised 3 April 1863, Eustace  Frederick  born 28 February 1865, Frederick William  born around 1867, Horace  Tomkins  born around 1869, Percy  Campion  born around 1870, Edith  Louise  born around 1872, Gertrude  Emily  born around 1873, Harry Lucas  born around 1875 and last but by no means least Archibald  Nelson  born around 1879. [20]

At present baptism register entries have not been searched to extract the precise baptism dates for those not known, however birth years are accurate as these were identified from census returns and the General Records Office [21] birth indexes. Where baptisms are known these were carried out at the local parish church. In respects to James Kistruck 's baptism the baptism entry [22] has "6w" entered, this may indicate that he was 6 weeks old at the baptism; thus placing his birth around mid February 1863.

Of interest was the ability of Elizabeth to give birth to so many children without the obvious problems of stillbirths and miscarriages, she was giving birth over a known period of 19 years, 1860 to 1879. Elizabeth was born on Saturday 26 December 1835, thus she was 24 years of age when she gave birth to Ellen Mary  and properly 43 years of age by the time she gave birth to Archibald Nelson . This may indicate that she must have looked after herself and may well have been living comfortable to enable such a fruitful and healthy children to be born.

The regularity with which Elizabeth gave birth may well follow a 18 month cycle in which, whilst the mother was breast feeding this in itself becomes a form of contraception; lactation generally preventing conception during this period. In the absence of any other form of planned contraception this must have given many women some relief from the drudgery of continual pregnancy. [23]

Of interest to modern day Raynhams was the choice of names and in particular the second given name to many of the children. Ellen Mary  and Adela Elizabeth  have no obvious persons to who they may have been named after, save that of the use of Elizabeth. James Kistruck  is clearly a direct naming after his father and his wife's Kistruck family surname.

Eustace  Frederick , fourth born like his sisters before has no obvious connection to any members of the family. However Frederick William  the fifth born may have been named after his uncle William Frederick [24] , James's younger brother. The two younger daughters Edith  Louise  and Gertrude  Emily  again have no known connections and may have been chosen simply because they were fashionable during this particular Victorian period.

The remaining siblings are of interest all appear to have been given second names that possibly reflect local families that James and Elizabeth, their parents were friendly with. We have Horace  Tomkins  and Percy  Campion  who we are now aware that the Raynham family were known to the families of Tomkins and Campion. Harry Lucas  who was named after his grandmother's family name. And finally we have Archibald  Nelson , who apart from the obvious Horatio connection may have also been named after a local family.

What is clear none of the latter four boys were given first names that can be linked to the existing Raynham family tree. Whatever else James and Elizabeth had taken careful consideration in the choosing of their children's names.

During this period of raising a family would seem to have moved from Green Farm  to The Shrubbery , this being the name of the farm that the family were residing at the time of the 1871 census . However from information provided by Bill Raynham, James's great grandson it suggests that the name of the farm had merely been changed. The O/S map of 1905  does show The Shrubbery  just south of the village centre. [25]

1905 map locates" The Shrubbery ", Hessett.

The 1871 census [26] for Hessett was undertaken on Sunday 2 April, located with James at The Shrubbery  was his wife Elizabeth and five children, Adela , James Kistruck , Frederick , Horace  and Percy . The eldest two Adela and James were said to be scholars and may indicate that they were receiving some form of education. This may well have been at a local school, the Hessett map does show such an establishment; alternatively they could have been getting private tuition at the farm or in a school mistress/master home.

It is worth noting that the 1871 census  would only require parents to use the term "scholar" if their children were in fact receiving education, prior to this the term had been abused to hide the fact that the child may have been at work. Also present at the farm on census day were a servant and a tenant farmer and his family.

Extract of 1871 census  "The Shrubbery ", Hessett.

The census, which was enumerated by James did not list his eldest daughter Ellen Mary  and her 6-year-old brother Eustace  Frederick , Ellen would have been 11 years of age at the time of the census. We know that she died a few days after the census on Friday 14 April 1871 [27] . Ellen Mary  and Eustace  may well have been sent away from The Shrubbery  because of the endemic problems of TB.

Both appear to have visited their grandparents James and Lucy Kistruck  at Farrer House, Creeting St Olave  at the time of the census. [28] The journey would no doubt have involved either James or Elizabeth taking them by horse and cart along the narrow roads and tracks for a distance of at least 15 miles. The route may well have been along the main thoroughfare linking Bury St Edmunds  to Ipswich via Stowmarket, today this is the A45 trunk road.

