705 Mewse descendants are identified in this branch, not counting spouses

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MEWSE BRANCH
Names in red are my direct ancestors
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Last update 27 Apr 2008

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To see a summary of the Mewse family history please click here

Note: Variants of the name are all treated as "Mewse", and include Muse, Meuse, Meawse but not Mews which is a separate family

INDEX OF SURNAMES

Please click on the surname you are interested in, other than Mewse, to go to its location

Adams 1861...Adams 1867...Albrow...Alderson...Allden...Aldred 1705...Aldred abt 1950
Allen 1900...Allen abt 1921...Allerton 1792...Allerton 1797...Amiss...Andike...Applewhite
Archer...Ascough...Ashby 1588...Ashby 1934...Asher...Atkin...Ayres

Bagshaw...Bales...Ballard...Barafar...Barber 1797...Barber 1864...Bardwell 1649
Bardwell 1725...Barnard...Barnaby 1859...Barnaby abt 1870...Barnett...Barrett 1827...Barrett 1880...Bateman
Beck...Bell...Bessey...Betts 1888...Betts abt 1980...Bird 1861...Bird 1896
Bishop...Blowers...Boardley...Bollard 1625...Bollard 1673...Bollchen...Bolton
Bothwell...Bower...Bowyer 1923...Boyce...Bradle...Brame...Breach
Brethett...Brittain...Brook...Brooks...Bristow...Brown...Bryant 1908...Bryant abt 1915
Burgess...Bury...Butcher 1927...Butcher 1889...Butcher 1910...Butteson

Canham 1705...Canham 1706...Carter 1737...Carter 1965...Catchpole...Cawthorne...Chambers...Chapman ...Chatten 1846
Chatten 1859...Church...Clarke 1838...Clarke 1876...Clarke 1878...Clerke...Coby
Cock...Coe 1654...Coe 1676 1705...Cokoe...Coleman 1827...Coleman 1878...Coleman 1891...Coleman 1916
Connor...Coe 1654...Cooe...Cook 1868...Cook 1864...Coote...Cossey...Coward
Crickmore 1867...Crickmore abt 1901...Crickmore 1919...Crisp...Crispe...Cross 1764...Cross 1802
Cross abt 1950...Curtis

Darling...Dent...Dodman...Doe...Downs...Duncan...Dutton

Eache...Easter...Eade...Edmonds 1854...Edmonds abt 1930...Edwards...Ewart...Eves

Faulkener...Farrer...Fayerchild...Felton...Ferney...ffarabe...Fisher 1714
Fisher 1864...Firmin...Fisher abt 1918...Fowle...Fox...Frary...Freeman
French...Friend

Galo...Garner...Gates ...Gibson...Girling...Gislingham...Glasspool
Gobbett...Goddard...Goden...Godin...Goldsmith...Goldsmithe...Goodwin
Gordon...Gowen...Green 1620...Green 1899...Groom 1664...Grudgefield...Gryme

Hall 1598...Hall 1869...Hall 1898...Haltaway abt 1725...Haltaway 1754...Hammond...Harper
Harris...Harvey...Harwood 1679...Harwood 1902...Haslam...Hastie...Hawes
Haylett 1864...Haylett 1900...Hecht...Healey...Herris...Hewson...Hickleton
Hollamby...Hovell...Howes...Howard...Hubbard...Hulbert...Hunt

Jackson...Jarvis...Jenkenson...Jentleman...Johnson...Jones...Julings abt 1916

Kersey...Kingsbury...Killet 1671...Killet 1721...Knights ...

Langley...Lark...Last...Lawton 1894...Leach...Leeman...Leesingham
Liffen...Ling...Lingwood...Little...Long...Lott...Love
Loveday...Lowe 1861...Lull...

McDonald...McGregor...Manning...Marjoram...Mantripp 1876...Manning 1715...Manning 1725...Mantripp abt 1900...Marshall-Nicholls
Martin...Mason...May...Mayes...Mickleborough...Mighells...Mileham...Miller
Milsom...Milligan...Mitchell 1644...Mitchell abt 1940...Mizen...Moates...Monk...Moore...Mouse...Mower...Munns...Muse 1481...Muse 1508

Nelson...Neslen 1766...Neslen 1820...Newson 1812 and 1827...Newton...Neudagg...Nichols
Noble...Nunn

Osbaldstone...Osborn

Pacy...Page 1893...Page 1893...Pake...Palmer...Parr...Payne
Peach...Peak 1695...Peak 1837...Peake...Pearce...Pearson...Pennington
Perkins...Perney...Perret...Pickavance...Platt...Porter...Pope
Postle...Prentig(c)e...Pye

Randall...Raven...Ray...Read...Reynolds 1867...Reynolds abt 1945...Richardson
Rising...Rix...Robking...Ross...Rumsby...Russel...Ruthan...Rutter

Sadler...Sallows...Sargent...Saunders...Sayer...Seaman...Seppens
Sharman...Shaw...Shenfield...Sherlock...Shirris...Shonakan abt 1942...Siers
Smith 1681...Smith 1684...Smith 1746...Smith 1877...Smithson...Smyth...Soames...Sowell...Speciall
Spratt...Spurding...Squire...Starling...Stephens ab 1919...Sterry 1798...Sterry 1804
Sterry 1823...Sterry 1858...Sterry 1869...Stone 1844...Stone 1861...Stone 1906...Sturgeon
Symonds 1692...Symonds bef 1729

Taylor 1792...Taylor abt 1900...Thurling...Thurston...Tingay...Toppany...Treleven
Trundle...Turner...Turrell 1823...Turrell 1847...Turrell 1860

Urquhart...Vingoe

Wailton...Wall...Waller...Wells...White...White 1906 ...Wickenden...Wight
Wilcox...Wills...Wilkin...Williams...Wilson 1684
Wilson abt 1986...Wilson abt 1992...Wisbich...Wood...Woodcock...Woodhouse...Woods
Woods 1881...Woods 1884...Woodthorpe ...Wright 1709...Wright 1880...Wright 1882...Wright abt 1963...Wroth

There are few earlier references to the name MEWSE.

An Adrian MUSE was a "denizen" and London merchant and is recorded as having one bale with 12 cloths 6 yards in a barge belonging to Henry SMYTH going to Gravesend on 20 Feb 1481 and one bale with 12 cloths in the ship of Richard LULL on 25 Aug 1481.
The Suffolk Lay Subsidy return of 1524 lists Jaffrey MEWSE in South Elmham St George (value in goods: £4. paying 2s.0) and William MEWSE at Flixton in Elmham.
There is also a record of George MUSE who was warden of the church of the Grey Friars of Dunwich in 1505 and a John MEWSE bap 23 May 1574 in Norwich,
son of Bartholomew and Audrey who subsequently moved to Catfield where they had Thomas MEWSE bap 14 Feb 1587.
A Vance MEWSE was a servant with Roger JAMES in London, Tower Ward in 1582
Customs records for Sept. 1567-Sept. 1568 show Richard MOUSE to have been dealing in the following imports: ling, staplefish [good-quality, salted cod], eels, Scottish salmon and herrings.



GENERATION 1

1 WYLLYAM MEWSE b abt 1538 bur 26 Dec 1582 Lowestoft see will m Elizabeth bur 3 Jun 1607 Lowestoft

Note: Wyllyam, my 10 x great grandfather, was a butcher and owned two houses, one in High Street, Lowestoft and the other in West Lane (which became Swan Lane, now Mariner's Street. The house stood on the south side of Swan Lane at its junction with High Street). In 1568 he paid subsidy (a tax on land valued at £1) at the rate of 1s.. 4d. There is a record in the Manor book of 1581 showing William (with Mewse spelt Mease) as a juror.

His father or more probably his grandfather) may have been the John MUSE who was a butchers apprentice in 1508 - see details here. John married (a) Ann RUSSELL 1556 at Framingham Pigot and (b) ....COKOE, also at Framingham Pigot in 1561

The Muster Roll of 1535 shows "William Mewse's servant" as an able billman - this William is almost certainly father to Wyllyam above. [Proc Suff Inst Arch & Hist XVI]

Muster Rolls were periodic assessments of the availability of local militia to act as a defence force when needed.

William was a witness on 11 Apr 1582 as a "native tenant of the manor" in the surrender of land from Thomas JENTLEMAN senior to John ARCHER citizen and fishmonger of London.

Children of Wyllyam and Elizabeth
 1a....Elizabeth bur 6 Oct 1568
2......Thomas date unknown Lowestoft bur 18 Oct 1620
Thomas Mewse was recorded in the 1584 muster list as having a byll and salet (weapon similar to a halberd and a steel cap or helmet)
3......Margaret date unknown m Edward LEESINGHAM 15 Apr 1574
4......Alice bap 25 May 1589
5......Joanne b abt 1561
6......Willyam bap 20 Jul 1561 butcher bur 15 Apr 1592 Lowestoft
Note: William Mewsse was recorded in the 1584 muster list but no weapons were mentioned
7......Ann bap 12 Jun 1563 Lowestoft
8......Agnes m (a) Henry PRENTICE 21 Apr 1595 (issue:William d 1601) (b) Richard HALL 1598 [see Prentice branch]

1a Edward MEWSE m Margaret BOWER 1592 Catfield

Note: Edward may have been a son of Bartholomew and Audrey MEWSE, mentioned in the green header above

Children of Edward and Margaret
1b......Christopher bap 23 Jul 1594 Catfield
1c......Elizabeth bap 23 Mar 1596 Catfield
1d......Margaret bap 16 Apr 1600 Catfield



GENERATION 2

2 Thomas MEAWSE (butcher) bur 18 Oct 1620 Lowestoft m Phillipp PEARCE or PEARSE b 1563 [ see will ] (bur 6 Jul 1651 Lowestoft) 15 Sep 1583 Lowestoft St Margarets

Note: Thomas is recorded as a butcher living at the Bell Inn, paying a Lords rent of 1s 6d annually. The Manor Rolls for Lowestoft record that "Thomas Mewse held plot 120, a tenement called the Bell, bought in 1606 from Thomas GODDARD at an annual Lord's rent of 1/6d" (now 148 High Street, still substantially the same building) It passed to Simon HAMMOND on 10 Oct 1627 "on the surrender of Philippa Mewse, widow and her sons William and John"

You can see the house which was the Bell Inn or alehouse, now a private house but with alcohol adverts all over it, here It has now (2007) been modernised and the old adverts have gone.

The house in West Lane left him by his father passed to one "GOLDSMITHE" and then to Richard BURY. It was described in the Manor Roll of 1618 [NRO 194/A10/73] as being "Situated south of West Street and abutting onto the High Street to the east, and on to the house of Gilbert BATEMAN (formerly held by Nicholas HEWSON) to the West". Presumably it was surplus to Thomas' requirements when he inherited it.

Although the house in West Street seems to have passed on his father's death to Mr Goldsmithe, Thomas did own two other properties. The first of these was passed on to Alice BURY widow who paid 4d Lord's rent, and stood on the corner of Swan Lane (now Mariner's Street) and High Street (now under the Town Hall). The second one belonged to George SEPPENS who may have been a butcher and paid 4d Lord's rent, and stood on the south side of Swan Lane, again under the modern town hall complex.

On 25 Feb 1582, a Ralph FAYERCHILD was fined 3s 4d for "making an affray upon Thomas MEWSE"

(The name Phillipp was in the 16th and 17th centuries a girl's name - Phillipa does not appear until the mid 19th century.)

Thomas was in trouble with the law on a number of occassions and was fined in the Leet Court [NRO 194/A10/73]:
7 Mar 1584 fined 3d for obstructing the roadway with "neets scalpis" (cattle heads) (with six other butchers)
7 Mar 1618 fined 6d for selling beer by unlawful measure (with 10 others)
2 Mar 1620 fined 3d for the same offence (with 8 others)
16 Feb 1621 fined 12d for selling beer by unlawful measure. Since he was buried on 18 Oct 1620 this was a posthumus fine!)
These were my 9 x great grandparents.

Children of Thomas and Phillipp
9......Willyam bap 20 Jun 1585 Lowestoft bur 17 Jul 1656 Lowestoft
10....Margaret bap 22 Feb 1590 Lowestoft bur 15 Jun 1590
11.... John bap 20 Aug 1592 Lowestoft bur 29 May 1667 Lowestoft
12.....Ann bap 1594 Lowestoft bur 12 Jan 1678 m Thomas FELTON 1 Mar 1635 Lowestoft
Note: see Felton branch here

5 Joan MEWSE m Robert GISLINGHAM abt 1581

Children of Robert and Joan
5a......Christian (female) bap 28 Apr 1582 Lowestoft
5b......Daniell bap 27 Jul 1585 Lowestoft
5c......Wyllyam bap 6 Aug 1587 Lowestoft

6 Willyam MEWSE b 1561 m Elizabeth ASHBY (bap 28 Nov 1568 Lowestoft bur 3 Jun 1607 Lowestoft) 20 Jul 1588 Lowestoft

Note: William was a butcher. Elizabeth was the daughter of Robert and Annes ASHBY

Children of Willyam and Elizabeth
13......Alice bap 25 May 1589 Lowestoft
14......Michaell bap 27 Sep 1590 Lowestoft



GENERATION 3

It was in this generation that the worst of the Lowestoft fires occurred. An account of the losses and costs can be seen here

0P1 Mark PACY (d 1596) m (a) unknown (b) Elizabeth WIGHT (d 1620 Lowestoft)

Note: Mark was a sailor at first but gave up the seafaring life after buying property sand fishing boats and became a prosperous businessman. After Mark's death, Elizabeth continued to expand the family interests. See Elizabeth's will here

Child of Mark and Elizabeth
P1......Nicholas bap 9 Jul 1581 Lowestoft d 1652
P1a....Margaret bap 18 Aug 1583 bur 8 Mar 1585
P1b....Elizabeth bap 9 May 1585 bur 9 Jun 1590
P1c....Barbara bap 22 Jun 1589 bur 20 Oct 1589
P1d....John bap 16 Aug 1590
P1e....Samuel bap 9 Jul 1592 bur 2 Aug 1611
P1f....Thomas bap 7 Apr 1594

9 Willyam MEWSE bap 20 Jun 1585 m Emme (Em, Amy, Aime) ALLDEN 26 Dec 1608 Lowestoft

Note: William paid 13s 4d in ship money in 1636 - one of the highest in Lowestoft! [NRO 589/178] and again in 1640 he paid 3s 4d

William lost £150 of goods in the fire of 10 Mar 1645 which were stored in the yard of the Bell Inn, where they were probably hiring premises or outbuildings from Simon HAMMOND he having bought the messuage from Phillipa MEWSE and her sons in Oct 1627.

