Charles Jessop (1761 - 1843)
Charles Jessop between 1757 and 1761, most likely in Halesworth sub-district of the Blything Hundred in North Eastern Suffolk, we have been unable to identify his parents, but there are a number of potential candidatesin 1761 or early 1762 to Robert Jessop and Martha Smith
Francis Jessop and Mary Skinnerin the Heveningham, Suffolk. He was baptised on 5 Feb 1762 at Huntingfield.
There are a number of other Jessop families in the Halesworth sub-district villages in the same time window, including
- James Jessup (b. 1768 d. 1851) married Elizabeth Hill ; Framlingham, Suffolk, 1793
- William Jessup (b. 1753 d. 1805) married Elizabeth Nunn ; Huntingfield, Suffolk, 1777
- Daniel Jessop married Frances Casen
- Charles Jessop married Sarah Ward
- Samuel Jessop married Elizabeth BlakeBlake 1772 Wetheringset-Cum-Brockford, Suffolk
He married Elizabeth Bedingfield on 5 May 1782 in Frostenden, Suffolk. Elizabeth was born in Linstead Magna on 3 January 1760. She was the fifth child and second daughter of Robert Bedingfield and Margaret Philpott.
Charles and Elizabeth lived in Cratfield for a where Charles work as a tenant farmer or ag labourer. They most likely had 8 or 9 children, but only 5 of these can be confirmed by primary sources
- Elizabeth Jessop Born 16 March 1783. Married Robert Smith. Died 1879
- Charles Jessop Born abt 1785
- Robert Jessop Born 1786. Married Mary Baxter
- Mary Jessop Born abt 1789
- Charlotte Jessop Born 1793. Married Robert Ford
- John Jessop Born November 1795. Married Lucy Mouser in 1817 ; Married Mary Ann Fuller in ???? Died October 1885
- Harriett Jessop Born 1798. Married Robert Elvin
- James Jessop Born 1801 Died 1877 Married Elizabeth Drane in 1818; Honor Balls in ???
We know from Johns 1837 emigration records that Charles and Elizabeth were living in Cratfield in 1837 as John is noted as "a native of Cratfield, and son of Charles Jessup a farmer of same place, Protestant, reads and writes".
The first primary records (outside of the marriage) are the birth registrations in Cratfield for Charlotte and John. It appears that the family became Non-Conformist some time between 1795 and 1798 as Harriett and James birth are registered in Halesworth in the Non Conformist registers, rather than the Cratfield Church.
There is some uncertainty about Charles death date. A number of researchers have it recorded as 4 January 1851, however this death is in St George Hanover in London and is extremely unlikely. The only relevant death in this period is the one registered in the October Qtr 1843 in Blything - nb no ages are captured on these early registrations - but this has yet to be confirmed.
At the time of the 1841 Census there is a Charles was residing at the Blything Union Workhouse in Blythburgh, but there is no record of Elizabeth. There is however record of Elizabeth living with James and Honor in Framlingham at the 1851 census. The 1841 census does have the following:
- Elizabeth Jessup (aged 88) who is living in Ubbeston (village next to Cratfield), but this is Elizabeth Blake the widow of Samuel Jessup.
- Elizabeth Jessup (65) living with John Cullingford (45) and his family at Derwent Ln in Heveningham, however this is Elizabeth Nunn, mother of Zipporah Jessop - Johns wife.
- Elizabeth Jessup (70) living with James Jessup (70) in Framlingham - this is Elizabeth Hill, James wife
- Elizabeth Jessup (66) living with a John Jessup in Lowestoft - this is ?
From its establishment in 1760 until its restructure in 1841 the Blythburg Workhouse had a good reputation - the House of Industry was in the countryside and had a large farm, which provided work for the inmates. Sheep were kept, barley and vegetables grown. Some of the produce went into the kitchens, the rest was sold. The workhouse was pretty well self-sufficient. Additionally "the sexes were not segregated in the workhouse — men and their wives and families were admitted, and their children grew up there until being apprenticed by the Incorporation at the age of 13. After serving their apprenticeship, the sons married and came back with their wives to the workhouse, had children and so repeated the cycle." - so it is highly likely if this is our Charles then he relocated here willingly.
After Charles death, it appears that Elizabeth went to live with James and Honor in Framlingham, where she passed away in 1853.