Ellen Mary  was buried on Friday 21 April, a week after her death; she was buried at St Mary the parish church of Creeting St Mary. [29]

James appears to have sufficient disposal income to afford the luxury of having a photograph taken of himself, the date is not known but I consider it to have been taken around 1870s when James was in his forties. This would be the earliest known photo of any Raynham currently located and shows a sturdy built individual wearing a heavy coat with shirt and tie. He has a clean-shaven face, with a slight receding hairline and bushy side hair. [30]

 
James Raynham, taken circa 1870s (1832-1883)
&
Percy  Campion , taken around 1878 (1870-1942).

Other photos were taken of his family around this time included a young Percy  Campion , sitting on a stone bench in a sailor suit; his age would appear to be around 8 years and it is likely that the photo was taken in a studio at Bury St Edmunds , [31] the largest town closest to Hessett and about six miles away.

The use of photography by James may give an insight into the lifestyle of the family; perhaps they used to visit many places around the west and south Suffolk areas. Into Bury for shopping visits and the purchase of those items of household requisites that were unable to get locally. Within a few miles they would have been able to make contact with James's brother John who in the 1870s was farming the family farm at Hill House , Offton with his wife Elizabeth Sarah and their seven surviving children.

At Bradfield St George , just a stone throw away from Hessett were the William Austin Raynham  and John Andrew Raynham [32] families, two brothers who were born and worked in the parish. Indeed, although they were not farmers they were connected with the industry being a labourer and carpenter respectively and it is possible that the latter may have undertaken work in Hessett.

Many other Raynham families had been established in south Suffolk since the 16^th century and in the 1870s families were still established in Chelsworth  and Kersey .

Just how much communication there was can only be speculated, no doubt they may have provided each other with some support during the great depression within the farming industry. Corn prices were falling and the lousy weather in the summer of 1879 caused a failed harvest that autumn, this was then compounded by the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in 1883, with only a break during the First World War the depression lasted for over 40 years.

With all these problems at home it is unlikely that national and world events impinged upon the family. For those interested in lawn tennis the first championship was held at Wimbledon in 1877 [33] and William Booth founded the Salvation Army in Britain the following year. The Brits are at war with the Zulus but within six months signs peace with the Zulu chiefs in 1879 and in the year of the 1881 census  the Revised Version of New Testament is published.

The census was held on Sunday 3 April at home were James and Elizabeth with their children Eustace , Horace , Edith , Gertrude , Harry  and Archibald , their ages were stated as 16, 12, 8, 7, 5 and 2 respectively. Of interest their place of residence was given as Green Farm , this being the place that was listed 20 years earlier in the 1861 census . Clearly it would appear that the use of Green Farm  and The Shrubbery  were interchangeable; James was farming 220 acres.

From this census we can see that some of the children were not enumerated, of these Adela Elizabeth  had died 28 months previously on Sunday 25 August 1878 at the age of around 17 years. She had been buried at St Ethelbert Churchyard  the following Saturday. A transcript of her memorial stone had been previously taken [34] and the following was noted:

"In loving memory of Adela Elizabeth  2^nd daughter of James & Elizabeth Raynham. God is love 25 Aug 1878 ag 15"

Of the others James Kistruck , Frederick William  and Percy  Campion  were not at the farm. We know from using modern day searches [35] that James Kistruck  was a border with the Feist family at Carter Street, Fordham, Cambridgeshire and was in occupation as an articled pupil and training to be an accountant. The head of household was Herbert Feist an auctioneer, maybe James picked up some good business ideas from his auctioneer landlord which would stand him in good stead; pure speculation of course.

Frederick William  cannot be located in the census, although we know he was alive, as he was a witness at wedding later in life and he was attending Framlingham College  in 1881. [36]  It must be assumed that for whatever reason he was not enumerated. As for Percy  considerable effort has gone into trying to ascertain why he was not at Green Farm , we know that he was a visitor at Elmsett Hall, Elmsett  where he was with the Stearn family in the same census.

Benjamin Stearn  was farming 464 acres with his wife Mary and servants and possibly family friends of the Hessett and Offton Raynhams. Given that Offton is just a couple of miles from Elmsett where John Raynham, James's brother was a farmer at Hill House  and through marriage they were directly related to the Stearns. The relationship is rather complex given that Benjamin Stearn's wife Mary was also his first cousin in that both their respective fathers were brothers.