The Leet Court records that he was elected constable and ale-taster on 2 Mar 1620 and ale taster again on 1 Mar 1623

William was admitted to the west end of a tenement at Lord's rent of 2d on 6 Aug 1645. The following year he mortgaged the dwelling to Thomas LEEMAN for £22..8s It was then sold by William and Thomas LEEMAN to Robert RIX The same place was occupied by 33 Simon Mewse below

Children of Willyam and Emme
15......Ann dob unknown
15a....William bap 28 Nov 1619 Lowestoft d 1699 Lowestoft
Note: In 1680 he was churchwarden
16......Thomas bap 24 Oct 1621 Lowestoft (lost £20 goods in the fire) bur 6 May 1688 Lowestoft
17......Mary bap 26 Sep 1624 Lowestoft bur 16 Mar 1626
18......Simond bap 2 Nov 1623 Lowestoft d 13 Nov 1623
19......Marye b 30 May 1626 Lowestoft bap 26 Dec 1626 m Matthew WOODS 20 Nov 1645
20......Phillip b 2 Feb 1629 bap 14 Jun 1629 Lowestoft
21......Simon bap 25 Mar 1632 Lowestoft bur 15 Nov 1708 Lowestoft "an ancient man"
Note: Simon was a signatory to the Fisherman's petition of 1670 which may be seen here
22......Elizabeth bap 7 Apr 1634 Lowestoft bur 17 Apr 1637 Lowestoft
23......Alice bap 23 Jan 1637 Lowestoft bur 2 May 1639 Lowestoft
24...... Samuel bap 24 Mar 1639 Lowestoft bur 4 Sep 1641 Lowestoft

11 John MEWSE b 20 Aug 1592 bur 29 May 1667 m Mary GREEN (b 9 Jun 1590, Spexhall bur 31 Mar 1674) 28 Aug 1620, Lowestoft.

Note: John lost £100 worth of goods in the great fire of March 10th 1644/5, and his son (25) John lost £50 worth of goods. John paid 2s in ship money in 1636 [NRO 589/178]
John was elected ale taster in the Leet Court of 16 Feb 1621 and on 26 Feb 1653 he was elected hog reeve (the person responsible for seeing that all pigs' snouts were ringed)
In the same Leet Court he was fined on 10 Feb 1649 for not maintaining the footway next to his house (3d), and a further 3d for not scouring out his ditch
These were my 8 x great grandparents
Children of John and Mary
25......John bap 24 Feb 1622 Lowestoft m Ann MITCHELL abt 1644, Catfield, Suffolk
26......Thomas bap 1 Feb 1624 Lowestoft bur 6 May 1688 Lowestoft m Ann KILLET, widow 26 Feb 1671 Lowestoft
27......Mary bap 30 May 1626 Lowestoft bur as spinster 2 Apr 1734
28......John bap 1627 Lowestoft m Elizabeth
29......Philip bap 2 Feb 1628/9 Lowestoft
30......Alice bap 5 Feb 1631/2 Lowestoft m Mr BRETHETT25 Feb 1650 Lowestoft
31......Francis bap 25 Jan 1634/5 Lowestoft bur 3 Dec 1709 Lowestoft " an ancient man" m twice in 1659 and 1687
32......William bap 29 Oct 1637 Lowestoft bur 15 Nov 1713 Lowestoft
33......Simon bap 18 Apr 1641 Lowestoft (butcher) d 1719
34......Jane bap 6 Sep 1646 Lowestoft

Ale Tasters, who were appointed by the court-leet were sworn "to examine and assay the beer and ale, and to take care that they were good and wholesome, and sold at proper prices according to the assize; that proper measures were used and also to present all defaults of brewers to the next court-leet."

Manorial in origin the constable had been the link between the Lord of the Manor and his tenants, and was also the keeper of law and order. He was appointed from the better off members of the parish by the jury of the leet court. The post was unpaid and no expenses were given. The constable raised taxes and kept accounts.

It seems that the appointee had no say in the matter - his appointment was for one year, when he was replaced with a new ale taster or constable
Lowestoft was a royalist town, but not particularly strongly so - its defences consisted of a rope across High Street and a cannon which was unloaded. Not very frightening for Oliver Cromwell! He arrested the official defence

F1 William FRARY m (a) Alice BOLLARD 12 Sep 1625 Lowestoft (b) Elizabeth BARAFAR 18 May 1627 Lowestoft (See Frary branch here)

Note:These were my eight times great grandparents

A Margaret BARAFAR is recorded as marrying William RAILTON in Lowestoft in 1615 - probably a sister to Elizabeth

When Oliver Cromwell went to Lowestoft in March 1643 to thwart a royalist arms shipment he stayed overnight at the Swan Inn - next door to William Frary, separated only by Swan Score entrance.. Cromwell's troops may well have been requisitioning various things and William as taking no chances - he hid his horse in the parlour of his house!

Child of William and Alice
F2......Alice b 1626 Lowestoft d 1626 Lowestoft

Children of William and Elizabeth
F3......Ralfe bap 26 Feb 1628 Lowestoft bur 27 Mar 1628 Lowestoft
F4......Elizabeth bap 6 Dec 1629 Lowestoft
F5......Margaret bap 12 May 1632 Lowestoft bur 12 May 1632 Lowestoft
F6......Ann bap 14 Jul 1633 Lowestoft
F7......Margaret bap 11 Oct 1635 Lowestoft
F8......William bap 11 Feb 1638 Lowestoft
F9......Susan bap 20 Feb 1643 Lowestoft m John PEAKE 21 Apr 1664 Lowestoft
F10....Rebecca bap 20 Feb 1643 Lowestoft

P1 Nycolas PACYE m Margaret EACHE (d 1620, Lowestoft) 1609 Lowestoft

Note: Nycolas was a mariner, known locally as "Captain Pacy" and became a succesful fish merchant

Children of Nycolas and Margaret
P2......Nicholas b abt 1614 Lowestoft d 5 Nov 1680 Lowestoft aged 66 m Katherine MOORE 1638 Wrentham
Note: Nicholas emigrated soon after his marriage to Katherine who came from Corton, and was granted 10 acres of land in Salem, Massachusetts on 21 Nov 1638, and was granted a further 30 acres in 1639. Katherine died, perhaps in childbirth in March 1640. The Salem witchcraft trials took place some 50 years later. He returned to Lowestoft at some unknown date.
P3......Elizabeth dob unknown
P4......Thomas dob unknown
Note: In 1674 Thomas was assessed as having 2 hearths for the Hearth Tax
P5......John dob unknown
P6......Samuel b 1624 d 17 Sept 1680 aged 56
P7 ......Margaret dob unknown



GENERATION 4

16 Thomas MEWSE bap 24 Oct 1621 m (a) P3 Elizabeth PACY (bur 28 Feb 1656/7) 23 Oct 1648 Lowestoft (b) Dorotha RISING (b abt 1626 Woolferton bur 3 Feb 1670) 13 Apr 1659 Lowestoft

Note: Thomas, who was a carpenter, seems to have spent some time in Bermondsey, but in 1667 he was back in Lowestoft at the Manorial court in connection with the Lowestoft tithe barn messuage. He was assessed for hearth tax in 1674 as having 3 hearths, but the entry was marked "empty a Yeare".

Dorothy RISING brought to their marriage one small house and a fish house at Lords rent of 7p as a result of her husband William RISINGs will - she was admitted 27 Feb 1658 Dorothy's will left it to husband Thomas who was admitted on 23 Aug 1671. Thomas, with the release of William RISING, jnr, surrendered the property to Mary PORTER on 14 May 1673. This property stood at the bottom of Gallows Score/Cart Score. The site is now part of the Sparrow's Nest garden area.

Children of Thomas and Elizabeth
36......William 12 Dec 1647 Lowestoft bur 19 Nov 1688 Somerleyton
37......Sarah bap 14 Oct 1649 Lowestoft bur 26 Feb 1658 Lowestoft
38......Elizabeth bap 14 Oct 1649 Lowestoft bur 28 Feb 1658 Lowestoft
39......Mary bap 20 Jul 1655 Lowestoft bur 10 Nov 1684 Lowestoft m (a) James MAYES 30 Aug 1675 [see Mayes branch] (b) Thomas ANDIKE widower 18 Dec 1716 Lowestoft
39a....Ann dob unknown

P6 Samuel PACY m Elizabeth BARDWELL (b 1624 Topcroft) 1649 Topcroft with Denton

Note: This is the Samuel Pacy whose daughters were claimed as bewitched and whose evidence led to the execution of two Lowestoft witches: you can read all about here
Samuel Pacy was one of the richest and most influential men in Lowestoft of his time and was well known as a dissenter. He owned two fishing boats (handling 750000 fish in the autumn of 1662 and his own merchant vessel called "the Red Lyon". He also had shares in two other ships - the "Black Lyon" and the "Baltic Trader" as well as smaller shares in the "Riga Merchant" and the "Neptune"; both merchantmen. He lent money on mortgage and his principal house was rated as having 8 hearths, one of the largest in Lowestoft. When he died he left £2387 in cash, and his wife Elizabeth was a good enough businesswoman to have increased it to over £2849 when she died two years later.
In 1647 he became a trustee of the Lowestoft Townlands, was many times a juryman and twice served as churchwarden; in 1662 he was an Overseer of the Poor"

Children of Samuel and Elizabeth
P8......Susan bap 12 Apr 1647 Lowestoft bur 22 Mar 1707
P9......Elizabeth bap 29 Jan 1650 Lowestoft d 14 Oct 1657 Lowestoft
P10....Deborah b 1653 bap 12 Apr 1654 Lowestoft d 23 Jan 1695
P11....William bap 5 Mar 1656 Lowestoft bur 26 Oct 1656 Lowestoft
P12....Mary bap 24 Aug 1657 Lowestoft
P13....John bap 10 Oct 1664 Lowestoft

29 Phillip MEWSE (bap 1629 bur 18 Apr 1673) Lowestoft m (a) Alice (b) Ann (bur 2 Sep 1679) 1654 Lowestoft

Note: Phillip was a butcher

Children of Phillip and Ann
40......Anne bap 22 Feb 1655 Lowestoft m William COE 30 Aug 1675 Lowestoft
40a....Margrat bap 16 Nov 1655 Lowestoft.
40b....Philip bap 13 Apr 1657 Lowestoft
41......William b abt 1660 Lowestoft bur 10 Jan 1688/9 Somerleyton
42......Elezbeth bap 22 Nov 1666 Lowestoft m John WILSON 9 Oct 1684 Lowestoft
43...... Philip bap 4 Oct 1668 Lowestoft bur 12 May 1669 Lowestoft
44...... John bap 19 Feb 1670 Lowestoft
45......Alice bap 10 Feb 1671 Lowestoft m Daniell LONG 15 Sep 1693

20 Philip MEWSE m (a) Ann HOWARD (bur 31 May 1689 Lowestoft) 1651 Blundeston (b) Margaret GROOM (b1665 Lowestoft)

CHildren of Philip and Ann
20a......Mary bap 2 Jul 1652 Lowestoft m Mr BOLLARD
20b......Ann bap 22 Feb 1655 Lowestoft bur 17 Jun 1728 m Mr COE abt 1676
20c......Phill(ippa) bap 13 Apr 1657

21 Simon MEWSE bap 1632 m Judith COE(bur 25 Jun 1699) bef 1654

Note: Simon was assessed as having 2 hearths for the hearth tax of 1674

Simon was elected constable at the Leet Court of 27 Feb 1669
He was elected ale-taster on both 11 Mar 1761 and 15 Feb 1673
He was fined 3d for not maintaining the footpath next to his house on 24 Feb 1672
These Leet Court records probably refer to this Simon but may refer to 33 Simon
He was elected constable on 13 Feb 1692 at the Leet Court. Judith's surname was revealed in her grandmother's (Phama KNIGHTS) will of 20 Aug 1656

Children of Simon and Judith
46......Ann bap 7 Aug 1654 Lowestoft bur 14 Aug 1737 Lowestoft
46a....William bap 6 Jan 1657 bur 20 Mar 1716 aged 60
46b....Mary dob unknown, bur 2 Apr 1734 Lowestoft
47...... Simon bap 4 Dec 1664 Lowestoft bur 30 Oct 1736 Lowestoft
48......Judith bap 17 Nov 1667 Lowestoft bur 4 May 1669 Lowestoft
49......John bap 26 Mar 1669 Lowestoft bur 8 Apr 1690 Lowestoft
50......Judith bap 8 Jan 1673 Lowestoft bur 9 Feb 1675 Lowestoft
51......Hovell bap 21 Sep 1675 Lowestoft
52......Havel bap 18 Dec 1679 Lowestoft bur 5 Jan 1680 Lowestoft
52a....Elisabeth bap 13 Dec 1677 Lowestoft bur 22 Dec 1758 Lowestoft
52b....Mary bap 2 Apr 1685 bur 4 Oct 1685 Somerleyton

28 John MEWSE bap 1627 m Elizabeth (bur 20 Sep 1679, Somerleyton)

Child of John and Elizabeth
53......John d.o.b. unknown bur 1 Apr 1664 Somerleyton

31 Francis MEWSE bap 1635 bur 3 Dec 1709 m (a) Elezbeth MUNNS (b 14 Jul 1633 Lowestoft d 2 Jul 1686)
(b) Elisabeth GORDON, widow 13 Dec 1687 Lowestoft

Note: Elezbeth was the daughter of Israel MUNNS (fisherman) and Elizabeth Francis who was a cordwainer, signed the petition in 1670 and was a cordwainer at death. See a summary of his will here

Francis was admitted to property at 1d Lords rent (now 138 High Street) on 6 Jan 1686. It passed to his grandchildren by the terms of his will

Children of Francis and Elezbeth
54......John bap 11 Jul 1661 Lowestoft bur 8 Apr 1690 "a young man" Lowestoft m Anne (bur 13 Aug 1721) (issue: Elizabeth b 8 Dec 1688)
55......Elizabeth bap 3 Apr 1664 Lowestoft
56......Israll bap 23 Dec 1666 Lowestoft bur 14 June 1669 Lowestoft
57......Francis bap 16 June 1669 Lowestoft
58......Samuel bap 21 Oct 1672 Lowestoft bur 23 Apr 1678 Lowestoft

32 William MEWSE bap 1637 d Nov 1713 ( see will) m (a) F10 Rebecca FRARY [bap 2 Feb 1640, Lowestoft, dau of William FRARYE and Elizabeth BARAFAR, bur 24 Feb 1676/7] 19 Aug 1658 (b) Ruth SMITH (d 1714)(date unknown)

See FRARY branch here

Note: These were my 7 x great grandparents. William (a butcher) and Rebecca lived for a while in Wapping, returning to Lowestoft, perhaps, to escape the plague. At some stage William was living in Gt Yarmouth, for he was the joint guarantor on 27th Oct 1691 with Robert SEAMAN, a shipwright, of a settlement bond for a Robert SPECIALL, woolcomber previously of Norwich and his wife and family: William is recorded (YC/35/155) as a pulley maker.

