WATTS
Sorting out the WATTS families in Trunch is complicated because there were a lot of them in this part of Norfolk and they sometimes used the name WORTS. The earliest mention of WATTS in the Trunch parish records is in 1638 when an Elizabeth was born to William and Elizabeth. Then there are graves in the churchyard for John and his wife Martha who both died in the 1790s.
One family of interest is the one where IRELAND was often used as a Christian name. It seems likely that the Trunch ones originated from Robert (1760-1840) who was a farmer in Paston. His son Robert was a farmer in Knapton, Ireland a farmer in Antingham, and Thomas a cattle dealer in Knapton. But it was his son James (1805-1862) who became a shop-keeper in Trunch. James was married to Jane who died in in 1851 aged 41. He then remarried Hannah Harris LEGOOD in 1853. They had 2 children, Jane Jennie and Ireland but by 1868 the children were orphans and in 1870, Jane aged 16, a servant and Ireland aged 15, a labourer were on the ship Erin travelling from Liverpool to New York. I haven't found any relatives that they went with or to but it must have been quite a journey for them from Norfolk.
Ireland (1855- 1904) married Sarah (Sallie) Meyers in America and worked as a slate and marble cutter in New Jersey and Philadelphia. They had 7 children and Ireland died in 1904. His sister Jane meanwhile was a nurse in 1880, married David Borland and had 6 children. Her death certificate is interesting as it states that her mother was Hannah Legood but has her father as Ireland instead of James; but having looked into this I think it must have been a mistake by her widower or a case of facts being changed over the years and oceans.
Back in Trunch, Robert's son Ireland (1796-1889) the Antingham farmer, was in the news in 1829
1829 Times Aug 15 Norwich Court Aug 13 Ireland WATTS and Robert WATTS accused of smuggling from Mundesley. The cart wheels were followed to Trunch where the father and one brother of the defendants lived. Ireland’s house in Antingham was searched but there was resistance and it was thought the cart with the goods was driven off. Lord SUFFIELD was called.
Robert WATTS was a grocer from Knapton. They were found guilty but the sentence was not reported and it appears that there was an appeal about the legality of the search.
1829 Times Aug 15 Norwich Court Aug 13 Ireland WATTS and Robert WATTS accused of smuggling from Mundesley. The cart wheels were followed to Trunch where the father and one brother of the defendants lived. Ireland’s house in Antingham was searched but there was resistance and it was thought the cart with the goods was driven off. Lord SUFFIELD was called.
Robert WATTS was a grocer from Knapton. They were found guilty but the sentence was not reported and it appears that there was an appeal about the legality of the search.
Another family in Trunch was that of Thomas (1778 - ?) I think that Thomas was the illegitimate son of Deborah Watts of Mundesley. After his marriage (as Worts) to Mary Willis in Gimingham in 1801 the family lived in Trunch. Thomas was an agricultural worker, as was his son John, who was also a Wesleyan preacher. His other sons who survived were Clement and William.
Clement (1812-pre 1851) married Ann Riches in Trunch in 1836 just after their son James was born. Three more children were born and in the census of 1841 Ann is living alone with them in Southrepps. The workhouse records show that Clement had deserted his family and was summoned before the Justices of the Peace. Anne died in 1846 and in 1851 the children were in West Beckham Workhouse and were described as orphans, suggesting that Clement had also died, although I can find no evidence of that. Of the children, Thomas became a carpenter in London but I have been unable to trace the others.
William (1806-1889) married Mary Pitt in Trunch in 1829 and they had at least 11 children in Trunch, 4 of whom died in infancy. His son James became a soldier and retired to Trunch, George was an agricultural labourer who ended up living with his family in Knapton, while Charles stayed in Trunch. Two of Charles' sons were more travelled however with Albert becoming a gas stoker in Durham and Charles Alfred moving to Canada and becoming a farmer in Ontario. Ernest was with his brother Charles Alfred in Canada in 1901 and may have settled there as a farmer himself.
William and Mary also had a son called William Pitt (1847- 1891) after a previous son of the same name who had died aged 10 in 1845. This William was the subject of an intriguing newspaper cutting in 1893
Norfolk Chronicle 25 March Notice - Persuant to an order of the Supreme Court of British Columbia, made in the matter of the estate of William P WATTS deceased intestate late of the city of New Westminster, British Columbia (and formerly of Trunch, Norfolk) who died on the 25th. Feb. 1891 whereby it is ordered that all persons having any claims or securities against the estate should attend and verify the same before Hon Justice Bole at his chambers in the Court House New Westminster BC on 15 May1893.
Presumably he had no close relations in Canada. I wonder if anyone in Trunch replied? He had siblings as well as nieces and nephews alive here.
Norfolk Chronicle 25 March Notice - Persuant to an order of the Supreme Court of British Columbia, made in the matter of the estate of William P WATTS deceased intestate late of the city of New Westminster, British Columbia (and formerly of Trunch, Norfolk) who died on the 25th. Feb. 1891 whereby it is ordered that all persons having any claims or securities against the estate should attend and verify the same before Hon Justice Bole at his chambers in the Court House New Westminster BC on 15 May1893.
Presumably he had no close relations in Canada. I wonder if anyone in Trunch replied? He had siblings as well as nieces and nephews alive here.