Mary's mother Mary Vince  had a sister Lucy Vince  who married James Kistruck  in 1834 at Elmsett. They had three children one of whom Elizabeth Vince Kistruck  married our James Raynham. Elizabeth was also a first cousin of Mary Stearn  and therefore Percy  was Mary's first cousin once removed. [37]  However the most likely reason was the decision by James and Elizabeth to "farm" 10 year old Percy  with the Stearns to avoid him contracting tubercolosis, which was the likely cause of death for his two sisters. [38]

Elmsett Vince, Kistruck & Stearn [39] Family Tree.

By 1883 James had reached his late middle age in today terms, however his death on that Tuesday 13 March [40] would still have been a sad event, although not a surprise given that he died from tuberculosis and the condition would have been apparent to his family. The death certificate confirms the medical condition "phthisis haemoptysis" which is the coughing up of blood, a common symptom of advanced tuberculosis. [41]  The death was registered by his son Frederick William  four days later.

 
James Raynham death certificate dated 13 March 1883.

The burial at St Ethelbert  was on the following Monday 19 April [42] would have been attended by his family and possibly his brother's family from Offton, as well as other families who knew him; this could have included the Stearns, Kistrucks and the Vinces. A memorial card [43] was printed to mark the occasion this does indicate that a large gathering was possibly expected.

James Raynham memorial card.

Both James's death certificate and the memorial card gives his age at death as 49 years, this would place his birth year in 1834 or in 1833 if his birthday was after the 13 March. We know he was baptised in late 1832 so somewhere he dropped two years off his true age. His parents James and Dinah appear to have understated his age in previous censuses, a similar situation also occurred with his older John.

One possible explanation is that the family may have been confused, although this does seem difficult to believe consistently understating the ages of their children. Another explanation may have been to hide the fact that John, their eldest son was born four and half months after James and Dinah married in February 1831, with our modern attitudes to pre-marital sex we can only imagine the pressures that our Victorian ancestors would have been subjected to.

The middle classes were convinced that a better, more fulfilled and enjoyable life could be lived in the pursuit of wealth and attaining a respectable position in society; this was strengthen by a religious belief which was of profound significance to them. [44]

St Ethelbert Churchyard, the graves in the foreground are those of the James Raynham family.

 

Final word on James burial, his inscription on his memorial stone when taken in earlier times read: [45]

"James Raynham 13 Mar.1883 ag. 49 years Thy will be done"

However it had been said that the year date could be 1885, this quite clearly would wrong and would indicate a transcription error by the monumental mason, unfortunately today the tombstones are in poor condition and cannot be read, save for the odd word or two. For more details of the inscriptions we have to rely upon others who have extracted these in earlier times, more details of the family tombstones are related later in the document.

We are very fortunate that James took the time and trouble to have a will made, this was not all common with less than 1 in 3 adult males making the effort. [46]  The practice of making a will goes back to Anglo-Saxon times but the practice was widely adopted by farmers until the 16^th century.

In his will [47] dated Wednesday 13 September 1882, a few months prior to his death James requested that his sons James Kistruck  and William Frederick William  act as Executors. Also two others were nominated William Winter , a farmer from Hessett and Frederick Lucas  of Little Bentley, Essex , it is assumed that these were friends of James. It is likely that Frederick was a relative by marriage, he shares the same maiden name as James's mother.

In the will he left the income from his estate to Elizabeth and on her death the children would be the beneficiaries. The will for the first time clarifies the position of James status in relation to his farm holdings, it states "carrying on a farm at Hessett under Thomas Harcourt Powell" this implies that the farm and its land holdings were under a form of copyhold. Although the farmer was not the freehold owner he did have rights to hand on the estate to his succeeding elder sons. [48]

The Executors were allowed to use capital from the estate to use on the farm or any other farm that the Executors may wish to take and keep for the benefit of Elizabeth and the children. The will was witnessed by J. J. Sparke and John White, solicitor and clerk of Bury St Edmunds .

Three and half months later James arranged for a codicil to the will to be made, signed on Sunday 31 December 1882 he replaced Frederick Lucas [49] as an Executor and nominated William Nathaniel Tomkins [50] , a farmer from Langham, Essex . We now know how Horace  Tomkins , fourth son of James and Elizabeth got his second given name. Following the death of James the probate was granted at Bury St Edmunds  on Monday 21 December 1883, over 10 months after his death even by today's standards this was inordinately long time. Administration was granted to William Winter and William Frederick Raynham, James Kistruck  being 20 years of age would be granted power of administration when he reached 21 years, which would have been the following year.