The tithe accounts book of 1698 to 1767 recorded that he "had not held any cattle for three year"

William was fined in the Leet Court [NRO194/A10/4 - 16] 3d for not maintaining Lyons Score (now Crown Score) on 27 Feb 1669, and again on 11 Apr 1671. On 9 Mar 1709 along with four others he was fined 3d for failing to maintain the footpath alongside his property adjacent to the Denes (now 34 High Street)

Their house passed to 70 William on hos mothers death, but occupied by Simon and Ruth Canhamin 1720

William also owned copyhold three tenements witha slaughterhouse at 5d Lords rent for the tenements and 1d for the slaughterhouse from 12 Mar 1673. It had previously been owned by Mary ROBKING and was clearly used to raise mortgages, and presumably to let to tenants. It was mortgaged on 3 Mar 1688 to Richard JENKENSON for £106, on 27 Jul 1692 to Susan FERNEY for £105 (cleared 31 May 1704), again to Samuel WRIGHT and Robert PAKE for £105 (cleared 7 Dec 1709) and promptly on 7 Dec 1709 mortgaged again to Samuel WRIGHT for £105. The tenements passed to 70 William by the terms of his father's will. The property stood on the south side of Swan Lane (now Mariner's Street) and is beneath the Town Hall.

William was elected fen reeve (Supervisor of hedge and fence maintenance) together with his son William (70 below) on 9 Feb 1706

Children of William and Rebecca
59...... William bap 20 Jun 1659 Wapping d 17 Nov 1727 Wapping
Note: William went to live in Wapping as an adult, and was a butcher See his will here This is the Wlliam who was cut off with a 5/- bequest in his father's will
60......Rebecca bap 1660 Wapping m Thomas HARWOOD 5 Mar 1679
61......Thomas bap 4 Jul 1665 Lowestoft bur 24 Apr 1669
62...... John bap 29 Feb 1668 Lowestoft bur 20 Aug 1670
63......Thomas bap 1669 Lowestoft d 7 Mar 1670
64......Thomas bap 31 Jul 1670 Lowestoft bur 7 Aug 1670
65......Thomas bap 28 Aug 1671 Lowestoft lived later in Ormesby
66......Elizabeth bap 12 Nov 1672 Lowestoft d 5 Aug 1673 Lowestoft
67......John bap 7 Jun 1674 Lowestoft bur 28 Jun 1674 Lowestoft
68......Susannah bap 25 Apr 1676 Lowestoft bur 28 Jun 1677 Lowestoft

Child of Ruth and unknown
69......Ruth m Caleb ALDRED [see Aldred branch]
Note: Ruth was married to Caleb as Ruth SMITH, with "MEWSE" crossed out. This seems to confirm that she was the illegitimate daughter of Ruth Smith, although as the step daughter of William, she was almost certainly known as Mewse. Perhaps William was her real father?

 Children of William and Ruth
69a....Ruth bap 23 Jun 1678 Lowestoft m Simon CANHAM 31 Jan 1706
Note: in the parish register her name is recorded as Ruth MOUSE
70......William b abt 1680
71......Mary bur 17 Mar 1682 Lowestoft
72......Ann m John WROTH, widower, 29 Apr 1697

33......Simon MEWSE bap 1641 d 1719 m (a) Ann COOE or COOD (bap 10 Jun 1643 bur 10 Dec 1683) 25 Sep 1667, (b) Ann GOBBETT, widow, 28 Jan 1693.


Note: Simon was a butcher. He was admitted to a house (previously occupied by 9 William above) but immediately beforehand by Susan TITLOW a widow, on 18 Dec 1667. It was left in his will to 81 Ann Wisbridge for the eastern part and to 75 Simon for the western half. This property stood on the south side of Bell Lane (now Crown Street East) to the west of the curtilage of the Bell Inn

See a summary of his will here

He was assessed as having 2 hearths in 1674. The Tithe accounts book for 1798 to 1867 show that he "held" one cattle, but the Tithe book (NRO 589/90) of 1707 claims 2 cattle due to the minister but that Simon had none. In 1708 this claim was made zero.

Children of Simon and Ann
73......Simon b 29 Feb 1668 Lowestoft bap 3 Aug 1688 Lowestoft bur 2 Sep 1668
74......Ann bap 12 Feb 1671 bur 28 Jun 1676 Lowestoft
75......Simon bap 27 Sep 1672 Lowestoft bur 30 Nov 1736
Note: Simon was churchwarden in 1732 and 1733, and was a butcher
76......Thomas b 11 Mar bap 11 Mar 1673/4 Lowestoft
77......Elizabeth bap 16 Nov 1675 Lowestoft m Humphry CARTER, widower, 7 Nov 1737
78......John bap 8 Apr 1677 Lowestoft bur 12 Oct 1677
79......John bap 25 Nov 1677 Lowestoft d 1752 Stepney bur at St George in the East, Stepney m Alice (issue: 79a......Elizabeth 79b......Thomas b 16 Jul 1714 bur 12 Apr 1718)
Note: John was a surgeon - almost certainly a ship's surgeon. See his will here and Elizabeth's will here
80......Samuel bap 4 Aug 1678 Lowestoft bur 23 Dec 1707
81......Ann bap 16 Sep 1681 Lowestoft m Henry WISBICH 6 Dec 1708 Lowestoft
82......Alice bap 28 May 1682 Lowestoft bur 24 Mar 1709/10 "a young woman" Lowestoft
83......Mary bap 3 Feb 1683 Lowestoft
83a....Margaret dob unknown, d before 1752 m William HOWES 1707 Wortham

Note: in this generation it is recorded that in April 1699, Benjamin MEWSE was a member of the Council of the East India Company

There is a record of the burial of an infant, Judith, on 2 Feb 1689, without identification of the parents



GENERATION 5

36 William MEWSE bur 19 Nov 1688 Somerleyton m Amphillis

Note: William was a parish overseer of Hopton in 1673; Amphillis m (as widow) Augustin MILEHAM 17 May 1692 Somerleyton

Children of William and Amphillis
84......Elizabeth bap 11 Dec 1673 Hopton bur 25 Oct 1710 Somerleyton
85......John bap 4 Dec 1675 Hopton m Eliza KED..Y.ER 10 Jan 1695 Somerleyton
Note: John was described in the register as "gent"
86......Mary bap 4 Oct 1683 Somerleyton bur 4 Oct 1685
87......Mary bap 2 Apr 1685 Somerleyton
88......Ann bap 3 Jan 1685/6 Somerleyton
89......Frances bur 28 May 1691 Somerleyton

44 John MEWSE bap 1669 bur 19 Jan 1742 Lowestoft , butcher, m (a) Sarah PEAKE (bur 3 Sep 1711 d of smallpox in epidemic) 1696 (b) Alice

Note: On 13 Mar 1714 John was elected Constable at the Leet Court sitting

Children of John and Sarah
90.....Sarah bap 30 Aug 1695 Lowestoft bur 9 Feb 1696 Lowestoft
91......Alice bap 30 Aug 1695 Lowestoft bur 12 Sep 1695 Lowestoft
92......John bap 4 Feb 1697 Lowestoft d in infancy
93......John bap 25 Feb 1698 Lowestoft bur 20 Mar 1698 Lowestoft
94......Ann bap 21 Mar 1699 Lowestoft d 26 Mar 1699
95......Judith bap 23 Aug 1706 Lowestoft m (a) Thomas TOPPANNY 30 Jan 1729 Lowestoft and (b) Thomas TINGAY 26 Dec 1736 [IGI M009831]
96......Ann bap 8 Mar 1702/3 Lowestoft d in infancy
97......Sarah bap 17 Apr 1704 Lowestoft m John HAWES 5 May 1726 Lowestoft
98......Ann bap 26 Jul 1709 Lowestoft d in infancy 1710 of smallpox.
99......Ann bap 16 Jan 1711 Lowestoft m Thomas SOWELL 9 Feb 1734 Lowestoft (See Allerton branch)

Children of John and Alice
100....Thomas b 1714 bur 12 Apr 1718 Lowestoft - died of smallpox.

46a William MEWSE m Mary

Note: See William's will here

Wiliam was elected ale-taster on 8 Mar 1690 at the Leet court, but on 28 Feb 1691 was fined 10s 0d for not carrying out his duties . He and 12 others were fined 3d at the same sitting of the Leet Court for not maintaining the footway adjacent to his house.

William, a butcher, is recorded in 1686 in the manor rolls as buying the copyhold of no 71 High Street This was on the corner of High St and Rants Score - in later years some tenement houses were built in the rear of the garden and became 1 - 5 Rants Score, dwelt in by William's descendants.

William also had 2 tenements at 3d Lords rent previously held by Ann ARNOLD to which he was admitted on 29 Nov 1710. In the year before he died he mortgaged the property to Robert GRAVE for an unknown sum, and his widow Mary was admitted to it on 16 May 1716. The poperty lies in the St Margaret Plain area, but was on the north side of Fairstead/Almshouse Lane, now Dove St.

In 1692 and in 1693 William was fined 3d each time for blocking a drain (presumably a ditch) with sheeps' heads! Archaeological digging in the garden behind no 71 High St revealed huge amounts of bones, all showing the usual signs of butchery

But the piece de resistance was his being fined 6d for "inflating his veal with wind"!!! (shades of John Mewse of 1508 fame - see above)

The Lowestoft Tithe book entry for 12 Jun 1707 shows that the Minister was claiming 6 cows of William Mewse Score Head [probably his address to differentiate from 32 William from whom the minister was also claiming]. The following year on Apr 29 the minister was also claiming 6 cows, and the comment at the side says "he has more to reccon with you for".

On 15 Sep 1686 William and Mary were admitted to property described as "several tenements with yard" at 7d Lord's rent (now 70 - 71 High Street) previously occupied by John and Mary PORTER. Mary stayed there after William's death. The property was mortgaged to Sarah ALEXANDER in the sum of £105 and cleared on 1 Apr 1691 but was remortgaged on 12 Aug 1713 to John SMITH. It was later forfeited to Joshua SMITH, heir to John.

