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Charles Jessop (1761 - 1843)

Charles Jessop in 1761 or early 1762 was born to Robert Jessop and Martha Smith in the HeveninghamHuntingfield, Suffolk. He was baptised - along with his two brother Samuel and John on 5 Feb 1762 at Huntingfield, Suffolk.  His age at baptism is not shown, however census records put his year of birth around 1761.

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 Martha Philpott. 

Charles and Elizabeth lived in Cratfield 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 abt 1786. Married Mary Baxter
  • Mary Jessop Born abt 1789 married Edward Mouser in 1814
  • Charlotte Jessop Born 1793. Married Robert Ford
  • John Jessop Born November 1795. Married Lucy Mouser  in 1817 ; Married Mary Ann Fuller in 1837. Died October 1885
  • Harriett Jessop Born 1798. Married Robert Elvin
  • James Jessop Born 1801 Died 1877 Married Elizabeth Drane in 1818


We know from Johns 1837 emigration records that Charles and Elizabeth were was 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".

I have been unable to find primary records for Charles, Robert and Mary (who should potentially be a Martha - based on naming patterns). The first primary records (outside of the marriage record) are the birth registrations in Frostenden for Elizabeth, and 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. 

At the time of the 1841 Census there is a Charles was residing at the Blything Union Workhouse in Blythburgh. 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.

That said there is no

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At this point we believe that Elizabeth died some time before the commencement of Registrations. We haven't been able to find any record of Elizabeth at the Workhouse. The 1841 census does have the following recordstime of the 1841 census, and her most likley location would have been at the workhouse. Additionally John emigration record of 1838 only notes his father vs the standard two parents. A full review of 1841 census locates the following records:

  • Elizabeth Jessup (88) who is living in Ubbeston (village next to Cratfield) with Ermeliar Jessup, but this is Elizabeth Calver the widow of Samuel Jessup of Ubbeston - Samuels parents are most likely Robert Smith and Martha.
  • Elizabeth Jessup (65) living with John Cullingford (45) and his family at Derwent Ln in Heveningham, however this Elizabeth Stofer is the mother of Zipporah Jessop - Johns wife. Many researchers record Zipporah the child of William Jessup and Elizabeth Nunn, but this is not aligned to the census informationcorrect. Zipporah is the child of William Jessup and Elizabeth Stofer of Walpole, Suffolk. They married in 1800 and had at least 5 children between 1801 and 1815 (David - aka Javis ; Zipporah ; Ephraime ; Phoebe and Jobey), they were non conformist.
  • Elizabeth Jessup (70) living with James Jessup (70) in Framlingham - this is Elizabeth Hill, James wife and this appears to be a completely unrelated family line. This is the Elizabeth whose dies in 1853 and whose death is registered in Plomesgate.
  • Elizabeth Jessup (66) living with a John Jessup in Lowestoft - this is most likely Elizabeth Prime wife of John born in Kessingland (most likely the son of Jospeh Jessup)
  • Elizabeth Gisup (80) living with a Hannah Jessop (35) labourers wife and her children at Huntingfield Hall - this Hannah is the wife of George Jessop born 1791. The age aligns with our Elizabeth, but it is unsure why she would be living George and Hannah. We have been unable to identify parents for George but we know he is the brother of This is Elizabeth Nunn, wife of William Jessup, and this George is the brother to Charles Jessup of Bradwell who was born in Huntingfield abt 1791. There are two potential options.
  • Georges father was Charles brother in which case George would be her nephew by marriage
    • Elizabeth and Charles have an additional unrecorded child - GeorgeShe dies in June 1847 in Huntingfield and was buried in Huntingfield on 4 Jun 1847 (her death is registered in Blything V13 P286).

Charles died some time in the last 3 months of 1843 - exact date unknown, his death is registered in the October Qtr 1843 in Blything - nb no ages are captured on these early registrations - but this has yet to be confirmed. A number of researchers have Charles death recorded as 4 January 1851, however this death is in St George Hanover in London and is incorrect.  Elizabeth died in late May / early June 1847 in Huntingfield. she was buried in Huntingfield on 4 Jun 1847 (her death is registered in Blything V13 P286). Some researchers put her death as 1853 (registered in Plomesgate) with her living with James and Honor in Framlingham at the time of the 1851 census. This is inaccurate.