The estate was valued at ?1406 11s. 5d gross and nett ?510 16s. 7 1/2d, it is assumed that the nett figure is after the deduction of death duties and no doubt solicitor fees. In today's terms this represents an inheritance of ?65,000.00 and ?24000.00 respectively.

Last will & Testament of James Raynham.

With the relative early death of James the remaining contents of this chapter are devoted to his wife and surviving children.

At the time of James's death, Elizabeth was aged about 51 years, James Kistruck  was 20 years, and the remaining children's' approximate [51] ages were Eustace Frederick  18 years, Frederick William  16 years, Horace Tomkins  14 years, Percy Campion  13 years, Edith Louise  11 years, Gertrude Emily  10 years, Harry Lucas  8 years and Archibald Nelson  about 4 years of age.

It is clear that Elizabeth would have her hands full bringing up the younger children however help would have been available with the older boys, at least those not already at work with other employers. James Kistruck  as we know had been an articled pupil, living at Fordham two years earlier. With the ever threat of tuberculosis present it may well be that some of the children remained outside the daily control of Elizabeth and thus could not have provided her with assistance. However with the death of her husband being the eldest son, James Kistruck  would have given up his post and taken responsibility for running the farm.

Before the 1880s were finished Elizabeth and the boys would have been taking the short walk to St. Ethelbert Church and then to the churchyard to attend the burial of their sibling sisters Gertrude Emily  who died on Sunday 3 October 1886 and Edith Louise  who died on Tuesday 23 August 1887. The assumption is that they also died from tuberculosis, by this time the disease was known but it would be over 60 years before an effective treatment would be available. [52]

Bill Raynham explains that the disease was endemic and pretty widespread in the UK, especially in overcrowded conditions and in those undernourished and was no respecter of persons. Bill suspected that someone at The Shrubbery  had "open" Pulmonary T.B., the bacilli being conveyed by droplet infection. This person could have been a maidservant or other servant in the household. The cause of the disease was only discovered in the early 1880's and how it was mainly transmitted by droplet infection but also by ingestion of another type of tuberculosis bacillus.

Whatever the direct cause of death the girls were buried at St Ethelbert  on Friday 8 October 1886 and Saturday 27 August 1887 respectively and they were buried in the family plot at the north end of the churchyard. Memorial cards for both girls had been printed to mark the occasion.

Memorial card for Gertrude Emily  Raynham
(1873-1886).

Memorial card for Edith Louise  Raynham
(1872-1887).

From information [53] received the graves had been inscribed but are now almost impossible to read, however what had been noted was the following for Gertrude and Edith :

"Gertrude Emily  Raynham3 Oct1886 ag 13 She is not dead but sleepeth."
"Edith Louise  23 Aug 1887 ag 15 Not my will but thine be done"

Life continued in the Raynham household and on Wednesday 23 October 1889 James Kistruck  married Minnie Phillips at Banbury, Oxfordshire. [54] Eustace Frederick  was best man at the wedding. Minnie was the youngest daughter of Richard and Rose Phillips and she was born on Thursday 26th October 1865 in Lewisham.

The following year on Thursday 4 September 1890 the best man, Eustace Frederick [55] married Adelaide Helen Luccock  at St Mary's Church, Lewisham , one of the witnesses to the ceremony was Eustace 's brother Frederick William . At the time of the marriage Eustace  would have been 25 years of age and Frederick around 23 years.

With the census of 1891 for Hessett, undertaken on Sunday 5 April, Elizabeth had moved from The Shrubbery /Green Farm  to number 20 The Green , Elizabeth status indicated that she was still a farmer and employer. With her on census day was a domestic servant and Maud Mumford her companion, also at there was William Turner a widower and farm bailiff.

Extract from 1891 census  for number "20 The Green", Hessett.

At present the census has not been searched to see if James Kistruck  was at home at The Shrubbery , along with the rest of his brothers.

Elizabeth died at the age of 56 years on Saturday 6 February 1892 and was buried at St Ethelbert Churchyard  in the same family plot, as was their tradition a memorial card had been printed to mark the occasion.

Elizabeth Vince Raynham nee Kistruck memorial card
(1836-1892).