Children of William and Mary
100a......Mary bap 17 Mar 1682 bur 9 Jun 1682 Lowestoft
100b......Mary dob unknown m James KINGSBURY Note: Their first child 100a-1......James was bap 3 Oct 1708 Lowestoft
100c......Margaret bur 29 Aug 1694 Lowestoft
100d......William bur 6 Jan 1688 Lowestoft
100e......Simon bur 16 Jan 1691 Lowestoft
100f......Thomas bap 21 Oct 1702
100g......Elizabeth dob unknown [source: will]
100h......Rebecca dob unknown [source: will]

47 Simon MEWSE bap 4 Dec 1664 bur 30 Oct 1736 Lowestoft [see will] and see inventory here m (a) Elizabeth MANNING (d 5 Mar 1729 bur 7 Mar 1729 aged 34) 24 Nov 1715 Lowestoft. (See Manning Branch here) and (b) Mary PEACH 1 Jul 1729

NOTE: Mary Peach re-married after Simon's death to Richard SALLOWS 21 May 1738

Simon (described as junior) was elected ale-taster on 13 Feb 1692 (his father was elected Constable at the same court sitting0

A memorial inscription in St Margaret's Lowestoft reads:-
"Here resteth the body of Simon Mewse who departed this life the 27th October 1736"

Simon became churchwarden of St Margaret's Church, and his initials are on the inner face of the plain wooden door and was elected constable at the Leet Court on 17 Feb 1689

Children of Simon and Elizabeth
101......Simon bap 24 Sep 1716 Lowestoft d 27 Jan 1716/7
102......Alice b 1717 Lowestoft
103......Elizabeth bap 6 Apr 1718 Lowestoft bur 3 Aug 1719 Lowestoft
104...... Margaret bap 7 Aug 1719 Lowestoft d 20 Aug 1719
105......Ann bap 26 Feb 1720/1 Lowestoft bur 7 Apr 1721
106......Mary bap 22 Apr 1722 Lowestoft bur 26 Apr 1722 Lowestoft
107......Simon bap 2 May 1723 Lowestoft bur 5 Jul 1723 Lowestoft
108......Margaret bap 3 Jun 1726 Lowestoft bur 17 Nov 1726 Lowestoft
109......Mary bap 24 Nov 1727 Lowestoft m James CURTIS (bur 9 Jan 1797) 29 Jul 1748 by licence
Note: James was a decorator at Lowestoft Porcelain. You can see an article about the subject here

 Children of Simon and Mary
110......Simon bap 1 Jun 1733 Lowestoft bur 19 Aug 1734 Lowestoft
111......John bap 26 Oct 1734 Lowestoft bur 2 Nov 1734 Lowestoft

55 Elizabeth MEWSE m Henry DOE

Children of Henry and Elizabeth
55a......John dob unknown
55b......Rebecca dob unknown

Note: A William MEWSE married a Mary KILLETT Norwich St Stephen 2 Oct 1722

There is a gaol delivery record in London, 1707, of a Mary MEWSE (Mdx sessions of the Peace) for throwing away books and MSS of William CAWTHORNE while cleaning his room in his absences. [ref MJ/SP/1707]

Samuel MEWSE and Martha SQUIRE completed a licence allegation 28 Jul 1720. Samuel and Martha lived in Wapping where he was described in 1721 as a Master and Mariner, and he wrote his will at this time, (see it here) although it was not proved until 1759. He was asked in a letter from Admiral Lestock on 23 July 1746 to undertake a survey of a ship, the Hare Transport, which had been deemed unfit for sea , along with Nicholas TRELEVEN, Michael GODEN, Thomas SMITH, Thomas LOVE and Simon COWARD

Benjamin MEWSE, an infant was buried 12 Aug 1697 Lowestoft without having parents recorded

59 William MEWSE b 1658 bap 20 Jun 1659 m (a) Ann SMITH (bap 25 Oct 1663 d 17 Nov 1727 bur 22 Nov 1727 London) abt 1684 (see Smith and Seamans branch)

Note: William and Ann were my 6 x great grandparents.

Samuel Smith was Ann's father and his memorial stone in Lowestoft states 'Also his daughter Ann ye wife of Mr William Mewse of St John, Wapping who departed November ye 17th 1727 aged 64 years.'

William was fined 3d for not maintaning the footway next to his house on 4 Mar 1693, and was elected ale-taster at the same Leet Court sitting

On 25 May 1692 they were admitted to property (now 59 - 60 High Street) described as one messuage with yard and fish houses at 6d Lord's rent. On 29 Jul 1702 the property was mortgaged to John STROUD for £84, which was cleared on 9 Apr 1718. In 1711, the Rev Tanner records that "The Bell at Church lately cast being not approved of for Sound etc. It was new cast in Willm Mewse's Fish House by Thomas Newman in May 1711 and weighed 17cwt 0qr 14lbs".

In 1717 the property was affected by the fire which swept through part of Lowestoft.

"On the 12th of November 1717, about four in the morning another sudden and terrible fire broke out in this town, in the fish-houses belonging to the co-heirs of Captain Josiah MIGHELLS. then in the occupation of Joseph SMITHSON which, in a short space of time, entirely consumed the said houses, together with part of those houses belonging to William MEWSE which laid to the south.... The wind blew pretty fresh at south east so that the sparks flew over the town and once actually fired the thatch of a house in Swan Lane, but men and water being ready for that purpose it was immediately stopped"
- an account of the fire by Edmund Gillingwater, local historian

Ann's father Samuel left her one tenement, previously in his own occupation at 8d Lord's rent: she was admitted on 7th Oct 1719. This tenement stood , now partly occupied by the Wesley House, a sheltered accommodation complex and partly under Jubilee Way.

Children of William and Ann
112......Rebecka bap 9 Jan 1685 m John OSBORN 16 Nov 1718 Lowestoft
113......Samuel bap 14 Jan 1688 Lowestoft
113a....Simon bur as infant, 16 Jan 1690/1 Lowestoft
113b....Judith bur 4 Feb 1690 Lowestoft
113b....John bur 27 Feb 1693 Lowestoft
113b....Mary bap 7 Dec 1694 Lowestoft
114......Elizabeth bap 20 May 1697 bur 22 Dec 1758, spinster in Wapping
115......John bap 25 Jun 1700 m Mary RANDALL 26 May 1730
116......Susannah bap 2 Aug 1702 Lowestoft d 27 May 1742 spinster
117......Ruth bap 2 Aug 1702 Lowestoft d 5 Oct 1702 interred in same plot with her mother, Lowestoft
118......Thomas d o b unknown
119......Margaret dob unknown d abt 1748 Wapping as spinster - see will here

Sarah MEWSE d 3 Sep 1711, clearly not a Sarah above in this generation,

There was a William MEWSE baker in Terrington St Clements [will of 1747]

65 Thomas MEWSE bap 1674 m Elizabeth CANHAM 19 Apr 1705

Note: He and Elizabeth were jointly admitted to copyhold in the Manor of Carlton 4 Apr 1722 and Thomas alone to one in Broomholme at the same date. Elizabeth was the daughter of Simon CANHAM, a mariner, and Sarah PHILBY Thomas and Elizabeth were non-conformists.

Children of Thomas and Elizabeth
120......Thomas bap 1 Nov 1706 [poss un-named child buried 20 Nov 1710]
121......Sarah bap 4 Oct 1708 Lowestoft m Thomas POSTLE by licence 7 Jan 1731
Note: Sarah's baptism was marked in the register "not baptised by me - J Tanner, vicar". This comment was added for dissenter's children from which it may be inferred that Sarah's father and/or mother were nonconformist
122......Simon bap 11 Jan 1710 Lowestoft bur 27 Jan 1710 Lowestoft
See his will here
There is a question as to whether this Simon was the one who died 27 Jan 1709/10. If so, then there must have been a later Simon in this family whose birth does not seem to be on record, because of his will reference to sisters Judith Alderson and Elizabeth Ffarabe.
122a....James bur 2 Nov 1714 Lowestoft
123......Thomas bap 10 Apr 1711 Lowestoft bur 12 Jul 1719
124......Samuel bap 14 Oct 1712 (Butcher) Lowestoft
125......James bap Sep 1714 bur 2 Nov 1714 Lowestoft
126......Judith bap 10 Jun 1720 m James ALDERSON
127......Elizabeth [d.o.b. unknown ] m Henry APPLEWHITE 1746 Beccles (b) Mr ffARABE
128......Ann [d.o.b. unknown bur 5 Aug 1719]

70 William MEWSE b abt 1680 m (a) Judith FISHER 5 Nov 1714 Beccles (b) Mary SPRATT (widow) 26 Feb 1718 (c) Sarah (born 1699 bur 30 Nov 1724) 1723

Note: In 1714, William was admitted to copyhold property in High Street (now no 34). The Tithe book for 1698 to 1767 shows that William Mewse held 4 cattle but had more "in another place, which he would pay for" William was alected Fen Reeve with his father on 9 Feb 1706 and on 25 Feb 1710 he was elected Constable.
In the Leet Court of 17 Mar 1714 William was fined 3d for not cleaning the street (outside his house) sufficiently

He was admitted to copyhold ownership of what is now 34 High Street on 8 Dec 1714 and promptly mortgaged it to James KINGSBOROUGH for £36..15s and again to Simon CANHAM on 7 Jan 1719. Simon and Ruth CANHAM were in possession of the property in 1720 - did William renege on his mortgage?

Children of William and Judith
129...... William bap 30 Oct 1715 Beccles
130......Ann b 1716
131...... Ruth b 3 Mar 1718 bap 16 Mar 1718 Beccles bur 3 Apr 1718

Children of William and Sarah
132......Blanch b 26 Nov 1723 bap 29 Nov 1723 bur 29 Oct 1727
133......Ruth b 30 Nov 1724 bur 6 Dec 1724 Lowestoft
Child of William and unknown
133a....Ann b 1734 d 21 Oct 1802

75 Simon MEWSE bap 27 Sep 1672 Lowestoft m Margaret SYMONDS (d bef 1729) 8 Mar 1693 St Mary in the Marsh, Norwich

Note: Simon was a butcher. His home was on the south side of Swan Lane, under what is now Jubilee Way. It had previously been owned copyhold by Joseph SMITHSON and Simon was admitted at Lords rent of 2d on 5 Mar 1719. After the death of Benjamin, the family nmoved to Norton Subcourse

Children of Simon and Margaret
134......Simon bap 26 Feb 1695 Lowestoft bur 30 Oct 1736 Lowestoft
134a....Benjamin bur 12 Aug 1697 Lowestoft
134b....Elizabeth bur 1 Aug 1704 Norton Subcourse
134c....Samuel bap 13 Apr 1708 Norton Subcourse
134d....Henry bap 8 Oct 1710 Norton Subcourse bur 11 Dec 1776 Lowestoft
134e....Sarah bap 28 Feb 1716 Norton Subcourse
134f....William dob unknown
135....Henry bur 11 Dec 1726 Lowestoft
136......Margaret bap Jul 1719 Lowestoft bur 20 Aug 1719 Lowestoft
137....Elizabeth d.o.b. unknown
Note: Elizabeth was admitted to copyhold tenancies on 23 Apr 1729 and 30 Apr 1741, previously held by Simon her father and Simon her grandfather
138....Mary d.o.b. unknown m Henry WOODCOCK 1749 Lexham East

76 Thomas MEWSE bap 11 Mar 1674 m (a) Margaret CANHAM 19 Apr 1705 Lowestoft (b) Alice

Child of Thomas and Margaret
139......John b 20 Feb 1706 bap 22 Feb 1706 St Michael at Plea, Norwich

Child of Thomas and Alice
139a....Thomas bap 16 Jul 1714



GENERATION 6

113 Samuel MEWSE bap 14 Jan 1688 d abt 1747 m Anne HALTAWAY of Corton 7 Feb 1725 Corton

Note - Anne Haltaway, who was the daughter of Thomas HALTAWAYof Belton and Susan GRYME of Burgh Castle ( and who married in Somerleyton 28 Sep 1654) married 134 Simon MEWSE 8 Apr 1754 by licence after Samuel's death: also there is a record of John HALTAWAY [Anne's brother?] bur Corton 1711 aged 40 as well as a Susannah MEWSE bur Corton 2 Apr 1775
Samuel became landlord of the White Horse Inn at Corton and left it to his son William. A hundred years later Thomas Sales was the landlord - see here. You can see the pub as it is today here

Children of Samuel and Ann
140......William bap 22 May 1726 Corton d 1770 bur 15 Jun 1770 Corton [ see will ] Corton m Catherine - he kept the White Horse in Corton
141......John bap 28 May 1732 Corton Bur 7 Jan 1733 Corton
142......Samuel b 1733 d in infancy
143......Samuel b 1734 bur 1795 Corton (but shown in register as "from Lowestoft")
144......John bap 1735 Corton d 2 Aug 1803

124 Samuel MEWSE butcher, bap 1712 bur 13 Apr 1795 m Margaret MICKLEBOROUGH Chedgrave 1733 bur 20 Oct 1767 [ see Mickleborough branch]

Note: Samuel was probably the last of the Mewse butchers. By 1797 there was no butcher by the name of Mewse trading in Lowestoft, according to the Universal Directory of that year

Children of Samuel and Margaret
145......Elizabeth bap 1734
146...... Samuel bap 1735 d 25 May 1737 bur 26 May 1737 Lowestoft
Note: a memorial inscription at St Margarets Lowestoft reads:
Here lies the body of Samuel Mewse, the son of Samuel Mewse and Margaret his wife who departed this life May 25th 1737 aged 2 years
147.......Mary bap 3 Oct 1737 Lowestoft d 20 Jun 1795 Lowestoft bur 22 Jun 1795 Lowestoft
148......Margaret bap 16 May 1740 Lowestoft
149......John b 1739 bur 1808 St Bartholomew's Church, Corton
150......Samuel bap 1743 d in infancy
151......Elizabeth bap 20 May 1744 Lowestoft m Thomas LITTLE 9 Sep 1770
152......Samuel bap 17 June 1750 Lowestoft bur 5 Sep 1750 Lowestoft

126 Judith MEWSE m James ALDERSON

Note: James was dissenting minister at Lowestoft from 1738 to 1760 - the longest serving of all such clergy. Gillingwater says that he was held in high esteem in the town.

Children of James and Judith
126a......James dob unknown
126b......Judith dob unknown m Mr WOODHOUSE
126c......Robert dob unknown
126d......Elizabeth dob unknown
126e......John dob unknown
126f......Thomas dob unknown

127 Elizabeth MEWSE m (a) Henry APPLEWHITE 1746 Beccles (b) Mr ffARABE

Children of Mr APPLEWHITE and Elizabeth
127a......Henry dob unknown
127b......Elizabeth dob unknown

129 William MEWSE d 1788 Southwold aged 66 (stated) - see his will here m as widower (a) Sarah SAYER 26 Nov 1751 Oulton (b) Sarah CLERKE nee BARNETT (d abt 1806) 5 Aug 1753 St Peter Mancroft Norwich

Note:William was recruited into the Customs service and worked in Cromer, Yarmouth and finally in Southwold. There is a Lowestoft Porcelain tankyard in Bristol Museum which you can see here, marked "Willm Mewse Southwould 1771". And you can also see the website of the new Lowestoft Porcelain which tells you about him here.

My brother has a 1754 book with William's nameplate about Dunwich, Blythburgh and Southwold by Thomas Gardner, which he annotated. William was a subscriber as you can see here

Sarah his widow died intestate, and letters of administration were granted to Cornelius BARNETT of Southwold, mariner, Sarah's brother, on 25 Apr 1807 by the Archdeaconry of Suffolk. Her effects were declared as "under £200"

Child of William and Sarah Clerke
153......Sarah bur Southwold

133a Ann MEWSE m John GLASSPOOLE (b 1733 d 1808) 20 Nov 1757 Somerleyton

Note: There exists a Lowestoft Porcelain bowl, painted in underglaze blue, nine and a half inches diameter, inscribed "John & Ann Glasspool Blundstone 1772" showing a sportsman with a gun in a landscape. It is likely, from other entries in the Somerleyton register, that John had siblings: Henry, William and Sarah Glaspoole.

See Glasspoole branch here

Children of John and Ann
154......William bap 17 Sep 1759 Blundeston
155......Sarah bap 12 Feb 1760 Blundeston
156......John bap 25 Jun 1761 Blundeston m Elizabeth COOTE 25 Oct 1787 Somerleyton
Note: John was said to be of Burgh at marriage and Elizabeth lived in Burgh Castle and raised a family there
157......William bap 19 Aug 1765 Blundeston
158......Henry bap 24 Apr 1767 Blundeston
159......Mary bap 13 Oct 1771 Blundeston bur 30 Jul 1772 Blundeston

134 Simon MEWSE m (a) Mary MANNING 24 Nov 1715 Lowestoft (b) Ann MEWSE nee HALTAWAY of Corton 3 Aug 1754 by licence
Note: see 113 above - widow of Samuel MEWSE of Corton: witnesses: Thomas HUNT and William HERRIS Simon was a mariner

Child of Simon and Mary
159a......Simon bap 1 Jun 1733 Lowestoft bur 19 Aug 1734 Lowestoft
159b......John bap 2 Sep 1734 bur 2 Nov 1734 Lowestoft


Note: William MEWSE married Sarah BARDWELL 21 Jul 1725.



GENERATION 7

140 William MEWSE b 1726 - see his will here m Catherine

Note: William lived in Corton and kept the White Horse. He was admitted to the tenancy (previously of Samuel MEWSE) on 17 Jun 1747 according to the list of tenants in the Lowestoft Manor Rolls. His will shows him as a mariner, which may explain why Catherine was baptised in Gt Yarmouth

Children of William and Catherine
160......William b after 1750
161......Catherine bap 8 Oct 1758 Old Meeting House, Goal St Presbytarian, Gt Yarmouth


143 Samuel MEWSE, b 1734 bur 3rd April 1795 at Corton m Mary CROSS (daughter of John CROSS and Mary BUTTESON) 30 Nov 1764 Lowestoft by licence. Witnesses Isaac JOHNSON and Peter PENNINGTON
[see Cross branch]
Note: These were my 4 x great grandparents. Mary CROSS, widow of Samuel MEWSE m Patrick PERNEY 2 Nov 1797 Lowestoft witnesses Robert MOATES and Hannah MEWSE

Children of Samuel and Mary
162......Susannah bap 13 Jun 1768 Corton bur 22 Jul 1774
163......John bap 1 Jul 1770 d in infancy Corton
164......John bap 1 Jul 1771 Corton
165......Daniel bap 17 Jul 1773 Corton bur 12 Feb 1849 Lowestoft aged 76
166......Samuel bur 10 Aug 1774 Corton
167......Samuel born 1775 bap 14 Jul 1776 Corton ("about 1 year old" in register) d 2nd qr 1868 aged 93 [Mutford 4a 417]

144 John MEWSE bap 1735 bur 2 Aug 1803 m Jane PERKINS [b 1735 bur 10 Mar 1804] 30 Apr 1761 in Corton by licence

Note: John's will states that he was a yeoman. The Archdeaconry of Suffolk Probate records show that probate was granted for John's will on 7 Feb 1804. The executor, James BRAME of Lowestoft, Beer brewer, renounced administration and probate was granted to 163 John MEWSE. Everything had been left to John's nephews, 163 John, 167 Samuel and 165 Daniel. It therefore seems likely that 168 Ann did not survive her father. Jane, his wife, does not appear to have been left anything at all - she died a month after the will was proved.

Children of John and Jane
168......Ann bap 1 Apr 1764 Corton
169...... John bap 13 Oct 1765 Corton bur 12 Jul 1770 Corton
170......Thomas bap 1 Nov 1767 Corton bur 8 Jan 1768 Corton


147 Mary MEWSE m William NESLEN (bap 22 Dec 1739 Corton d 20 May 1805 bur 24 May 1805 Lowestoft) 16 Dec 1766 [plumber and glazier] Lowestoft

Note: William was the son of Richard NESLEN and Elizabeth WOODTHORPE

Children of William and Mary
171......Mary bap 25 Mar 1768 Lowestoft bur 3 Jun 1768
172......William bap 2 Sep 1769 Lowestoft bur 16 Feb 1830
Note: This was the William was witness to the marriage of 179 Hannah MEWSE bap 27 Mar 1797
173......Samuel bap 24 Dec 1770 Lowestoft bur 9 May 1771
174......John bap 3 Feb 1772 Lowestoft bur 12 Apr 1774
175......Elizabeth bap 11 Apr 1773 Lowestoft d 25 Aug 1822
176......Ann bap 11 May 1775 Lowestoft bur 11 May 1775
177......Samuel bap 28 Nov 1778 Lowestoft



GENERATION 8

164 John MEUSE b 1771 d 23 Sept 1833 at sea in “Violet” m Hannah ALLERTON [d 9 Sep 1813] 6 May 1792 witnesses John TAYLOR and William BOLLCHEN (William was a "Salt Officer")

Children of John and Hannah
178......John b 7 Feb 1795 Lowestoft bap 10 Feb 1795 bur 23 Sep 1818 Lowestoft
179......Hannah b 28 Mar 1797 bap 29 Mar 1797 Lowestoft m James BURGESS [see BURGESS Branch] 25 Aug 1820 Witnesses William NESLEN and Ann RAVEN
180...... Samuel b 25 Dec 1798 bap 29 Dec 1798 Lowestoft
181......William bap 20 Sep 1801 Lowestoft bur 15 Nov 1810
182......Will b 1803 d Sep 1813
183......Daniel b 29 Feb 1804 bap 6 Mar 1804 Lowestoft bur 16 Sep 1806 Lowestoft
184......Daniel b 25 Nov bap 27 Nov 1807 Lowestoft
185......Bartholomew b 1 Sep 1809 bap 7 Sep 1809 bur 18 Feb 1828
185a....William b 26 Jan 1812 bap 2 Feb 1812 Lowestoft m Hannah PORTER 5 Dec 1832 Lowestoft Witnesses Martha PORTER and Hobt NEWSON
Note: William was a fisherman in 1841 living at Beach. Hobt NEWSON was the Parish clerk. You can see monumental inscriptions for Newson at Lound here

 165 Daniel MEWSE Twinespinner bap 1773 d 12 Feb 1849 m Elizabeth CROSS [bap 1781 d 7 Nov 1850] 1802 Lowestoft Witnesses Richard MASON and Mary CROSS

Note: Daniel and Elizabeth were living at 109 Beccles Road Lowestoft in 1881Sa

Children of Daniel and Elizabeth
186......Daniel b 9 Oct 1803 bap 10 Oct 1803 bur 2 Jun 1804
187......John b 1805 d 2nd qr 1838
188......Daniel bap 15 Oct 1814 bur 28 Jul 1887 aged 75
187a....John Henry bap 29 May 1812 Chatham, Kent bur 13 Sep 1887
189......James Cross bap 1817
Note: In 1871 James was at Beach, near Gas Works. In 1881 James was living with Henry Herod WOODS at 31, New Nelson St, Lowestoft as a widower.
190....Mary Ann b 1823 m Aaron DENT 11 Aug 1842 Gt Yarmouth [G Yarmouth 13 555](witnesses James BURMAN and Margaret WRIGHT) [See Dent branch]
191......Susannah bap 1824 Lowestoft
191a....Henry b 1839


167 Samuel MEWSE (Fisherman) born 1775 Corton bap 1776 d 2 May 1868 in Corton m (a) Ann BARBER [bap 1777 Lowestoft bur 23 Jan 1868] 4 Sep1797 Lowestoft [ see Edmonds branch] (b) Rebecca (b 1776 Lowestoft)

Notes:
[i] Samuel and Ann were witnesses to the wedding of James SPURDING and Jane STERRY 29 Aug 1804
[ii] Samuel and Ann were living at Frost Score, Old Back Yard in 1841, 39 Beach, Lowestoft in 1851, and in 1861 Samuel is recorded as a fisherman living with Ann at 6 Fisherman's Hospital Lowestoft.
[iii] Witnesses to Ann Barber's marriage were William ALLERTON and Hannah MEWSE
[iv] These were my great great great grandparents

Children of Samuel and Ann
200......Ann b & bap 9 Jan 1802 bur 6 June 1899 St Margaret's Lowestoft
201......Samuel Barber b 14 Sep 1803 bap 24 Sep 1803 Lowestoft
202......James Barber b 30 Apr 1805 bap 1 May 1805 Lowestoft
203......Eliza bap 27 Oct 1807 Lowestoft m Edward COLEMAN 29 Jul 1827
Note: Witnesses were Charles COLEMAN and Ann COBY
204......John Barber b 6 Feb 1810 bap 17 July 1810 Lowestoft bur 13 Dec 1887 Lowestoft plot L/3/63
205......Joanna b Feb 1812 bap 18 May 1812 Lowestoft m William JACKSON (Jnr) 5 Dec 1831 Lowestoft
Witnesses: James MEWSE and Susan CHAMBERS.
See Jackson branch

206......William bap 22 Apr 1816 Lowestoft bur 31 Dec 1892 plot L/5/96 Lowestoft
See many connections to 206 William here

Also in this generation: a Mary MEWSE and Joseph SAILE made a marriage licence allegation



GENERATION 9

187a John Henry MEWSE bap 29 May 1812 Chatham, Kent m Charlotte FOX (b abt 1801Leiston (or Aldringham in 1861 census) d 3rd qr 1871 aged 60 [Mutford 4a 481])

Note: In 1841 the family lived at Pound Street, South Side,Lowestoft, but John was not present. Living with them were James aged 26 and Eliza BOYCE aged 24 and their son James aged 1. James BOYCE was a twinespinner. John was a twinespinner in 1861 living at 177 Church Road Lowestoft, when Mary A STONE (b Nfk) was a visitor. John and Charlotte were Wesley Street, Infirmary Plain in 1871 with their son James. John was bur at Lowestoft Cemetery on 13 Dec 1887 in plot L/3/63 (Fisherman, age stated as 77) and died at Fishermen's Hospital, Beach. Mary A, his second wife was a net mender in 1881

Children of John and Charlotte
259......Elizabeth b 1836 Lowestoft
259a....James b 3rd qr 1838 Lowestoft [Mutford 13 404]
Note: James was described as a cripple in the 1861 census. He was living at 71 Anguish St in 1902 (directory)
260......John Daniel b 5 Dec 1840 Lowestoft [Mutford 13 423]d 29 Mar 1886 off Yarmouth
Note: John was a fisherman, and in the 1861 census he was on board the "Prince Albert" (Master: John BIRD) [RG9 4445]
261......Benjamin b 2nd qr 1843 Lowestoft [Mutford 13 487]
261a....William b 3rd qr 1850 Lowestoft [Mutford XIII 486]
Note: William was a fisherman in the 1881 census

188 Daniel MEWSE bap 15 Oct 1814, bur 28 Jul 1887 m Mary Ann PEAK (b 1810 Barking [1851 census] Bacton [1861 census] Barkin, Suffolk [1871 census] Needham Market [1881 census] d 5 Jan 1886 ) 25 Dec 1837

Note: witnesses to the marriage were Henry, Caroline and Louise BRISTOW, Mary Ann MEWSE In 1851 Daniel and Mary Ann were living at 221 Corn Lane, in 1861 and 1871 in Factory Lane and at 24 Factory Lane in 1881. Daniel was a twinespinner in 1861 and a labourer in 1867 - he was a dock labourer in 1881. Mary was said to have been born in Bacton in 1861 census

Children of Daniel and Mary Ann
209......Mary Ann b 1838 d 1st qr 1906 aged 66 Lowestoft
210.......Henry b 1839 [seaman]
211.......Daniel b 4th qr 1841Lowestoft [Mutford 13 441
212.......Elizabeth Ann b 2nd qr 1847 m William READ, (b 1844 Lowestoft ) 4th qr 1867 [Mutford 4a 1611]
Note: Witnesses to the marriage were Daniel and Maria Rumsby MEWSE. Daniel was a fisherman
213.......William b 1850, bur 23 Jul 1923 Lowestoft plot L/P/448
Note: William was an unmarried basketmaker in 1871 and 1881 living with parents. In 1891 he was at 19 Wyvil Rd Lambeth, a boarder with John REEVES and his wife, and was a basketmaker. When he died he was still a basketmaker living at 73 Lothingland House, Oulton

189 James Cross MEWSE b 1817 m Mary Ann FIRMIN (b 1821 Reydon, d 2nd qr 1858) Covehithe 1843

Note: James and Mary were living at 21 Lighthouse Hill in 1851 when Samuel MEWSE b 1820 and Lois MEWSE b 1829 Beccles were living with the family. In 1854 he is reorded as a cordwainer.In 1871 the family was living in Tonning Street, Lowestoft and in 1881 he was shoemaker, living at 31 New Nelson St, Beccles as a lodger with Henry WOODS

Children of James Cross and Mary Ann
214......Mary Anne b 1839
Note: Mary Anne was a house servant in 1861 for Mr Samuel NASH at 22 Nelson St, Lowestoft
215......Elizabeth b 1st qr 1841 {Mutford 13 463]
216......Francis (or Firman) b 1845
218......George b 2nd qr 1846 {Mutford 13 510]
217......Frederick b1st qr 1849 {Mutford 13 508]
Note: Frederick was living with James in 1871
217a....Ellen b 2nd qr 1851 Lowestoft [Mutford 13 554]
Note: Ellen was living with James in 1871
217b....Charles b 19 Nov 1854 Chapel St Lowestoft
Note: Charles was living with James in 1871