The inscription on the grave read:

"Elizabeth Vince  w. of James 6 Feb1892 ag 56 Nearer my God to thee"

With her death James Kistruck  inherited The Shrubbery  at the age of 29 years, it is appropriate to end this chapter at this point; a separate chapter will be produced to cover the children's' lives.

Below is a three-generation descendant chart for the family.

 

---

[1] Since July 1837 England & Wales have been divided into registration districts; copies of all birth, marriage and death certificates are sent from local district offices to the general Register Office. From these returns the quarterly central registration GRO indexes are created and are available for free viewing.

[2] Offton cum Bricett to give the parish its full title.

[3] Information originally provided by Malcolm Marjoram and Lynn Davis. Baptism entry was located on visit to Suffolk Record Office on the 4 October 2001.

[4] Raynham reference R206.

[5] "A History of Suffolk" by David Dymond & Peter Northeast.

[6] "Chronicle of World History" by Hutchinson.

[7] Raynham reference R208.

[8] Information originally provided by Malcolm Marjoram, baptism entry was located on visit to Suffolk Record Office on the 4 October 2001.

[9] Located at the Suffolk Record Office on visit 4 October 2001.

[10] Census information provided by Bill Raynham (R267).

[11] Census information provided by Bill Raynham (R267).

[12] Raynham reference R205.

[13] The Raynham Database has no entries prior to the 1861 census .

[14] Raynham reference R361.

[15] James Raynham R168 (Circa 1749-1830).

[16] John Raynham R320 (Circa 1777-1854).

[17] Date was printed on Elizabeth memorial card, printed for her burial.

[18] Raynham reference R240.

[19] Selected extracts from booklet obtained from the church.

[20] Raynham references R241, R242, R243, R273, R244, R85, R245, R246, R247 and R274 respectively.

[21] Can be searched at the Family Records Centre in London.

[22] Information provided by Lynn Davis.

[23] "The English A Social History 1066-1945" by Christopher Hibbert, page 387.

[24] Raynham reference R208.

[25] Copy ordered of this Ordnance Survey 6" scale map on visit to Suffolk Record Office 23 August 2001.

[26] Copy of entries received from Bill Raynham (R267).

[27] Noted on a memorial card on a visit to Barbara Elisabeth Bird nee Raynham (R345) on the 9 October 2001.

[28] Information from Lynn Davies, her email of the I February 1999 confirms census data, reference RG10/1745.

[29] Extracted from the National Burial Index held at the Family Records Centre in London.

[30] Photographer was H R Sherborn, Newmarket, as detailed on photo received from Alan Kearsley, the great grandson of James Raynham.

[31] Photographer was Clarke of Bury St Edmunds.

[32] Raynham references R362 & R392 respectively.

[33] Spencer Gore was the first champion.

[34] Bill Raynham & Charles Dyer.

[35] 1881 census  on CD-ROM and from data sent by Alan Kearsley.

[36] Based on information from Susan Jane Allan (R256) via Bill Raynham his second cousin.

[37] Majority of the information relating to the Stearn family came from Janet Cooper, Elmsett historian and additional material from Steve Barber.

[38] The purchase of their respective death certificates could provide the reasons for their early demise.

[39] Note the suffix (3) after Benjamin Stearn's name, this is to distinguish between successive Stearn generations that used the Benjamin name.

[40] The death certificate ordered from Family Records Centre.

[41] Medical clarification provided by Bill Raynham, a medical professional.

[42] Located microfiche burial parish register entry at Suffolk Record Office on visit 24 August 2001.

[43] The original card is held by Bill Raynham, a copy had been previously forwarded by Alan Kearsley.

[44] "The English A Social History 1066-1945" by Christopher Hibbert.

[45] Charles Dyer.

[46] "The Oxford Companion To Local and Family History" by David Hey.

[47] Original details from Lynn Davis, copy of will taken see Suffolk Record Office microfilm reference J599/13 Volume 15 pages 332 to 335.

[48] Copyhold tenancy was abolished in 1922 & replaced by leasehold tenancy.

[49] Note the family Lucas connection.

[50] Note the family Tomkins connection.

[51] Because exact birth dates are not known any age quoted must be approximated, the cost to purchase their birth certificates is prohibitive given the quantity.

[52] 1944 in the USA Selman A Waksman publishes description of the antibiotic streptomycin, a treatment for tuberculosis.

[53] Bill Raynham and Charles Dyer.

[54] The marriage banns for James and Minnie Philips were read on the 18, 25 August and the 1 September 1889.

[55] Bill Raynham's grandfather.