191 Susannah MEWSE m John BALLARD (b Geddington, Northamptonshire abt 1814) 1st qr 1846 Stepney [Stepney 2 420]

Note John was a carman. In 1861 the family was at 2 Queens Crescent, St Pancras, London

Children of John and Susannah
191b......Charles b 4th qr 1850 [St Pancras 1 345]
191c......Mary Ann b 2nd qr 1853 [St Pancras 16 2]
191d......Daniel William b 2nd qr 1855 [St Pancras 1b 11]
191e......Eliza b 1st qr 1858 [St Pancras 1b 131]

200 Ann MEWSE m John STERRY twinespinner (bap 1 Jun 1798 Southwold bur 17 Apr 1858) 25 Dec 1823

Note: Witnesses Samuel MEWSE and Ann STERRY (see Sterry branch here)
Note: the family was living at Shuckford Loke, Lowestoft in 1851, and Ann was living at 3 Shuckford Loke in 1871 when she was widow and a netmaker, and 1 Spark Building Lowestoft in 1881

You can see the full STERRY family history here

Children of John and Ann
219......James bap 26 Dec 1824 Southwold m Elizabeth CHATTEN 6 Aug 1846 Lowestoft
219a....Timothy b 1826
220......Virtue bap 8 Jul 1831 Lowestoft m Edward EDMONDS 25 Dec 1854 Lowestoft [see Edmonds branch here]
221......Frederick William b 19 Jan 1835 bap 10 May 1835 d (drowned) 4 Nov 1864 m Ann COOK
222......Naomi b 1839 m James Theodore FRIEND 2 Nov 1858 Lowestoft
223......Charlotte b 1841 m Charles John TURRELL 20 Dec 1860 Lowestoft
224......John b 1846


 201 Samuel Barber MEWSE bap 1803 d May 1860 at sea m Maria Rumsby GIRLING (b Pakefield 1802 d Mutford last qr 1882) 6 May 1827 Lowestoft Witnesses Hobt NEWSON and J BARRETT

Note: The family lived at 110 Beach in 1851, and Maria was living as a widow at 10 Alms Houses, Thurston Rd, Lowestoft in 1881, a parish dependant
Samuel is the first entry on the fishermen's Memorial in St Margarets Church, Lowestoft

Children of Samuel Barber and Maria
225......Maria b 1832 Lowestoft, bur 24 Sep 1840 Lowestoft
226......Samuel Barber b 1827 Lowestoft d 7 Jul 1894 Lowestoft aged 67 [Mutford 4a 461]
Samuel is recorded on the Fishermen's Memorial in St Margarets Church , which states: ŒSamuel B. Mewse husband of Elizabeth Mewse who was unfortunately killed by lightning at sea on board the boat JENNY LIND July 7th 1894, aged 65¹
227......Alfred b 1830 Lowestoft bap 1832 d 17 Apr 1875 bur 23 Apr 1875 m unknown 4th qr 1850 Lowestoft [Mutford 13 1192]
Note: Alfred was a fisherman in 1851 and was Mate of the "Hero of Delhi" in 1873 having previously served on the "George and William".

Alfred was awarded a silver medal by the Royal National Lifeboat Institute for his part in the rescue of fourteen people from the steamer SHAMROCK of Dublin. The story appeared in the Illustrated London News of 26 Nov 1859:

"When the lifeboat reached the steamer the sea was breaking over the masthead, but she was providentially able to anchor in a most advantageous position ahead of her, and although the seas broke over her and repeatedly filled her, this excellent lifeboat as often, in her bouyancy, clearing herself of the seas, was at length, with difficulty, enabled to approach the steamer. A communication was then by ropes established with the wreck and the whole crew of fourteen were hauled by the lines through the sea to the lifeboat and brought safely to the shore"



A more modern version of the medal

Thomas Liffen was also in the crew of the lifeboat - see the Liffen branch here

228......Sarah Ann b 1831 Gt Yarmouth
229......Susannah bap 1835 bur 16 Jul 1840
230......William b 3rd qr 1837 [Mutford 13 318] d 7 Jun 1838
231......Isabella b 1st qr 1839 Lowestoft [Mutford 13 437] m Sidney ALLERTON 3rd qr 1859 Lewisham [Mutford 1d 947] (see Allerton branch)
Note: Isabella embroidered a sampler which you can see here. She was also a witness to the marriage of Naomi STERRY and JamesTheodore FRIEND 2 Nov 1858
232...... William Robert bap 1843
233......George A b 1851 Lowestoft

202 James Barber MEWSE bap 1805 d 15 Jun 1875 m Susan CHAMBERS ( b 1812 Gisleham d 10 Jan 1854)

In 1841 James and Susan were recorded at Beach with Benson and Henry next door to John Barber MEWSE. In 1861 James, now a widower, and family were living at 29 Nelson Score, still next door to brother John Barber MEWSE. James was then a fisherman, as he was in 1841, living at Beach. In 1867 he was a labourer

Children of James Barber and Susan
234......Benson bap 30 Dec 1835 d Apr 1914
235......James Barber bap 2 Dec 1836 Lowestoft bur 12 Dec 1836
236......James Chambers bap 25 Feb 1837 Lowestoft bur 3 Jun 1838 Lowestoft
237......Henry b 3rd qr 1839 [Mutford 13 423] bap 1840
238......George b 4th qr 1841 Lowestoft [Mutford 13 441] bap 1842 d 4 Apr 1921 bur Lowestoft cemetery plot 21 (fisherman of 4 Rant Score in 1869) m Martha Ann BARNABY (b 1848 at 12 Lighthouse Hill, d 17 Jul 1929) [Mutford 4a 1603]
Note: Martha was buried with George: father was Samuel BARNABY, fisherman) 29 Dec 1869 witnesses Edward STERRY and Ann HALL
[Mutford 4a 1603] In 1871 they lived at Lighthouse Hill, Lowestoft. George was a seaman on board the "Joseph and Sarah" in 1872 and in 1873 he was mate on the same vessel. George and Martha were at 6 Lighthouse hill in 1881 when George was a fisherman.
George was a shopkeeper at 4 Burton Place in 1902 [directory entry]
239......James Chambers b 4th qr 1844 Lowestoft [Mutford 13 447] bap 1845 d 1899 bur 17 Jul 1899 Lowestoft (plot L/14/267) aged 54 m (a) Maria REYNOLDS (b 1842 dau of William REYNOLDS, bricklayer d Mutford 2nd qr 1873.) 25 Dec 1867 [Mutford 4a 1652] Witnesses: Charles and Ann HARPER and (b) Eliza PALMER (widow b 1840 Wenhaston bur 12 Aug 1898 Lowestoft plot L/13/269) 25 Feb 1880 Witnesses P P C BARRETT and Emma Jane WRIGHT
Note: Eliza Palmer had 3 children when she married James Chambers: Eliza b 1866, William b 1868 and Sarah b 1872. James and Eliza lived at 35 Anguish St Beach in 1881 and at Palmer's Square, Beach in 1891 when 1year old grandson James PALMER was with them . James senior was a fisherman in 1861, 1881 and 1891, when he was Owner Master of the boat "Unity".
Fishing at that time had other risks than bad weather - read about his statement to Customs and Excise here

Eliza was living at Palmer Square, East St, Beach when she died. When he died, James lived at Coleman's Square, Beach

204 John Barber MEWSE bap 1810 m Mary Ann CRISPE (b 1816 Lowestoft bur 15 Mar 1900 Lowestoft plot L/3/63 aged 84) 7 Sep 1832 Witnesses James MEWSE and Elizabeth CRISPE [ see Crispe and the Bunn branches ]

Note: Mary Ann was recorded at home on the night of the 1841 census but John was not present. Mary Ann, John, Elizabeth and William were also present as was a Phebe HOLMES

John was a seaman. Ticket no 112046, 35 yrs old when ticketed, height 5’3”, fresh complexion, eyes grey hair brown, first went to sea as a mariner 1820, ticket issued at Gt Yarmouth 20 Mar 1845. He was recorded as a fisherman in 1841 and 1861 living at 119 Beach, next door to brother James Barber MEWSE.
Mary Ann was a beatster (a netmender) in 1861, living at Beach, and 1881. The 1871 census shows them at Whapload Road, Fishermans Shop. In 1881, when John was described as a Fisherman (Late) they both lived at 4 Hospital House, Whapload Rd Lowestoft with their son William who was a fisherman. In 1891 Mary Ann is shown as a widow aged 79 living at Alms Houses, Thurston Rd Lowestoft. When she died, Mary Ann lived at 155 St Peter's St. John Barber and Mary Ann were my great great grandparents.


Children of John Barber and Mary Ann
240......Mary Ann bap 14 Sep 1832 Lowestoft d 24 Sep 1832
241......John bap 1832 d 1832
242......John bap 7 Sep 1833 bur 10 Sep 1833
243......William bap 17 Sep 1834 d 6 Nov 1845
244......John ("Crawney") b 16 Nov 1836 bap 1 Mar 1837 d 27 Mar 1918 bur 3 Apr 1918 Lowestoft
Note: In 1841 John is recorded with his mother at Beach, Lowestoft. John died of senile decay and apoplexy (a stroke) at Fishermen's Hospital Cottages, Lowestoft. The informant was daughter Alice Catchpole of Loddon Rd Broome, near Bungay who was present at the death. You can see a picture of the Fishermen's Hospital entrance here
245.... James b 3rd qr 1838 [Mutford 13 404] d bef 1884 m Elizabeth Ann MARJORAM 4th qr 1878 [Mutford 4a 1656]
246......Mary Ann b 21 Mar 1839 Lowestoft bap 2 Jun 1839 Lowestoft m William PARR 1864 Newington, Surrey
Note: Mary Ann was a servant at 22 Nelson Street in 1861
247......Elizabeth b 26 Feb 1841 bap 24 Aug 1843 m Francis ADAMS (b 1835 seaman) 25 Nov 1861 Lowestoft (See Adams branch here) [Mutford 4a 1491]
Note: James' father was James ADAMS, baker. Witnesses to the marriage were Daniel NICHOLS, Hannah ADAMS and Mary Ann MEWSE: Elizabeth was recorded as a dressmaker in 1861 and was 2 weeks old at the 1841 census
248......Samuel ("Snotty Sam") b and bap 24 Aug 1843 Lowestoft bur 8 Aug 1936 Lowestoft plot L/B/307 aged 93
Note: Samuel was a mariner - he is recorded as a fisherman in 1861; as well as serving on the "Volante" with his brother 196 William, under the mastership of his older brother John in 1864 and 1865, he was also with John on the "Sophia" and served as seaman on the "Antelope" in 1866, "Morning Star in 1866 and 1867 first as seaman then as Mate. In 1880 and he was "Part Owner and Master" of the "Twilight" and in ,1885 and 1886 he seems to have been the sole owner of the "Twilight". Read his complaint to Customs and Excise here
249......William b 15 Apr 1846 Lowestoft bap 3 Jul 1847 Lowestoft
Note: William was a visitor on board the Volant with brother John as the master on 7 Apr 1861. The 1871 census shows him aboard the "Little Polly" William was single and a fisherman, living with parents in 1881
He was a seaman on the "Volante" with his brother Samuel in 1863 and 1864 with brother John as Master. In 1874 he was seaman on the "Morning Light".
250......Susannah b last qr 1848 bap 1848 d 1848
251......Alfred b 8 Apr 1850 Lowestoft d 1850
252......Alfred b 3rd qr 1852 Lowestoft bap 31 Jul 1852 Lowestoft d 16 Sep 1852

206 William (Barber) MEWSE, fisherman, bap 22 Apr 1816 Lowestoft bur 31 Dec 1892 Lowestoft aged 76 [Mutford 4a 528] m Charlotte PYE (b 16 Sep 1818 in Corton, bap 20 Sep 1818 bur 19 Jun 1889 Lowestoft plot L/5/96) 27 Feb 1838 at Lowestoft [Mutford 13 633]. Witnesses John CLARKE and Emma PYE [Charlotte was dau of Joseph PYE and Sarah RUTHAN.]
Note: They lived at five known addresses - Denny's Score in 1841, 38 Nelson Score in 1861, 80 Herring Fishery Score, and in 1881 2 Nelson Score, and Christchurch Score in 1889, all in Lowestoft
William was mate on the "Happy Return" from Harling in 1863 and in 1891 was lodging with his daughter-in-law at Christchurch Square, Lowestoft as a widower

Children of William and Charlotte
253......Maria b 23 Jan 1841 bap 21 Feb 1841 Lowestoft Weslyan Church d May 1896 at Wollaston Road, Lowestoft.
254......Charlotte b 21 Dec 1849 bap 3 Mar 1850
Note: Charlotte was a domestic servant at Seacombe, Kings Road, Clapham in 1871
255......Emma b 14 May 1853 bap 7 Aug 1853 Lowestoft m William CLARKE, bricklayer 5 Aug 1876
Note: Witnesses: John LOVEDAY and Caroline CLARKE. Emma was recorded as a domestic servant at 1 St Michaels Road, Lambeth in 1871
256...... Margaret b 22 Mar 1855 bap 6 May 1855 Lowestoft
257......William Bartholomew b 28 Aug 1858 bap 3 Oct 1858 Lowestoft d Dec 1937 Lothingland House, Oulton bur 21 Dec 1937 Lowestoft plot L/19/516

See Eade branch here

207 John MEWSE (Tea dealer, Howard St Gt Yarmouth in 1841) m Maria URQUHART 9 Feb 1837 Gt Yarmouth St Nicholas

Note: there is a record of Maria MEWSE dying in the first quarter of 1875 in Mutford , but it is not certain that it is this Maria. It cannot be the wife of 210 Henry below, because she gave birth after this date.

Child of John and Maria
262......William Warren b 1st qr 1838 Gt Yarmouth North District 07 [GY 13 323]
263......John b 1840 Gt Yarmouth North District 07
Note: John was listed as a fisherman on the vessel "Prince Albert" on 7 Apr 1861

Note: also in this generation was a Sophia MEWSE aged 21, a female servant, living in High Street at the 1841 census

The 1841 census also shows a Hannah MEWSE at South End, Lowestoft a servant to Sarah FARRER

There was also a Charlotte MEWSE aged 20 in 1841 who lived in Denney's Score with her illegitimate child Maria b Jan 1841

There was a Martha Ann MEWSE d 2nd qr 1846 [Mutford 13 336]



GENERATION 10



210 Henry MEWSE m Maria RUMSBY (b 1841 Somerleyton) 26 Oct 1863 Lowestoft

Note: witnesses to the marriage were Daniel and Elizabeth MEWSE. Maria's parents were Benjamin RUMSBY, labourer and Amy STURGEON) In 1871 Henry and Maria lived at 4 Jacob Street, Lowestoft. In 1882 Henry was not present, but Maria was living with her mother,Amy RUMSBY and her grandmother Ann STURGEON as a boarder, with children Emma and Catherine. Also present in the 1881 census with Amy RUMSBY was Alice MEWSE b abt 1840 Lowestoft, a general domestic servant. In 1891 Henry was a general labourer. in 1902 the directory states that Henry was living at 73 Seago St

Children of Henry and Maria
264...... b 1st qr 1864 Lowestoft [Mutford 4a 742]
Note: In 1891 George was a general labourer
265a....Alice Elizabeth b 1866/7
264b....Emma Jane Rumsby b 1868/9 Lowestoft
265......Catherine E Rumsby b 1872 Lowestoft
265c....Emma Jane b 5 Jul 1874
266......Arthur Samuel Rumsby b Sep 1877 Bourn Lincolnshire [ref 7a 357] d 1962 London (buried Well Hall Rd Cemetery SE9.)

217b Charles MEWSE m (a) unknown (b) Rachel SHIRRIS nee EWART last qr 1900 Newcastle on Tyne

Child of Charles and unknown
266a......George

Note: in 1901 Charles was described as a "corporation labourer"

Child of Charles and Rachel
266b......Charles b 14 Jun 1901 Newcastle on Tyne
266c......Ewart d.o.b. unknown

260 John Daniel MEWSE m Elizabeth HAYLETT (b Sep 1842 Winterton, Norfolk, ) 24 Dec 1864 Gt Yarmouth St Nicholas

Note: Elizabeth was the daughter of William HAYLETT, fisherman b 1808 and Mary STARKING (b 1803 d 3rd qr 1912 [Yarmouth 4b 9]

Both of them gave their address as Row 131 Gt Yarmouth at marriage. The witnesses were George and Elizabeth AMISS. John was listed as a mariner in North district , Gt Yarmouth in the 1871 census, living at 5 Blackfriars Road, Great Yarmouth and a trawler skipper and lived at 59 Blackfriars Road, Gt Yarmouth in 1881.
He was presented to Queen Victoria on her visit to Gt Yarmouth as a representative of Norfolk fishermen.
His portrait hangs in the National Gallery entitled "Fisherman of England".
He was lost at sea in 1886 - the record shows:
29th March 1886
"ARAUNAH"
Voyage - Fishing & Return, Type of vessel - Sailing Cutter, (Smack) Construction - Wood,
Owner - J MEWSE, Crew - 2, Number Lost - 1, Skipper - J MEWSE.
Vessel foundered in wind S W Force 7, 52.35N 01.54E.

A report in "The Times" of 31st Mar 1886 states: "Yesterday intelligence was received at Great Yarmouth of the capsizing of a shrimp boat in the roads during a sudden squall. There were two men of the boat at the time, John Mewse the owner and William Joseph Read, a fisherman. They swam together for some little time, but after some minutes Mewse became exhausted and sank. Read was rescued by the crew os the schooner Ariel and was brought to the Sailors' Home, where he soon rallied. Mewse leaves a widow and six children"

Elizabeth gave her birthplace as Misterton in 1891 census and was a charwoman widow. She clearly had a difficult life: at the age of 10 (1851) she was in Rollesby Workhouse with parents, William and Mary who had married in 1833 at Winterton. William died in 3rd qr 1853 at the workhouse. Elizabeth's siblings were at the workhouse in 1851 too: they were Sarah Ann, aged 16 Mary aged 14 Thomas aged 12, James aged 8 and Joseph aged 6.
This is the sign which stood above the door to the Workhouse


In 1861 Elizabeth was a servant with Thomas DODMAN at Rodney St, St Nicholas, Gt Yarmouth and also present were Sarah Ann working as a braider, Joseph aged 16 also a braider together with Elizabeth's mother, Mary, a widow aged 50. In 1901 Elizabeth was a charwoman living at 140 Beccles Road, Gorleston

Children of John and Elizabeth
267......Ann Elizabeth dob unknown d 1869 Gt Yarmouth
267a....Ann Elizabeth b 3rd qr 1869 Gt Yarmouth m either Walter Lewis HAYLETT or Arthur ASCOUGH 4th qr 1900 Gt Yarmouth
268......Elizabeth b 1870 Gt Yarmouth m William READ
Note: In 1891 Elizabeth was a domestic servant at 67 Fellows Road Hampstead with a solicitor, Patrick SHAW and his family
269......William John b 18 Sep 1875 Gt Yarmouth d 13 Dec 1956 Middlesborough
Note: In 1891 William John was a rope maker living with his widowed mother who was working as a charwoman and was living at 14 Highfield Road Gorleston
270......Florence Kate b 1876 Gt Yarmouth d Gorleston 17 Jan 1955 bur Gorleston cemetery
Note: Florence was a general domestic servant in South Lynn with George W GOWEN in 1891 at 15 Whitefriars Terrace South Lynn, Kings Lynn.. Sheila Alderson sent me the following: "George Gowen is something of a colourful figure on my side of the family tree. Sometime after 1891 he moved to Cardiff with his family, where he was a journalist. Around 1909 he left his wife and family and moved to London with his mistress, who was only a few years older than my grandmother; ie his eldest daughter!"
271.......Minnie Edith b 3rd qr 1878 Gt Yarmouth [Yarmouth 4b 6] (see SLAPP branch here)
272.......James Arthur b 4th qr 1880 Gorleston [Yarmouth 4b 10] d 2 Sep 1953 Fleetwood
Note: James was living at Gorleston in 1891. The "London Gazette" of 24 Sep 1930 records: "Ch Skipper J A Mewse placed on retired list with rank of Skipper Lieut (September 22nd"

217 Frederick MEWSE b 1849 m Amelia TURNER (b 4th qr 1855 Lowestoft [Mutford 10b 191]) 1st qr 1874 [Newcastle on Tyne 10b 191]

Note: In 1881 the family were living in 5 Raglan Terrace, Elswick, Northumberland and in 1891 at 20 Shumac Street, Newcastle where Frederick was a port night watchman . Also boarding with the family in 1891 was Frederick COLEMAN a 29 year old general labourer born Lowestoft. In 1901 Frederick was a nightwatchman in a leather factory

Children of Frederick and Amelia
273......Florence b 1873 Lowestoft
274......Frederick William b 2nd qr 1875 Elswick [Newcastle on Tyne 10b 14]
Note: in 1891 Frederick was an apprentice fitter, and in 1901 he was a Machine Maker Fitter living in Erith, Kent
275......Ellen b 2nd qr 1879 Elswick [Newcastle on Tyne 10b 42]
Note: Ellen was a glue maker in 1901 living at Elswick
275a....James b abt 1882 Newcastle
Note: In 1901 James was a general labourer living at Elswick
275b....Mary Ann b 1st qr 1884 Newcastle [Newcastle on Tyne 10b 39]
275c....Alfred b 1st qr 1889 Newcastle [Newcastle on Tyne 10b 40]
275d....Hannah Turner b 4th qr 1895 Newcastle [Newcastle on Tyne 10b 36]

226 Samuel Barber MEWSE b 1827 m Elizabeth TURRELL (b 1827 dau John TURRELL d 2nd qr 1898 Lowestoft aged 70 bur 2 Jun 1898 Lowestoft plot L/9/210) 27 Dec 1847

Note: Samuel and Elizabeth were living at Beach in 1851 census, at Beach in 1861 (when Elizabeth is recorded as a beetster (net mender), in Anguish Street in 1871 and at "The Flowing Bowl" near Rant Score East, Beach in 1881: he was a fisherman/publican. In 1891 they were living at 4 Strand Cottages, Anguish Street Lowestoft and Elizabeth WAILTON their grand daughter was with them. When she died Elizabeth was still at 4 Strand Cottages. A maritime memorial record states: 'Samuel B. Mewse husband of Elizabeth Mewse who was unfortunately killed by lightning at sea on board the boat JENNY LIND July 7th 1894, aged 65'

Children of Samuel and Elizabeth.
276......Samuel John b 11 Apr 1849 (of 53 Whapload Road in 1881) m ? last qr 1868
Note: Samuel was listed as a fisherman's boy on board the Volant on 7 Apr 1861 with 244 John Mewse as master
277......William James b 4th qr 1850 [Mutford XII 481] bap 5 Jan 1851 Lowestoft
278......John Henry b 30 Jun 1856 Lowestoft bap 8 Aug 1856 Lowestoft d 3 Mar 1896, drowned at sea.
279......Susan b Jun 1860 m either Andrew GIBSON or William Richard SHENFIELD 4th qr 1879 Lowestoft {Mutford 4a 1699]
280......Hannah Maria b 19 Dec 1860 Lowestoft bap 3 Feb 1861 Lowestoft m either Joshua George BRITTAIN or Walter John OSBALDSTONE 1st qr 1882 Lowestoft
280a....Charles Edward b 1865 bur 8 Aug 1865 an infant
281......Charles Edward b 4 Mar 1866 Lowestoft d 3rd qr 1891 Lowestoft
282......Benjamin Henry Joseph bap 7 Mar 1869 Lowestoft
Note: In 1882/3 Benjamin served as "boy" on "Traveller" and "Young Richard", then in 1885 0n "Sapphire" and in 1898 on "Energy".
283......George Sharman ("Sharmo") b 3rd qr 1863 [Mutford 4a 653] bap 3 Jan 1864 Lowestoft d 13 Feb 1944
Note: George Sharman, a fisherman, started his seagoing career as a "boy" aboard "Sophia" (920587) in 1877 and was deckboy of the "Bonnie Lass" in 1883, but by 1884 he was mate on the "Beeswing". He was mate on the "Violet" in 1894 and Master of the "Primrose" in 1897 and of the "Pansy" in 1898
283a....George Robert b 21 Nov 1854 Lowestoft bap 7 Jan 1855 Lowestoft d 4th qr 1858 Lowestoft
283b....Robert George b 2 Sep 1859 Lowestoft bap 2 Oct 1859 Lowestoft d 4th qr 1910 aged 52 Nottingham
283c....Charles Alfred b 2 Jun 1867 Lowestoft [Mutford 4a 725]
283d....Benjamin b abt 1869 Lowestoft

227 Alfred MEWSE bap 1832 m Sarah Ann Catchpole AYRES or AYERS (b 1831 Gt Yarmouth, dau Hannah AYERS d 1 Aug 1912) 12 Dec 1850 [Mutford 13 1192]

Note: Witnesses William MEWSE and Penelope AYRES They lived with parents at Beach in 1851 and still at Beach Lowestoft in 1861. Alfred was a fisherman. In 1881 Sarah Ann was a beatster (netmender) living at 2 Whapload Road, Lowestoft

Children of Alfred and Sarah Ann
284......George Alfred bap 1851 d 22 Nov 1858
285......Eleanor Isobel b 3rd qr 1852 m either Henry COPEMAN or William Puncer POPE 1st qr 1884 [Mutford 4a 1020]
Note: Eleanor was a dressmaker in 1881 living with mother. At her wedding she called herself Eleanor Isabella
286......William Frederick b 1855
287......Charles Henry James Ayers b 1856, fisherman (boarding with Samuel COSSEY in 1881) m Pleasance WOODS (b 1862, dau of Henry WOODS, labourer [dec] ) 15 Oct 1884 Witnesses William Frederick MEWSE and Louise Jane SADLER.
Note: Charles was a seaman on "Star of the East" and "Sapphire" in 1878 and 1879. The 1900 Kelly's direcory shows him as living at 71 Albert Street, Lowestoft, a boat owner. Either he or his brother 288 Henry is the subject of a report in "The Times" of 3rd August 1934 as having been a retired boat owner, and leaving £11315 (net personalty £10236). The name given is "Henry James Ayers Mewse".
286a....Eleanor Isabella b 3rd qr 1857 Lowestoft m William Puncher POPE (b 1859), 24 Jan 1844
Note: witnesses Henry James Ayers MEWSE and George and Hannah MEWSE William was a fisherman son of Henry POPE railway pilot
288......Henry Ayers b 1857 Lowestoft, Mariner
289......Margaret Alice b 4th qr 1863 Lowestoft (blind) [Mutford 4a 674]
290......Alonzo Shorten b 1871 Lowestoft
291......Georgiana b abt 1862 Lowestoft
291b....Alfred George b 3rd qr 1868 Lowestoft [Mutford 4a 687] d 1st qr 1914 Gt Yarmouth m Ada CORNWALL (b 1874 Southwark d 31 Mar 1907 aged 32) 11 Apr 1900 St Mary Newington
In 1901 Alfred and Ada were living at 147 Albany Road, Camberwell (St George's) and Alfred was a commercial clerk. The family story is that Ada died giving birth to their only son - Thanks, Jean!

235 Benson MEWSE bap 1836 d 24 Apr 1918 bur 30 Apr 1918 Lowestoft plot L/18/95 m Mary Ann BARNABY (b 3rd qr 1839 [Mutford 13/421] d 1906 bur 8 Jan 1906 Lowestoft plot L/18/94) 2nd qr 1859 Ipswich [Ipswich 4a 431]

Note: Benson and Mary Ann were living at 11 Lighthouse Hill in 1861, 5 Lighthouse Score in 1898 : Benson was a boatbuilder/shipwright - confirmed by Cook's Directory of Lowestoft in 1883, stll living at Lighthouse Hill. Benson, Mary Ann and Florence were living at 5 Lighthouse Score in 1901. Mary Ann died at 5 Lighthouse Score and Benson died aged 66 at Beccles Road, Oulton Broad. You can see a photograph of cottages in Lighthouse Score here

Children of Benson and Mary Ann
291a....Susan b 1860 Lowestoft
292......Mary Elizabeth b 4th qr 1862 [Mutford 4a 622] m 1st qr 1882 [Mutford 4a 1013] either William WRIGHT or Charles HUBBARD
293......Benson George bap 1865 d Nov 1917 bur 23 Nov 1917 Lowestoft [L/J/125] aged 52
Note: Benson was a "boy" aboard the vessel "Champion" in 1881 but at death is shown as a Fish Merchant, having been living at 6 Wesley Street, Lowestoft.
294......William Samuel b 4th qr 1870 bap 1871 hairdresser m Annie Elizabeth PAGE (dau James PAGE, fish hawker) 21 May 1893
295......Alice Maud b 1876 m Daniel James HALL (b 1876, fisherman) 17 Apr 1898 witnesses Osgood Robert TRUNDLE and Florence Martha MEWSE
296......Florence Martha b 1879 m William Robert STONE or Herberet HARRIS 1st qr 1907 [Mutford 4a 1634]
297......Clara Gertrude b 2 Feb 1881 Lowestoft d 6 Dec 1954 Lowestoft

240 Mary Ann MEWSE m William PARR 1864 Newington, Surrey

Note: William was the sixth son of James PARR and Maria CHAPMAN b 1841 Kirkley. He was a carpenter/joiner

Children of William and Mary Ann
P1......Elizabeth b 2nd qr 1862 Lowestoft [Mutford 4a 709]
Note: Elizabeth's birth was registered as Mewse but in the census she appears as Parr
P2......William b 2nd qr 1865 Lambeth Surrey [Lambeth 1d 344]
P3......Alfred b 4th qr 1867 Lambeth Surrey [Lambeth 1d 361]
P4......Samuel Mewse b 1871Lambeth Surrey [Lambeth 1d 415]
P5......John Mewse b 3rd qr 1873 Lambeth Surrey [Lambeth 1d 395]
P6......George b 1874 Lambeth Surrey
P7......Maria Chapman b 4th 1879 Lambeth Surrey [Lambeth 1d 410]

244 John MEWSE b 1836 m [1] Frances GARNER (b 1833 d 4th qr 1864) last qr 1859 [Mutford 4a 1617]

Frances was the daughter of William James GARNER and Frances CHATTEN - see Chatten branchand was a braider in 1861

[2] Elizabeth CRICKMORE (b 1847 d 14 May 1919) 12 Oct 1867 St John's Church, Lowestoft [see Crickmore branch]

Note: Witnesses William MEWSE and Elizabeth ADAMS
The 1861 census shows John as master of the Volant, at sea.The 1871 census shows John and Elizabeth, my great grandparents, living "Next the Gas House": John is shown as a fisherman - he was Master of the "Volante" in 1863 and 4, with his brother Samuel as part of the crew, and of the "Sophia" in 1864 and 1865, and in both 1885 and 1888 he is recorded as Mate on the "Twilight", having previously served on the "John Smith KG". The 1881 census shows John and Elizabeth living at 2 Rant Score (see a picture here), Lowestoft: John, fisherman aged 44, Elizabeth aged 33, Fanny 18, Eliza 7, John 3. In Kelly's of 1900 and 1902 directory John was shown at 2 Waveney Terrace, Whapload Road In the 1901 census John is described as a "Shrimper".

John was a member of the "Old Company" - a group (there were three at Lowestoft) which was formed to salvage wrecked vessels. Even in the mid 1800s when John was first a member, priority was given to saving lives over salvage, but when the alarm was raised there was a concerted rush by each company, since the first to get to the wreck got the salvage money. You can see some of the "Old Company" outside their "shod" here.

There appear to have been two vessels of which he was master - one, the Volant is recorded in 1861, and the other was the Volante reg LT14 which was built in 1880. [the Volante can be seen here with a list of the 1861 crew], In 1883 there was a great storm in which the Volante lost her boat and sails - an account in verse may be seen here At this time the Volante was owned by W SLACK of Denmark Road, Lowestoft according to the 1883 Cook's Directory of Lowestoft

John, who had the nickname of "Crorney", inherited by his son John Samuel, was coxswain of the Lowestoft lifeboat from 1901 to 1911, but had been involved as a member of the lifeboat crew since the 1850's and had been second coxwain from 1896 to 1901. In 1905 he took the lifeboat "Samuel Plimsoll" to the Thames, where she was used for motor trials by the RNLI, and returned with the 46 foot "Kentwell" built at a cost of £2197 by Thames ironworks. See an account of all his launches here

In 1866 John helped in a courageous rescue of the crew of the Austrian ship "Osip" for which he was later awarded a medal, along with the rest of the crew. For a description of the event, click here.The medal shown below was issued to John, along with the others of the rescuers, and is now in the Maritime Museum, Lowestoft.

The 'Laetitia' was a 42'6" x 11'8" Norfolk and Suffolk class lifeboat built in Sparham's Yard which was on station from 1850 to 1876. In 47 launches her crew rescued 271 people. She was broken up in 1876.



This medal was presented to the museum by 421 Russell Mewse, great grandson of John after being found in the effects of his deceased brother 419 Ray Alan Mewse.

and here is a picture of the Lifeboat Kentwell in 1910 of which John was cox from 1901 to 1911

He was also involved in the abortive rescue of the crew of the "Defender" in 1902 - for a description click here

Also in the 1881 census Elizabeth Mary Ann lived at 1 Rant Score with Susan Crickmore (nee Shorten - see CRICKMORE branch) her grandmother and Susan's grandsons, William aged 5 and James aged 4. Also living at no 1 was James Pye who is recorded as Susan’s grandson. Elizabeth nee CRICKMORE died while living at Fishermen’s Hospital Cottages (6 almshouses for retired fishermen) Whapload Rd (between Rant's Score East and Wildes' St) of Cardiac failure and Bronchitis. John had died the year before at the same address. he is buried in plot L/K/36 in Lowestoft Cemetery

Children of John and Francis
298......John Samuel bap 1860 d 22 Nov 1870
299......Frances (Fanny) bap 1863, a net repairer in 1881 m John James CRICKMORE 4th qr 1881 St John's Church, Lowestoft. [Mutford 4a 1760] Witnesses were William Almond CRICKMORE and James Robert CRICKMORE (see Crickmore branch)
Note: At the time of his marriage John James was living at 52 Toning Street, Lowestoft and Frances Mewse was at 7 St John's St Lowestoft

Children of John and Elizabeth
300......Samuel John bap 7 Jun 1868 d 22 Nov 1870
 301......Elizabeth Mary Ann bap 7 Nov 1869 d 22 Nov 1869
302......Elizabeth Mary Ann bap 4 Dec 1870 d 27 Oct 1944 m Frank James GREEN [see GREEN branch] 30 Nov 1899 - witnesses George TAYLOR and Alice Elizabeth GREEN
Note: In 1881 she was living next door at 1 Rants Score with her grandmother Susan Crickmore. Elizabeth Mary Ann was an assistant schoolteacher in 1891 at Hintlesham, Suffolk, boarding with Tom and Annette ATKIN at Hadleigh Road, Hintlesham. She was a teacher at Kirkley Infant School during its first year of operation in 1898, and was given a clock as a wedding present from staff and pupils, [still in my posession, 110 years on] when she left. See details here
303......Eliza Ann Alice b lasr qr 1873 bap 5 Oct 1873 m Walter William Harvey CATCHPOLE 2nd qr 1900. [Mutford 4a 1985]
Note: She registered and was present at her mothers death in 1919, at which time she lived at Loddon Rd Broome Bungay. Walter made himself a car about 1900 which can be seen here.
304......Alice Maud Susan bap 6 Dec 1874 bur 3 Aug 1875
305......John Samuel b 6 Apr 1877 d 31 Mar 1931 Ilford, Essex
306......Samuel John b 3 Nov 1878 bap 1 Dec 1878 bur 28 Jul 1879
307......Samuel Ernest b 10 Aug 1880 bap 6 Sep 1880 d 30 Apr 1881
308......Alice Maud Daisy b 16 Oct 1882 bap 26 Nov 1882 All Saints Church, Lowestoft d 27 Aug 1883 bur 3 Sep 1883 St Margarets, Lowestoft
309......Alice May bap 1887 bur 22 Aug 1827 aged 2 months

245 James MEWSE m Elizabeth Ann MARJORAM (widow b 1845) 24 Dec 1878 Lowestoft

Note: Elizabeth was the daughter of James Garwood JONES, painter. Witnesses to the wedding were Edward COLEMAN and Eliza CLARKE.Also living with the family in 1891 were Mary A Marjoram, a 23 year old netmaker a daughter to Elizabeth and her daughter-in-law Matilda MARJORAM aged 20. At that time Elizabeth was a net maker. After James died Elizabeth Ann married again to William GREEN 1st qr 1884 Lowestoft [Mutford 4a 1033]

Child of James and Elizabeth
245a......Mildred Susannah b 2nd qr 1879 Lowestoft
Note: Mildred was described as lame in the 1891 census, and was living with her mother who was again a widow



248 Samuel MEWSE bap 1843 bur 8 Aug 1936 Lowestoft plot L/8/307,fisherman m (a) Naomi Hunting FISHER (b 1843 Kirkley d 2nd qr 1909 Lowestoft aged 65 ) 22 Dec 1864 [ dau of John FISHER, fisherman] (b) Jane Eliza (bur 12 Jun 1934 Lowestoft plot L/8/307

Note: witnesses to the marriage of Samuel and Naomi were John ASHER and Eleanor M BARBER They lived at 2 Burton Place New in 1881: In 1883 Cooks Directory of Lowestoft states that he kept a beer house at East Street, Lowestoft. Naomi was living at 2 Lakenham Cottages, Beach St Pakefield in 1891 with her brother Henry FISHER and his wife Sarah. In 1892 Samuel and Naomi were divorced: the co-respondent was William COOK. On 9 Dec 1905 Samuel who was a trader at Lowestoft Fish Market petitioned for bankruptcy, his creditors receiving 7s 31/2d in the pound. He was discharged 10 Jan 1910. His public hearing was at the Suffolk Hotel, Lowestoft at 2.45 on 10 January 1906.When Samuel and Jane died they were at Fishermen's Cottages, Whapload Road

Child of Samuel and Naomi
310....Beatrice b 1872 Lowestoft

253 Maria MEWSE b 23 Jan 1841 m William GOODWIN, bricklayer, (bap 18 Apr 1841 bur 24 Dec 1906 Lowestoft plot L/11/62) 1 Jan 1862 [Mutford 4a 903]

Note: William was the son of Ambrose GOODWIN (bricklayer). Witnesses to the wedding were Ambrose GOODWIN and Mary WHELER (sic)

Child of Maria
311......William, poss son of William GOODWIN b 3 Mar 1859, bap 3 Apr 1859 bur 23 Nov 1859 Lowestoft

Children of William GOODWIN and Maria
312......William b 1861 in Lowestoft
Note: William was staying with his grandparents, William and Charlotte in 1861. He was ordinary seaman on "James and Martha" in 1878 and mate on the "Boy Willie" in 1897
313.....Alice Albina b 1st qr 1864 Lowestoft [Mutford 4a 735]
314......Arthur b 2nd qr 1868 in Lowestoft [Mutford 4a 707] d Aug 1948 at 42 Seago Street, Lowestoft
315......Eva b 2nd qr 1869 Lowestoft, [Mutford 4a 716] d 1870
316......Eva Emma b 1st qr 1871 bap 5 Apr 1871 in Lowestoft [Mutford 4a 764]
317......Margaret b 4th qr 1872 Lowestoft [Mutford 4a 758] Bap 1 Dec 1872 Lowestoft
318......Mary Ann b 1st qr 1875 Lowestoft [Mutford 4a 766]
319......Bessie Jane b Oct 1876 bap 3 Dec 1876 Lowestoft
320......Catherine b 1st qr 1878 bap 5 May 1878 Lowestoft [Mutford 4a 765]
321......Rosa May b 4 Jun 1882 bap 5 Nov 1882 Lowestoft

254 Charlotte MEWSE b 21 Dec 1849 had a child, father unknown (possibly ATKIN).

Child of Charlotte
322......Alice Atkin MEWSE bap 7 June 1867 Lowestoft d 1869 Lowestoft bur 2 Feb 1869
Note: Age in burial record 1 yr

255 Emma MEWSE b 14 May 1853 m William CLARKE 5 August 1876 (son of William CLARKE [sen])

Note: William was a bricklayer

Children of William and Emma
323......Edith Margaret (Maggie) MEWSE b last qr 1872 Lowestoft - poss illeg dau of William CLARKE - shown in Census as daughter.
Note: Maggie m Oliver Percy BAGSHAW of 19 Chapel St Lowestoft, (father: Samuel BAGSHAW, Marine Store Dealer) 6 Dec 1896 Witnesses Herbert Bagshaw and Emma Clarke
323a....William Thomas b 3rd qr 1876 Lowestoft
Note: William was seaman then mate on the "Daffodil" in 1902/3 having previously been on the "Sunshine". He was seaman on the "Peace" after serving on the "Boy Jack" in 1903 and became fisherman on the "General White" in 1904
323b....Charlotte b 1st qr 1877 Lowestoft [Mutford 4a 837]
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